Bronx Bomber Ball

On September 1, rosters expand from the normal 25-man limit to the entirety of a team’s 40-man roster. A team normally filled with established veterans, the Yankees are now infused with youth and are starting to feel the toll of a 162-game season. The Yankees remained relatively healthy throughout the first-half of the season, but have been bit with the injury bug in the second-half, and the team would certain accept with open arms a few reinforcements to rest regulars and help the team down the stretch.  Photo Credit: MILB.com

The Yankees have been forced to make a ton of moves lately due to fluke injuries, and that continued to be the case on Thursday afternoon. All in all, they made a total of five roster moves: Photo via The Times-Tribune

As a Yankee fan, the Scranton-Shuttle is a familiar term for what seems like a never-ending cycle of relief pitchers and, to a smaller extent, position players constantly coming up to the Major League Club, spending minimal time with the Yankees, and then packing their bags to go back to the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate in Scranton. Photo Credit: NJ.com

The Yankees were unable to get a winning streak going against the Rangers in an 8-1 loss on Saturday. The bats were quiet all game long, and the Bomber's bullpen continued to struggle. Tyler Clippard stunk up the place, and the sole RBI of the game was a homerun by, you guessed it, Aaron Judge. Photo Credit: Frank Gunn | AP Luis Cessa got the ball as the Yankees looked to build on a walk-off win last night in the Bronx. Cessa’s last start wasn’t very good, so the pressure was definitely on him to perform. He got into a little bit of trouble in the top of the first, as Elvis Andrus singled to plate a run for the Rangers. Cessa would get out of a first and third, two out jam, though, striking out Rougned Odor and Carlos Gomez. The Yankees offense was silent from the start, but the lineup looked a little different than usual. Gardner and Sanchez were given days off, while Headley remained out with back spasms. Mason Williams played centerfield, moving Hicks to left. Rom...

Along with Gary Sanchez, Aaron Hicks was hurt in the Yankees’ extra innings loss on Thursday night against the A’s. Believed to have happened in his at-bat in the eighth inning in which he grounded out, Hicks stayed in the game before voicing his discomfort to Joe Girardi. It was later diagnosed as an Achilles injury by the Yankees medical staff, but it isn't believed to be too serious. Photo Credit: Kathy Willens/AP

The Yankees suffered an injury on the first pitch of tonight’s game against the Kansas City Royals. Alcides Escobar crushed a ball to deep center off of Luis Severino that Jacoby Ellsbury caught behind his back, and then collided with the wall and fell awkwardly. He was very slow to get up, and Joe Girardi and Steve Donahue rushed out to the warning track in center field to check up on Ellsbury. They appeared to give him the concussion protocol, and he convinced them to allow him to remain in the game. Kathy Willens | AP Photo

Many reading this are somewhat familiar with Mason Williams. He appeared in just eight games in the 2015 season in which he hit .286 before he suffered a shoulder injury. In 2016, he was called up when the roster expanded and appeared in twelve games. Williams is an outfielder who’s spot on the team is questionable after the injuries he suffered the past two years and the top prospects the Yankees acquired at the trade deadline last season. Photo Credit: Patrick Smith | Getty Images

Tyler Austin made quite the impression during his major league debut last August. Austin and fellow rookie Aaron Judge hit back-to-back home runs in their first Major League at-bats. Following his explosive entry to the Bronx, Austin cooled off considerably, still managing to show promise. Heading into 2017, Austin was expected to compete with Greg Bird in spring training for the starting first base job. Austin's versatility has made him a reliable option to play both corner outfield positions and third base, along with first. Unfortunately for both Austin and the Yankees, the 25-year old broke his left foot. The injury will sideline Austin for approximately six weeks. The recent signing of first baseman Chris Carter softens the detriment of Austin's injury; however, the Yankees are still hoping he can make an impact upon recovering from his broken foot. Photo Credit: Adam Hunger/Associated Press

