Yankees Place Fernando Cruz on IL With Partial UCL Tear

The New York Yankees placed setup reliever Fernando Cruz on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, following a diagnosis of a partially torn right ulnar collateral ligament.

Manager Aaron Boone revealed the extent of the elbow injury following New York's victory over the Houston Astros, noting that the 36-year-old right-hander is currently seeking additional medical opinions to decide whether to undergo surgery.

A full Tommy John reconstruction would sideline Cruz through the 2027 season, while an internal brace procedure would give him a slight chance of returning by September 2027. Cruz was sent for imaging after surrendering a game-tying two-run homer during a 9-7 defeat against Houston on Tuesday.

"Anytime you have that and the trainers feel like an IL situation before getting the results," said Aaron Boone, Manager of the New York Yankees.

The move was part of five roster transactions executed by the Yankees prior to Wednesday's contest. New York signed veteran reliever Michael Fulmer to a major league contract, recalled starter Elmer Rodriguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, optioned reliever Bradley Hanner, and transferred Kervin Castro to the 60-day injured list due to right elbow neuritis.

Fulmer, 33, agreed to terms after clearing waivers following his designation for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels, where he delivered three scoreless relief appearances this season.

"As soon as I cleared, the Yankees were the first team to call, which I value quite a bit a team that's showing interest like that," said Michael Fulmer, Reliever for the New York Yankees.

Boone expressed confidence in bringing the 2016 American League Rookie of the Year into New York's bullpen mix to help handle high-leverage innings.

"I'm excited to get him here," said Aaron Boone, Manager of the New York Yankees. "Obviously it's a guy that's got a lot of experiences, had a lot of success in the big leagues, has been through a lot on the injury front. He's a guy that's had a good season and is throwing the ball well and hopefully he can come here and grab a role."

Cruz has served as New York's primary right-handed setup arm this year, compiling a 4-6 record with a 3.13 ERA and 19 holds across 61 games. However, his performance dipped in August, yielding a 6.75 ERA over eight innings while allowing four home runs.

The loss of Cruz further strains a Yankees pitching staff that recently placed starter Ryan Weathers on the injured list with a forearm strain. New York holds a 1.5-game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the top American League wild-card spot ahead of a weekend series against Boston.