AUGUST 24: Britton is going for a second opinion, manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including Lindsey Adler of the Athletic). Some form of surgery is apparently on the table as a potential outcome.
AUGUST 23: The Yankees announced Monday that they’ve placed lefty Zack Britton on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow sprain, recalled outfielder Jonathan Davis from Triple-A Scranton and reinstated righty Clay Holmes from the Covid-19-related injured list. Additionally, the Yankees paused Miguel Andujar’s minor league rehab assignment and transferred him to the 60-day injured list.
Last October, the Yankees picked up Britton’s $14MM option for 2022, as declining it would have allowed the lefty to become a free agent. In a sense, the club made a $27MM commitment for 2021-22. In March of this year, it became apparent that Britton would require arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone chip in his left elbow. This delayed his season debut until June 12th. Not long after, he returned to the IL with a hamstring strain. Never a control pitcher, Britton saw his walk rate this year balloon to 17.1% in 22 appearances. His typically ridiculous groundball rate has remained, but Britton also lost his seeming ability to repress batting average on balls in play (.230 from 2018-20). The result has been heavy traffic on the bases and a 5.89 ERA, perhaps related to a drop in fastball velocity exceeding two miles per hour.
Britton had already tumbled down the Yankees’ bullpen depth chart, with the team’s highest-leverage work this month going to Jonathan Loaisiga, Wandy Peralta, and Chad Green. Another pricey reliever, Aroldis Chapman, returned from an IL stint for elbow inflammation on August 18th.
Andujar has been on the 10-day injured list since July 10 due to a left wrist sprain, so since his 60-day clock is retroactive to that date, he now isn’t eligible to return until well into September. There hasn’t been any specific word on a setback, though since Andujar hasn’t played in any minor league rehab games since last Wednesday, something certainly appears to be amiss. Andujar only began his rehab assignment last Tuesday, appearing in two games.
Between this injury and his prior status of getting shuttled back and forth between Triple-A and the Yankees’ roster, 2021 is shaping up as another lost season for Andujar, who has hit .253/.284/.383 in 162 plate appearances over 45 games this year. Since finishing second in AL Rookie Of The Year voting in 2018, Andujar has managed only a .588 OPS over 276 PA at the big league level, due to both injuries and the fact that the Yankees seem to have largely moved on. Gio Urshela’s emergence in 2019 covered Andujar’s old spot at third base, and recent attempts to convert him to an outfielder also haven’t yielded any additional playing time.
Disastrous year for Britton.
Wrong Zach Britton in the BR link, btw.
There’s two of them?! What in the wide world of Max Muncy is going on here?
Small world, isn’t it?
Damn.
Can’t say I’m all that surprised though. Britton has been one of the most consistent/dominant relievers in the AL since he broke in back in ’11. However: he has been nothing short of disastrous for us this year.
Typical ’21 stuff. Get a couple guys back, just in time to lose a couple more. Pretty much what every team has been going through.
Sucks. But it is what it is…
Hope some rest can get him right.
A healthy & effective Britton is a big piece of our bullpen mix.
Why is Davis coming up again? Am I crazy to wish it was Greg Allen instead?
No.
Not crazy. But we went through this last time, @mlbnyyfan.
So, here goes: Davis is on the 40 man. Allen is not. Davis is merely a placeholder until Gio or Gleyber return. At that point, Davis will be let go as the extraneous position player *on the 40 man*.
This allows us to hold Allen for September when rosters expand.
Same reason as before, uh?
I don’t think we see Allen even in September. Allen is already on the 40 man but we only gain 2 roster spots in September and Gio and Torres will be coming back. The issue is that Allen doesn’t have any options remaining so they can’t send him back without passing him through waivers. They were able to pass him through in February, but now he’s shown some real value in his MLB time, so he likely won’t pass through again. Outside of COVID IL, he isn’t as easy to shuttle as Davis is.
with Stanton playing the outfield again with Gallo and Judge, Gardner is now a 4th outfielder again instead of a starting outfielder and the 5th outfield spot is now a pinch runner / defensive replacement. Davis is a much better defensive outfielder than Allen, especially in centerfield and a better base stealer. they also have Wade and Velazquez on the roster who both can play the outfield.
