Carlos Rodon threw 58 pitches in a high-A rehab start on Saturday, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch) that Rodon emerged from the outing in good health and in good form. It was Rodon’s third rehab start, and the Yankees’ plan is for the left-hander to make his 2023 debut on Friday against the Cubs. It’s better late than never for Rodon, who had both a forearm strain in March and then some back tightness that put his rehab work on pause. A cortisone injection in early May provided some relief to Rodon’s back, and it has since been relatively smooth sailing as he has slowly built up his arm strength.
Rodon joined the Bronx Bombers on a six-year, $162MM free agent contract this winter. The early injury scare certainly created some immediate second-guessing about the Yankees’ investment, yet if Rodon displays any of his form from the last two seasons, his 60-day IL stint might just be a bump in the road, though Rodon’s lengthy career injury history will always linger. Rodon was a top-six Cy Young Award finisher in each of the last two seasons with the White Sox and Giants, posting a 2.67 ERA, 33.9% strikeout rate, and 7.1% walk rate over 310 2/3 innings in 2021-22. While a lack of offense has been the Yankees’ chief problem this year, adding an in-form Rodon alongside ace Gerrit Cole atop New York’s rotation will certainly help in the run prevention department, and potentially allow the Bombers to keep grinding out wins until Aaron Judge can return to boost the lineup.
More from the AL East…
- The Orioles’ 2-1 victory over the Twins today came with some pain, as Jordan Westburg was hit on the left hand with a pitch from Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning. The bases were loaded, so Westburg’s HBP ended up scoring the game’s winning run. Westburg will get testing done on his hand, while the O’s had another injury concern earlier in the game when Austin Hays departed with a hip contusion. Hays collided with Twins first baseman Donovan Solano while running out a grounder in the second inning, and Hays remained in the game until the fourth before being replaced in left field.
- Garrett Whitlock pitched just one inning in today’s start, as the Red Sox right-hander is dealing with elbow tightness. Whitlock told reporters (including Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe) that he had been feeling some stiffness in the elbow even prior to taking the mound today, and his current issue feels differently than the bout of ulnar neuritis that put him on the injured list for a month earlier this season. An MRI has been scheduled, and Whitlock and the Sox can only hope that the issue is nothing more than some inflammation. Whitlock already has one major elbow surgery on his resume, as he underwent a Tommy John procedure in 2019.
- Isaac Paredes also made an early exit from the Rays’ game with the Mariners today, due to what the Rays described as left rib discomfort. Paredes was heading for third base while France was trying to field a grounder, resulting in a big collision between the two players. Manager Kevin Cash told reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) that initial x-rays revealed no rib fractures, so Paredes may have avoided a serious injury. One of many players emerging for first-place Tampa Bay, Paredes has hit .267/.372/.494 with 14 homers over 290 plate appearances this season.
The O’s are really in a funk.
Time will tell how – and if – they come out of it.
Time usually does that
Funny thing about time, huh?
They’ll be okay. They built up enough steam over the past two months so that a little slump or even two shouldn’t hurt them.
Yanks and Mets should pool their sources, they can buy anything, but winning is another ordeal all together.
You can only spend money on whatever is available. Elite hitting, not pitching, is seldom on the open market. Thus, both teams have problems scoring runs. November of 2024 is going to be very interesting. We’ll see where Mr Soto ends up.
Crossing the fingers on Whitlock, and not just because he doesnt deserve tonget hurt…. they can’t really afford to be losing him too.
Last thing the Sox need is Whitlock to go down. As it is they only have 4 starters and I’m not sure why they haven’t given Pivetta another chance to start yet
Just very annoying because a rotation of Sale, Paxton, Bello, Whitlock and Houck on paper is a very good one. Problem is health and a few of those guys have shown that it’s hard to rely on them to stay healthy
But, it’s not surprising either. When you’re leaning on a bunch of guys with injury histories or who haven’t stretched out for a full mlb season because they’re just beginning as MLB full-season starters…. well, it comes with the territory.
When you make such a flawed roster, intentionally, as a PBO, you reap what you sow. It’s a mix of growing pains and living dangerously coming home to roost.
To me Bloom went full ahead with this pitching staff knowing the injury history. He put this staff together which will finish in last place again. Bloom deserves to be fired for this mess he created in addition to guys playing out of position on this team now
GASox – Whitlock has always had health issues, this is why the Yanks exposed him in the draft. I think it’s safe to say we cannot rely on him being healthy for the remainder of his longterm contract.
Speaking of rely, WTH is wrong with Cora? Sox are paying Martin nearly $9M a year and Cora can’t rely on him to pitch in an extremely high-leverage 9th-inning situation against a division rival and WC rival despite him throwing only 9 freakin’ pitches in the 8th AND despite him having yesterday off?
So instead Cora brings in a guy with only SIX CAREER MLB INNINGS PITCHED, ZERO CAREER SAVES, AND ONLY SIX CAREER MINOR LEAGUE SAVES?
