The New York Yankees’ pitching staff suffered another blow on Wednesday, as reliever Fernando Cruz was ruled out for 2026 with a torn UCL in his right elbow.
Cruz, 36, joins a long list of Yankee pitchers who have missed time this season. That list includes starters Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Max Fried, Ryan Weathers, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt, as well as reliever Angel Chivilli.
This season, Cruz posted a record of 4–6 with a 3.13 ERA in 61 appearances. Despite struggling with his command, the four-year veteran posted elite swing-and-miss numbers. His 28.6% whiff rate ranked in the 87th percentile, and his 39.1% whiff rate ranked in the 99th percentile. However, while the Yankees will certainly miss his production, the team has several ways to replace him.
Send a Starter to the Bullpen
Sending Ryan Weathers to the bullpen seems like the likeliest option, especially considering his pitching profile. Like Cruz, Weathers has great strikeout numbers, as his 143 punch-outs are the 27th most in baseball. The 26-year-old also has better command, as his 6.7% walk rate ranks in the 79th percentile.
However, if Weathers’ left forearm injury continues to linger, Elmer Rodriguez remains an enticing option. Despite having five career starts under his belt, the 23-year-old generates ground balls at a 50% clip. He’s also shown improved command, striking out 10 batters and walking four in his past two starts.
Gamble on Gil or Schmidt
Gil, the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year, was sent to Triple-A in late April. He landed on the IL shortly after with right shoulder inflammation, but has since made five rehab appearances between High-A and Triple-A. Every appearance has been as a relief pitcher, with the 28-year-old throwing 7 1/3 scoreless innings. His fastball has touched 97 mph, so Gil remains a viable option.
Schmidt, meanwhile, is scheduled to pitch on Saturday for the first time since July 3, 2025. The 30-year-old has spent the past year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and is set to throw close to 24 pitches. Before suffering his injury, Clarke put together back-to-back quality campaigns in 2024 and 2025. Across 30 starts, Schmidt pitched to a 3.07 ERA and compiled 3.7 WAR.
Roll With a Veteran
This season, the Yankees have sprinkled in appearances from the likes of Bradley Hanner, Justin Topa, Michael Fulmer, and Kervin Castro. Since none of them have been used in high-leverage situations, it’s unlikely any of them will fill Cruz’s role. However, with a month left in the regular season, that could certainly change.
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