The Yankees reinstated Clarke Schmidt from the 60-day injured list ahead of today’s series finale in Minnesota. The team also optioned right-handed reliever Bradley Hanner to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and designated Oswaldo Cabrera for assignment.
It’s the end of a long road back for Schmidt, who hasn’t pitched on a major league mound since July 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. At the time, Schmidt was in the midst of establishing himself as one of the Yankees’ best starters, running
a 3.07 ERA across 164 innings between 2024 and 2025.
Schmidt won’t have enough time to build up to a starter’s workload prior to the postseason, but he has a real chance to make an impact in the Yankee bullpen. He’s been used in one-to-two inning stretches in the minors, where his fastball has sat around his customary 94 mph. Beyond David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, and Brent Headrick, the Yankees have little set in stone in their bullpen, leaving a wide opportunity for someone like Schmidt to grab a meaningful role with a strong showing in the final two weeks of the season.
The Yankees had to manage their 40-man roster as a result of this move, and Cabrera was sadly the casualty. Schmidt coming off the 60-day IL necessitated clearing a spot on a full 40-man. Cabrera, who has spent most of the season at Triple-A after recovering from a gruesome knee injury last year, drew the short stick. The Yankees could have plausibly transferred Fernando Cruz to the 60-day IL, but instead opted to keep hope alive for a return from Cruz.
