Yankees seal Clarke Schmidt's playoff roster fate, indict Brian Cashman's trade deadline

For those keeping score at home, one of the primary pieces Brian Cashman intended to rely on to help flesh out the bullpen - instead of a trade deadline addition - was right-hander Clarke Schmidt, who underwent Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2025. Schmidt then spent this summer racing against the clock, hoping against hope he could make himself available in short stints and potentially even handle back-to-backs and high leverage.

He suffered a setback in early August, one day after the deadline. He finally returned after the Yankees clinched and threw 2/3 of an inning in Minnesota before trying to enter a game over the weekend in Arizona, unable to get loose. Schmidt has now been placed on the Injured List with bicep neuritis, one day after Aaron Boone acknowledged that his throwing session had gone well, but not perfectly, and the team might have to begin acknowledging alternate plans. Schmidt is ineligible for the Wild Card Series and ALDS, if the Yankees participate.

Again, this was all a real thing that happened. The Yankees rushed a starting pitcher through Tommy John rehab to fill out their bullpen instead of guarding against internal wear-and-tear by paying the price for even one bonafide reliever.

There's letting the chips fall where they may, and then there's whatever this is.

This is why the Yankees lost Oswaldo Cabrera to the Reds, by the way. Four Clarke Schmidt batters.

Who's in Yankees' bullpen after Clarke Schmidt injury?

Instead of importing talent at the deadline, Cashman shopped on the waiver wire and relied on internal names. Luis Gil, as a mop-up man, hasn't distinguished himself and likely won't be called upon. Ryan Weathers has a shot, despite no time to get reps at the MLB level. Will Warren's been largely brilliant lately, and he'll be a link in the chain. Both John Schreiber (cunning against righties) and Michael Fulmer (a project for next year, by and large) will likely earn roles.

Schmidt, besides Warren, was probably the returning pitcher Cashman and Co. trusted most to handle leverage moments in October. It would've been a noble comeback, but relying on it to go flawlessly was a fool's errand. And now, just a week after he returned to the big-league mound, this fantasy has been dashed.

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