Davis will probably get sent back down today anyway when they bring Gil back up to start tonight
So the careers of Andujar and Frazier are O V E R in NY. For the love of god young pitching and/or a lefty SS.
They have zero trade value. Either they will be waived off the 40 to keep someone else this off-season or be in spring training to try to make the team or develop some trade value. Health is killing their careers.
Imagine if we traded either/both long ago when they were “untouchable”. These guys have done nothing consistently besides cash paychecks for sitting on the IL.
But as the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20.
Not sure why fans get bent over not trading either. Andujar had a great rookie year, looked like he had elite hitter upside, then got hurt and has not recovered. Frazier was up and down then had a terrific short season, looked like he was going to be an above average corner outfielder, got hurt and may never recover.
Their production proved Cashman right in keeping them, it’s their health getting in the way.
Frazier’s health had nothing to do with his batting 30 pts under hsi weight ALL year..
He’s garbage but is good at spinning his bat walking back into the matters box !
I think common sense would lead one to accept the possibilty that his vision and dizziness issues may have affected his performance this year and it’s complete regression from last season.
StudWinfield
Not sure why fans get bent over not trading either.
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This has always been kind of a senseless speculation to me. Every team in BB would like to be able to predict the future. In the past two years, Frazier looked like exactly what the NYY needed.
How can you say his health has nothing to do with his performance? My man his health is directly linked to his performance. Clint Frazier can hit make no mistake about that but if he has indeed been dealing with vertigo or what ever for a while now then that would explain a lot. Vertigo is crazy try going through it then make that same comment. I agree with the guy above who that said both Andujar and Frazier just got dealt a bad hand as far as injuries. I think both are decent bats with the talent to be above average consistently they just gotta get and stay healthy which in today’s game seems damn near impossible.
No need to explain to me about vertigo. I’ve suffered thru 3 bouts of it in my life. That’s number one. I have nothing but sympathy for any player that is affected by any ailment…or any person for that matter…but let’s call a spade a spade. Yes he was dealt a bad hand with injury, any athlete would be. Bu if he was dealing with this for the entire year, where was/is management to know this?? 1. Why was he playing. in the first place? 2. I laugh though when I hear people say “they are decent bats with talent.. …Isnt that every guy who comes up to the major leagues??. Let’s face it though, is this a guy who should be a starting outfielder in the post .
What exactly has he done in his career so far? His “breakout year” was when. He has a .239 career avg….
Frazier’s entire career may be over. I think they might hold onto Andujar but Frazier will probably be non-tendered at the end of the year (and Gardner’s option will be declined) to make 40 man roster space to protect prospects from the Rule V Draft. With Hicks returning next year and he and Stanton signed long term, Gallo and Judge signed through next year and Florial knocking on the door and probably Davis and Allen still in the mix and Dominguez in the future, there is no space for Frazier and probably not Andujar either but he could still move back to the infield.
All things taken into account, it’s surprising the Yankees are still afloat. Lots and lots of $ injured, and a serious amount of underperformance this year.
I don’t think I agree, @mike156.
I think we’ve had simply our “fair share” of injuries. We did have 21(!) guys unavailable last week. But everyone is banged up.
However.
Yanks had/have a lot of talent on their roster. & – to be honest – a $200MM payroll will certainly pay for redundancy & fall back plans.
Britton, O’day, & Wilson were/are pretty big letdowns in the ‘pen. But everyone else – even Chapman despite some amazing meltdowns – have been really good. That includes a number of our young guys.
Biggest issue has been the offense. But they look *much* better since the deadline.
I always thought the biggest issues in the 1st half were Defense and the Pen. Both will be issues once again when Gleyber returns and the team continues to fall back on Chapman in clutch sitiuations.
Rizzo can make up for a lot of Gleyber’s throwing issues that Voit could not. I don’t see Gleyber coming back to start again this year unless he proves he can hit. They are better off lineup balance wise with a faster player like Velazquez or Wade and I think Boone will put them in based on the analytics and the hot hand. If Gio comes back before Gleyber, they may continue playing Odor and DJ at 3B and have Gio play SS.
