The New York Yankees placed Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. The decision was made preemptively, as the organization felt a period of rest was necessary even before the results of his MRI were finalized.
The medical findings confirmed the team’s concerns. Manager Aaron Boone announced that Cruz has suffered a partial tear of his Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL). While Cruz is expected to seek additional medical opinions, the diagnosis often leads to Tommy John surgery.
The injury is a significant blow to the Yankees’ bullpen and to the 35-year-old reliever, who had established himself as a key component of the Bronx’s pitching staff. The injury likely sidelines Cruz for the remainder of the 2026 season and could potentially impact his availability through 2027.
Cruz had been a standout performer during his first year with the Yankees, recording 72 strikeouts in 48 innings. He appeared to be building on that momentum this season until a performance dip in mid-July. Following a two-run home run surrendered to Jeremy Peña on Tuesday, Cruz had allowed nine earned runs over his previous 13.2 innings.
Following Tuesday’s game, Cruz was seen conferring with trainer Tim Lentych. At that time, Cruz had not disclosed any specific physical ailments to the media.
Cruz is under team control through 2028 and is set to enter his second year of arbitration this offseason. If he makes a successful recovery, he could return to the mound at age 38.
Regarding roster adjustments, Ryan McMahon is eligible to return from the injured list on Sunday. The Yankees may wait until Tuesday to activate him, which would allow the club to add both a pitcher and a position player simultaneously.
“We might take a couple extra days, especially with September 1st approaching,” Boone noted prior to the Yankees’ 9-3 victory over the Astros. “He may participate in some rehab games before then, but he is trending in a positive direction.”
McMahon has already begun outfield drills and taking ground balls at third base. Notably, he had been managing a Grade 2 thumb sprain by taking indoor swings prior to his placement on the IL.
A premier defensive player, McMahon has also shown offensive growth this year, posting a .731 OPS with seven home runs in the 61 games leading up to his injury.
In McMahon’s absence, José Caballero has seen increased playing time at third base, though he has struggled recently, going 2-for-21 over six games.
Max Fried remains a possibility for Saturday’s doubleheader against the Red Sox, provided he has completed the minimum 15-day recovery period. Fried is scheduled for a side session on Thursday, and the team will evaluate his progress before making a final decision.
In other news, Aaron Judge has begun increasing his activity level and participated in outfield drills before the game.
The Yankees also made several other roster moves: Elmer Rodríguez was activated, and Bradley Hanner was optioned after allowing three runs in his first four major league appearances.
Prior to the start of the game, the Yankees observed a moment of silence in honor of Dolly Parton, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 80.
