The New York Yankees have spent much of the season leaning on their power bats and frontline starters to keep themselves in the playoff hunt.
But the bullpen, already one of the roster’s most vulnerable areas, just absorbed another major setback.
On Thursday, manager Aaron Boone confirmed that right-handed reliever Jonathan Loáisiga will miss the remainder of the season with a flexor strain.
The announcement, reported by The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, underscored just how thin the Yankees‘ pitching depth has become in a year when late-inning stability has been elusive.
The Yankees bullpen entered Thursday’s matchup with the Chicago White Sox carrying a collective 4.32 ERA, the eighth-worst mark in Major League Baseball, according to Covers.
While the offense continues to lead the league in home runs (225) and ranks inside the top ten in batting average (.251), the relief corps has been a glaring weakness.
Loáisiga’s injury adds to mounting bullpen concerns
Loáisiga‘s absence is a particularly painful one because of what he once represented for New York. At his best, the 30-year-old was a trusted late-inning weapon.
He posted a 2.17 ERA across 57 appearances in 2021 and followed that with a 3.06 ERA in 2023 before tearing his UCL.
This season, he logged a 4.25 ERA in 30 outings before the latest injury forced him to shut things down.
While Boone noted that Loáisiga will not require surgery, the long-term implications are unclear. His contract situation only complicates matters.
The Yankees hold a $5 million club option on Loáisiga for the offseason, and with his recent injury history, there is no guarantee the team will exercise it.
That uncertainty has fueled speculation about whether his time in pinstripes has already reached its end.
NJ.com’s Max Goodman went as far as to say there is a “very good chance that Jonathan Loáisiga has thrown his final pitch in a Yankees uniform.”
For a team clinging to the second American League Wild Card spot, the timing could not be worse.
Reliable bullpen depth is often the difference-maker in October, and the Yankees will now be forced to search internally for solutions.
Who steps up in Loáisiga’s absence?
New York has already shuffled arms in recent days. Right-hander Yerry de los Santos, who holds a 3.28 ERA but was optioned earlier in the week, could be recalled to help stabilize the bullpen.
His recent numbers have been inconsistent. He posted a 6.97 ERA in August but was sharp in earlier months, including a spotless June.
The Yankees also recently made room for Fernando Cruz, who carries a 2.94 ERA and could factor into the late-inning mix.
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