Yeah it worked out thankfully and the Sox won, but that’s not the point. If Cora keeps pulling that crap, 9 times out of 10 it will not end well. Cora needs to stop with the “8th inning only” BS and pitch Martin when he’s needed as long as he’s well-rested, which he certainly was today!!!
Caveat i did not get to watch this game but joe j threw 10 pitches 7 strikes..and set them down to close it out..There are lots of things to trash cora about im sure but this is not one of them..move on till it actually doesnt work..or talk about one of those instances
Pool – The other day in Minnesota, Cora burns up Martin and Jansen with the score tied in the 8th and 9th, then brings in Ort to blow the game in the 10th.
It’s a pattern with Cora, horrible bullpen management.
Plenty of other games with head shaking bullpen maneuvers by Cora. He’s got more than a fixed mindset regarding innings to use for certain guys, but more mistakes than should with ppl on the roster.
beware this also.. Bleier began rhab assignment recently and there is a guy with -0- left taking a spot, then Ort as u mentioned and have to be terrified with the prospect of Kluber eventually returning.
Use guys the right way, stop playing favorites with his buddies (hernandez) are about the best ways Cora could improve the team.
Fever, it’s all 6 on one hand, half a dozen on the other.
The two schools of thought used to be save your best bullet to try and close with the lead, or, take your highest leverage spot – tied game with the stronger part of the line up you need to retire and spend the strong one there, and, go weaker arm against the weaker part of the order later.
These days, with that moronic runner on 2nd to start extra innings, I think you really need to preserve your best guy with inherited runners for extra innings – who may not even be one of your 2 best arms overall on every team. A guy can be a lights out closer with empty bases but weaker in the stretch. So, no matter what, if you’re tied in the 8th, ok, fine use a good arm but not your best inherited runner guy in whichever inning the matchups favor – be it the 8th, or the 9th. But save your best guy against inherited runners for the 10th.
I don’t think Cora manages like that though. I’m not sure there’s that much logic behind it all
john – Yesterday the announcers got on Hernandez, said he’s massively underperforming. Of course they are correct, his .615 OPS is the 3rd worst of all MLB players with a minimum 290 PA’s.
Fact is, Bloom did a horrendous job of putting together the team and they can’t bench Hernandez because they’ve got nobody else. Hamilton is starting and stepping to the plate in extremely high leverage situations despite a .470 OPS – doesn’t get much worse than that.
Wong has 2 hits in his last 29 AB’s and hasn’t even walked in his last 9 games.
The top of the lineup really came through this past weekend, but when they inevitably cool down that bottom third of the lineup will continue to sink the offense.
GASox – I totally agree, there’s no logic to Cora’s managing. He doesn’t believe in having set lineups, constantly shuffling his best hitters around, but he insists on having certain pitchers pitch certain innings regardless of the situation. No feel for the game, all moves predetermined before the game even starts.
Besides saving your best reliever for extra innings, you want your best strikeout pitcher. Otherwise a groundball and flyball ends the game.
Agreed on Whitlock. They should keep him as a high leverage multi inning RP. I understand a SP is considerably more valuable but it reminds me of when the cards tried to move Hicks to the rotation. It rarely works, and not for guys with injury histories. Just enjoy what you get out of them. An elite RP is still better than a below average SP.
This isn’t 2008 anymore and $9m a year will not get you a reliable 9th inning fireman. Cora is one of the best managers in the game. I would give you 2 Aaron Boones for him. He knows what he is doing. Bloom is another story.
@GASoxFan: Whitlock doesn’t deserve to get hurt? Please name a player who does deserve it.
“Please name . . .”
Manny Machado.
In your warped opinion.
The correct answer is none.
Dustin Pedroia would agree with me.
Doubtful.
Dustin has come out in quotes calling for nobody to retaliate against Manny, so, there’s that.
No one would come out publicly and say anything to the contrary. But, you need common sense to understand that.
But sense is not common, as shown by a certain comment claiming that Dustin Pedroia would want any of his MLB colleagues to get injured.
Actually Parades was trying to field the ball while France was heading for third.
That was quite a botched report of what really happened, wasn’t it?
I thought it was the other way around
You mean France was running straight for Paredes. He was out of the basepath and interfered with Paredes’ fielding the ball. He should be suspended for trying to intentionally hurt Paredes.
This is the winner of most ignorant comment of the day. You definitely didn’t watch that play with any objectivity. I doubt France even saw Paredes until they collided.
Kudos, the entire world now knows that Ty France is a dirty player. I hope the meaningless win for a team out of contention was worth it. Can’t wait until this guy hurts his wrist again, too. Makes one wonder what he is doing to that thing to have so many problems. With the amount of money that is wasted on him he should be able to afford an escort in most non-NYC/LA Markets, but then again most probably turn down orc-looking dudes who have never won anywhere they have played. Anyways, good luck to Dirty Ty France. He’s always DTF even if the other person wants none of it. Gonna applaud when somebody with less class than the Rays puts him in his place.
