Yankees' rotation takes hit with Carlos Rodon news

The injuries keep coming for the New York Yankees rotation.

The Yankees announced that pitcher Carlos Rodon was placed on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation as part of a flurry of moves on Friday. Infielder Ryan McMahon and outfielder Trent Grisham were reinstated from their own stints on the IL, while utility man Oswaldo Cabrera was optioned to Triple-A.

Rodon's placement on the IL comes as a surprise. He had thrown 96 pitches in his last start on June 28, allowing two unearned runs on a hit and four walks over five innings while striking out six batters. Rodon had been slated to start on Saturday before his latest stint on the IL.

Elbow is a continued concern for New York Yankees, Carlos Rodon

This is not the first time Rodon's elbow has been a concern. He had undergone surgery in October to remove loose bodies from his elbow, causing him to begin the season on the IL. Rodon had made nine starts since being activated on May 10, posting a 3.30 ERA and a 1.252 WHiP over his 46.1 innings, striking out 52 batters with 26 walks.

Rodon had not been a paragon of health in his early career, missing time due to various shoulder and elbow injuries. However, he had been mostly healthy since 2021, establishing himself as a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm on a contending team.

In the short term, the Yankees will need to find a way to fill his spot in the rotation. Fellow starter Max Fried is working his way back from a bruised left elbow and is expected back before the end of July. The Yankees may only need to fill that spot in the rotation for a start or two - and potentially only one start if Rodon's injury is not severe.

However, if Rodon misses significant time, the Yankees' plans ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline could change. Adding more depth to the rotation would become far more of a priority, especially if Ryan Weathers continues to be inconsistent.