On the day the Yankees recalled Ryan LaMarre to replace Tim Locastro, who is out for the season with a torn right ACL, manager Aaron Boone had another piece of season-ending news: RHP Darren O’Day’s 2021 is also likely over.
O’Day, 38, was placed on the IL on July 6 with what the team called a “significant” left hamstring strain, that coming just a week after the righty returned following a two-month IL stint for a rotator cuff injury.
“Just because we haven’t announced anything, and we want to make sure we’re on the same page with Darren as far as everything, knowing the timeline and schedule, I would say it’s likely his season is over,” Boone said before Sunday’s series finale with the Red Sox. “But we’ll have some more information on that when it’s ready to give out.”
The 38-year-old righty, if he is done for the year, finishes with a 3.38 ERA in 10 2/3 innings over 12 appearances. O’Day’s contract contains a $1.4 million player option for 2022, and if he declines it, the Yankees can either exercise a $3.15 million club option or pay a $700,000 buyout.
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Also on the bad news front: Michael King is still “in a no-throw situation” for the next five to seven days, as he works back from jamming a finger in between some weights while working out prior to the All-Star break.
“There is still a little bit of discomfort when he goes to throw, so it’ll be a little bit,” Boone said, “because he’ll have to go through getting built back up and stuff.
The Yankees will need a fifth starter by next Saturday (July 24) at the latest, so if King is not back and Nestor Cortes is not cleared to return from the COVID IL, the Yankees will need to add a starter.
Some good news, however: Jonathan Loaisiga has been cleared to break quarantine in Houston and travel back to New York, and Boone is hopeful he can begin a throwing program on Tuesday after going through cardiac testing.
And, Luis Severino threw a 30-pitch simulated game on the mound at Yankee Stadium, and “threw the ball really well” according to Boone.
“I thought he threw the ball really well, and he looks strong and healthy,” Boone said. “I think there’s a confidence to what he’s doing, and I thought he was pretty crisp today with all his pitches. A good step for him.”
Severino will likely do another in five or six days, per Boone, and at that point, the Yankees will determine whether the next step is another live BP or beginning a rehab assignment – and make a plan as to when he will be back with the big club.
“We’ll see; I’m not exactly sure what the end plan is as to when we’ll take him, but that’s something we’ll decide,” Boone said. “I don’t want to get too far ahead, we’ll see where we’re at weeks from now, but if he’s at 50, 60, 70 pitches, there’s a chance he could be here at that point.”
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