The Yankees, struggling with a six-game losing streak and several player absences, including Clarke Schmidt, have a new albeit lesser concern on their hands.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. was not in the starting lineup on Sunday due to a shoulder he described as “super sore.” Chisholm mentioned the discomfort had been ongoing for about three weeks. It began after he made a backhanded play and threw the ball with maximum effort, resulting in pain. However, he believes his condition will improve soon.
Despite his soreness, Chisholm did not anticipate a complete rest day. “I’ll likely be in the game by the fifth inning,” he expressed before the Subway Series concluded at Citi Field, as he sported tape on his right shoulder.
In his past four games, Chisholm — a more natural second baseman asked to play third — had made three throwing errors, including airmailing a throw to first Saturday that led to a Mets run.
“I would never use anything as an excuse,” Chisholm said when asked if the shoulder could have caused the wayward throws. “Yeah, my arm was sore, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t make a play.”
Manager Aaron Boone put Oswald Peraza at third base on an afternoon DJ LeMahieu played second. Boone called Chisholm “a little beat up,” and the fact the Mets were planning to use a lefty in Brandon Waddell as their bulk pitcher made the decision easier.
Still, losing Chisholm’s bat — he entered play with a .987 OPS with six homers in his past 19 games — could hurt.
“He’s been obviously hitting the ball so well,” Boone said.
The Yankees traded Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre catcher Alex Jackson to the Orioles for international signing bonus pool money and a player to be named later or cash.
Jackson, a 29-year-old who owned a .772 OPS in 44 minor league games this season, replaces another former Yankees catcher in Gary Sánchez, whom Baltimore placed on the IL with a knee injury.
Before the game, the Yankees re-signed Geoff Hartlieb to a major league deal and added the righty to the roster while optioning lefty Jayvien Sandridge to SWB.
Boone called Saturday’s signing of veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario a “depth” move. Candelario will report to SWB.
The 31-year-old hit just .113 with a .410 OPS in 22 games with the Reds this season before he was designated for assignment. The 10-year major leaguer then accepted a minor league pact with the Yankees, who have been typically playing Chisholm at third and seeing how much LeMahieu has left at second.
“A guy with a really good track record,” Boone said of Candelario, a standout as recently as 2023, when he finished with an .807 OPS combined with the Nationals and Cubs. “Struggled a little bit with some injuries this year. Up and down a little bit last year season-wise. But a guy that’s always been a pretty good hitter in this league, a pretty good player in this league.”
