New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: At this point in the 2026 season, Giancarlo Stanton has been out so long that he almost feels like an afterthought, as he last played on April 24th in Houston. The calf injury was said to be minor, but sadly nothing truly is with MLB’s active home run leader. If nothing else, Stanton at least hit a milestone in the rehab process yesterday, participating in on-field baserunning drills at Yankee Stadium for the first time since June (when his calf strain recurred). He had been working on his hitting, but he hadn’t previously done this during the process.
Stanton has avoided rehab appearances in recent years since as a DH, the Trajekt pitching machines do an excellent job of replicating game action. But manager Aaron Boone noted that rehabbing somewhere in the minors could be the next hurdle assuming Stanton’s calf is still OK, though it appears more likely that even if all goes well, Cody Bellinger will return to the Yankees sooner (with Aaron Judge after Stanton). The Yankees could use any boost they can find for their lineup, and despite the clunky roster fit at this point Luis García Jr., Ben Rice, Paul Goldschmidt, and Heliot Ramos also being varying degrees of DH types—to say nothing of Judge—they will gladly find a way to squeeze Stanton in if his body says he’s good to go.
The Athletic | Dan Barbarisi: A month ago, it was reported that the Yankees were close to receiving a boost from the firm Apollo Global Management. That has indeed to come pass, as a $2.6 billion financing agreement was announced on Tuesday, “a mix of debt and equity and will allow the Yankees to refinance or retire much of their existing debt, then pursue new ventures.”
Hal Steinbrenner’s not going anywhere as the Yankees’ managing general partner and we only know that the stake is not larger than 15 percent due to MLB rules about individual private equity investment, but Apollo Sports Capital CEO Al Tylis is joining the Yankees’ board (formally known as Yankee Global Enterprises).
MLB.com | Matthew Ritchie: An even more forgotten Yankee is on the rehab trail like Stanton. Yes, Luis Gil really did begin the 2026 season in the Yankees’ rotation. Well technically they skipped him the first time through, but Gil did make four starts in the season’s opening month. He looked too similar to the guy who the Yanks very reluctantly gave a (doomed) playoff start in 2025, and with better rotation depth this year, they optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
However, the oft-injured Gil quickly went down with right shoulder inflammation. The 2024 AL Rookie of the Year hadn’t pitched in a game since April 26th until making a rehab appearance at High-A Hudson Valley last night. Gil threw a good inning, throwing 12 of 13 pitches for strikes across five batters. Gil will probably eventually end up back at Triple-A if his body responds well, as again the depth is too deep for him in the Yankees’ rotation at this point — though Boone said that there could “potentially” be a bullpen role.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders: The Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate will remain in Northeast Pennsylvania next year, but they’ll have a identity. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre adopted the RailRiders moniker after massive renovations finished on PNC Field in 2013; the former Red Barons had simply been the Yankees for their first few years as a Yankee affiliate after moving on from the Phillies in 2007. Now, something new on the horizon for Scranton’s name in 2027. It will not be revealed until November, but if recent minor-league team names around the industry are any trend, expect something quirky.
MLB Trade Rumors | Steve Adams: Former Astros foe Rafael Montero had joined the Yankees as Triple-A depth for much of the 2026 season, but that chapter has come to a close. Originally a Mets starter and now an 11-year MLB veteran, Montero never made it to The Show with the Yankees and is being released after recording a 5.67 ERA in 28 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. I’d say that this might be the end of the line for him, but teams are so desperate for bullpen help these days that it would not shock me in the slightest to see him hook on elsewhere, especially if he’s willing to keep grinding it out at Triple-A.
Speaking of the bullpen, the Yankees made a slight tweak to the big-league club yesterday with Bradley Hanner coming up for what could be his MLB debut later in the week. Kervin Castro was placed on the IL with right elbow neuritis. Jeff had the story for us, so check out more here.
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