Bad news for the Bombers.
Michael Pineda threw as scheduled today in extended spring training, but Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that he was shut down after feeling lingering weakness in his right shoulder.
The hope was that Pineda would begin an official minor league rehab assignment if things went well today, but any such plans have been put on hold. The 23-year-old right-hander underwent an MRI at the end of March which showed only tendinitis and no structural damage, but he’ll now be sent back to a doctor to see if anything is more seriously wrong.
It’s way too soon to call the Montero-for-Pineda deal a bust for the Yankees -- we’ll need years to make a proper judgment on this one -- but it’s a good thing they added Andy Pettitte as an insurance policy for their starting rotation. It sure doesn’t sound like Pineda will be a factor anytime soon.
UPDATE: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News that Pineda will return to New York on Monday to be examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad. He’s expected to undergo a dye-contrast MRI to see if they missed anything in the initial exam last month.
