The Yankees have placed RHP Domingo German on the 60-day IL due to a shoulder injury, the team announced on Thursday.
Placing German on the IL made room on the 40-man roster for Anthony Rizzo, who recently signed and reported to spring training.
Manager Aaron Boone said earlier this week that German had "shoulder issues" come up in January, and that his status for Opening Day was in doubt.
With the timing of German's injury, he just recently began a throwing program.
German had a 4.58 ERA (50 earned runs/98.1 innings) and 4.31 FIP in 2021 after serving a domestic violence suspension for the duration of the shortened 2020 season.
German's slot in the back end of the rotation could be filled by one of Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, or Michael King. But with German now on the IL, it could make even more sense for the Yankees to trade for Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas, whom they are interested in.
German dealt with right shoulder inflammation last year, leading to an IL stint.