Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, who went on the disabled list last Saturday with a cartilage tear in his right knee, is progressing toward a return and expects to start running next week, he told Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media. Teixeira didn’t reveal when he could rejoin the Yankees, but the fact that it’s a possibility is undoubtedly welcome news for him and the team. The fear when Teixeira suffered the injury was that he’d need surgery. As of now, though, it appears the 36-year-old will avoid going under the knife. In addition to Teixeira, the Yankees have recently lost two other first base options – Chris Parmelee and Dustin Ackley – to injuries.
Here’s more on some big-name players dealing with health troubles:
- Mariners ace Felix Hernandez is making progress with his strained calf, but there remains no timetable for his return, said manager Scott Servais (Twitter link via Greg Johns of MLB.com). Hernandez, who landed on the DL retroactive to May 28, was originally supposed to miss only two starts with the injury. But he’ll now need to go on a rehab stint when he’s deemed healthy enough to return to the mound, tweets Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Hernandez posted a 2.86 ERA, 7.57 K/9 and 3.71 BB/9 in 63 innings prior to going on the shelf.
- Athletics left-hander Rich Hill won’t throw off a mound until the middle of next week at the earliest, per John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Before hitting the DL on Thursday with a right groin strain, the 36-year-old threw 64 frames of 2.25 ERA, struck out 10.41 batters per nine innings and established himself as an appealing summer trade candidate.
- Dodgers starters Hyun-jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy will both begin four- to five-start rehab assignments this weekend, according to manager Dave Roberts (via Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register). This will be the second time Ryu has attempted a rehab assignment; in May, he suffered a setback in his surgically repaired left shoulder after making three rehab starts. The 29-year-old southpaw underwent surgery on a torn labrum in May 2015 and hasn’t appeared in a major league game since October 2014. Given the time Ryu has missed, he’ll need to prove himself worthy of a rotation spot, Roberts said. McCarthy, meanwhile, had Tommy John surgery a year ago after racking up just four starts on the season.
If Tex wasn’t in a walk year, …
Frankie Montas is a better rotation option for the Dodgers right now…..He gives them another righty (along with Maeda) to balance out the 3 current lefties in the rotation.
With Montas they have two tough righties (Maeda and Montas), to go with Kershaw and Kazmir. With Urias on an innings limit, this leaves either Wood, Ryu or McCarthy as the 5th starter after the All-Star break. With Ethier returning, do DeLeon, Puig and Van Slyke become trade bait for a big OF bat or a relief pitcher at the trade deadline?
Ethier has 10/5 rights now and isn’t going anywhere. And Puig is still a bargain. He’s shown great signs of being a ball player and good team mate. I think Roberts has really connected with him and he stays. I think Thompson makes Van Slyke available and De Leon. Maybe with another prospect we can bolster the bullpen and get someone down there who’s lights out to compliment Jansen.
JohnnyDodger has hit it right on the nose.. If VanSlyke improves he might stick around but he’s not worth much right. I know he was on the DL for awhile, for a back problem & believe me a back problem is a big problem. I think Deleon is a pitcher & was equally compared to Urias although older. (if I’m correct) My personal opinion is Urias should say in Triple-A, It’s not just age. Though he’s improved each time I don’t think we should lose a season to “KEEP” putting a pitcher on the mound only to cost us a game in the standings, because they want to see what they got & use him. If the FO truly want to get to the W.S. NOW some of the decisions made have been real questionable I also think that Ryu is afraid to come back, afraid to FAIL, If that is the way of it Ryu should discuss it w/FO. Glad MCCarthy getting around to it but he to will be innings limited.. So as from the beginning we have needed another #1 maybe #2 & definitely another #3. Who knows how long it will take Anderson & Wood to get into rhythm. Also BP & some offense would be very helpful.