The Yankees’ bullpen took a serious hit this week, and it comes at a bad time.
New York is trying to chase down Tampa Bay in the AL East while also protecting the American League’s top wild-card spot, but two right-handed relievers are now dealing with elbow problems that could push both down a long road. Fernando Cruz is facing surgery decisions after a partial UCL tear, while Kervin Castro is set to meet with an orthopedic specialist to figure out whether he needs an operation.
Cruz’s situation is the more severe one. The 36-year-old was diagnosed with a partial tear in the UCL in his right elbow after additional testing, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tommy John surgery is among the options being considered.
Cruz is getting a second opinion before choosing a treatment plan. If he does end up needing Tommy John surgery, the rehab would stretch well into the 2027 season.
Either way, he is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 regular season.
The Yankees first placed Cruz on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with what they called right elbow discomfort. That move came one day after he gave up a two-run homer to Jeremy Pena in New York’s 9-7 loss to Houston at Yankee Stadium.
Cruz had gone 4-6 with two saves and a 3.13 ERA in 61 appearances this season, though his results had slipped after the break. Before the All-Star Game, he carried a 2.20 ERA.
Since then, he has allowed nine earned runs and five home runs over 13 2/3 innings.
That dropoff matters because Cruz had become a key piece for the Yankees after they acquired him before the 2025 season. His splitter turned him into one of the club’s main strikeout arms, and now Boone has to fill that late-inning right-handed role without him.
Castro’s case is less clear, but it has also shut the door on a possible late-season return. The Yankees moved him from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday while making a round of roster changes, and he is scheduled to see Dr.
Keith Meister about the right elbow issue that has kept him out since Aug. 10.
The team has not said Tommy John surgery is specifically being considered for Castro.
The 27-year-old last pitched Aug. 9 against Atlanta, when he worked a scoreless inning on six pitches. He was placed on the injured list two days later, retroactive to Aug.
- At first, the timetable left room for a return later in August or September.
That possibility is gone now that he’s on the 60-day IL.
Before the injury, Castro had looked useful in a short Yankees stint. He gave up one earned run in 6 1/3 innings over five outings, striking out eight and walking two.
The injuries forced New York to reshuffle its pitching staff. The Yankees signed veteran right-hander Michael Fulmer and added him to the active roster Wednesday.
They also recalled right-hander Elmer Rodriguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and optioned Bradley Hanner to Triple-A. Castro’s move to the 60-day IL opened a spot on the 40-man roster.
Fulmer, 33, spent most of this season in Triple-A with affiliates of the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels, going 4-2 with 10 saves and a 2.93 ERA in 38 minor league appearances. He also made three relief appearances for the Angels before becoming a free agent.
With Cruz out, the Yankees could lean more on Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn in setup work ahead of closer David Bednar. Castro had not yet carved out a fixed late-inning role, but he had started to emerge as another option before the elbow issue stopped him.
For now, both relievers are sidelined, and the Yankees are left waiting on medical decisions that could shape the rest of their bullpen picture.
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