The Yankees are dealing with multiple injuries that still require rehabilitation time, despite having 3 1/2 extra months to recover for a condensed 60 game schedule. The 60 games will be played over 66 days, making the probability of suffering from fatigue and injuries much higher. This is a factor that played into the expansion of the active roster from 26 to 30 players.
Brian Cashman, general manager of the Yankees, stated that Giancarlo Stanton had not begun outfield drills and that he would likely slide into a DH role, excluding him from defensive duties.
At the very least, the Yankees could use Stanton’s offensive power and run support, but Aaron Judge is the more problematic injury still being dealt with. Judge has been recovering from a stress fracture in a rib suffered last September on a diving catch. Recent reports indicated a Judge has begun hitting off a tee and is taking some live swings.
With spring training 2.0 starting on Saturday, the Yankees have some time to develop their injured stars and hopefully get them back in an expanded role. If both Judge and Stanton are incapable of playing defense during the regular season in late July, the expectation is that Clint Frazier and Brett Gardner will supplement them with a dosage of Mike Tauchman.
Judge did not perform in any exhibition games prior to the shut down of Major League Baseball, due mainly to discomfort in his right pectoral muscle and shoulder when he was swinging the bat.
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The New York Yankees are on the right track, but still have a lot of work left to do
Cashman did say they are optimistic he will be ready for Opening Day, but we’ve heard those words before, and they rung untrue. It ultimately comes to Aaron facing live pitching to see if he’s in game shape, but that leaves out the entire defensive portion of his game. With Stanton already sliding into the DH spot, for the most part, Judge will have to play defense.
“We are very optimistic as of right now that maybe his proximation that he would be ready on Opening Day and in the lineup will ring true,” Cashman said. “So now it comes down to game reps and facing live pitching and seeing if he’s in game shape.”
Should we expect him to be ready in a month’s time? Based on recent history, I would go as far as to say that’s extremely optimistic.