Tampa Bay Rays: Death Star (NYY) Could be Fully Operational in 2020

The Tampa Bay Rays’ biggest hurdle in the AL East is the New York Yankees. The Yankees suffered a slew of injuries prior to the suspension of the season. How healthy will they be for a July start?

The Tampa Bay Rays looked to get out to an early lead against the defending AL East champion New York Yankees as they suffered a string of injuries to key players.

Here’s a rundown of the injuries and suspensions affecting the Yankees in 2020.

• Luis Severino: TJ surgery – out for the season.
• James Paxton – Only Yankees’ starter with ERA below 4.00 last season, required cyst-removal surgery.
• Domingo German showed a ton of promise last season, going 18-4 in jus 24 starts. His 2020 season has effectively been ended with the delay as he was handed an 81-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy due to domestic violence allegations.
• Aaron Judge had a mysterious rib injury that was difficult to diagnose. The timetable for a return was unknown.
• Giancarlo Stanton suffered a grade 1 calf strain.
• Aaron Hicks is recovering from Tommy John surgery and could miss the entire season.

The beginning of the season was not looking good for the defending AL East Champs.

However, if a July start is in the cards, they will be in much better shape than they would have otherwise.

Aaron Judge’s timeline is still unknown, but they seem optimistic about his prospects. Although, a recent report says he still is unable to swing a bat.

Stanton has been deemed fully healthy.

Paxton is back at full strength.

Before the suspension of play, Hicks was aiming for a mid-summer return to action, perhaps sooner. In March it was reported that he was already swinging a bat. There’s a good chance he’ll be on the field, if not on Opening Day, shortly after.

While the Yankees will sorely miss Luis Severino and Domingo German, they did add Gerrit Cole. The Death Star should be as close to fully operational as it can get for the Yankees.