
TSN: On Saturday, Yankees’ ace Max Fried departed his final start prior to the All-Star Break with a blister on his left index finger. Then yesterday, before the Yanks’ dropped the rubber match of a three-game set with the Cubs, skipper Aaron Boone discussed Fried’s injury again. Long story short, the Yankees don’t know what they are dealing with just yet. Fried himself sounded a similar note, hoping the break can help him heal up and miss minimal time.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): With the first
half in the rear view mirror, The Athletic has a look back at the first months of the season. Kuty draws three main lessons from the first half. The Yankees need pitching, and lots of it. The Yankees need a third baseman. And the Yankees need more from Anthony Volpe. The good news is that all three of those things are theoretically possible.
MLB | Bill Ladson: Meanwhile, Ladson takes a look at the second half and what the Yankees need to improve. One area: defense. Boone himself identified the defensive side of the ball as a key spot for the Bombers to tighten up. The bullpen was another area noted, with injuries playing a large role in some of the troubles New York has had late in games.
SNY | John Flanigan: Top prospect George Lombard Jr. represented the Yankees at this year’s Futures Game and the much-hyped Baby Bomber did not disappoint. As chronicled by Andrew on Saturday night, Lombard playing second base and hit ninth, Lombard reaching base twice. The 2023 first-round pick walked and stole second before scoring a run, then doubled in his second time up. For his part, Lombard talked to SNY about how honored he felt to represent the Yanks on the national stage.
MLB Trade Rumors | Mark Polishuk: A couple of days after the Yankees designated him for assignment, the Detroit Tigers have signed pitcher Geoff Hartlieb to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A. The first time the Yanks DFA’d the hurler this month, he stuck with the club. But this time, he opted to head to the Motor City, or at least its minor-league system. Hartlieb made his way into two big-league games, so best of luck remembering him on the end-of-season Sporcle quiz.
More from pinstripealley.com:
- Everything you need to know to follow the 2025 MLB Draft
- Futures Game: Lombard doubles, walks, steals, and swears
- Yankees 1, Cubs 4: Imanaga stifles Bombers in first-half finale
- Yankees Trade Deadline Coverage
- The hitting genius of Aaron Judge
- Pinstripe Alley’s Top 100 Yankees
- 2000 Yankees Diary: The 25th Anniversary of MLB’s Last Three-peat