Yankees' Michael Pineda Has Partial UCL Tear, Likely To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees will likely be without Michael Pineda for the rest of the season after the starting pitcher was diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, general manager Brian Cashman announced Friday.
Doctors have recommended Pineda undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. The right-hander will seek a second opinion. The Yankees have already placed him on the disabled list.
Cashman said Pineda did not mention that he was feeling discomfort in his elbow until a couple of days after his last start, on July 5.
Pineda is 8-4 this season with a 4.65 ERA. He has struggled in recent outings, going 2-2 with a 6.14 ERA over his last seven starts.
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The 28-year-old pitcher is set to become a free agent after this season.
The injury is likely to turn up the pressure on Cashman to trade for a starting pitcher. Masahiro Tanaka has struggled all season, going 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA. Meanwhile, CC Sabathia was roughed up in his first start, on July 4, after returning from the DL with a hamstring injury.
Cashman said the Yankees will be "careful buyers" as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. He has repeatedly said he's reluctant to sacrifice the Bombers' top prospects.
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Other Yankees news Cashman discussed:
• First baseman Greg Bird hopes another injection in his inflamed ankle could help, but surgery is a "real possibility" to remove excess bone growth. Bird has been out since May 2. Surgery would sideline him six to eight weeks.
• Newly acquired first baseman Garrett Cooper will join the Yankees for this weekend's series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Yanks acquired Cooper in a trade with the Brewers on Thursday. He played in 75 games for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox this season and hit .366 with 17 homers and 82 RBIs.
