The New York Yankees are expected to be in a tight battle for the AL East. That battle is about to get even closer.
There were already some concerns about the Yankees’ rotation. Frankie Montas is going to be sidelined for a significant portion of the 2023 season and admitted that he was fighting through his shoulder woes after being acquired. And that is just the tip of the iceburg.
New York Yankees getting hammered by injuries
Harrison Bader, their starting center fielder, is battling a problem with his left oblique. Relievers Tommy Kahnle and Lou Trivino are going to start the year on the Injured List, leaving a couple of holes in the bullpen. And Carlos Rodon, their prized free agent signing, has a “mild forearm strain” and is being shut down for seven to ten days. At this point, Rodon’s injury is not considered severe, but forearm strains are typically a precursor for Tommy John surgery. There will be plenty of eyes on his arm over the next couple of weeks.
The Yankees margin for error was already thin. There are questions about their lineup, especially at short, third, catcher, and left. However, the Yankees’ upgraded pitching staff was expected to make up for that deficiency. Likewise, their crop of top prospects, such as Oswald Peraza, Anthony Volpe, and Austin Wells, are on the cusp of the majors. Reinforcements could be coming.
But it all begins with their pitching staff. The Yankees need their rotation to step up and lock down the rest of the division. The problem is that the Yankees will be looking to do so without their co-ace. If this forearm strain turns out to be more severe than currently anticipated, the Yankees hopes could already be dashed.
The New York Yankees already had a thin margin for error this season. Their current spate of injuries is making that margin even thinner.
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