There was understandable concern in the Bronx when the Yankees placed Max Fried on the 15-day injured list yesterday. The diagnosis of an elbow bone bruise was the same as the one that cost the star lefty two months earlier in the season.
Fortunately, the Yankees don’t anticipate nearly the same absence. Manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Tuesday that the team is hopeful it’ll be a minimal stay (link via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). Boone framed the transaction as mostly precautionary and noted that Fried is still playing catch after an MRI revealed only low-level inflammation.
The Yankees are in position to play things cautiously. They’re all but assured of securing a Wild Card spot. They have a five-game deficit behind the Rays in the AL East that’ll be difficult to erase even at full strength. The Yankees also had Carlos Rodón ready as a plug and play replacement in the starting five. If Fried only misses two or three starts, they’d still have plenty of time to get him built up for the postseason. Will Warren or Ryan Weathers could move to the bullpen at that point.
There are also a couple positive updates on the position player side. Cody Bellinger is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday (relayed by Chris Kirschner of The Athletic). Bellinger will need at least a couple games there but could be back in the MLB lineup as soon as this weekend.
That’d make for a quick return from the Grade 2 hamstring strain which Bellinger suffered on July 25, as he’d be back at the early end of the initial 4-6 week timetable. It’ll likely push Spencer Jones back to Triple-A, at least until active rosters expand by two players at the beginning of September. Ben Rice, José Caballero, George Lombard Jr. and Austin Wells are their other position players who have minor league options. If they want to stay with 13 pitchers and don’t plan to release Amed Rosario, Jones would be the only real candidate to send down.
Bellinger’s return should provide a boost to a still ugly offense, but there’s no bigger x-factor in the American League than the health of Aaron Judge. The Mariners are the only team with fewer runs than the Yankees since the beginning of June, when Judge was diagnosed with the stress fracture in his rib. The three-time MVP’s rehab will take a step forward, as Boone told reporters (including The New York Post’s Dan Martin) that Judge can begin a hitting progression this week. The team still hasn’t stated a timeline for his return beyond their continued optimism that he’ll be back before season’s end.