That’s a good point about the throws to Rizzo, 28. That said, Velazquez is rangier. Still, I don’t want to give up on GT. I’m hoping he can get back on track with the bat. Another thing I would like to see is Wade starting at 3B. HR notwithstanding, Odor is so bad, I wouldn’t put him on the playoff roster, Gio doesn’t have the tools Wade has and I’d rather have Wade next to GT.
I don’t want to give up on Torres either but you have to admit that it stings a little knowing that he was the reason the Yankees didn’t get Castillo from the Reds. I know Castillo had a rough first half but I have to say I’d make that trade every time if I’m New York. I’ll take the young controllable arm thank you. The Yankees have a few high level SS prospects in their system and you have to be willing to give up something to get something. Right about now I’d like to have Castillo.
I’m glad he’s off the mound. It seems every time he goes out there he gives up at least one run. Maybe some time off will help him get back on track.
I will also say that Chapman and Britton (if and when he comes back) should never be used after the eight inning in any circumstance (unless the team is up by 10 runs) until they work things out.
OK ok got it @Ducky so the Yankees are not planning to keep Davis once Gio and Gleyber are scheduled to get off the IL then arrivederci to Davis. September 1st rosters expand to only 28 so I doubt Allen will be back up. Ideally he replaces Gardy next year.
Yee-up.
The Yanks agree with you on Allen (as do I). They prefer him. Cash snuck him through waivers & then stashed him in AAA.
Davis – on the other hand – was placed on the 40 man as soon as he was acquired. He is the extra position spot. Thus fungible. As soon as Gio or Gleyber are ready he gets bounced from the shindig.
Bet.
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I’ve drawn an early bead on Chris Taylor as my Gardy upgrade.
I think when Gio &/or Gleyber comes back Velasquez goes down. Davis is up due to Gardy was HBP on Friday, not sure why
They brought up and sent down Florial.
I’m glad Yankees O is doing much better of late especially vs Twins but their pitching is bad anyways. Got some tough games ahead with Atlanta, A’s & Angels on the road. NYY is 1-9 in Oakland in last 10 games there.
Fair enough, @Gruber.
There are certainly other possible permutations. I guess the main thing is that Davis – by being on the 40 man – is a prime candidate to be DFA’d while Allen is not because he’s not.
So it’s one of those weird roster things.
Yanks prefer Allen. But they are demonstrating that by *not* adding him at this point.
Baseball, man.
Yeppers @Ducky. Davis is only up for pretty much for D late in games for prob Stanton and move Judge to RF.and Wade can also play OF as well, with regular gig he has excelled with the bat getting on base via BB or hits creating havoc. Yanks have a tough schedule going forward 20 games in 20 days. I miss RAB too. As Coney says gotta keep on keeping on.
& Davis is nothing more than: Roster Churn.
I see why @mlbnyyfan finds it so maddening though. MLB knows, the Yanks know, the posters @MLBTR all know;
Allen > Davis
But it’s 40/26 man stuff.
Against some good teams & in some tough parks too! Make or break stretch. 4.5 back. Going into a Brutal Slog.
So fun. Was checking out a Reds thread. Those guys are stoked to be in the playoff picture this time of year.
& Yankee fans seem…bored.
Cone used to read RAB.
I can’t believe he didn’t throw up a post every once in awhile. Ya know?
Bored? it’s exciting that the Yanks are finally showing up in games now, there are the occasional base mishaps, DPs and the errors but not as often as before which is part of the game. Yanks only have 3 games left w/ TB so if the Yanks take care of business on their end everything will fall into place. Gio is rehabbing in Somerset so he’s not far off. Lets go Yankees!
I’d bet money CT3 stays in LA
Noted.
I will always take the field. So let me know.
Also: Taylor is going to need a new number. 3 is sort of unavailable.
Good, now they can package Britton and Frazier to land Mike Trout and Raisel Iglasias
These Yankee trade jokes are getting quite lame. It would be more believable to augment your comment by adding “now they can package Britton and Frazier to land Mike Trout and Raisel Iglasias and get the Angels to pay their remaining salaries.”
Truthfully, the entire Yankee trolling game is pretty weak over here. I keep telling these guys to read through old comments from River Ave Blues. There were some good Yankee trolls over there.
Just want to see them elevate their erstwhile game for my own interest. They are just so boring & predictable here. I could write their posts for them.
