Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Now working through calf issue
Rotowire
Manager Aaron Boone told reporters Friday that Stanton is working through a calf injury in addition to tennis elbow in both arms, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.
Stanton has returned to Yankees' spring training camp after traveling to New York on Monday to receive a third round of platelet-rich plasma injections in his elbows. His most recent calf injury was called "fairly minor" by Boone, but it's yet another issue that Stanton will need to rehab through. The tennis elbows are the more pressing and severe issue, and it's possible that Stanton undergoes surgery and miss the entire 2025 season.
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Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Tapped for Opening Day
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Manager Aaron Boone announced Friday that Rodon will start Opening Day against the Brewers on March 27, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
The left-hander will step in as the Yankees' Opening Day starter with Gerrit Cole (elbow) lost for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Rodon struggled during his first year in the Bronx during 2023 with a 6.85 ERA in 14 regular-season starts, but he rebounded last season and finished with a 3.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 195:57 K:BB across 175 regular-season innings.
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Yankees' Paul Goldschmidt: Continues hot spring
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Goldschmidt went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two total runs and four total RBI in a Grapefruit League victory against Detroit on Thursday.
Goldschmidt belted a massive 447-foot solo homer in the fourth frame and added a three-run double in the following inning. The veteran first baseman is enjoying a productive spring, slashing .300/.323/.700 while tying for the team lead in home runs (three) and RBI (10). Goldschmidt posted a career-worst .716 OPS with the Cardinals last season, but he could benefit from a change of scenery in what will be his first campaign as a Yankee.
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Yankees' Jasson Dominguez: Goes deep for second spring homer
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Dominguez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, an additional run and a walk in Thursday's Grapefruit League win over the Tigers.
Dominguez put the Yankees on the board in the fourth inning, smashing a 381-foot homer to right field off Jackson Jobe. The long ball was the second of the spring for Dominguez, who is batting .229 with five RBI, seven runs, two stolen bases and 10 strikeouts over 35 at-bats. Dominguez has had some defensive troubles in left field during the exhibition slate, but the expectation remains that he'll be the Yankees' everyday left fielder upon the kickoff of the campaign.
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Yankees' Max Fried: Excels in second spring start
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Fried pitched four innings in a Grapefruit League game against Detroit on Thursday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out three batters.
Fried gave up a solo home run to Gleyber Torres with one out in the first inning, but the Tigers were unable to put any additional runners on base against him. The southpaw threw 35 of his 57 pitches for strikes and sat at 94 mph with his fastball, per Statcast. Fried's role in the Yankees' rotation has taken on added importance with Gerrit Cole (elbow) slated to miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery Thursday. Fried figures to slot in as New York's ace following Cole's injury, though the Yankees may opt to keep Fried on schedule and have another hurler start on Opening Day, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Cole's (elbow) season-ending Tommy John surgery included internal bracing, which could speed up his recovery time, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Cole underwent the operation Tuesday and is still certain to miss the entire 2025 season. However, the internal bracing procedure could allow him to return closer to the short end of the 12-to-18-month recovery timeline typically given to Tommy John patients. The Yankees still haven't announced how they plan to replace Cole and Luis Gil (lat) in their Opening Day rotation, though Marcus Stroman and Will Warren are the likely candidates to make the cut if no outside help is brought in.
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Yankees' Oswaldo Cabrera: Out Thursday with illness
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Cabrera was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers due to an illness, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.
Oswald Peraza was a late addition to the Yankees' lineup in place of Cabrera, who was scheduled to start at third base and bat eighth. Provided the illness isn't anything that keeps him out of commission for more than a few days, Cabrera should still have a good case to make the Yankees' Opening Day roster, especially with DJ LeMahieu (calf) likely to begin the season on the injured list.
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Yankees' Clarke Schmidt: Roughed up in spring debut
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Schmidt tossed 1.2 innings in a Grapefruit League start against Baltimore on Tuesday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four batters.
Schmidt got a late start in camp due to a back injury, and Tuesday marked his first time appearing in a game this spring. He struggled from the get-go, giving up four hits -- including a Ryan Mountcastle three-run homer -- in the first inning. Schmidt was at least able to end his outing on a high note, striking out two of the three batters he faced in the second frame before being pulled. The right-hander threw 38 pitches (23 strikes) Tuesday, and he'll likely get into two more Grapefruit League games before the beginning of the regular season.
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Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Candidate to start Opening Day
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Max Fried "might not line up" to be the team's Opening Day starter, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports, making Rodon a possibility for the assignment.
Gerrit Cole was the logical choice to start Opening Day for New York until he hurt his elbow and was diagnosed as needing Tommy John surgery. Fried would make sense to step in for the Opening Day honor, but the team may elect to not tinker with his schedule. If Fried isn't assigned the role, Rodon would be next in line given his standing as the Yankees No. 2 starter sans Cole and Luis Gil (lat). Rodon hasn't pitched in a spring game since Feb. 27, and it isn't clear when he'll make his next Grapefruit League appearance, but the Yankees haven't indicated that he's dealing with an injury or illness. Boone indicated Tuesday that the team is expected to announce an Opening Day starter in the next few days.
The Yankees reassigned Jones to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Jones has clubbed a pair of home runs while putting up a .996 OPS this spring but has also struck out 11 times in 25 plate appearances, showcasing both the good and the bad parts of his game. The 23-year-old will look to make strides in the plate discipline department in 2025 and could move up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after spending the 2024 campaign at Double-A Somerset.
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Yankees' Everson Pereira: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Yankees optioned Pereira to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
Pereira has a 1.090 OPS this spring but has been limited to designated hitter duty following last June's elbow surgery. He should be ready to play the field soon and will receive everyday reps at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as he waits for an opportunity with the big club.
