Yanks Severino done for season

*Photo from the New York Post*

   New York Yankees RHP Luis Severino will undergo Tommy John surgery, according to the team. Severino confirmed the news on his Twitter account. Dr. David Altcheck at New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery will perform the surgery, which takes place on Thursday. An MRI revealed a partial UCL tear in Severino's elbow, which requires the dreaded Tommy John. 

   Yankees GM Brian Cashman told the press that "Doctors have concluded that Tommy John is necessary, obviously, Sevy acknowledged and agreed that the surgery is necessary. His plan is to have it done as soon as possible and he's contemplating the doctors and who to do it with." Cashman said that the team's depth will be tested immediately with Severino done for the season, saying that "You rely on your depth, I wouldn't expect any domino effect or cause and effect in terms of us being able to go to marketplace. The winter marketplace this time of year, it doesn't exist." 

   Severino was shut down on Friday after experiencing soreness in his arm while doing spring training workouts. Severino only pitched 12 innings last season, starting 3 games as a result of numerous injuries in 2019. Severino was given a 4 year, $40 million extension by the Yankees last February, and halfway through the deal next season, he'll have 12 innings pitched to show for it. When healthy, Severino is one of the best starters in the game, and he has two all star game selections to show for it. 

   Severino said in a statement released on Twitter that "I am extremely disappointed that I will not be able to put on a Yankees uniform and compete with my teammates this year, but I promise that I will be working tirelessly during this process to come back stronger than ever to make the greatest fans in baseball proud." 

   The injury bug that plagued the Yankees last year has returned, as Aaron Judge has been shut down. The Yankees are also down 3 starting pitchers, leaving the rotation with question marks entering the season. Severino is down for the season, Domingo German is suspended 81 games, and James Paxton will miss at least the first month of the regular season. That leaves Gerrit Cole, Masahiro Tanaka, JA Happ, Jordan Montgomery, and Jonathan Loaisiga as the projected starters on the opening day roster.