by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3:27 pm ET) When Michael Pineda had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff last year, it was thought to be career-threatening. But seeing as he's passed every test with flying colors so far, hitting the mid-90s with his fastball and completing a 51-pitch outing in extended spring training Saturday, making a play for him in Fantasy no longer seems like a stab in the dark.
He has something in the way of a timetable now. The Yankees want him to make two more extended spring training starts before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment that can't last more than 30 days. The way the math works out, he's potentially just six weeks away.
Obviously, Brandon Beachy is the more exciting long-term stash at starting pitcher. Coming off Tommy John surgery, he's a safer bet to pick up where he left off and is probably just a month of returning. But Pineda is next on the list. Remember: He was getting drafted as a top-20 starting pitcher at the time of his injury last year.
Michael Pineda receiving rave reviews
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/20/2013) Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda (shoulder) received rave reviews following a 51-pitch outing in an extended spring game Saturday, according to the New York Post. The Yankees are hopeful Pineda will pitch in two more extended-spring outings (Thursday, May 28) before beginning a rehab assignment.
Michael Pineda set to throw Friday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/16/2013) Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda (shoulder) will throw four innings and 50 pitches at the team's spring training complex on Friday, according to The Star Ledger.
Pineda will need to build up more arm strength before embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment. Pineda could last the maximum 30 days once he starts his assignment. The team has yet to issue a concrete timetable for the 24-year-old.
"I expect him to pitch for us," manager Joe Girardi said. "We've said [he’ll be back] sometime during the summer. I know summer starts officially in about a month. But sometime in the summer, we expect him."
Yankees setting pace for Michael Pineda
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/10/2013) Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Friday there is a plan for when pitcher Michael Pineda (shoulder) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment, ESPN.com reports. Cashman said once Pineda throws 65-70 pitches in back-to-back outings in extended spring training, he will likely advance to the next step with a possible return to New York in June.
Michael Pineda making solid progress
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/8/2013) Yankees rehabbing pitcher Michael Pineda (right shoulder surgery) will make another start during an extended spring training game next Monday, MLB.com reports Wednesday.
Pineda's fastball was recently clocked in the mid-90s. He's been feeling good on the mound but the Yankees aren't sure how far away he is from a minor league rehab assignment at this time.
"I don't know," Pineda said. "Not that long, because I'm feeling good, working hard and getting ready."
Stashing Michael Pineda not a priority
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/7/2013) Since we haven't seen him since the 2011 season, it is easy to forget that Yankees starting Michael Pineda was downright dominant for long stretches of his rookie season, even earning an All-Star bid. He blew batters away with a mid-90's fastball and wipeout slider, and his impressive potential is still around at the tender age of 24.
Pineda is, of course, recovering from an incredibly risky torn rotator cuff that is very difficult to return from, so it makes sense that he is stashed in just 37 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy leagues. Still, he has been pitching in extended spring training and hitting 95 on the radar gun, a good sign that he is making clear progress.
Our Scott White ranks Pineda as one of the 25 players currently on the disabled list most worthy of stashing in his Reality Check column, though he notes the inherent risk in relying on a player coming back from such a lengthy absence. Fantasy owners should approach Pineda like a bonus, as anything he gives you is nice, but if you're relying on him you could get badly burned. Once we hear a concrete timeline for his return, it will be easier for Fantasy owners to get an idea of his value. For now, he is worth holding on to if you have a spare DL spot, but could be worth jettisoning.
Michael Pineda has 'good physical day'
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/2/2013) Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said starting pitcher Michael Pineda (shoulder) pitched in extended spring training Thursday and was sitting between 93-95 mph on the radar gun. Cashman said it was "a good physical day," per MLB.com.
Manager 'happy' with what he saw from Michael Pineda
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/22/2013) Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda (shoulder) threw an inning during a simulated game Monday. He threw his fastball, slider and changeup, according to MLB.com.
"I was happy with what I saw," manager Joe Girardi said.
Michael Pineda has confidence in return
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) Yankees rehabbing pitcher Michael Pineda, coming back from shoulder surgery, said Sunday he's confident he'll return this season and that he'll do so at a very high level, the New York Post reports.
"I’m going to be back and I’m going to be 100 percent," Pineda said. "My arm is feeling good and I’m the same pitcher I was before."
