The Yankees placed Carlos Rodon on the IL with elbow inflammation Wednesday, and suddenly the rotation that looked wobbly a week ago looks like it needs a triple-A tow truck. Jon Heyman, the MLB insider, basically said what everyone in the Bronx is thinking: the time to shop for a starter is now.
Heyman posted on X that the Yankees had been laser-focused on a catcher and some bullpen help before Rodon went down. That calculus just changed.
The injury pileup is getting absurd
Rodon joins a list that already includes Giancarlo Stanton, Max Fried, Aaron Judge, Ryan McMahon, Trent Grisham and Clarke Schmidt. That’s not a depth chart. That’s a MASH unit. Gerrit Cole is back but still working his way back from his own elbow issue, and behind him you’re looking at Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers. The Yankees might have to call up Ryan Yarbrough or Paul Blackburn just to get through the next few weeks.
Rodon was actually having a decent season — 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA over nine starts, striking out 52 in 46 1/3 innings. He’s been streaky, sure, but he’d held it together. Now he’s out at least until late July, and the Yankees are sitting at 48-38, clinging to the top AL wild card spot.
What do they do now?
The front office was already reportedly sniffing around the Twins about a catcher. But you can’t win games 2-1 if you can’t get to the sixth inning. Expect trade talks to pivot hard toward starting pitching. The market isn’t deep, but desperation has a way of focusing the mind.
Judge being out only makes it worse. The lineup takes a hit, the defense takes a hit, and now the rotation is held together with medical tape and bad options. If the Yankees don’t make a move in the next couple weeks, they risk watching this thing slip away before the All-Star break even hits.
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