Yankees lefty Justin Wilson will open the 2021 season on the injured list, general manager Brian Cashman announced to reporters Monday. Wilson was slowed by some shoulder discomfort recently, though an MRI taken last week came back clean and the reliever recently threw from 90 feet. Cashman added that Wilson has “responded well” to the downtime he had when he was slowed down and threw a bullpen session today without issue. It seems this is likely just a matter of building him back up, but there is not sufficient time to do so before the season begins Thursday. With Wilson and Zack Britton both sidelined to open the season, the only lefty assured of a spot in the bullpen is closer Aroldis Chapman, though Lucas Luetge has turned heads this spring and could grab a spot, Erik Boland of Newsday tweets. Luetge hasn’t appeared in the bigs since 2015, but he signed a minors deal with the Yankees in the offseason and has since yielded just two earned runs on eight hits and two walks (with a whopping 18 strikeouts) in 10 1/3 innings.
More from the Bronx…
- Luke Voit’s surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee will be performed tonight, according to Cashman. There’s still no firm timetable for his return to the active roster, though at the time the injury was reported, it was said that the slugging first baseman would go three weeks without baseball activity following the procedure. That alone will take him to April 20 or so, and then Voit will of course need to ramp back up and get in some reps at the alternate site or in a Triple-A game, depending on what happens with the Triple-A season. Cashman added that Britton, who is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow, is doing well but is also still without a timeline.
- Tyler Wade, Michael King and Nick Nelson each made the roster, according to Cashman. Wade has barely hit since he debuted in 2016, having slashed .190/.274/.301 in 361 plate appearances, but he’s a speedster who can play several positions. Meanwhile, King and Nelson – both righties – will be part of the Yankees’ bullpen. King has struggled to a 7.22 ERA over 26 2/3 frames in the majors since 2019, but the 25-year-old owns an excellent 2.30 mark with almost a strikeout per inning and fewer than two walks per nine in 62 2/3 Triple-A frames. Nelson, also 25, didn’t post exceptional numbers with the Yankees last year, when he tossed 20 2/3 innings of 4.79 ERA ball with poor strikeout and walk rates (20.0 and 12.2 percent, respectively). However, Nelson dominated this spring, allowing one earned run on six hits and a walk (10 strikeouts) across 10 frames.
Gk_holiday
Voity would have slugged 60+ ding bombs last year if he had played a full 162.
BobGibsonFan
And the rays would have won a world series if they hadn’t lost.
deweybelongsinthehall
How many play 162 today?
Ducky Buckin Fent
& if my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle…
Yankee Clipper
Not in today’s world, all she has to do is say it and use the other bathroom – welcome back buddy! How you feeling?
Ducky Buckin Fent
So there’s that.
Feeling great, man. Never had any symptoms.
Ran a course of chloro quinine. Took a rapid test. Covid free!
I’m back in society.
Such as it is.
lemonlyman
The prescribed you hydroxychloroquine even though you were symptom free? It’s only cleared for use in moderate to severe cases…
Ducky Buckin Fent
I had my own supply from China, man. Stocked up months ago.
I’m proactive.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Glad you’re OK!
Ducky Buckin Fent
Thank you my friend.
& I don’t think I passed it on to anyone, either. Which I think is the big deal.
Gothamcityriddler
Good to hear you’re ok Ducky! God bless.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Thank you, Riddler.
God bless you & yours too, man.
Man…are you guys looking forward to opening day as much as I am?
Check list:
Make postseason again
Win AL East again
Win AL pennant
Parade
Captain-Judge99
@Ducky Buckin Fent- hey glad to see you back and healthy. I was worried when I didn’t see your posts. You we’re definitely missed. Yes, really looking to the season. Hopefully are team just begins winning from the get-go.
Ducky Buckin Fent
My man.
Yeah, I tested positive for Covid though I was asymptomatic. So I did the only sensible thing: I went goose hunting & walleye fishing in South Dakota.
Spent 5 days there. I know you fellas that still live in The City probably think that sounds horrible. But I found it to be an ideal way to quarantine.
The Jays & Rays aren’t chumps. I think it’s more than likely going to be a bit of a scrum. It must be due to all the chaos & Not Fun Stuff from ’20 but it’s been awhile since I’ve really looked forward to the start of the season.
