Yankees news: Giancarlo Stanton to the IL with calf strain

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 14: Hitting coach, James Rowson talks with Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 14, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco : The Giancarlo Stanton Calf Saga is essentially at the conclusion that always seemed most likely. The Yankees had the roster flexibility to wait and see how Stanton’s tight calf responded to a couple days of rest after he was pulled from their game on Friday in Houston, but they did have him undergo an MRI.

They got the results last night, and he will now hit the IL with a “low grade” strain — not dire, but enough that they knew they couldn’t keep burning a roster spot. Following Luis Gil’s Sunday night demotion, Jasson Domínguez had just been promoted yesterday to get some reps against the Rangers with Stanton unavailable. Now, they’ll be able to call up a pitcher to take an extra bullpen spot, as they won’t need a fifth starter until May 5th.

Triple-A relievers Yerry De los Santos and Kervin Castro are the most likely possible options for the ’pen since they hold 40-man roster spots, though Yovanny Cruz is also a possibility. New York Daily News | Gary Phillips : Both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón have begun their rehab assignments, with the potential top two in the rotation due to return to the big-league roster soon enough. However, preventative care with both pitchers will be needed, and Cam Schlittler is also still in his first full MLB season.

There’s therefore been some talk about how the club will manage all those concurrent needs, though it seems unlikely that a six-man rotation will be entertained. Matt Blake himself quashed speculation yesterday by pointing out that an extra man in the rotation leaves the bullpen a man short, and that seems outside the bounds of the Yankees’ risk profile. NJ.