Yankees' Schmidt and Hampton Injury Updates

New York Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt is managing a 'cranky' back injury during spring training, but manager Aaron Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake are not overly concerned. Schmidt has continued to throw and is expected to be ready for Opening Day. The Yankees are monitoring Chase Hampton, another pitcher, who may face a more serious injury involving his UCL, potentially requiring Tommy John surgery, which could influence the Yankees' roster decisions, possibly retaining Marcus Stroman amid trade rumors. The Yankees' rotation includes Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and Luis Gil, with Stroman as a depth option. Despite Schmidt's back issues, his past performance has been strong, with a notable 2.85 ERA over 85.1 innings last season.