The New York Yankees did not add to their bullpen at the trade deadline, a decision that looks worse by the day. Setup man Fernando Cruz has a partially torn UCL, manager Aaron Boone announced on Thursday. Either way, Cruz's season is very likely over.
Partial UCL tears come with a lengthy absence, even when surgery isn't required. Cruz, 36, has stumbled the last few weeks, including allowing a game-tying two-run home run Tuesday. He has pitched well overall this season, though, including stranding 40 of an MLB-leading 46 inherited runners (87%).
The MLB average is a 68% strand rate for inherited runners. Cruz was Boone's fireman. He'd come into jams and escape.
That role is up for grabs now. To replace Cruz, the Yankees signed veteran righty Michael Fulmer, who had been released by the Los Angeles Angels this past weekend. The Yankees also called up journeyman Justin Topa earlier in the week.
The Yankees are his fourth organization this year. Fulmer and Topa will get an opportunity to stick the rest of the season, not just serve as short-term fill-ins. "They're probably going to jump into the deep end," Boone said on Thursday (via MLB.com).
The reality is, on any given day, they're going to find themselves in leverage situations." New York's bullpen ranks second in ERA (3.04) and third in expected ERA (3.49) this year, though it is a top-heavy unit. Closer David Bednar and setup men Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick have taken on enormous workloads. Headrick leads baseball in appearances this season (68) and since the All-Star break (21).
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