Bummer that we’re dealing with some injury stuff. But every team is. It’s not an original take but: I think injuries are going to be a huge story league wide this summer.
Hope not.
Seems inevitable, though.
Yankee Clipper
Brother, I’m really glad you’re okay. Yeah I don’t know why they aren’t using that stuff more. Instead I know plenty of people getting the vaccines that are 80-90% effective, depending on which one, but have to deal with moderate to deadly side effects. Our friend’s mother (otherwise healthy) got the vaccine because of her age ~75, and died after receiving the vaccination. I didn’t believe it until it happened to someone I knew.
Anyway, stoked about baseball, and going to take my kid to a Yankee v Dunedin Blue Jays game in FLA. Then, going to get MLB.TV and watch baseball!
Ducky Buckin Fent
mmmmm…call me jaded but I think the fact that certain drug companies stood to make billions & billions, all the billions of dollars has a little bearing on it. Personally, I ordered 20 treatments of it last April or May. & in five days I became covid free. Which is a pretty good argument as to it’s effectiveness.
Condolences to your friends family.
I can’t think of a better time, man.
My son is a football, hoops, tennis(?!?) guy so our equivalent is football. But hearing stories like yours makes me a tad wistful. Enjoy every second of it, Clip.
I’m sure you are.
Sometimes I just can’t help myself from saying stuff like that.
Thankfully, none of us have to be perfect though.
Mickey777
Nick Nelson will make a solid contribution this year! I don’t think King is ready and I expect when Wilson is ready, King will be sent down.
NY_Yankee
Nelson is a lot better then King. He had one bad outing last year that screwed up the numbers
CravenMoorehead
Wilson coming back to the pinstripes and already having his 1st “Yankee” moment by landing on the IL.
NY_Yankee
The American League looks weak: the White Sox lost their best hitter, the Yankees are banged up, the Astros lost Springer, the Blue Jays have pitching issues and the Rays lost Snell and Morton. I guess the Yankees are best but they might be 5th, 6th or even 7th in the National League. Dodgers, Padres, Braves, Cardinals and maybe the Mets or Brewers all better teams,
YankeesBleacherCreature
Well it’s a good thing the Yankees play in the AL as mostly have to beat teams there to reach the WS. Please settle down or go be a Pirates fan.
Gothamcityriddler
@NYY
You forgot to takes your meds again buddy
NY_Yankee
Please you tell me any AL Teams better then the Dodgers, Padres, Braves and Cardinals?
Ancient Pistol
While I’m a Yankee fan and follow them very close, and recognize a number of weaknesses with the team, there is no way they’d be the 7th best team in the NL. I’d say more like 2nd to 3rd.
Yankee Clipper
Gotham, NY Yankee is a faux fan. It’s obvious. Ignore it. The mere fact he threw out more than just the LAD proves it, but the Cardinals? Lol. Probably a (Maxi) Pads fan or a Dodger homer with David Price on his wall. Fake ring to go along with that championship BTW, since he want even present.
Yankee Clipper
Wasn’t ***
Gothamcityriddler
Thanks Clipper, “David Price on his wall” Lol, that’s funny.
Gothamcityriddler
Well I don’t want you to ride your bike over the cliff so sure, they’re all SUPER TEAMS & each of them will win 120 games… or more!
Pat Cappotelli
Don’t understand why it took so long to confirm Tyler Wade as making the roster. He’s a very valuable asset to the team even if his batting average isn’t great.
Gothamcityriddler
Since he’s out of options after this year, by Thanksgiving he’ll be working for the family’s plumbing & heating co.in upstate NY. Sitting at the dining room table getting sloshed & telling anyone who’ll listen how he was “this close” to his breakout season but those sob’s wouldn’t give me a chance. “Take it easy on the wine son we gotta a big day tomorrow.”
Rsox
Boone and Cashman finally realized that if anything happened to LeMahieu, Torres, or Urshela there would literally be a huge gaping hole in the Infield
YankeesBleacherCreature
I hear Dustin Pedroia is a free agent.
Gothamcityriddler
@rsox
Yea they did, it never occurred to them until today when they both had epiphanies this morning, ”Booney what if an infielder goes down, then what? “I know Cash, I thought the exact same thing” Together “Let’s take Wade north with us!” Brilliant!
mlbnyyfan
Wade is the new version of Homer Bush. I was hoping Dietrich had more of a chance but he can’t play shortstop. I also like Estrada. Some players better off elsewhere to get a chance.
