Yankees' Carlos Rodon to Start Season on IL With Forearm Strain
The Yankees' starting rotation has taken another hit.
Prized free agent signing Carlos Rodon will begin the regular season on the IL with a mild muscle strain in his left forearm, GM Brian Cashman told reporters on Thursday.
The plan is to shut Rodon down from throwing for the next 7-10 days and the hope is he will be able to return by late-April.
Cashman says Rodon's UCL is fine.
Rodon, 30, made one spring start for the Yankees and got shelled for five runs on six hits in two innings.
The Yankees signed the left-hander to a six-year, $162 million deal in free agency earlier in the winter to upgrade their rotation. He is being counted on to be the No. 2 starter behind Gerrit Cole, but will now miss at least the first few weeks of the regular season with a forearm strain.
Beyond Rodon, the Yankees lost another starting pitcher, Frankie Montas, to shoulder surgery, which will cost him a majority, if not all, of the season.
With Rodon and Montas out, this means Clarke Schmidt and Domingo German are all but guaranteed spots in the Yankees' rotation to begin the year. Previously, this duo had been competing for the fifth starter job.
The injuries to Rodon and Montas also hurt the Yankees' pitching depth, which is now razor thin.
In addition to Rodon, Cashman told reporters that Lou Trivino (elbow strain) and Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis) will also begin the season on the IL.
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