Yankees' Luis Severino: Pleased with progress in rehab
Rotowire
6D ago
Severino (elbow) said Saturday that he's progressing well in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in February and remains optimistic that he'll be ready to pitch for the Yankees at some point in 2021, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Severino has been a regular at the Yankees' spring facility in Tampa during baseball's hiatus, with the right-hander relaying that he's been able to go through a weightlifting program five days a week since having the procedure. He expects to receive clearance to resume throwing at some point during the summer, but it may not be until next spring that the Yankees give him the green light to face hitters. Before requiring surgery, Severino was at least able to secure a four-year, $40 million contract extension with the Yankees that bought out his remaining arbitration years.
Paxton will be ready to go when the 2020 season begins and is working on increasing the spin rate on his fastball, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.
Paxton indicated that he has thrown 12-14 bullpen sessions since beginning his recovery from February back surgery and confirmed that he will be "ready to go as soon as the season comes about." Some of Paxton's bullpens have included simulated innings with batters standing in so that the southpaw can gain a feel for the strike zone, according to Ackert. Paxton also indicated that he is experimenting with his fastball grip in an effort to increase his spin rate. With the back issue now behind him, Paxton should slot into the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in the Yankees' Opening Day rotation.
Yankees' Deivi Garcia: Could be chosen for taxi squad
Rotowire
16D ago
Garcia could begin a potential 2020 season on the Yankees' taxi squad, Peter Gammons of The Athletic reports.
With the minor-league season in jeopardy, the Yankees may elect to place Garcia on the taxi squad in order to aid his development. The 21-year-old was once considered a candidate to open the season in the Yankees' rotation, but he struggled in Grapefruit League play and was optioned to Double-A Trenton in late March.
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Yankees' Michael King: Could be placed on taxi squad
Rotowire
16D ago
King is a candidate to begin the campaign on the Yankees' taxi squad if a 2020 season takes place, Peter Gammons of The Athletic reports.
King was optioned to the minors in late March after struggling through his final two Grapefruit League starts. He was once considered an option for a backend rotation spot to open the season, but his struggles -- and James Paxton's return to health during the hiatus -- has all but eliminated that possibility. While King could still make the active big-league roster in an abbreviated 2020 season, Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake named the right-hander among a trio of pitchers who could instead break camp on the taxi squad.
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Yankees' Clarke Schmidt: Candidate for taxi squad
Rotowire
16D ago
Schmidt could be given a spot on the Yankees' taxi squad if the 2020 season is able to be played, Peter Gammons of The Athletic reports.
Many questions remain about how a potential 2020 MLB season would play out, but the proposal of a 20-man taxi squad would enable prospects such as Schmidt to gain some experience during the campaign in the likely absence of a minor-league season. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake specified Schmidt as a player who could earn a taxi-squad role out of a restarted camp, though such a designation would not guarantee that the 24-year-old would actually garner big-league playing time during the season.
Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames said Thursday that Judge (rib) has yet to resume swinging a bat, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports. "When the doctors turn him loose, he'll be ready," Thames said. "He's champing at the bit to get out there."
Thames' comments regarding where Judge stands in his recovery from a fractured right rib are seemingly positive, but until the slugger is able to complete some on-field work, the Yankees likely won't be able to offer a clear target date for his return to game action. General manager Brian Cashman said last week that he expects Judge to be ready to play during "summertime," but he wasn't willing to provide any specifics beyond that.
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Yankees' Albert Abreu: Could make expanded roster
Rotowire
16D ago
Abreu could potentially be part of the Yankees' expanded roster should a 2020 season take place, Greg Johnson of The Trentonian reports.
While it is unlikely that Abreu would make the big-league roster to begin the campaign, he could be placed on the taxi squad, allowing the Yankees to call him up if the need for a bullpen arm emerges. Abreu has the arsenal to start, but command and control issues have led to speculation that he may be best suited to a relief role. That plan was briefly tested last season when the right-hander was transitioned to the bullpen for his final three appearances.
