The New York Yankees are still sitting first place in the American League East. But at the same time, they’re dealing with more and more injuries that could slow them down. The latest setback happened Monday night in Seattle when third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera broke his left ankle while scoring the final run in the Yankees’ 11–5 win over the Mariners.
That said, DJ LeMahieu has returned from injury and is expected to help stabilize the infield. Marcus Stroman, who was signed to strengthen the starting rotation, is injured and struggling, yet his name is now circulating in trade rumors. Several other players, including Jonathan Loáisiga, Scott Effross, Luis Gil, and Giancarlo Stanton, are also working through injuries.
With all of this happening at once, the Yankees are being tested. Every move, injury update, and rehab assignment is starting to carry more weight as the season progresses.
- Oswaldo Cabrera suffered a fractured left ankle while scoring in Monday’s 11–5 win over the Mariners and was placed on the 10-day injured list, with surgery likely and no clear timeline for his return.
- DJ LeMahieu has been activated from the injured list after recovering from a calf strain and hip discomfort and is expected to split time between second and third base as the Yankees adjust their infield.
- Marcus Stroman, currently on the IL with a knee injury and holding an 11.57 ERA in 9.1 innings, has become a more attractive trade candidate due to a contract clause tied to innings that may no longer trigger.
Cabrera’s Emotional Exit After Scoring in Pain: “Did I Score?”
Oswaldo Cabrera’s injury happened late in the game on Monday night, May 12, at T-Mobile Park. In the top of the ninth inning, Cabrera raced home from third on a sacrifice fly from Aaron Judge. As he reached back to touch the plate, his left foot planted awkwardly, and he went down in clear pain. He stayed on the ground for several minutes and had to be stretchered off and taken from the field in a medical cart.
Despite the pain, Cabrera’s first question was whether he had scored. “Did I score?” he asked Judge as he was being taken off the field. The answer was yes, but the cost was high.
The next morning, the Yankees placed Cabrera on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left ankle. He was discharged from a hospital in Seattle and flew back to New York without a hard cast. It’s still unknown if there is ligament damage, though he will meet with Dr. Justin Greisberg, an orthopedic foot and ankle specialist, to determine if surgery is needed and what the recovery timeline will be.
Manager Aaron Boone didn’t commit to any timeline, saying, “I have no idea. We’ll see.” Boone visited Cabrera at the hospital on Monday night, along with many Yankees players. By Tuesday morning, Cabrera was seen smiling and talking in the hotel lobby. Boone added, “He was smiling, happy. He’s in good hands.”
Cabrera has been a regular in the lineup this season and is batting .243 with one home run and 11 RBIs. His energy and flexibility in the field made him a key part of the roster.
DJ LeMahieu Activated to Fill the Gap
Just as Cabrera went down, DJ LeMahieu was activated from the injured list. He had been recovering from a left calf strain and hip discomfort. During his rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset, he went 6-for-10 with a home run and three RBIs in four games.
LeMahieu returned to the Yankees on Tuesday and is expected to take on a bigger role. While Oswald Peraza started at third base against Seattle, manager Aaron Boone said LeMahieu, Pablo Reyes, and Jorbit Vivas will all be used depending on matchups. LeMahieu is expected to see more time at second base.
“It feels natural,” LeMahieu said about returning to second. “I played there for 12 years. I feel good over there.”
LeMahieu was flying to Seattle during Monday night’s game and learned of Cabrera’s injury when checking the score. “It’s one of the dark sides of the game,” he said. “He’s a great guy and a great player. Really unfortunate.”
Marcus Stroman Could Be Traded While Sidelined
While Cabrera’s injury was a sudden blow, Marcus Stroman’s situation has become more complicated. Stroman is on the injured list with a left knee issue. He’s started only three games this season, with a record of 0–1 and an 11.57 ERA in just 9.1 innings.
Still, his name is coming up in trade talks. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Stroman’s trade value is actually increasing because of a clause in his contract. If he reaches 140 innings this season, he triggers an $18 million player option for 2026. If he doesn’t reach that mark, because of injury or otherwise, teams could acquire him without committing to that option.
That clause had been a major reason teams stayed away in the offseason. But now, with Stroman likely to fall short of 140 innings, he could be seen as a short-term rental.
Stroman is an 11-year veteran with a career record of 87–86 and a 3.77 ERA. He made All-Star appearances with the Blue Jays in 2019 and the Cubs in 2023. He joined the Yankees last season and went 10–9, though he didn’t pitch in the playoffs.
The Yankees are currently using Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Will Warren, and Clarke Schmidt in the rotation. Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil remain out, leaving room for uncertainty. If Stroman is traded, the rotation will need further reinforcement.
Bullpen Sees Some Progress as Injured Pitchers Return
Even though the starting lineup and rotation are facing pressure, the Yankees’ bullpen is starting to show signs of recovery. Jonathan Loáisiga was activated from the IL on May 16. He had not pitched since last year due to a torn UCL and surgery. He last had a full season in 2021, when he posted a 2.17 ERA over 70.2 innings.
To make room for Loáisiga, the Yankees designated lefty Tyler Matzek for assignment. Clayton Beeter was also reinstated but optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Scott Effross is also making progress. He began the season on the IL with a hamstring strain and made one appearance in rookie ball before moving up to Double-A Somerset. Effross, acquired from the Cubs in 2022, has been limited by injuries since arriving. He missed all of 2023 and has made just three appearances in 2024. Nonetheless, he still holds a 2.89 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 77 career games.
Updates on Gil, Schmidt, and Stanton
Luis Gil is not expected back until later this summer. He’s recovering from a lat strain suffered in March. Boone said the team hopes Gil can begin throwing again soon, but the timeline for his return remains mid-to-late summer.
Clarke Schmidt is closer. He made a rehab start for Double-A Somerset and struck out seven batters in 3.1 scoreless innings. Boone said Schmidt will make one more start in the minors before returning to the rotation in mid-April.
Giancarlo Stanton is still not cleared to return. He’s dealing with tendinitis in both elbows and has not swung a bat in over a month. Boone said there is no set timeline for his return. Since joining the Yankees in 2018, Stanton has only played more than 130 games twice.
