The Yankees will have to wait to deploy their new ace.
Carlos Rodon will begin the season on the injured list due to a mild left forearm strain, GM Brian Cashman told reporters on Thursday at the Yankees spring complex in Tampa. The former No. 3 overall pick will be shut down from throwing for 7-10 days.
“In a perfect world [Rodon returns] sometime in April,” Cashman said. “I’m glad our trainers jumped on it, I’m glad our trainers said something. The finding was something but not significant or serious ...
“If this was in season, pennant race, late in the game he’d probably still be up and running. He had this last May with the Giants and he didn’t miss any time with it.”
The southpaw has made just one spring appearance where he allowed five runs over two-plus innings against the Braves on March 1.
Rodon signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees this past winter after two consecutive All-Star appearances in 2021 and 2022. The 30-year-old registered a 2.88 ERA in 31 starts with the Giants last season.
Earlier in his career, Rodon was plagued by injuries including undergoing Tommy John surgery during the 2019 season. The hard-throwing lefty made just 41 starts combined between 2017-2020.
Cashman understood his new starter’s injury history when he inked him to a long-term contract.
“It’s got risk, but I think it’s factored into the contract,” Cashman said at Rodon’s introductory press conference on Dec. 22. “Typically, pitchers that perform the way he has the last two years, you’re looking at probably even more [money]. I can’t deny that he has a history of injuries prior to the last two seasons.
“Certainly the hope is that he’s found his area of comfort in his professional career. I think Aaron [Boone] spoke to the journey you’re on where you try to navigate a 162-game season. There’s a lot of different areas from mechanics to in-between start routine as well as treatment levels.
“So, certainly the hope and belief is that he’s found his sweet spot here in the last two years.”
The Bombers are already down Frankie Montas as he underwent shoulder surgery on Feb. 21. Suddenly, this opens the door for both Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt to begin the season in the club’s starting rotation.
Relievers down
Tommy Kahnle and Lou Trivino will also join Rodon on the injured list to begin the season, Cashman said Thursday.
Kahnle — who signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Bombers this offseason — is dealing with biceps tendinitis while Trivino has an elbow ligament strain.
The Yankees’ pitching depth is already being tested with approximately three weeks to go in spring training.
