MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco: The Yankees will be without one of their most trust bullpen arms for at least a little while, as Fernando Cruz was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow discomfort. That was part of a series of pregame moves yesterday that saw veteran arm Michael Fulmer sign a big-league deal, reliever Bradley Hanner demoted, Elmer Rodríguez promoted for the spot start, and Kervin Castro open up a spot on the 40-man roster by going to the 60-day IL.
The news got worse in the postgame, though. Like Castro, Cruz is now staring down the possibility of season-ending elbow surgery. Per manager Aaron Boone, imaging showed that he had a partially torn UCL. He’ll be getting a second opinion, but there’s a very real chance that he winds up getting Tommy John or something along those lines, which would also all but doom his 2027 as well. Cruz will already be turning 37 in March, so while he’s under team control through 2028, he may have already thrown his last pitch in pinstripes. It’s a shame, as Cruz had a sterling 2.20 ERA through mid-July, but the wear and tear of heavy use in the first half (due in part to the Yankees’ offense struggling to break close games open) seemed to get to him. We wish him well.
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New York Post | Joel Sherman ($): Heading into a big four-game set with the Red Sox this weekend, the Yankees face a near-unique problem: Boston is looking to start three lefties against them, plus another portsider in an opener role. It would be just the second time in my lifetime that New York faces four consecutive southpaw. If it feels like this happens more than usual, you’re right, as the team has seen the third-most PA against left-handed pitching in baseball this year, and critically since June 1st they’ve managed just an 87 wRC+ against ’em. Boston is setting the table for the Yankees to be at a distinct disadvantage in this series, and while Cody Bellinger is back and hits lefties well, he can’t do it on his own.
FanGraphs | Jay Jaffe: Gerrit Cole’s Hall of Fame case was hurt somewhat by his time recovering from Tommy John surgery, as that year and a half cut away shots at many of the milestone numbers we see at necessary for enshrinement. The shortened COVID-19 season in 2020 did the same, especially considering what a peak Cole was coming off of after 2019. Still, while The Baseball Culture does need to adjust expectations for what a Hall of Fame pitcher looks like, he’s done everything he can to continue to build his case for Cooperstown in 2026, and remains a likely candidate depending on how he declines from his Cy Young form.
MLB.com | Mark Feinsand: It’s never too early to think about free agency, specifically the high end of a very soft class this year. Lefty Tarik Skubal is atop anyone’s list of the best available, but the rest doesn’t inspire very much. Randy Arozarena is probably the best position player of the crop, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. having lost a tonne of potential money with his performance this year.
Yahoo Sports | Teddy Ricketson: We close with a bit of a fun one, as Yankees Assistant Director of Baseball Operations Mike Pinsky will try to outwit, outplay and outlast the competition on the 51st season of Survivor this fall. Just don’t get voted out first, Mike.
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