PHOENIX — Tommy Kahnle’s path back to the Yankees is seeing another speed bump.
The relief pitcher started the season on the 15-day disabled list after a shoulder issue that ended last year delayed the start of his offseason pitching program, but he stalled again.
After live batting practice in Tampa last week, Kahnle didn’t recover as much as expected, which slowed his progress “a little bit,” Aaron said before the Yankees’ 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks. Coach Boone said Monday.
“So he went back to the pitching program,” Boone said before the 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. “I don’t know how much that will slow him down.”
The Yankees had targeted an April 12-14 series in Cleveland as Kahnle’s possible return date, but that will likely be postponed.
The 34-year-old right-hander was expected to pitch in at least a few rehab games before returning to the Yankees, but Boone said Monday he didn’t know when Kahnle would begin rehab.
The Yankees have already placed relievers Scott Efros and Lou Trivino on the 60-day disabled list, but they pitched 15¹/₃ scoreless innings in the bullpen in the season-opening series against the Astros.
Kirk Cousins’ cousin is the newest addition to the Yankees’ bullpen.
Jake Cousins was added to the roster on Monday after being acquired in a trade with the White Sox in exchange for cash on Sunday.
The right-handed relief pitcher spent spring training with the White Sox after signing a minor league deal in December, but was assigned to a Triple-A team at the start of the season.
Instead, the Yankees came in for him in a trade and immediately added him to the bullpen.
“I know our players are really excited about him,” Boone said. “From the scouts to the front office to the analysts, [they] I feel like we’ve got some talented players, so I hope we can work on some unexplored things. I know we like his talent. ”
A cousin of the Falcons’ new quarterback, Cousins is a heavy slider-sinker pitcher, consistent with the type of arm the Yankees have had success with in the past.
The 29-year-old, who has appeared in 51 games and has a career 3.08 ERA over parts of three seasons in the major leagues, has one minor league option remaining to give the Yankees some flexibility.
To make room for Cousins on the roster (both 26-man and 40-man), the Yankees designated left-hander Tanner Talley.
The Yankees announced their minor league roster on Monday (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was already announced while the season was underway).
Notable commitments to Double-A Somerset include top prospects OF Spencer Jones, LHP Brock Selvidge and C Ben Rice. To High-A Hudson Valley: LHP Kyle Carr and 2B Lock Riggio. And to Single-A Tampa: SS George Lombard Jr. and SS Roderick Arias.
To no one’s surprise, Juan Soto was named American League Player of the Week after going 9-for-17 with a 1.365 OPS and playing great defense in right field in the season-opening series against the Astros. . …This will be the Yankees’ first trip to Chase Field since 2019, the series in which CC Sabathia recorded his 3,000th strikeout.
