Yankees quietly lost key reliever in big roster shuffle after Fernando Cruz injury

Before the New York Yankees’ game on Aug. 26, the team made a flurry of roster moves in wake of Fernando Cruz's injury. And it was easy to overlook a few of the players involved. Cruz was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL and placed on the IL, ending his season and putting his future in jeopardy. The injury news was obviously a massive blow to the Yankees, who relied on Cruz in high-leverage situations.

Nearly lost in the transaction shuffle was the fact that the Yankees also quietly transferred RHP Kervin Castro to the 60-day IL, ending his season with yet another frustrating injury for the journeyman pitcher. Castro was originally placed on the 15-day IL in early August due to right elbow neuritis, but it appears that his injury may be more extensive than the team first thought.

As a reliever, Castro was effective in his short time with the Yankees this season. In five appearances, he boasted a 0.79 WHIP and managed to eat innings to help the bullpen rest. Castro possesses a strong repertoire of swing and miss stuff and he could have been a very useful arm for Aaron Boone to turn to down the home stretch. Then again, Boone has always drawn the ire from fans for his questionable bullpen management, so maybe it wouldn't have mattered at all.   

Regardless, the loss of severall key bullpen arms will be felt unless other pitchers step up.

The Yankees had found a hidden gem in the trash heap with Kervin Castro

Since signing with the San Francisco Giants in 2016, Castro has shown flashes of potential throughout his career. He just wasn’t able to put it all together. But after missing nearly two full seasons due to injury in 2023 and 2024, Castro impressed the Yankees organization with an incredible bounce-back year in 2025 with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 27-year-old was nearly unhittable across 47 innings, giving up just 27 hits.

But he also had a problem hitting his spots. The right-hander struggled mightily with locating last season (22 walks), but that was to be expected after such an extended layoff. In 2026, Castro refined his control and he was primed to become a key reliever for the big league club moving forward. Only time will tell if Castro is able to return next season.

On top of losing Cruz and Castro to extended injuries, the Yankees also optioned righty reliever Bradley Hanner to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, perhaps closing the door on his major league season as well. Hanner had a tough time avoiding bats in his limited stint with the Yankees, surrendering six hits, including two home runs, in just four innings of work.

To replace the arms that they lost, the Yankees recalled RHP Elmer Rodríguez from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and signed RHP Michael Fulmer to a Major League contract. Rodríguez looked electric in his first start with the Yankees in over two months. He struck out six hitters across six innings of work in the Yankees' 9-3 win over the Houston Astros.  

Not to be outdone, Fulmer pitched a perfect eighth inning in his Yankees debut. The Yankees won’t need Fulmer to return to his former Rookie of the Year self — they just need him to eat innings and keep the ball in the yard. If he can keep runners off of the basepaths and avoid giving up the free pass, Fulmer can become another valuable arm for the 'pen as the Yankees attempt to catch the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East.  

If Fulmer is unable to get the job done, the Yankees may have to look to Luis Gil as a middle relief option. While Gil has apparently found his fastball again, his spotty control could leave fans feeling squeamish when they see him trotting onto the field in a high-leverage spot.

Whatever the case, Castro's extended absence is yet another killer for a Yankees pitching staff that keeps getting clobbered with bad news this season.

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