The New York Yankees‘ bullpen took another hit Thursday.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced the team was shutting down Jonathan Loaisiga and that he would miss the rest of the regular season with a flexor strain.
Loaisiga is 0-1 with a 4.25 ERA, seven holds and one save in 30 games this season. He has been on the injured list since Aug. 1 with the strain in his throwing elbow. In 193 career games, Loaisiga has a 19-12 record with a 3.54 ERA, 3.86 FIP and a 232 strikeouts and 82 walks in 249 1/3 innings.
The Yankees (74-60) trail the Toronto Blue Jays by four games for the American League East lead and are a half-game behind the Boston Red Sox for the AL No. 1 wild card.
Why Did The Yankees Shut Down Jonathan Loaisiga?
When healthy, Loaisiga has been a weapon for the New York bullpen throughout his career — outside occasional issues with home runs. The Yankees could have really used him too, since they have the 23rd-best bullpen ERA this year (4.28).
But this is the third straight season that has been cut short for the Yankees reliever and second straight to end with a serious elbow injury. Loaisiga underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 after he threw just four innings.
Boone told reporters before New York’s 10-4 win over the Chicago White Sox that Loaisiga was a flexor strain in his elbow. He would not need surgery — if left unfixed, the strain can lead to a UCL tear that can require Tommy John surgery — but would not be healthy enough to pitch in either the regular season or playoffs.
“He’ll be done for the year, but nothing they have to go intervene on right now,” Boone said.
Loiasiga missed the first six weeks of the season while recovering from last year’s elbow surgery, and he pitched to a 3.68 xERA and 4.14 xFIP despite his minus-0.5 fWAR.
Still, Loaisiga’s injury affirms general manager Brian Cashman’s decision to target bullpen depth — he traded for Jake Bird, David Bednar and Camilo Doval at the deadline and acquired Devin Williams in the off-season.
What Is Jonathan Loaisiga’s Future With the Yankees?
The Yankees hold a $5 million club option on Loaisiga for 2026, and they could opt into that with Williams and valuable reliever Luke Weaver expected to depart via free agency.
Yet, the Yankees declining the option on Loaisiga is the more likely scenario, especially with Doval, Bird and Bednar — plus left-hander Tim Hill — all locked into contracts through at least next season.
The Yankees simply have not been able to rely on Loaisiga, despite his 8.4 strikeouts-per-nine rate. He has only made 50-or-more appearances twice in his eight-season major-league career, and this season he made his third-most appearances of any single season.
Some other team will take a chance on Loaisiga, since his mid-90s sinker, low-90s changeup and mid-80s curveball provide a strong arsenal, and he’s likely to be had on the cheap after consecutive seasons of elbow injuries.
But even though he will be with the Yankees, rooting on his teammates, it’s safe to assume Loaisiga has thrown his last pitch for the Bombers.
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