CC Sabathia Lands On The Disabled List With Knee Inflammation

The veteran left-hander who recently turned thirty eight is headed for a stint on the disabled list. 

After tossing six innings of one-hit ball Sunday afternoon, Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right knee inflammation prior to Monday's 8-5 loss to the Mets. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the club hopes Sabathia, who has battled knee injuries for the bulk of his tenure in New York, misses just one start. Luis Cessa will assume Sabathia's rotation spot in the short-term, and the Yankees plan to recall the right-hander from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start Wednesday against the Rays. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

Sabathia landed on his knee awkwardly in the second inning of Sunday's 7-2 win against the Rangers while trying to field a soft grounder back to the mound, but he made no mention of soreness after the game. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

The knee is always the biggest concern with CC," Boone said. "He kind of had to grind through that last start, as well as he did pitch with it. He kind of came to us and was like, it was barking pretty well." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

That the Yankees will promote Cessa in favor of a more drastic move seems to hint they're confident Sabathia's DL stint wouldn't be a long one. Should it require Sabathia to miss multiple weeks, the club could've been more inclined to reinstate Sonny Gray, who pitched an inning in relief of Sabathia on Sunday, back in the rotation. Top prospects Chance Adams and Justus Sheffield were also options for New York, and could be if Sabathia's injury lingers. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

"We decided by DL-ing him now maybe only means he misses one start and we kind of maintain that," Boone said. "The swelling wasn't very bad, which is a good sign. We do believe it's probably just one turn through and hopefully something that benefits him down the stretch." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

But for now it'll be Cessa, who will push everyone in the Yankees' rotation back a day by starting Wednesday. The 26-year-old is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in eight appearances. In three starts this year, he has a 3.14 ERA, but he also has a 6.52 ERA as a reliever. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

Cessa's last big league start was on July 25, when he allowed the Rays two runs over 5 1/3 frames. On Aug. 2, he came out of the bullpen vs. the Red Sox and allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings. He was then optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre the following day. according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

The Yankees promoted a different pitcher to replace Sabathia on the active roster until Cessa is ready to be activated, selecting the contract of right-hander George Kontos on Monday afternoon. Kontos, who was traded to New York from Cleveland on Aug. 4 in exchange for cash, made his MLB debut for the Yankees back in 2011. He has played for three teams over eight seasons since. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

"When I got the phone call that I was being traded here it was a little surprising, but this is a funny game," said Kontos, who tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in Monday's makeup game. "As a lot of guys have seen, you can end up in another state playing for a different team the next day. So after the initial shock that I was being traded back here, I'm just very much looking forward to it." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

Kontos has accumulated a 4.68 ERA in 25 combined innings pitched for both the Pirates and the Indians. He made 21 appearances for Pittsburgh before making six for Cleveland. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

"I'm feeling good," Kontos said. "I was dealing with a few mechanical things earlier in the year, but you know, I have kind of ironed those things out and I'm throwing the ball really well. So physically I feel well. Delivery feels good." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

In other moves, the Yankees also recalled Ronald Torreyes and optioned Luke Voit to Triple-A. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

Torreyes has been in Triple-A since last being optioned on June 18. He then missed a large portion of games from June 25 through July 23 while dealing with a health issue in his family. In his time with the RailRiders, he has hit .247/.302/.278 and hit .323 in 24 games with the Yankees. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery was also transferred to the 60-day disabled list. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

Comeback trail

Gary Sanchez, who has been out since July 24 with a right groin strain, has rejoined his team in New York and is starting to ramp up baseball activities, said manager Aaron Boone. Boone also said that Sanchez is still on track to be back in pinstripes at the end of the month or beginning of September, like initially predicted. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

"I think that's a fair timeline and it looks very much like he's on that trajectory to be able to make that," Boone said. "He ran yesterday actually on the field in Tampa. And then today, I haven't seen him yet today, but I know he was down doing his catching drills. I know he was hitting in the cage. I spoke with him briefly a few hours ago before we both got here that he said he's feeling really well, looking forward to getting ramped up here and hopefully, as we get some drier weather, he can get out on the field and really ramp this up." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

Judge close to swinging

Boone said that Aaron Judge will be receiving more test results Monday evening to see how his fractured right wrist is healing, but Boone thinks Judge is close to getting a bat back in his hands."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652

"He did some underwater stuff yesterday," Boone said. "Swinging, I'll see what he has today as far as getting a bat. I think we're any day now." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/cc-sabathia-to-dl-george-kontos-joins-yanks/c-290172652