Albeit better. Of course.
I was hoping the Yankees could of packaged Frazier and Andujar in the Gallo deal. Not sure why the Yankees continue to keep those two players. Probably no one wants them
I doubt at this point any team going after Frazier when no one knows of what is ailing him. LAA would never deal Trout, he’s pretty much untouchable is what I think. All the Angel need to do is shore up their pitching staff(SP & relief)
@mlbnyyfan Bc the Yankees have the resources to keep them and are now hoping they can be a Luke Voit-type role players.
Probably nobody wants them ???
This is problematic. They are overusing Green, Loaisiga and Luetge. This will come crashing down if they can’t find other useful pieces to share the load. You can’t ask those three guys to pitch 80 innings and have anything left for the postseason. That’s how Torre lost his job.
Sol’n: Holmes, Rodriguez, Chapman (still exists), Abreu, Ridings. Those guys all look: Pretty Good.
Other possibilities; Sevy, Warren, German…
&
Miscellaneous young dudes: Nelson, King, Kriske – haven’t shown much though.
We’ll be fine, mon cheri.
Your concern is – of course – touching.
*IF* we can get the End Game sorted (& I believe we will) this will be the deepest ‘pen in the AL postseason.
I agree with Ducky. Also got Peralta too. Green hasn’t been overused at all, he has only pitched in about 51 games which ranks 19th in AL in appearances and most by a Yankee. King has shown he’s better in a relief role rather than as a starter this year. Yanks should’ve sent Chappy for rehab before reactivating him.
10 straight, bro!
Yeah, Peralta too. I just trust Joely & Luetge more. Britton also, to be 100. Plenty of pieces in this bullpen, serious.
I think we’ll figure out the 9th. At which point, this ‘pen should go *at least* 6 deep.
Man.
We win games so ugly. But this could all actually work.
And 4 games back on the Rays! They a real shot at the best record in the AL which was unfathomable
at August’s start. Voit is red hot and it sucks he can’t play everyday.
Yes 10 straight!!! Stanton, Sanchez and the pitching staff were solid tonight the tack on runs with bases loaded, 2 outs were huge from Sanchez. Chappy showed much better command with his pitches which is a plus. Hope Heaney can gives us another decent outing tomorrow to keep them steam rolling! A win is a win regardless of ugliness.
I embrace the ugliness.
Can wrap up another series win today. I do like a good winning streak but we just need to continue to take care of business.
Brutal to behold; 11 straight.
#lovetheUgly
Yea baby! That was too close, but another series win!
Hahah, Yankee fans celebrating umpire led win. Good job
@Ian Still counts in the standings.
@Ducky Caught the second half of the game. Chappy has to find it for this team to have a fighting chance. While frustrating again, I was relieved Boone pulled him.. Peralta has settled in quite well. Taillon tomorrow needs to give some length to let the pen rest.
Definitely needs to find his groove they need him. The walk of the weak hitting pinch hitter for the pitcher spelled disaster. Although he did have Albies struck out on the “foul tip”, followed by a routine grounder that Odor took his time on.
We have had our share of bad calls this year ourselves. & – as I noted – twas an ugly win. Again.
We’re actually “celebrating” an 11 game winning streak. No idea what squad you root for. But looking at the “style” of your post, it’s pretty obvious you don’t care for the Yanks.
I warned the board repeatedly that the Yanks are always a hard team to kill & we would see this club go on a run.
So: gotcha.
I see Britton I see France
Did someone check Shanton’s corked bat yet?
@Ian You’d think they would for someone who perennially has the one of the highest average velocities.
11 in a row!
The last time they won 11 straight was 1985 when Steve Balboni won the World Championship.
But here in 2021, the Yanks have just punched the White & red sox, & the Braves right in the face.
Heading to Oaktown now. You should be rooting for us to do the same to the A’s as we did to your squad. Trust me. You fellas need our help. Quite obviously.
Well if surgery is the chosen course of action I imagine that releasing him after the season is a legitimate option. Use the 40 spot on someone else.
He had his $14M ’22 option picked up. No point in releasing him when they can stash him on the 60-day IL freeing up a roster spot.
When is his contract up?
Zack Brittle is following in the footsteps of The American Idle, Carl Pavano