Yankees: Starlin Castro back on the DL

The Yankees will be without their second baseman Starlin Castro for a period of time with another hamstring issue. What is the impact of the news?

The New York Yankees need all hands on deck if they want to make up ground in the American League East. The offense and bullpen improved with a recent trade but the team still has starting pitching issues. The Yankees suffered another setback as second baseman Starlin Castro was placed on the DL with a hamstring issue.

Castro dealt with the same injury before the All-Star break. He came back on July 15 but hasn’t looked like himself. In his last six games, Castro went 5-for-22 with two hitless games. It could be that he wasn’t 100 percent before returning but the setback hurts his fantasy owners and fantasy baseball in general.

Castro is owned in 86.4 percent of ESPN leagues, so his owners are looking for a short-term replacement. However, no word has been said as to how long he will be out.

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There are some quality widely-available options on the waiver wire.

Cory Spangenberg is owned in just seven percent of leagues. He is on a seven-game hit streak with four multi-hit games in a row and five total. He also has three home runs and nine RBI in that span.

We’ve mentioned him before but Paul DeJong is still owned in less than 50 percent of leagues. He also has third base and shortstop eligibility. He has power and contact, something Castro was displaying this year.

A third option is Whit Merrifield. While he doesn’t have much power, eight home runs this year, he can hit and run. Merrifield has a nine-game hit streak, 13-for-37. He has 16 steals for the season, too.

Castro was hitting well before getting hurt. He was hitting .307 with 12 homers, 45 RBI, 52 runs and just one steal. He was the 14th-best second baseman on the Player Rater. The Yankees called up Tyler Wade to fill his roster spot but Ronald Torreyes will likely take his spot in the lineup.

As a Castro owner, I have no choice but to keep him and you shouldn’t either. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best hitters in the Yankees lineup. Luckily, I have Brian Dozier to fill my second base spot.

It’s been the year of injuries. Let’s hope Castro is out for just the minimum time.