Pineda is scheduled for his first simulated game next week after being limited to bullpens and batting practices to this point.
"I want to be able to do that because I want to be ready when they call me," Pineda said. "I don’t know when that call is going to come. I want it to be soon, but I don’t know when it will happen."
Michael Pineda's return a midsummer dream for Yanks
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda (shoulder) continues to throw bullpen sessions and batting practice at the team's spring training site without any noted issue, keeping him on schedule for a midseason return.
Pineda, who has yet to pitch a game for New York since being acquired from Seattle, is expected to require an extended rehab assignment when he advances to that stage.
"We expect to get him back sometime in the summer," manager Joe Girardi told the New York Daily News on Friday. "That would be a nice little boost. Depth is always a good thing."
Michael Pineda throws another BP session
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/17/2013) Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda (shoulder) threw his third batting practice session Tuesday, according to MLB.com. He had 35 pitches broken into two sessions.
A source told MLB.com Pineda's session Tuesday looked better than his first two BP outings.
Michael Pineda throws batting practice
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda threw batting practice Tuesday for the first time since right shoulder surgery that sidelined him all of last season. There's no timetable for Pineda's return, but he's on the 60-day disabled list and can't return until later this summer.
Michael Pineda on the mend for Yankees
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/25/2013) Yankees recovering hurler Michael Pineda , coming off shoulder surgery, is scheduled to throw a 45-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, reports the Journal News.
Pineda has felt no discomfort throwing to this point and his command has been "perfect," according to the pitcher. Pineda said his next significant step will come in two weeks when he's scheduled to throw live batting practice for the first time.
Pineda earns confidence boost
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/12/2013) Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda continued his lengthy rehab from shoulder surgery Tuesday and fired 35 pitches during a bullpen session, The Journal News reports. Pineda, who missed the entire 2012 season because of the issue, mixed in a few sliders while throwing off the mound during his longest session since having surgery last May. "My slider is great," he said. "It was my best pitch today."
Pineda throws 25 pitches again
(2/22/2013) Yankees starter Michael Pineda, who missed all of 2012 with shoulder surgery, threw 25 pitches Friday morning, all fastballs. Pineda told the Journal News that he plans to throw 30 next time, and will mix in some changeups, as well. So far, Pineda has thrown changeups only when playing catch. He also added that his shoulder feels fine, and he has stopped thinking about it when he goes to pitch.
Pineda throws 25 pitches
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (2/15/2013) Yankees starter Michael Pineda, who is coming back from rotator cuff surgery, threw 25 fastballs on Thursday morning, and said all went well. “We just have to be wait, and I have to be honest that it’s a question mark,” general manager Brian Cashman told The Journal News. “We just don’t know. I’m hoping, because he’s an important piece, that if he’s back and healthy and performing up to his ceiling, that’s a huge thing for us. Right now, I can’t represent any of those things. I just appreciate him working his tail off and doing everything necessary to give it a chance.”
Yanks 'optimistic' with Pineda
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/14/2013) MLB.com reports Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, said he has dropped 20 pounds from last season and is progressing well in his rehab. “Everything is doing well. Everything has been good,” Pineda said. “I’m feeling very excited, I’m feeling good. My shoulder is stronger right now.” Pineda just began to throw off a mound and isn't expected to face hitters under controlled conditions until March. The Yankees are hoping he could be back in the majors by June. “He’s had no setbacks, he’s worked hard and it’s a very serious surgery he’s coming back from,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters. “No guarantees, but so far we’re cautiously optimistic.”
Pineda back this summer?
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/12/2013) Yankees manager Joe Girardi gave an update Tuesday on the status of starting pitcher Michael Pineda, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. "He's throwing now for us. He's still in the early stages," Girardi said, per the New York Daily News. "I don't think we're going to see him in a game in spring training, anything like that. He is throwing, we're happy with the way he's progressing and sometime during the summer we hope to see him."
Pineda progressing to full mound?
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (2/7/2013)Newsday's Erik Boland reported on Thursday that Yankees starter Michael Pineda has not experienced any setbacks in half-mound sessions, which he started at the end of January. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild added that Pineda could progress to a full mound by next week.
Pineda to throw off half mound
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (1/28/2013)The Wall Street Journal reports Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said pitcher Michael Pineda, who missed the 2012 season because of shoulder surgery, will throw off a half mound Tuesday for the first time since the May operation.
