Yankees news: Fried to the IL as Rodón returns

Key Points:

• The New York Yankees' pitching rotation has been strong all season but has struggled to stay at full strength; Carlos Rodón is set to return, replacing Max Fried who is going back on the injured list with a bone bruise in his elbow.
• Two Yankees prospects, Antonio Gomez and Marco Luciano, have made notable progress this season, with Gomez transitioning from catcher to pitcher and Luciano revitalizing his career at second base, potentially impacting the team's infield dynamics.
• Tommy John, the baseball icon whose name is synonymous with the revolutionary pitching surgery, passed away at 83, with many in the sport reflecting on his lasting impact on baseball's evolution.
• Baseball faces a looming labor dispute after this season, complicated by the Players’ Union's lack of a strong leader following Tony Clark's resignation and the owners' unified front, leading to mixed fan perceptions about the conflict.
• Veteran columnist Jerry Izenberg reflects on the absence of a unifying, fan-favorite figure like Casey Stengel in today's game, highlighting the challenges baseball faces in connecting with its audience amid ongoing labor tensions.