Injury Update: Michael Pineda Out Until August

Apr 19, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda (35) in the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

According to Michael Axisa of our friends at River Ave. Blues, New York Yankees’ starting pitching Michael Pineda will be out until August at the very earliest, perhaps longer. Axisa goes on to state that Yankees’ skipper Joe Girardi stated that there hasn’t been any setbacks with the right-hander that has been MIA since May, it’s just the reality of the situation. What kind of shape Pineda is in, and whether or not he can contribute to the Yankees’ starting rotation for the remainder of the season remains to be seen. It appears with each passing week, the odds of Michael Pineda returning and contributing begin to grow dimmer.

Pineda, who won the Yankees’ fifth starter’s job out of spring training, and impressed early on in the season, found injury and trouble too soon for the Yankees’ liking. After being spotted with a foreign substance that was believed to be pinetar against the Boston Red Sox in the Bronx, he was caught red-handed during his next start in Boston, and was suspended. During a session to stay sharp while on suspension, Pineda injured his upper back, and then had a setback with a muscle strain during rehabilitation while on the disabled list.

Pineda was supposed to be the second ace behind C.C. Sabathia when he was acquired for then-top prospect Jesus Montero. There have been several discussions about which team won the trade, and at the start of this season, it appeared as if the Yankees easily won the deal. While Pineda was dominating hitters during the spring, Montero showed up in Arizona at Mariners’ spring camp overweight, out of a job, and out of favor with M’s management.  With the news coming of Pineda’s continued delay in returning to the Yankees’ rotation, it is ironic that Montero has turned things around, and was recalled by the Mariners while the Yankees were visiting Seattle earlier in the week.