The New York Yankees are having a dream 2022 season with an incredible 56-21 record in the American League East. The Bombers have been quite fortunate in terms of injury setbacks. This is because none of their five starters missed out on games due to injuries. Moreover, out of eleven position players who have at-batted regularly, only Giancarlo Stanton has been on the injury list due to a minor problem.
However, the Yankees manager Aaron Boone will have some tough decisions to make with Aroldis Chapman set to get off the injury list possibly on Friday. Ryan Weber would most likely be Designated for Assignment (DFA) to make way for Chapman. However, things would get really testing for Boone when Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga finally return from their respective injuries. Some of the DFA options that the Yankees boss might have would be Albert Abreu, who returned to the 40-man squad last week.
Moreover, another option that the bombers might have is the rookie, Ron Marinaccio. However, it would not be fair for the Tom Rivers sensation, who has an ERA of 2.60 in 15 outings. Moreover, the 27-year-old has not allowed a single run in 13 1/2 innings in his last 11 outings since late May.
Meanwhile, another DFA option that the Yankees have is left Lucas Luetge, who secured two more innings without any score during the Yankees’ 5-3 win over Oakland on Wednesday. The 35-year-old allowed only a single run in over 11 2/3 innings in nine outings, lowering his ERA from 5.84 to 3.38. However, as Boone says, the issues could eventually resolve themselves if someone else gets injured.
German & Loaisiga On Their Way To Comeback After Chapman
The Yankees bullpen had to deal with some crucial setbacks while the relievers have been doing tremendously well, especially clay Holmes and Michael King. However, injuries to some key players have led the Yankees to try out some different players. The Pinstripers have not played German this season following a shoulder impingement.
Later in May, three veteran relievers were added to the injury list in five days. Firstly, Chad Green suffered from an elbow tear, which turned into a season-ending Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Chapman and Laoisiga were also injured on back-to-back days. The injury losses could have been horrific for the Yankees. But every player that came in kept the winning flow going as they have gone 26-7 since Loaisiga was sidelined.
Chapman is on his way to a return while german is getting there too. He threw three shutout innings in a first rehab outing against the Low-A Tampa last weekend. Then, German was sharper on Tuesday night when he pitched 3 1/2 scoreless innings while starting for Double-A Somerset. Thus, when German returns, Abreu could be the one who’ll have to take a DFA.
Meanwhile, Loaisiga is expected to return from his shoulder inflammation injury in about two weeks. He threw a Bullpen on Wednesday before moving to Tampa to face hitters this weekend during a live Bullpen. Thus, Loaisiga could play in about three minor-league matches before he is deemed fit by the third week of July. Luetge could be the one who will have to give up his roster star when Loaisiga returns to the team.