Xavier Nady and Brian Bruney are both targeting a return in 10 days or less, just in time for the nine-game stretch in National League cities, according to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News. Both players are recovering from right elbow troubles, and have missed a significant chunk of the season so far.
Nady’s bat seems to be fine—he’s gone 7-for-20 with three homers in five rehab games—but the Yankees are more worried about his throwing.
When Nady returns, he will create a little bit of a logjam in the outfield and DH spots. Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera aren’t moving anywhere, but Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui, Brett Gardner and Nady will battle for right field and DH positions on a game-by-game basis.
I expect Nady to start the majority of games in right, and Swisher and Matsui to rotate the DH spot. This would leave Gardner as a late game defensive replacement and pinch runner.
Bruney said he felt good after throwing 30 pitches on Sunday, and he will throw breaking balls in the bullpen today for the first time since he went on the DL on May 26.
Last season, Bruney was one of the most reliable pitchers out of the pen, and everyone would love to see him return to that form.
He tried to make his return last month, but he quickly was put back on the DL when his elbow started acting up again.
The Yankees bullpen is starting to come together with Phil Hughes, Alfredo Aceves, David Robertson and Brett Tomko stepping up, but Bruney’s addition would only mean good things.
