Bold opening: The Yankees’ rotation is already shorthanded, and Cam Schlittler’s back inflammation and lat issue adds another hurdle for a club counting on him to grow into a key piece.
Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler is dealing with back inflammation and a lat issue, causing him to skip some mound sessions. Manager Aaron Boone described the injury as minor, and Schlittler downplayed its impact, saying his concern is zero and he wants to be ready for Opening Day.
Schlittler, who turned 25 last week, made his major league debut on July 9 and finished 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA across 14 starts. He averaged 98 mph on his fastball and struck out 84 in 73 innings, with eight shutout innings against Boston in the wild-card round and a tougher 6 1/3 innings in the division series against Toronto.
Boone said Schlittler’s latest test showed some improvement and that the next few days will be spent off the mound while he continues a throwing program. The manager stressed the team still expects Schlittler to be a regular part of the rotation.
New York’s projected Opening Day rotation already contends with missing ace Gerrit Cole, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Carlos Rodon, who is regaining arm strength after elbow surgery. Rodon is unlikely to return before May, and Cole is expected back in the first half of the season, with Clarke Schmidt likely missing much of the year due to UCL repair surgery.
Schlittler first felt the issue a few weeks ago, describing it as minor inflammation and possibly more lat involvement. He hopes to throw from a mound again next week and noted a history of intermittent issues last year.
For now, Schlittler is focusing on careful care to prevent the problem from becoming a bigger concern. The Yankees’ early-season depth chart includes Max Fried, Schlittler, Luis Gil, Will Warren, and Ryan Weathers in the starting five. Gil—last year’s AL Rookie of the Year—also dealt with a lat issue in spring training 2024 and didn’t debut until August.
Schlittler logged 164 innings last season, postseason included, a substantial jump from his prior high of 120 2/3 in 2024. After the playoffs, he took about four weeks off before beginning his offseason throwing program, underscoring his belief that in baseball there’s little to truly call an off-season.
Reflecting on his path, Schlittler recalled arriving at spring training in a relatively anonymous role, then rapidly earning a call to the majors and a sense of ownership over his responsibilities. He explained that this year he feels he has earned his place and knows exactly what he needs to do on the mound.
In other news, the Yankees announced the return of Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year, $4 million deal, with potential $2 million in plate-appearance bonuses (400, 450, 500, and 550). The 38-year-old seven-time All-Star and 2022 NL MVP hit .274 with 10 homers, 45 RBIs, and a .731 OPS for the Yankees last season after signing with them. He tallied 534 plate appearances but saw diminished action after the All-Star break due to slumps and a shift in playing time to Ben Rice.
The club also confirmed that 24 of the 26 players who were on the division-series roster last October are back, with relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver departing. Clarke Schmidt was placed on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot, illustrating how the team is juggling health, depth, and continuity as it heads into spring training.
Question for readers: With Schlittler’s minor setback and the broader injuries to their rotation, should the Yankees prioritize early-season caution and preserve arms for a stronger stretch run, or push for aggressive early innings to set a winning tone? Share your take on how these injury dynamics should shape the team’s rotation and bullpen strategy this season.
