The Yankees’ rough stretch just got a lot more complicated.
New York is already sitting in the middle of a seven-game losing streak after dropping a four-game series to the Boston Red Sox and a three-game set to the Detroit Tigers, and now the club has lost Carlos Rodon to the injured list. The move comes as the Yankees prepare for their next series against the Minnesota Twins in New York, even with Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon returning.
Rodon was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to 6/30, with left elbow inflammation, according to the team.
That’s a significant setback for a Yankees rotation that needed stability, not another hole. Rodon had put together a solid season so far, posting a 3.30 ERA with 52 strikeouts and a 4-2 record in nine starts. He had already missed time earlier in the year while working back from injury, and now he’s headed back to the IL.
The timing makes the news even more jarring. Rodon’s most recent start didn’t come with any obvious warning signs.
Against the Red Sox, he allowed just one hit and no runs, though he also walked four and struck out five. There was no postgame indication that anything was wrong.
Still, elbow inflammation is the kind of update that immediately raises alarms. Rodon will miss through the All-Star break, and there’s a chance the absence lasts longer depending on how the issue responds. For a Yankees team already trying to stop the bleeding, that’s the last thing it needed.
In Other News...
Red Sox Suddenly Face A Tough Deadline Call On Trusted Closer
The Pirates have taken a step forward in 2026, but their bullpen still looks like the kind of area that can undo a promising season in a hurry. ESPNs David Schoenfield pointed to the closer spot as the obvious place to upgrade, noting that Pittsburgh could use a steadier late-inning answer as it tries to keep pace in the postseason chase.
For Boston, the wrinkle is less about whether a veteran arm can help and more about how long it can afford to keep him. A 38-year-old left-hander with a 2.19 ERA is exactly the sort of reliever contenders ask about in July, but the Red Sox also have to weigh the value of that short-term stability against a contract situation that could become more complicated as the season wears on. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Veteran Bat Suddenly Entering Blockbuster Trade Buzz
A potential trade fit is starting to surface around a Red Sox bat who has quietly become one of the more intriguing names on the market. ESPNs David Schoenfield floated the idea of Seattle pursuing Boston first baseman Willson Contreras, pointing to the Mariners need for more punch against left-handed pitching and the appeal of adding a right-handed hitter with real thump in the middle of the lineup.
Contreras has been productive this season, carrying a .906 OPS and a strong track record against lefties, which is exactly the kind of profile that can change how opposing staffs attack a team. He is also under club control through 2028, so any move would be about more than a short-term rental, but for now it remains only a suggestion rather than a confirmed push toward a deal. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Fix Their Biggest Problems Without Making A Trade
A seven-game losing streak has only sharpened the Yankees sense of urgency, but the bigger question in the Bronx may not be who they can buy. Even with needs at catcher, third base and in the bullpen, MLB.coms Mark Feinsand suggested the club could lean heavily on internal fixes as the 2026 trade deadline approaches, banking on roster movement and reinforcements already in the organization rather than a splashy external addition.
Carlos Lagrange and George Lombard Jr. are among the names being floated as possible depth answers, which would give the Yankees another path if they decide the market is too expensive or too thin. For a team trying to stop the slide and stabilize its roster, the possibility of solving some of its biggest problems from within may be just as important as any deadline pursuit. [Read more 🡒]