The New York Yankees have now fallen to the Boston Red Sox in two consecutive games, a disappointing reality that further plummets the team in the AL East standings. Losing 6-2 on Friday night, another source of bad news comes in the form of catcher Gary Sanchez, who was pulled from the game with mid-back spasms.
Sanchez has been playing far better as of late, hitting .219 with 17 homers and 37 RBIs the season, including three hits and three runs in his last three games. Hopefully, the injury is nothing serious, and he can make a return quickly, as the Yankees starting team is being swindled with injuries and Covid situations.
“We’ll just see how he responds overnight,†manager Aaron Boone said. “His back started locking up. Felt like it was cramping on him in the early innings. Then by the fifth when he came out, it just really kind of locked up on him.â€
“Hopefully he’s back in there and it’s just something that kind of locked up on him, hopefully a short-term thing.â€
The Bombers don’t have much depth, with Kyle Higashioka also working his way back, so the team utilized depth piece Rob Brantley in his place, who was recently pulled up from the minors.
The Yankees could target Nationals’ Max Scherzer to bolster the starting pitching:
With the trade deadline nearing, the Yankees have been connected to various players, but one big name has bubbled to the surface, starting pitcher Max Scherzer. The Washington Nationals star hosts a 2.83 ERA the season with a 12.17 strikeout rate and 2.14 walks per nine. He has been stellar this year at 36 years old, and with Scherzer in the final year of a seven-year, $210 million deal, the Yankees would have to absorb a sizable amount of money, but he could elevate the starting unit to another level.
The Nationals are open to moving anyone not named Juan Soto at the right price, according to a source. Key word: right price. If the Yankees are willing to part with enough to get Scherzer (and probably a contract extension, too), that’s a move that would help now & in the future
— Dan Federico (@DanJFederico) July 24, 2021
Adding Scherzer behind Gerrit Cole would be fantastic, and hopefully, fuel a late run for the Yankees to make the postseason. However, they have to make a decision quickly if they want to bolster the team and inject some momentum.
With Corey Kluber and Luis Severino expected to return within the next few weeks, the team should have plenty of starting pitching options to work with, but none they can truly rely on. There’s no doubt that Scherzer would command a few prospects in return, but it’s a move the Yankees might have to make if they want to remain in the hunt.