The Yankees announced a series of roster moves prior to tonight’s game, with righties Luis Severino and Miguel Castro being transferred to the 60-day injured list. Righty Clarke Schmidt was optioned to Triple-A, while another righty, Carlos Espinal, was signed to a major league contract and selected to the active roster.
Severino, 28, was placed on the injured list July 14 due to a low-grade strain of his right lat. Today’s transfer will rule him out until 60 days from that initial placement, which would be mid-September at the earliest. That absence is longer than most expected, and the Yankees did not reveal Severino’s timeline until after making their acquisition of Frankie Montas official. Severino could still be a factor for the Yankees in the postseason. Severino played catch on the field today, reports MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
Severino, 29 in February, pitched only 18 regular season innings in the Majors from 2019-21 due to a lat strain and a drawn-out recovery from Tommy John surgery that included a shoulder injury of its own. Until this current lat strain, 2022 had marked a return to health and form for Severino, who has a 3.45 ERA in 16 starts. The Yankees will be weighing his $15MM club option after the season. Castro, acquired from the Mets in an April trade, pitched acceptably in lower-leverage work out of the Yankees’ pen before straining his shoulder.
Espinal, listed at 5’11” and 175 pounds, has never gotten attention from prospect experts but has demonstrated the ability to miss bats at the Double-A level. After only a trio of appearances at Triple-A, he’s now on the cusp of his Major League debut at age 25. Schmidt was unscored-upon over his last seven innings, but after throwing 52 pitches on Tuesday perhaps the Yankees preferred a fresher arm in the short-term. Espinal can help bridge the gap as the Yankees wait for a pair of new bullpen additions to make their way to New York: Scott Effross, acquired from the Cubs, and Lou Trivino, added from the A’s in the Montas deal.
Traded 2 players from 40 man and removed 2 players by placing on 60 IL. Assuming Espinal takes last spot on current 40 for now then?
Well if you needed any more reasons for the Montas trade and for the relievers, these moves further justify today’s trades.
That pretty much guarantees Sevy won’t be in the rotation for the postseason. Getting Montas looks even better now
He will be back
The move to the 60 day IL puts Sevy out until mid September. He might not have enough time to get stretched out to be a SP. We saw a similar situation with him last year
Agreed. Severino has shown he is lights out in the pen though, so he’s a HUGE addition either way.
It was probably gonna be Cole, Cortes, Montgomery and Taillon anyway with Severino and German in the pen or off the postseason roster. Now Montas will take the #3 spot after Cortes and push Taillon off the postseason roster.
I think Montas would be 2 ahead of Nestor but you never know. At least we don’t have to worry about Taillon and Monty both being in the postseason rotation now. The only question is which one is excluded? Neither has been good lately
better to split the two power righties with the crafty lefty
It’s not that simple though. If Montas is the 3, he would only make one start unless the series goes to seven games. I’d rather Montas start in a potential must win game 6
Yeah definitely going to the bullpen for the playoffs. He will be another high leverage weapon. Boone needs all he can get.
Not necessarily. With the acquisition of Montas and a comfortable lead, they may have decided to rest him until September as he has so few innings pitched the last couple seasons. While he can’t be activated until mid-September, they can begin his rehab process in late August in AAA so that he’s stretched out and ready to go.
i had the same thought
can’t imagine they want cortez, montgomery, or taillion starting must-win games against the astros
To the guy who was adamant that Sevy was going right back into the rotation and never relieving again, this is reality.
We shall see.
I’m all for a loaded pen in the playoffs, to shorten games, if starting him is too risky.
The Yankees hold a $15mm option for Severino. No way will Hal Wilpon buy that pricey a lottery ticket.
Frankly, I have a hunch that Severino has thrown his last pitch as a Yankee.
Guaranteed to pick up the option.
@ctyank7 I disagree. No way they shut him down if they don’t intend on picking up the option next year. Look at what they gave Kluber and he had plenty of question marks.
Kluber — despite the glitz of the no-hitter — proved to be a waste of Yankee money.
