NEW YORK — The Yankees reached Friday with a bullpen problem that changed shape in less than 48 hours. What had looked like a late-season performance dip for Fernando Cruz is now a significant elbow injury that could remove one of Aaron Boone’s trusted relief options for the rest of the postseason race.
Cruz went on the 15-day injured list Wednesday after an MRI showed a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The 36-year-old is seeking a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, and season-ending surgery remains among the possibilities. His status is unresolved, but the Yankees have to prepare as though his 2026 season could be over.
The Yankees already brought Michael Fulmer and Justin Topa into the bullpen mix this week. Clarke Schmidt, Ryan Weathers and Luis Gil remain possible September reinforcements in different roles. Still, none gives the Yankees certainty in the late innings, and Boone’s group is already carrying heavy workloads with October approaching. That leaves the front office with little margin for another miss.
Cruz injury sends Yankees back to the open market
That pressure has pushed the Yankees toward the free-agent pitching pool. New York has checked in on veteran right-hander Zack Littell after the Arizona Diamondbacks released him, while left-hander John King presents another option with a prior Yankees connection.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the Yankees’ interest after Littell cleared waivers. The report shows the front office is actively searching for innings after Cruz’s injury.
“Source: The Yankees are among teams that have at least checked in on Zack Littell, who cleared waivers today after being released earlier this week by the Diamondbacks.”
Littell, 30, has starter and long-relief experience, but his 2026 results are a concern. MLB lists him at 8-8 with a 5.21 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 124 1/3 innings. He also surrendered 30 home runs.
Yankees’ Littell search brings familiar alternative back into play
The Yankees’ call on Littell confirms the front office is searching outside the organization after Cruz’s injury. Littell cleared waivers after Arizona released him, leaving New York free to pursue him without surrendering a prospect or taking on a significant financial commitment.
King offers a different route with more history behind it. The Yankees nearly acquired the left-hander from Texas in the 2021 Joey Gallo trade, but concerns that surfaced during a medical review kept him out of the final deal. Miami’s decision to designate King for assignment and place him on release waivers this week has reopened a path to a pitcher the organization previously evaluated.
The role would be different from Cruz’s. King worked mostly in lower-leverage situations for Miami, with 37 of his 50 outings coming in that setting. His 60% ground-ball rate in 2025 also showed the contact-management skill that could help absorb middle innings while Boone protects an already heavily used group late in the season.
John King offers a different type of depth
King became a free agent after the Miami Marlins released him Aug. 26. The Marlins’ official transaction log confirms the move after Miami designated the 31-year-old for assignment.
MLB lists King at 6-2 with a 3.99 ERA and 1.01 WHIP in 50 appearances covering 49 2/3 innings. FanGraphs credits him with seven home runs allowed and a 47.6% ground-ball rate.
King carried a 2.51 ERA through 43 innings before a poor August, when he allowed 12 runs over 6 2/3 innings. That slide explains some of Miami’s decision, but most of his season was steadier.
The Yankees also know King from a previous pursuit. They nearly acquired him from Texas in the 2021 Joey Gallo trade before concerns that surfaced during a medical review kept him out of the final package.
One statistical gap stands out after Cruz loss
Neither pitcher directly replaces Cruz, who struck out 67 batters in 54 2/3 innings. The more useful comparison is damage prevention.
Littell’s 30 home runs in 124 1/3 innings equal 2.17 homers per nine innings, or roughly one every 4.1 innings. King’s seven home runs in 49 2/3 innings equal 1.27 per nine. King’s 1.01 WHIP is also 0.40 lower than Littell’s 1.41.
Those calculations use MLB’s official player statistics and FanGraphs data current through Aug. 28. They do not erase King’s poor August, but they show why his overall profile fits a middle-relief need more cleanly.
Cruz’s injury changes the priority. The Yankees need stability so Boone does not have to lean even harder on David Bednar, Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick before the postseason.
Cruz decision still controls the bullpen picture
Cruz told the Yankees about the elbow discomfort after allowing Jeremy Peña’s game-tying two-run homer Tuesday against Houston at Yankee Stadium. Testing followed in the clubhouse, and Wednesday’s MRI revealed the partial UCL tear. MLB reported that the discomfort had lingered for roughly three weeks.
Until Cruz receives the second opinion, the Yankees will not know whether rehabilitation remains realistic or surgery ends his season. Either way, the club has to evaluate outside help now.
King remained a free agent in MLB’s transaction records Friday morning. Littell had cleared waivers and drawn interest from multiple clubs, including the Yankees.
For the Yankees, Cruz’s injury has turned a late-August depth search into an urgent bullpen decision. Littell can supply innings, but King’s lower WHIP, better home-run rate and ground-ball profile make him the stronger available alternative if New York adds another veteran arm.
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