The New York Yankees have been playing much better this season than people around the league expected after the team lost Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson to injury and as the schedule pushes into summer the team is starting to get some of those players back.
According to ESPN.com, both third baseman Kevin Youkilis and Teixeira are ready to begin assignments in the minors for rehab work and there is a good chance that they will be ready for the series this week against the Boston Red Sox. Teixeira has been out since before the season with a wrist injury, while Youkilis was signed to take over for Rodriguez and played for the beginning of the season before dealing with a back injury in late April. The two players appear ready to come back after playing in an extended spring training game before heading to the Trenton team in Double-A in the minors.
Teixeira has been on schedule since he was placed on the 60 day DL and Youkilis was added to the rehab assignment at the last minute after his back appeared to get better. Youkilis has been out since April 28 and will play two games on Wednesday and Thursday before rejoining the Yankees for the series against his old team in the Red Sox. The Yankees have gotten by fairly well without their stars with the play of veterans like Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay, but the team may have to get rid of Overbay or David Adams from the roster to bring the players back up.
"I've said all along it depends on how they feel, physically and mentally, when you decide to activate them,'' Girardi said.
Adams has been hitting well but so has Overbay, so it could be a tough decision for manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman. Joba Chamberlain was also activated from the disabled list and he is back with the team for the Subway Series against the New York Mets and the team designated David Huff for assignment. Chamberlain will likely be used in the seventh inning like he was before his injury and the team also could get Andy Pettitte back soon after he threw 75 pitches in a simulated game.
Pettitte was put on the disabled list in mid-May after dealing with a muscle strain and he could be back with the team soon. Alex Rodriguez is on his way to returning for the team after picking up baseball activities after his hip surgery and he is still on schedule for his return later in the year. Derek Jeter is still sidelined as is Eduardo Nunez with a muscle strain as well. The Yankees could get a boost in the rotation from Michael Pineda, who pitched in extended spring training and is coming back from shoulder surgery.
