The New York Yankees, already in need of reinforcements at catcher and reliever, may need to look into adding another starting pitcher before the trade deadline after announcing Friday ahead of their series opener versus the Minnesota Twins that they’ve placed three-time All-Star Carlos Rodón on the 15-day injured list.
The move is retroactive to June 30. It arrived amid the Yankees’ seven-game losing streak, their longest of the season and their worst since they endured a nine-game skid in August 2023.
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Rodón, dealing with left elbow inflammation, joins fellow southpaw Max Fried on the IL. Fried, a three-time All-Star himself, has been sidelined since mid-May with a bone bruise in his left elbow. He threw live batting practice on Tuesday and is expected to do so once more on Sunday before potentially beginning his rehab assignment, as reported by ESPN.
The Yankees, bitten by the injury bug — and even sickened by food poisoning recently — still haven’t had Gerrit Cole, Rodón and Fried healthy at the same time. Cole, a six-time All-Star, was out last season after the righty underwent Tommy John surgery last spring. He missed the early part of the 2026 campaign, too, while ramping things back up.
Likewise, Rodón also had a delayed start to this season. The 33-year-old left-hander had surgery on his throwing elbow in October. That operation removed loose bodies and shaved down a bone spur. A hamstring injury in late March stunted his return-to-play process.
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It wasn’t until May 10 that he made his first start of the season. He issued five walks and gave up three runs in a 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. Rodón eventually rounded into form, however. He’s recorded a 3.30 ERA through nine starts. Rodón was poised to start Saturday against the Twins. His last start came on Sunday during a 5-4 defeat to the Boston Red Sox. The one hit he conceded was a two-run single, except neither of those runs were earned following an error.
Rodón heading to the IL is a blow to the Yankees’ starting rotation. That said, Friday brought some much-needed good news to New York as well.
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Outfielder Trent Grisham and third baseman Ryan McMahon were reinstated from the IL. They’re both in the lineup for Friday night’s game. McMahon had a throat infection, and Grisham was working his way back from a right hamstring injury he sustained on June 12 versus the Toronto Blue Jays.
