Clarke

Schmidt

Schmidt said that he and the Yankees’ pitching department worked together to break his one sweeper up into two distinct breaking balls, including a new one that was “designed to give him more horizontal break and a better weapon against righties.” The pitch did that, but it also required Schmidt to “grip it really hard” and “torque it,” which caused the 30-year-old to have a tough time recovering in between his starts. He was then forced to undergo elbow surgery in July. He likely won’t return until the end of the summer, but he claims that he will stick to “his old sweeper grip and will definitely ditch the newer one.” That could lead to fewer strikeouts for Schmidt but more long-term health.

Schmidt might return down the stretch after undergoing surgery late last July, though it might be late enough that he’s only considered as a reliever. The 29-year-old had a nice 3.32 ERA in 14 starts before getting hurt last season.

Schmidt’s new deal comes knowing that he won’t be available until the second half of 2026 because of an internal brace procedure on his right elbow. Once healthy, he’ll likely pitch in the middle of the Yankees’ rotation; likely after the All-Star break.

The procedural move frees up a spot on New York’s 40-man roster for newly acquired outfielder Austin Slater. The 29-year-old right-hander underwent an internal brace procedure earlier this month and is expected to be sidelined until the second half of next season.

Schmidt added that he’s facing an 11-13 month return timeline following the less invasive procedure, which puts him on track to return to New York at some point in the second half of next season.

The procedure will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister. Schmidt will obviously miss the remainder of the 2025 season and most of the 2026 campaign as well while recovering from the procedure. Expect him to be moved to the 60-day injured list in the coming days to free up a spot on the team’s 40-man roster. Cam Schlittler will be given the first opportunity to hold down Schmidt’s spot in the Yankees’ rotation.

It’s a brutal development for the Yankees, and fantasy managers alike, as Schmidt had pitched to a strong 3.32 ERA across 78 2/3 innings (14 starts) this season before hitting the injured list earlier this week with forearm tightness. The 29-year-old’s absence puts some additional strain on New York’s rotation heading towards the trade deadline. Allan Winans and Cam Schlittler are the most likely candidates to fill his rotation spot. Given the timing of the procedure, Schmidt is unlikely to make it back until the late stages of the 2026 season.

The Yankees didn’t wait for the results of an MRI to make the move. Schmidt left last night’s game early after giving up three runs in three innings against the Blue Jays. Allan Winans figures to take his spot in the Yankees rotation next week.

The 29-year-old hurler was pulled from Thursday’s start against the Blue Jays after three innings due to tightness in his forearm. Anytime forearm and MRI are mentioned in the same sentence, there’s reason for concern. With the All-Star break upcoming, you’d think that Schmidt would land on the injured list and miss his next start at an absolute minimum here. Look for the Yankees to provide an update on his status after Friday’s exam.

The 29-year-old right-hander had allowed three runs on four hits and a pair of walks over his three frames prior to exiting. He’ll almost certainly head for additional evaluation to determine what exactly is going on there. Expect the Yankees to provide an update on his status as soon as more information becomes available.