One way or another, health concerns are prevalent on this Yankees roster. Some concerns are due to past medical issues, others because of advanced age, and others come from a lack of alternatives. Even if there's no reason to be worried about an injury at the moment -- even if it's a younger player with a healthy past -- the Yankees are thin enough at certain spots that potential health issues (foul ball off the leg, for example) can't be dismissed.

Of all those health concerns, Masahiro Tanaka is clearly top of the list. He's not an older player, but he has significant medical issues already -- most of them centered in and around his right elbow -- and he's a huge piece of the Yankees' puzzle. He's a player they can hardly afford to lose.

Beyond Tanaka, the Yankees' injury concerns aren't quite so obvious. There are nagging issues, past issues and age issues, but no one carries quite the medical red flag of Tanaka. And those who do have lingering medical issues, aren't quite as difficult to replace.

Here, though, is an attempt to rank the Yankees' most significant health concerns -- other than Tanaka -- heading into next season.


1. Michael PinedaIn terms of health, this season was a good one for Pineda. He had the forearm strain right before the trade deadline, but he came back from that fairly quickly. His shoulder, which is always the real source of concern with Pineda, held up just fine. That's definitely a positive step, but the Yankees count on Pineda to be an impact starter, and those past shoulder issues are still hard to dismiss completely. This is a guy who hardly pitched for three years. One healthy season doesn't erase all of that.

2. Nathan Eovaldi

There is absolutely no indication that Eovaldi's late-season elbow inflammation was a serious problem that's going to affect him going forward. In fact, quite the opposite: the Yankees pushed Eovaldi's return in anticipation of having him in the division series. That said, by the end of the year, Eovaldi had become a key piece of the current rotation, and he's young enough to be a big part of the future as well. Elbow issues with pitchers can't be taken lightly.

3. Carlos Beltran

For all but the month of April, Beltran was the Yankees' most consistent hitter last season. Yes, his defense was a problem, but his bat was a crucial piece of the lineup, and it would be difficult for the Yankees to make up for an injury to him. It's entirely possible Aaron Judge could fill Beltran's shoes, but that's not a sure thing. Beltran was healthy last year, but he's also an older player, and the Yankees need one more good year out of him. Could Judge and Slade Heathcott fill his shoes? Maybe, hard to bank on that, though.

4. Mark Teixeira

A broken leg isn't the kind of thing that's likely to pop up again. Teixeira's injury last season was more of a fluke thing than a chronic problem. But he's also in his mid-30s, and we've seen him run into serious health problems before. Yes, the Yankees have Greg Bird behind him as depth -- that might be what's keeping him from the top spot on this list -- but Teixeira was the Yankees' OPS leader last season, and Bird really is the only first-base alternative right now. Teixeira is a huge bat on the wrong side of 30 with plenty of injuries in recent years.

5. Alex Rodriguez

Compared to Beltran or Teixeira, there are as many reasons -- if not more -- to be worried about Rodriguez's health. He's in his 40s now, and he wasn't exactly a healthy player in the years leading up to last season. He's also an important bat for this lineup. What keeps concern a little lower is the fact the Yankees could use almost anyone to fill Rodriguez's spot in the lineup. Judge. Bird. Gary Sanchez. They could also fit into the puzzle one way or another to take A-Rod's spot, while letting Teixeira and Beltran rest a little more often in the process.

6. CC Sabathia

Rotation depth makes the potential of a Sabathia injury a little easier to swallow, but he's also a pitcher in his mid-30s who spent the past few seasons dealing with injuries, especially in his right knee. Late this year, Sabathia seemed to find a meaningful combination. He had success pitching with more effort, and he had a better brace to keep his knee healthy. He's shown he can still be a good pitcher, and the Yankees are likely to have him in their rotation again next year.

7. Chase Headley

Played all year without a significant health issue, but he has a history of back problems and he turns 32 in May. There might not be a huge reason to think Headley is going to be hurt next season, but there's is a big reason to think the Yankees would be in trouble if it happens. Namely, the Yankees don't have another third baseman on the roster unless they want to use Brendan Ryan, take a shot on Jose Pirela or maybe try Dustin Ackley at third base for the first time.

8. Brian McCann

Like Headley, McCann is about to tun 32. Also like Headley, there's no current indication that he's hurt. But McCann caught well over 1,000 innings last season, and that's quite the workload. Have to wonder if there could be some lingering impact, and McCann's an important power bat especially at home. What diminishes the concern a little bit is the emergence of John Ryan Murphy, who could carry a little more of the catching workload next season to help McCann stay rested. Also, the improvements of Gary Sanchez give the Yankees a little more depth.

9. Jacob Lindgren

Coming back from elbow surgery, Lindgren isn't a player the Yankees absolutely need on their big laegue roster. But he's a guy who absolutely could solve one of their late-season problems by giving them another standout reliever to help bridge the gap to Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller. Lindgren was drafted to be a fast-rising, high-impact arm out of the bullpen. He moved up quickly enough, but the injury took him out before he could have an impact. Another injury would rob the Yankees of another chance to really use him, and it would create some more concerns down the road.

10. Didi Gregorius

This one makes the list strictly because the Yankees have no one to replace him. Gregorius is young and athletic and there's absolutely no reason to believe he's hurt or will get hurt. But if he takes an awkward step rounding second or takes a fastball off the hand, Gregorius could miss time, and that has to be a concern because the Yankees are incredibly thin at shortstop. They could have Ryan to again serve as the backup, but otherwise Tyler Wade and Jorge Mateo seem to be at least a year away. Gregorius seems healthy, but the Yankees would be in real trouble if he weren't.

Associated Press photos


Chad Jennings


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, Staff | 5:44 PM May 3, 2017