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The story of the Yankees' season so far, besides their monstrous displays of power, has been the injury bug. It seems with every swing fans are forced to hold their breath that someone doesn’t go down, or they're rooting for a popup instead of a ground ball so a player won’t strain something running out an infield dribbler. The Yankees currently on the injured list would probably beat the active lineup, if, of course, they were healthy.
The IL is also a very well-paid group of guys. With 16 players on the list, now that both Edwin Encarnacion and Aaron Hicks were added Saturday, the payroll for those sidelined by injury tops $100 million. That number doesn’t even include others who have spent major time on the list such as Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius.
Let’s look at when we could see some key pieces on the IL back in the starting lineup.
GIANCARLO STANTON
USA TODAY Images This situation may not be as worrisome for the Yankees as it could be. Since they have gone nearly the entire season without Stanton, they aren’t scrambling to replace his production. They also have a very deep (when healthy) outfield with Hicks, Brett Gardner, Judge and the surprising Cameron Maybin and Mike Tauchman, who have all been able to pick up the slack. While the imposing 6-foot-6 frame of Stanton is undoubtedly missed, it may not be worth rushing him back when the team is not in desperate need of his return before the postseason.
LUIS SEVERINO
Severino has not pitched this season due to shoulder and lat issues. For a team that was haunted by the question of which big arm to pick up at the trade deadline, only to come up empty, Severino's return could put a lot of rotation concerns to bed. The right-hander told reporters Friday he is feeling the best he has all year. He is expected to throw from a mound as early as this Friday, a beacon of hope that he could return in enough time to get ready for the postseason.
EDWIN ENCARNACION
One of the newest additions to the IL, the parrot-walking, power-hitting first baseman/designated hitter seems to have avoided major disaster after fracturing a bone in his right wrist. After getting hit by a pitcher Saturday, Encarnacion estimates it will take three to five weeks for him to return. This guess could be a bit liberal, as it took Judge eight weeks last year to return from a similar injury that the Yankees iniitally put a three-week timeline on. Regardless, the Yanks are going to be missing some major firepower in their lineup, as Encarnacion has contributed nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 36 games since being acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners in June.
GARY SANCHEZ
After suffering a groin injury for the second year in a row, this time running out a ground ball July 23, Sanchez faced the possibility of being sidelined until September. But his healing has progressed much quicker than anticipated, and Randy Miller of NJ.com speculates Sanchez could be back in the lineup as soon as this weekend following a brief rehab assignment.
LUKE VOIT
The hard-hitting first baseman has been sidelined indefinitely by a sports hernia suffered against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. The Yankees haven’t offered a timetable for his return, leaving some to speculate that Voit won't be back until the playoffs or just before, if at all. This is more bad news for the lineup, as Voit contributed a .278 batting average with 19 home runs and 54 RBIs in his 94 games this year.
CC SABATHIA
Sabathia has hit another snag in his farewell tour. The 39-year-old admitted over the weekend that his knee pain on a scale of 0 to 10 ranges from an 8 to a 10 and that his knee has been a constant struggle for the last five years. Sabathia has not had the best year for the Yanks, going 5-6 with a 4.78 ERA. He was placed on the IL after a July 27 loss to the Red Sox, in which the lefty gave up five runs over 4 1/3 innings.
DELLIN BETANCES
The Yankees' ace setup man suffered an impingement in his right shoulder and a lat strain in the area, and has not pitched this season. Betances has resumed throwing. He recently told reporters his progress was slow but going well. Betances still hopes to return at some point this season.
AARON HICKS
After missing six games at the beginning of the season with a lower-back injury, Hicks returned to the IL on Sunday. This time, a right elbow injury has sidelined the center fielder for an indefinite period. Boone said the team considers itself lucky the injury is only a flexor strain. Hicks is batting .235 while contributing 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in his 59 games this season.
Those are the big names fans can reasonably expect to return before the Yankees begin the playoffs. That list does not include others such as Greg Bird, Jacoby Ellsbury and Miguel Andujar, who don't appear to be close to returning. Andujar is out for the season, and there's no telling when Bird or Ellsbury will suit up again.