Coming in at number 22 on our top prospect list is outfielder Mason Williams. Once listed as the top prospect in the Yankees organization by Baseball America, Williams has seen his stock decline due both injury and the rise of his contemporaries. During two very brief stints with the Bombers in 2015 and 2016, Williams showed an impressive poise. He's solid defensively, and can hit for average. Unfortunately for Williams, the Yankees have some depth in the outfield so he likely won't become a full time player with the Bombers. With Clint Frazier, Blake Rutherford, and Aaron Judge presenting much more upside than Williams, he finds himself much lower on the totem poll. Even if he doesn't make the roster out of Spring Training, and he likely wont, I wouldn't be surprised to see Williams in the Bronx as a fourth outfielder at some point this season due to the injury histories of the starting outfielders. Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Yankees have suffered their first notable injuries of Spring Training. Joe Girardi told reporters Friday afternoon that Tyler Austin has suffered a fracture in his foot after fouling a ball off it a few days ago in batting practice. He will be out a minimum of six weeks and will not be in contention for an opening day roster spot. This injury suddenly makes the Chris Carter signing, which they agreed to just 10 days ago, look huge as Carter now likely has the inside track on the backup first baseman and DH job. Photo Credit: Ray Stubblebine

The year 2016 was a very good year for Yankees prospects. Not only were top notch prospects acquired, but some prospects took the necessary step forward in their development to reach the Major Leagues. I want to take a closer look at one of those prospects in Dustin Fowler. Photo Credit: MiLB.com

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner has been a staple at the top of the lineup for the last few years. He’s been a consistently great left fielder, as evident by his 2016 Gold Glove Award. But, as many Yankees fans know, he’s a prime candidate to be traded. Gardner’s name in trade rumors is nothing new. Ever since signing his four-year, $52 million extension in 2014, he’s been linked to numerous teams. But why would the Yankees trade Gardner, the homegrown, tough-nosed ballplayer? Well, there are a lot of reasons. Elsa - Getty Images

The Yankees were able to stop the bleeding of a five game losing streak by defeating the last place Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday by a score of 5-3. The seemingly unstoppable Gary Sanchez hit a clutch three- run home run to stamp a much needed Yankees victory at Tropicana field. The Yankees entered Wednesday’s game 3.5 games back for the second wildcard spot.   Photo Credit: AP/Chris O'Meara

Today (Monday, May 30), the Yankees made three roster moves. Dustin Ackley was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder dislocation, Luis Severino was activated from the 15-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Scranton, and Rob Refsnyder was called back up. Picture Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images

This article has been updated as of Monday, May 16. The Yankees made several roster moves on Saturday, 5/14: 1. Chad Green & Conor Mullee signed to MLB contracts, called up from Triple-A Scranton 2. Gary Sanchez optioned to Triple-A Scranton 3. Luis Severino placed on 15-day DL (right triceps strain) 4. Bryan Mitchell, Greg Bird, and Mason Williams moved to 60-day DL 5. Yankees acquired J.R. Graham from the Minnesota Twins for cash or a player to be named later; Graham has been sent to Double-A Trenton Chad Green | Picture Credit: Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre)

Speedy outfielder Mason Williams grabbed the attention of Yankees fans last June when he robbed Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Weiters of extra bases — making an outstanding sliding catch into the right-center field fence at Camden Yards. Unfortunately for Williams, his season came to an end later that week as he injured his shoulder diving back into 1 st base in a game against the Tigers. Williams will look to have a rebound season in 2016. Photo Via Getty Images

The Hot stove is heating up and the Winter Meetings are approaching. At this point of the offseason, the trade market creates the most buzz. One of the names being thrown out there is OF Brett Gardner. It is no secret the Yankees are trying to ship Gardner as he’s been involved in rumors with many teams like the Mariners, Cubs and Dodgers. The Yankees certainly won’t get an ace for Gardy but he can bring back a controllable middle of the rotation type pitcher. That of course, would leave a hole in LF. As the Yankees showed us in 2015, they are not afraid of going inside the organization to find a replacement. Here are five guys who could take over in left, with Gardner possibly on the move.        Might Judgement Day be Coming?

Photo Via Outside Pitch MLB In the Yankees first deadline move, general manager Brian Cashman moved prospects Ramon Flores (OF) and RHP Jose Ramirez. In return, he got the former number two overall pick in 2009, a versatile left-handed hitting Dustin Ackley from the Seattle Mariners. Now I may not be speaking for all Yankee fans, but the common consensus around fans is that the Yankees have already lost this trade or that it’s a disaster. If you glance at Ackley’s numbers, you’re not going to be impressed. Those who know me know I’m a huge UNC Tar Heel fan, so I’ve watched Ackley since he was 19 years old. He’s now 27, entering his prime, and is surely an upgrade over Stephen Drew and Brendan Ryan. You don’t believe me? Let’s take a deeper look at it.