DISASTER STRIKES: Yankees’ Bullpen Nightmare Deepens as Mark Leiter Jr. Suffers Stress Fracture, Fans Panic Over Trade Deadline Moves
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July 9, 2025 | New York, NY
NEW YORK — The hits just keep on coming for the New York Yankees — and not the kind they want.
Late Tuesday night, the club confirmed that reliever Mark Leiter Jr. has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a stress fracture in his left fibula. The news is another crushing blow to a bullpen already stretched dangerously thin, as the Yankees grapple with significant injuries throughout their pitching staff.
“This is one of those things you don’t want to hear,” manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the Yankees’ 6-3 loss to the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. “Leiter’s been a huge part of our ‘pen. He’s a guy we’ve leaned on heavily, especially with other guys out. Losing him hurts.”
Bullpen Under Siege
Leiter Jr. has quietly become one of the Yankees’ most dependable relief arms in 2025, posting a 2.86 ERA over 42 innings, with 58 strikeouts and a stingy 1.08 WHIP. In a bullpen riddled with inconsistency and injuries, his reliability has been a rare constant.
“He’s been nails for us,” said catcher Austin Wells. “He attacks hitters, he doesn’t shy away from big spots. It sucks to lose him.”
Now, the Yankees face the daunting prospect of surviving without Leiter Jr. while already missing ace Gerrit Cole and starter Clarke Schmidt — both of whom are sidelined with long-term injuries and not expected back until late August at the earliest.
“It feels like every time we turn around, someone else goes down,” Boone said. “We’re trying to hold it together, but it’s tough.”
A Perfect Storm of Problems
The Yankees entered 2025 with sky-high expectations, riding the talents of Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and a revamped pitching staff. Early on, they looked like juggernauts, surging to a 35-15 record by late May.
But June and July have been anything but kind. Cole landed on the IL with elbow inflammation. Schmidt followed with shoulder fatigue. Bullpen pieces like Jonathan Loáisiga and Tommy Kahnle have also dealt with nagging injuries.
Even closer Clay Holmes, who lost his grip on the ninth inning in June, has been inconsistent. As of this week, the Yankees’ bullpen ERA has ballooned to 4.45 — the second-worst mark in the American League.
Now, with Leiter Jr. joining the injured list, the Yankees’ once-vaunted pitching depth looks dangerously shallow.
“This is starting to look like a full-blown crisis,” said MLB Network analyst Joel Sherman. “The Yankees might have to scramble at the deadline — not for luxury pieces, but for survival.”
Fans Sound the Alarm
Yankees fans are feeling the panic — and letting their voices be heard. On Reddit, threads with titles like “CASHMAN DO SOMETHING” and “Our Bullpen is Toast” have dominated the Yankees subreddit for days.
One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Cole’s out. Schmidt’s out. Now Leiter Jr.? Who’s pitching in October — my grandma?”
Another user posted a poll asking whether Brian Cashman should go all-in for bullpen help, even at the cost of top prospects. The results? Over 78% voted YES.
“This is the window,” wrote one commenter. “We can’t waste another year of Judge and Soto.”
Trade Deadline Looming Large
The Yankees front office knows all eyes are on them as the trade deadline approaches. According to league sources, New York has already checked in on several potential bullpen reinforcements, including Oakland’s Mason Miller, St. Louis’s Ryan Helsley, and even Detroit’s Will Vest.
The problem? Prices are steep.
“Teams smell blood in the water,” Sherman said. “They know the Yankees are desperate. The question is: How much is Cashman willing to pay?”
Brian Cashman was non-committal Tuesday when asked whether the Leiter injury would force the Yankees’ hand.
“We’re always looking to improve the club,” Cashman said. “But there’s a balance. We’re not going to mortgage the future recklessly. That said, we’re very aware of where we stand.”
A Clubhouse Feeling the Strain
Inside the clubhouse, players remain hopeful — if exhausted.
“We’ve got enough talent here to win,” Judge said. “But we need guys to step up. We’ve all got to do a little more until our boys get back.”
Boone echoed the sentiment.
“It’s been one of those years,” Boone said. “But no one’s throwing in the towel. We’ve got too much fight for that.”
Still, fatigue is setting in. Relievers like Luke Weaver and Caleb Ferguson have been pitching in high-leverage spots nearly every night, and young arms called up from Triple-A are being tested by fire.
“We’re trying to mix and match, but there’s only so many times you can go to the same well,” Boone admitted. “It’s a grind.”
The Road Ahead
For now, the Yankees cling to second place in the AL East, trailing the Orioles by four games. But with the bullpen in crisis mode and the rotation patched together with duct tape, fans and analysts alike wonder if New York can hold on long enough to reach October.
“This is what separates the contenders from the pretenders,” Sherman said. “If the Yankees can navigate this stretch, they’ll be dangerous. But right now, it’s looking pretty dicey.”
As the trade deadline clock ticks down, all eyes are on Cashman and the Yankees’ front office. One thing is certain: if the Yankees hope to make noise this October, they’ll need reinforcements — and fast.