Notebook
MLB Notebook – Week Two: 4/9/18
- Jacoby Ellsbury has been shut down from his rehabilitation program. Ellsbury was rehabbing from a strained right oblique when he injured his hip playing in minor-league games. Manager Aaron Boone announced that he will not return to action on Thursday, the day he was eligible to return from the 10-day disabled list.
- The Yankees added veteran outfielder Trayce Thompson off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. He is primarily a centerfielder but can play all three outfield positions. Thompson batted .122 in 49 at-bats (29 games) for Los Angeles in 2017. If you didn’t know, Trayce is the younger brother of the Golden State Warriors star, Klay Thompson. He was then promptly claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics.
- In a corresponding move to add Thompson to the 40-man roster, New York announced that reliever Ben Heller’s option to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was voided and he was placed on the 60-day disabled list after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
- Outfielder Clint Frazier is continuing to progress from his concussion. The Georgia native is close to advancing his rehabilitation to playing in live games.
- General Manager Brian Cashman made a quiet trade on Wednesday. The Yankees acquired utility man Cody Asche from the Kansas City Royals for cash or a player to be named later. Asche is a career .234 hitter across five Major League seasons. He is primarily a third baseman but has appeared in left field and first base as well.
- The Oakland Athletics claimed Trayce Thompson off waivers from the Yankees on Thursday.
- While in the ‘Big Apple’ for this weekends Yankees-Orioles series, potential Yankee target Manny Machado said in an interview that he “made the commitment to move to short” and that his preference is to “stay there” in the future. He also added that playing the hot corner was “awesome” and that his move away to the premier infield position wasn’t for a bigger contract this offseason when he becomes a free agent.
- Injury update: Aaron Hicks told reporters that he is “ready now” to return to action on Friday. The centerfielder is eligible to be activated and return to action on Monday.
- Starting pitcher CC Sabathia was placed on the 10-day disabled list following an early exit in Friday nights game due to right hip soreness.
- Brandon Drury was also placed on the 10-day DL following Friday’s contest due to a series of severe migraines and blurred vision. The symptoms began since early on in Spring Training.
- Catcher Gary Sanchez and infielder Tyler Wade left Friday’s 14-inning loss to Baltimore with a right thigh cramp and flu-like symptoms, respectively. To note, the pair were not in action in Saturday’s or Sunday’s matinee.
- Following the bullpen taxing, marathon of a game on Friday, New York optioned reliever Jonathan Holder to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
- Utility-man Jace Peterson and pitchers Luis Cessa and Domingo German all joined the Yankees roster in corresponding roster changes to Sabathia, Drury, and Holder.
- Finally, some good news of sorts. Closer Aroldis Chapman is “ok” according to Boone following an appearance where his fastball sat in the high 90 miles per hour range instead of his normal 100-plus range. The first-year manager, catcher, pitching coach, and interpreter all visited the mound to check on him mid-inning. Boone said the flamethrower “convinced” him enough that he was fine to finish his inning of work. He was reportedly checked by the Yankees doctor and cleared to continue to resume playing.
- After beginning the week going 0-5 with five strikeouts, slugger Giancarlo Stanton ended the week with a 0-7 appearance with another platinum sombrero (five strikeouts). The former Miami Marlin is now batting .167.
- Greg Bird spoke to reporters on Sunday and gave an update on his recovery. In summary, things are going great and the plan is to begin a minor league rehabilitation stint in mid-May and return to big league action before the beginning of June.
