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Mary RiveraESPN Writer
NEWYORK — Zack Britton may have played his last game on Friday night’s set, like New York Yankees Has put the veteran left hand back on the injury list after he struggled in his bid for an early return from Tommy John surgery.
After being removed from New York’s Lose 2-1 arrive Baltimore Orioles The previous night due to left arm fatigue, coach Aaron Boone announced on Saturday morning that Britton would return to the injury list, effective the end of his 2022 season just over a week after he was released. activated from IL.
“Actually he’s doing pretty well. Basically, it’s just something we’re running out of time here,” Boone explained. “And there was a bit of fatigue last night, it’s one of those things where you don’t want to get over it and reach for more and then do some damage. He’s in a good position to prepare. for the season, so let’s get on with that one.”
Britton, who has made 154 career saves in 11 major league seasons with the Yankees and Orioles, is eligible for free representation after the World Series. Southpaw underwent a tax rehab in his bid to return to competition less than a year after undergoing left elbow reconstructive surgery and a bone chip removal on September 9, 2021. Britton was stimulated. removed from the 60-day injury list on September 22.
Boone rested before Saturday’s game against Baltimore that the elbow was in good test and he praised Britton’s determination in his comeback attempt.
“I just appreciate how hard he worked to get to this point, to give himself a chance, obviously to come back quickly by Tommy John’s standards,” Boone said. “Rehabilitation has gone very well. It was just the final sharpness, and at this point in the season he is resisting [the clock] there. He worked so hard to put himself in this position and give himself a chance and I definitely admire that. “
Britton and the Yankees have engaged in preliminary conversations about a possible return to the team next season, sources told ESPN. He’s in the final season of a three-year, $39 million contract with New York.
The Yankees have opted for the contract of Jacob Barnes and he will replace Britton in the bullpen, but that will likely be a short-term solution for the team, who expect the return of some bullpen arms soon. Wandy Peralta (backside), Miguel Castro (shoulder) and Albert Abreu (elbow) could be the pick for the Yankees for their final season series, a four-match against Texas Rangers in Arlington starting Monday.
Boone added that the Yankees will end the regular season a man in the pen because they will keep Clay Holmes out of IL for him to qualify after the season. Holmes was out of action for a few days with inflammation of his right rotator cuff, after which he received a cortisone shot on Thursday. Boone said Holmes won’t be on the field again until the American League Division Series begins on October 11.
“Based on the injury, I think it’s going to be a week without pitching. I think we’re on day five now. So he should have started the week with enthusiasm,” Boone said. “If that goes well, that will put him in line for the qualifying series.”
Holmes said on Friday night that the situation was “nothing too worrying” and that training at the Yankees’ alternate venue would be enough to get him ready after the season.
“Some take a break and rebuild, and things will be fine there for the split series,” said Holmes.
With a three-game wild card format in the inaugural postseason, the Yankees will have five days off to attend ALDS. They now have plans for an alternative practice site to keep pitchers and pitchers ready for the game, organized by Somerset Patriots, the club’s Double-A affiliate.
“We have an alternative venue arranged where we have eight or nine pitchers. They’ll practice and kind of house in Somerset,” Boone explained. “On the days they’re scheduled to go, we’ll have the live pitchers there to join our own pitchers, probably going to be involved in some live scenarios as well. Friday, Saturday, Sunday [Oct. 7-9] There will be a lot of live scripts for the fans and for the pitchers. We have a pretty good plan in place to try and keep the boys sharp. “
One of the giants that will likely benefit the most from the alternative site is Matt Carpenter. He’s almost fully recovered from a left metatarsal fracture he suffered in a bat in Seattle on August 9 and has progressed enough that he expects to become an option for Yankees as they wrap up the season in Arlington. Carpenter, a native of Texas, lives in nearby Fort Worth.
Boone said he expects Carpenter to be an available stick on the bench in the post-season. Carpenter hit in the cage and practiced hitting the ball in person this week.
“It’s exciting to think about,” Boone said of the possibility of Carpenter being part of the post-season roster. “He’s doing very well. The fight is going well. And he ran on the field today. And with a week ago and what we’ve arranged, throw the ball wisely, with the outside. Hy hopefully he will be able to hit a lot of live matches in the next week or 10 days to put himself in a good position. The hitting went very well. Today, I know it happened. nice, so he’s in a pretty good position.”
Carpenter agreed to a one-year contract with the Yankees at the end of May, a week after he was released from Rangers’ minor league system. In 47 games against the Yankees, Carpenter was one of their biggest contributors at the hand, hitting .305 with 19 hosts, 35 RBIs and 1,138 OPS.