Yankee Clipper
The Yankees need a true utility player. A well-rounded one who can both hit and field. Otherwise, they need too many pitchers to carry position-specific backups, and this is the result.
Ducky Buckin Fent
We do.
I was hoping for an upgrade there. Wade made some top 100 prospect lists. He’s just been woefully inadequate, however.
I actually had semi high hopes for him.
It just seems like the kid simply can’t hit MLB pitching. Like most everyone in the world.
I guess it’s the old, “well maybe this year”.
costergaard2
Homer Bush batted .400. I like Wade, but he’s not even Refsnyder…
whyhayzee
Cashman added that Wilson has “responded well” to the downtime he had when he was slowed down and threw a bullpen session today without issue.
Now it’s Dr. cash man with the vaguely vague vagueness mumble speak in lieu of the boondoggle.
mlbnyyfan
Yankees always hoped Wade was the next Zobrist. They can keep hoping.
Yankee Clipper
You tend to say “they” and talk about the Yankees in a distant third as if…… you’re not a true fan, a lot. Yankees are that important to some of you that you sign up under a false name and pretend to be a fan of a team you don’t even like just to troll and pretend to be objective?!
You sad hypocritical losers. Go away. Be man enough to root for your real team you homer.
mlbnyyfan
Excuse me I’m a die hard Yankees fan. I just think the Yankees had higher expectations for Wade.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Just my personal take: there are just so many Yankee trolls on the board, I’d rather we didn’t fight amongst ourselves.
For whatever it worth.
Yankee Clipper
Sorry @mlbnyy, started a sentence with you and writing how it appeared, but went off on a fiery tangent about… “others” (see above). The second part wasn’t directed at you. That’s my fault for writing it the way I’d did.
Ducky Buckin Fent
mlbnyyfan’s trade proposals drive me to the tequila, serious.
But: the man is – without a doubt – an extremely passionate Yankee fan who absolutely wants to see us win. I actually wouldn’t be surprised if his blood cells lined themselves up in pinstripes.
Yankee Clipper
Yeah, Lolol Ducky, they do. But, I meant only to point out that his statement almost reads as if he were like them…. meaning, “dude, you ok, WTF?” I do agree with him about Wade too. And you as well.
Which segued (improperly) directly in to my disdain for others (there are two) that constantly bash and are not fans, imo, but purport to be. It was my bad.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Fair enough.
I like that you cowboy’d up, too.
Man, you know that there are numerous posters who’s sole life purpose seems to be going on every single thread (be they Yankees related or not!) & trolling us.
We are surrounded.
Which is fine.
Because they won’t get away this time…
InvalidUserID 2
If Luetge was pronounced like “LOOGY” that would be funny.
mlbnyyfan
Hopefully he’s more than just a “LOOGY” and Spring Training wasn’t a fluke.
MrHand
I am more concerned about the current bullpen than any aspect of this team. Featuring Chapman the overpaid closer who repeatedly fails in the critical season ending appearances and is subject to frequent control issues. No adequate set up man and a number of inconsistent & unproven sidemen. This is the weakest pen we have fielded in years.
Ducky Buckin Fent
I actually don’t see it that way.
Chapman still a premier closer.
Britton & Greene are very good set up guys.
O’day, Wilson, Cessa are all above average middle relievers.
A number of other possibly useful arms: Loaisiga, King, Nelson, Adam Warren, et al.
I actually see this as quite possibly the deepest pen of this core. Doesn’t have quite the same sizzle as some of those other pens?
But it’s very deep & will need to be accounted for when playing us.
MrHand
I don’t share your opinion of Chapman. He is very inconsistent.Not a good a good characteristic in a closer……. Velocity continues to drop,lack of control is also an issue. He is in decline and can not be relied upon.As to the others, Britton is out and we don’t know when he will actually be effective again.Greene has not impressed during the spring, also lacks consistency.Cessa looks clueless to me at the moment. Wilson is mediocre. The Mets made no effort to retain him.King has not impressed me at all. Maybe he needs more seasoning…..Only Loaisiga and Nelson have shown encouraging signs. As a 60 year Yankee fan I hope I am wrong but I don’t think so.
