Yankees right-hander Bryan Mitchell will miss three months due to a fractured toe, Jack Curry of the YES Network reports (Twitter link). Surgery may be necessary, though that won’t be decided until Mitchell visits a specialist, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). In addition, Mitchell also has Grade 3 turf toe.
Mitchell suffered the injury while covering first in yesterday’s Spring Training camp against the Braves. In that very same game, incredibly, Andrew Miller also suffered a chip fracture in his right wrist, leaving the Yankees potentially down two key relievers in a matter of innings.
Miller has said he plans to pitch through the injury to his non-throwing hand, though Mitchell unfortunately had no recourse. The Yankees were building around a potentially superb bullpen this season led by the Aroldis Chapman/Miller/Dellin Betances trio, though Chapman is suspended for the first 30 games, Miller is dealing with his wrist problem and now Mitchell is also hitting the DL.
The 24-year-old Mitchell was expected to take on a greater role with the Yankees this season, stepping into the swingman job left open after Adam Warren was dealt to the Cubs in the Starlin Castro trade. With so many injury questions within the Yankees’ rotation, Mitchell was tabbed as a key depth piece who could step up as a starter if necessary. With Mitchell out of action, it could open the door for Anthony Swarzak or rookies Luis Cessa or Johnny Barbato to join Ivan Nova as New York’s primary rotation depth option.
The righty looked impressive in 14 2/3 spring innings, allowing just one earned run and one walk while recording 11 strikeouts. Mitchell posted a 5.31 ERA, 8.0 K/9 and 1.89 K/BB rate over 40 2/3 innings from 2014-15, with 20 of his 23 appearances in the bigs coming out of the New York bullpen. He possesses a big fastball, averaging 96.1 mph on the pitch last season.
I don’t buy spring training stats at all. Mitchell isn’t as big a loss as most think. Miller on the other hand…..well duh. Thankfully it was his non-pitching hand. Maybe he can pull a Jim Abbott.
I agree, it sucks to have one less option but I’ve never been a Mitchell guy. I think Cessa can probably step in and do the same job anyway. If Miller can really pitch through it and pitch effectively, that’s a game changer, but if he and Mitchell and Chapman are out, it’s gonna be dicey in close games in April and maybe even the first half of May.
The big three in tact is really the only thing the Yankees can’t duplicate with minor league farm hands throughout the year.
True. Though if there is one thing Cashman has been good at over the years, it’s been putting a bullpen together. 3rd in WAR over the past 4 years. 1st in WAR if we go 5 years or more, though that’s of course in large part to Rivera, though even since he’s retired, they are 2nd in WAR right behind the Orioles.
Damn them Yankee bullpen arms are dropping like flies. Vizcaino is lookin better by the minute put a package we could put together to get Sanchez.
The Yankees aren’t trading one of the top catching prospects in baseball for a reliever.
Based on what I’ve seen from Yankee fans, I’m expecting a lot of Vizcaino + Dansby for Sanchez+ deals.
Pretty sure steelerbravenation came up with the trade idea in another thread.
But hey, proposals by fans show why they are only GM’s in video games.
No the trade proposal I made in the other threadjade Jace and Teahran involved as well with Sanchez and some other proponents involved but unnamed and everybody jumped on me saying that I was saying 3 for Sanchez which I never did. But I don’t see why some combination of Teahran, Vizcaino & Jace couldn’t get Sanchez plus other parts
Teheran, Vizcaino, and Peterson would bring a lot more than just “Sanches and pieces”. Have you seen the command for SP right now? Have you seen the command for closers right now? The yanks wouldn’t do this because of the future judge has with the time and the role they expect him to play but the only way The Johns move Teheran and Vizcaino is if they get a name like judge along with Sanches. Look what Miller brought back. And IMO Teheran has more upside than Miller. Just my opinion though. This comment may cause a lot of controversy but all of its the truth.
Ok well do you agree that Sanchez would be a great fit ? And if so what would u suggest would get it done ? Would like to hear some positive dialogue to go back and forth with
Come on Bobby Sweet and steelerbravenation, your basis for a trade is nonsense.
There is no way the Yankees would trade Sanchez even under the circumstances that one of these two mooks you area talking about is the reincarnation of Cy Young!
Stop with this ridiculous knee jerk reactions to someone that they will be able to replace with any one of 4-5 arms at Triple A.
Tough breaks for the Yanks…… But… Damnit… They are the Yanks…. they always somehow survive everything…. Last year the starting staff spend more time exchanging pleasantries with the medical staff than they did between the white lines and they still made the playoffs… So… glad I am not a Yankee fan to have to worry about all of this stuff, but they always seem to survive…..
Well, the Yanks’ bullpen problems continue to take a hit. They have some younger guys who can step up…possibly.
Barbato has already been tapped for the OD bullpen earlier today.
Jason Grilli and (choice of Kolby Allard or Tookie Tousaint) for Gary Sanchez and Domingo Acevedo.
I wouldn’t have a problem with that deal at all
No way. Sanchez for Vizcaino, Newcomb, and Cunniff
What about Jenkins, Grilli & Jace for Sanchez and Heathcott ?
Lmao no I’ll pass
Jace is a backup utility, grill is washed up and 2 years removed from a horrendous season and Jenkins is decent you can’t give quantity for quality slade and Sanchez are prolly not gonna see major league time this year too
Ok another guy that shoots it down with no counter proposal for a near mlb ready guy who is obviously blocked at the mlb level.
Sanchez isn’t that blocked McCann will be on first before the end of the season. Wouldn’t be surprised if McCann is in his final season in the Bronx.