The New York Yankees are dealing with injuries at the wrong time. With the second half of the season underway, the Yankees are pushing for the postseason and need top pitching rotation to do that. Already seeing their struggles with the starters, injuries are making things even worse as another player hits the disabled list. Will this force the Yankees to make a move with the trade deadline hours away?
According to Andrew Marchand of ESPN.com, the Yankees have sent Michael Pineda down to the 15-day disabled list after experiencing discomfort in his right forearm flexor. That injury pairs with the struggles of CC Sabathia who is failing to find consistency this season and Ivan Nova who has yet to fully recover from Tommy John surgery. With Pineda out, the Yankees have Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka, Nova and Nathan Eovaldi as their starting rotation. They could move up Bryan Mitchell or Adam Warren who have seen time as starters during injury periods this season.
The biggest question is whether or not this injury will force the Yankees into a trade. With the deadline just hours away Johnny Cueto, David Price, Cole Hamels, Mat Latos and Mike Leake are all of the market. The Yankees have been linked to trade deals for Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman which would free up a bullpen player like Warren or Mitchell to move into a starting role, but the better option might be to trade for a starter intstead.
General manager Brian Cashman has stated that he does not want to give up top prospects for a pitcher that might be a one-season rental. That is what caused New York to pull out of the races for Price and Hamels. While that is a good philosophy, it might leave the Yankees struggling come October. There are still good arms on the market that are signed to longer contracts. Julio Teheran, James Shields, Tyson Ross and Jeff Samardzija are all sitting on the market waiting to be taken. The Yankees might be able to work out a good trade in order to get a top arm.
Warren has been pitching better than Pineda and might be the best in-house option if the Yankees stay put at the deadline. The team continues to hesitate to make deals and could easily just keep the roster in place and not give up anything. Whether or not that reflects in success remains to be seen.