Ducky Buckin Fent
I understand the trepidation around Chapman.
It’s due to the last couple postseasons. But runty Altuve – bzzzz bzzzzz bzzzzzz – cheated.
& his numbers are still very good.
You could do a lot worse in the 9th.
Britton will be fine.
He’s come back from injury before.
Back of his baseball card, man.
I’m not placing much stock in ST.
Those outings are process oriented. Not result oriented. I think you’re being a little nit picky about that.
That’s incorrect. The Yanks actually outbid the mets. It was a pretty big deal at the time. Go check the old threads.
Also: Fangraphs has projected the Yanks pen for 13.2 fWAR tops in MLB. This is a good bullpen, man.
Promise.
MrHand
I hope you turn out to be correct. I tend to go by what I see with my eyes. Who among those relievers do you feel confident in at critical moments in the game? I can barely watch Chapman when the game is on the line. Same with almost all of the others. The loss of Britton was a significant blow. I hope he can be effective when he returns…….It may be necessary to address this issue at the deadline.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Me too!
& nothing wrong with that.
I actually like this pen a lot, though. I think there’s a pretty good chance we roll into October with 6 or more reliable arms.
Cash has a propensity to build strong bullpens. I think he did it again.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Chapman is an excellent closer. It’s a tough act to follow Mo – the greatest ever. Even Mo blew some critical games in the postseason so don’t let recency bias obscure your view of Chapman’s full body of work. While his average velo has been down (which I believe is by design), he’s been adding to his pitch repetoire. He can still dial it up to 100 in two-strike counts.
YankeesBleacherCreature
@Ducky I’m willing to bet a large sum of money the Yankees won’t budge on their budget this summer in spite of your hope that they go over that line.
Ducky Buckin Fent
I do think that staying under the first threshold is extremely important (remember before ’17 when the Yanks paid the lux tax every single year?) to Hal.
I also think Hal really likes his playoff windfall. Loads. The only way I see him going over is if the Yanks are in jeopardy of missing the postseason. I think he’d spend in that unlikely scenario.
I gave up hope of going over when we let Tanaka walk. Bugs me. I see it as penny wise but pound foolish.
Yankee Clipper
Yes, although Tanaka’s time was coming to a close, letting him walk when in dire need of SP, simply to get under a number that amounts to pennies for the organization, is incredibly frustrating. There were a couple moves we discussed over the offseason the Yankees could’ve made to improve the roster, but just didn’t.
Point #2 – Hal will only go over if the playoff run is in jeopardy? 100% true. He’s allowing this quasi-ceiling to control expenditures, but won’t miss the playoffs. I posit that the true acceptable outcome every year is precisely that. WS wold be nice for him, but playoffs? Win. And truly, as you’ve said many times, Ducky, how can we as fans honestly complain? And, I think if they stay under this year, he blows past next year, probably Seager, who knows?
Ducky Buckin Fent
Put Tanaka on this staff & we suddenly have a pretty sweet rotation.
That’s exactly how I see it. That playoff money is pure come up. It’ll be like when my partner & I finally sell our company. Company’s like ours sell for $2-5 mil. But. There will be no sales guys commission to pay. No permit to pay for, or dumpster, boom truck…ya know?
It will just be our personnel come up. All of it. The only thing we’ll owe is a high five to each other.
Same thing with Hal & his postseason money grab. This is the loot he can count on. & it is all his. You are correct. Tough to complain about your team being in the playoffs: Every. Single. Year.
It’s not ” championship or bust” anymore. So…yeah, it’s a change. But so many fan bases would kill for our specific “downgrade”.
MrHand
I agree with your first two points. Regarding Tanaka, he was a great Yankee but I think it was time to move on. I think our starting pitching now and into the next few years is very promising.
Yankee Clipper
The youth that we have is really impressive. They have a long way to go, but they certainly have quite a few MLB-level arms waiting in the wings.
mlbnyyfan
I’m ready to see the Yankees young pitching prospects now. That’s been Cashman biggest challenge is developing starting ace pitchers. That’s why Yankees had to over pay for Cole. Hopefully Yankees rotation will be in better shape when Sevy comes back in July
nitemare
Wade.. So glad he made it. Now he can battle Gary for the worst BA