As if things couldn't get any worse in Yankeeland, the Yankees have lost the one player they likely can't do without. After traveling back to New york to have an MRI then flying to Seattle to see Yankees team doctor Chris Ahmad, Masahiro Tanaka has been diagnosed with a partially torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament, the ligament associated with Tommy John surgery.
At first you might think the sky is falling and everything is terrible, but then it's possible things might be ok in the end. Tanaka saw a total of three doctors and all three recommended rehab in stead of surgery. The tear in the UCL is considered to be minor, but things like this can be tricky and we don't know how his arm will react. At the moment, Tanaka is on a six-week timetable, will receive a PRP injection and then begin a rehab assignment.
On Tanaka's six-week timetable, Cashman said: "That's our hope. Obviously timeframes are subject to change."
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) July 11, 2014PRP injections, the rest. Then exercise. Then arm strengthening. Then throwing program. All according to Cashman. #yankees
— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) July 11, 2014As we know, Adam Wainwright pitched for years with a partially torn elbow ligament, but many, especially this year, have gone down and immediately needed the surgery. Just this year the Yankees also lost Ivan Nova and prospect Jose Campos to TJS. Losing Tanaka for a year would be a very big blow to not just this team's playoff chances, but also the 2015 team's as well.