I’ve watched the play numerous times and discussed it with many Rays fans. Most Rays fans think the play was correctly called; however, they also think France was either intentionally running at Paredes (the minority of Rays fans admittedly) or has an extremely low baseball IQ given he was running to the baseball, not the bag, was running into the path of the charging Paredes, who was trying to field the ball and throw out the man at 1B, and because every other baseball player on the planet would slow down a step to allow Paredes to field the ball and then trot to 3B where there was no play. Running full speed to the ball, as France did (he was basically in the grass when they collided) can only be explained by (1) France has no baseball intelligence, or (2) France was intentionally trying to disrupt the play and took it way too far. Either way, MLB rules need to be changed, because France absolutely should have been called out on the play.
Nice line for Rodon, 3.2 IP, 1H, 2BB, 8Ks.
Boston needs 5 starters who will be guaranteed to not miss any starts.They keep bringing in guys who get hurt.What a waste of money.players don’t produce when they are hurt.You can’t help the team when you are sitting.
Sure sounds great. Too bad such a thing doesn’t exist. 5 starters guaranteed not to miss any starts. 2004 was probably the closest they have ever come to that and they still had 8 guys start a game that year. There were 21 pitchers in the entire game that started 32 or 33 games last year. Nick Pivetta was one of them. No team had more than 2.
Hope Rodon doesn’t get hurt cutting his fingernails or something before making his much anticipated season debut. My Yankees could really use his help.
He will probably tear his UCL while endorsing his paycheck. Cashman has always had a soft spot for oft injured aces. Just knew he would sign Rodon while the rest of baseball laughed.
Hay’s injury would seem to necessitate calling up Colton Cowser. He or Santander could slide over to first and provide an offensive upgrade over Mountcastle when he returns and O’Hearn, who is a platoon player.
GRod’s struggles this season make it even more important to take any offensive improvements available and stock the pitching side of the farm system. Elias has had success developing the type of fringe pitching prospect Mountcastle would fetch.
IMO, the team has progressed nicely this season but with the state of the rotation, they can’t afford to carry any weak performers in the lineup if they want a shot at the pennant, much less World Series title.
Mountcastle’s still hitting the ball hard. Let’s see what things look like when he returns.
Ohearn can’t platoon with Santander or Cowser. They’re all lefties.
Well he could with Santander but Santander is an everyday player. The problem with Cowser is that it’s another lefty bat in a lefty heavy lineup. Westburg made sense since we need a right hander.
Cowser would have to take any PT that’s going to Aaron hicks.
Westburg was called up due to Mateo’s total inability to hit for the past two months or draw a walk. I suspect the Orioles will come to the same conclusion with Mountcastle; .260something OBPs hurt the offense and unlike Mateo, he isn’t bringing any additional value on defense or the basepaths.
And Cowser, “another lefty bat in a lefty heavy lineup,” has not hit lefties in the minors
Westburg was likely called up to reduce ABs from Frazier. The Orioles had already started to get Gunnar more starts at SS instead of playing Mateo every day.
Mateo has lost the most ABs since Westburg’s promotion. Ortiz provides a right handed bat whenever the team wraps up with Frazier.
Why even concern yourself with lineup balance when Mateo and Frazier provide so little at the plate to begin with? Those two, in addition to Mountcastle , were entering make or break seasons in April. They all seem to be known quantities now, with some glaring flaws
I think Elias is content to wait until the moment is right before going all in and given GRod’s struggles, views this as another growth year. If that’s the case, take whatever lotto tickets Mateo, Frazier, Mountcastle (and possibly Urias), will fetch and let the youngsters play.
Looks like Hays is “day to day”. Not a fan of McKenna but he’s a RH stick albeit with ugly KO rate. Start him until Hays is back. Not the ideal time to bring up Cowser. Maybe recall Vavra to use as an extra position player for now?
I’m not punting on Mountcastle yet. There’s no point to deal him for a bag of beans. Give him through year end and we’ll see where we are. Coby Mayo is the future at 1B IMO. Mounty can’t hurt his trade value that much at this point. He can either provide us some O or not. Frazier and Mateo were always placeholders.
I am not “concerned with lineup balance” and have said nothing to support your claim.
Kjerstad at 1B, Mayo at 3B
Rodon looks goofy in his pic. Why can’t the Yankees just drop the hair policing. It always makes some people on your team look like 19th century bank robbers.
Other than Braddish taking one on the toe back in April, Os SP is remarkably healthy.
Is it a stellar rotation? Nope, but 2 thru 4 are competitive enough (Kremer, Braddish and Wells) to keep the Birds in playoff contention.
And other than the Mullins DL stint position players, as a group, other than minor aches and pains, are available day in and day out.
Stay healthy fellas!