I sincerely think we need a 3rd basemen and bench player donaldson and gallo have not come clutch at all
DJ is no platinum glove at 3rd base but he’s more than capable at that position and with the emergence of (almost) vintage Torres at 2nd Donaldson will be right where he belongs come October, on the bench.
Why are we playing Donaldson? I get that he plays good defensive at 3B, but so does DJ. Play Torres at 2nd, DJ at 3rd and have Gonzalez and Carpenter as backups. It’s like we don’t play our designated out anymore(Gallo who else) so we replace him with Donaldson.
They should platoon. Donaldson still hits lefties well. See if they can get him into a good groove.
Agreed. JD has been a disappointment but I’m not giving up on him yet.
36 is still 36… People age. Athletes do, too..
Look at Justin Turner, now 37 — a shadow of his former self.
Turner is still decent
Losing Severino sucks but at least they have Montas now to slide in the rotation instead of that jabroni German.
Also looking forward to the Yankees getting rid of the Italian Chris Carter AKA Joey Gallo.
Answer fast – you have to take Gallos Yankee career, or Carl Pavanos. Who do you want?
I’ll take the guy who at least knew to stay the hell away from the field. Gallo is an embarrassment.
That said, he seems like a good guy and I will root for him when he plays elsewhere.
Pavano sadly lol.
He wasn’t atrocious like Gallo (when Pavano decided to show up and play)
With Severino a free agent next year maybe this was his last game as a Yankee? Bucky Duckin Fent where have you gone?
I think the Yanks have a club option on him!
they do, but do they pick it up at $15 million? especially with Cole, Montas, Cortes, Montgomery, German (they they don’t non tender him), Schmidt and Gil returning next year? I think either Sevy and / or Taillon (who is a free agent) will be gone.
Sure. That’s not a particularly high amount of money on a single-year commitment for a quality pitcher. They may view this as part of the way to build him back up after missing the last few years. Remember, Taillon is gone after this season, so if they let Severino walk too, they’ll need to go out and trade for or sign a quality starter. Maybe they give Schmidt the shot, but that’s too risky. Sevy will be back.
Well I was advocating for Sevy in the bullpen after the king injury but not like this….
Hate to say it but he’s done for the year. Between Degrom and Sevy in NY you would think one of them would admit going max effort every pitch isn’t great for your career.
There are 2 ways to look at this move, optimistic saving Sevy and Schmidt for the playoffs, or pessimistic, Sevy is really hurt and so is Schmidt, or one or the other. Only time will tell, Yanks don’t need them in August!
Sadly, despite all the talent, it’s likely that Severino has thrown his final pitch as a Yankee..
They hold an option on him for ’23. Are maybe 15 starts next year worth picking up a $10mm option?? I’ll bet Hal says “no.”
Severino isn’t elite but the going free agent rate for a good quality start is about $1M per game. If he has a good year in ’23, there’s always the Q.O. they can tag him with.
Espinal’s getting selected
The Schmidt demotion is weird. Maybe they want to keep him stretched out in AAA…..or maybe he’s expected to be included in a (big) trade so rather as well call up an available arm for tonight. Very depressing news about Severino, I hope he makes it back for the playoffs.
Sears was the 6th starter for the team. Since he’s traded, they will need to keep someone stretched out in AAA. I am curious what they will do with German after his start tonight. They need to open up roster spots and he has an option remaining. Montas will take his spot in the rotation. Will they keep German stretched out in AAA too? More likely, Espinal is just here for one game.
He stunk the last outings and is a mental case now- he needs to figure it out in AAA
Severino was on a pitch limit. This will keep Severino in play down the stretch and postseason
no surprise. I figured this was the end of his season, and likely his Yankees career. Why would they bring back the guy who can never remain healthy after all
Montas will be #2, Nestor #3, Monty #4
We need to package Gallo, Andújar (he deserves to be a starter elsewhere) and Donaldson off to NATS with a prospect for Soto! Lol. But at least for a good 3b. Prospect. Gotta get #28 or it’s a bust !
That makes absolutely no sense.
The Nats are looking at a package starting with Dominguez, Volpe, Peraza and Wells (the best of the organization’s kid catchers).
Andujar might be included… but he’s just an extra player in DC’s eyes.