New York Yankees rotation gets priority as GM Brian Cashman disallows Luis Severino from playing at WBC 2023

Luis Severino has not been granted permission by the New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman to participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic 2023. The 20-nation tournament will have games held across three countries, in a two-week period between March 8 and March 21.

Severino's Yankees career has been plagued with injuries since 2019. He underwent Tommy John surgery in early 2020 and mustered only seven appearances by the end of 2021. The next year was relatively better, with the pitcher making 19 appearances, including two in the postseason.

As a result, the Yankees GM has decided not to risk the talented pitcher before the start of the team's 2023 campaign. Cashman, speaking on 670 The Score, confirmed the news, which was first shared by MLB insider Hector Gomez on Twitter.

We support our players going, but when you have a player like Luis Severino who has had an injury history the last few years; of course he wanted to play and represent his country, but that’s not in our best interest given losing him so far over the last few years,” Cashman explained.

He continued:

“Having him pitch competitive, championship-pending, World Baseball Classic I think ends in March, versus preparation innings in March for your long-haul season, that was a decision I had to make.”

Luis Severino made his MLB debut for the Yankees in 2015. He signed a four-year, $40 million extension after four seasons at the club, during which he established himself as one of MLB's best pitchers. Last year, the Yankees also picked up the $15 million club option to extend his stay at the club by one more year.

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Luis Severino's injury woes

Luis Severino of the New York Yankees

Fresh off signing his four-year extension in 2019, Severino first encountered problems in his pitching arm and was sidelined upto September that year with a Grade 2 lat strain. He made three appearances towards the end of the season.

After his 2020 Tommy John surgery in his right elbow, he returned to the fold in mid-2021. He was ruled out for two more months till September 2021 with a groin injury. He made four appearances in 2021 but did not start any of them.

Luis Severino showed glimpses of rediscovering his mojo last season, despite having problems with his arm in the middle of the season. He returned strongly to throw seven no-hits against the Texas Rangers, in only his third start since returning from injury.

While Yankees fans think this might be Severino's last season at the Bronx, they are hoping that the WBC miss will push him to answer all question marks on his fitness with a spectacular season.