The Yankees received bad injury news Friday on Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton, but Luis Severino, Zack Britton and Clarke Schmidt continue to progress rehabbing from arm issues.
Latest on Yankees’ COVID-19 outbreak: 9 things to know
Updated 7:55 AM;
Today 7:45 AM
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has seen eight members of the organization test positive for COVID-19.AP
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It was a start.
“Maybe it’s slowing down,” general manager Brian Cashman told reporters via Zoom from his Connecticut home.
Introducing Yankees Insider:
Number of cases: The total reached eight Thursday night.
Who are they? Shortstop Gleyber Torres, third base coach Phil Nevin, first base coach Reggie Willits, pitching coach Matt Blake and four unnamed support staff members.
How are they? Nevin was the only one to test positive and show symptoms, but manager Aaron Boone said was finally asymptomatic as of Thursday. All the other cases were asymptomatic. Every person who tested positive had received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Torres’ case was especially confounding, since he also tested positive for the virus in December.
1 of Yankees’ top pitching prospects has the right stuff to be closer Aroldis Chapman’s successor
Updated 8:18 AM;
Today 8:17 AM
New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman is second in the American League with nine saves this season.
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Father Time remains undefeated.
But the 33-year-old southpaw can’t throw 100 mph forever. Eventually the Yankees will need to identify the team’s closer of the future.
MLB.com has done just that, reporting that prospect Luis Medina could be the right man for the job.
Signed for $280,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2015, Medina has some of the best pure stuff in the Minors with an upper-90s fastball that reaches 102 with natural cut, a low-80s curveball that can be an absolute hammer and a 90-mph changeup with splitter action. He has had trouble harnessing it for much of his career before making some strides recently, and he definitely has closer upside if the Yankees ever decide to simplify his role.
Rays react to Yankees’ COVID outbreak as they begin series vs. Mets at Tropicana Field
Updated 8:37 AM;
Today 7:59 AM
Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena, right, celebrates with teammates, including Austin Meadows, Joey Wendle and Kevan Smith after his three-run home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael King during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 13, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla.AP
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There’s no place like home.
The Tampa Bay Rays open a three-game series Friday against the New York Mets at Tropicana Field. And the Rays probably are happy to welcome the National League East leaders to St. Petersburg, Fla. That’s because the Rays just wrapped up a three-game series with the New York Yankees, who are in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak.
MLB insider speculates what Yankees’ Gary Sanchez would fetch in a trade
Updated 1:31 PM;
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So you’re saying there’s a chance?
New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez has lost his spot in the starting lineup, and with good reason. The 28-year-old is hitting .197 with four home runs and six RBI in 24 games. Yes, that’s better than his career-worst .147 in 2020. But it also gives the Yankees more reason to consider parting ways with the catcher.
Introducing Yankees Insider:
So what if general manager Brian Cashman says he’s ready to send Sanchez packing? What could he reasonably expect in return for the two-time All-Star who still has one more year of arbitration eligibility remaining? SNY’s Andy Martino has an idea.