Around the Empire: Yankees news - 3/1/21

NY Daily News | Kristie Ackert: It’s never a good thing to have to deal with injuries, but as far as Clarke Schmidt’s prognosis goes it appears the pitcher got the best outcome available. Schmidt will be sidelined for three-to-four weeks with pain in his elbow — an injury that will all but guarantee that he won’t be on the Opening Day roster — but the injury is muscle-related and has nothing to do with the Tommy John surgery he underwent coming out of college. It’s a disappointing setback for Schmidt, but it still leaves him with plenty of time to impress in 2021.

NY Post | Dan Martin: Speaking of impressing this year, DJ LeMahieu doesn’t want to rely on his past success as an indication for what he’ll accomplish now. LeMahieu has spent the offseason continuing to grind for improvement, and wants to keep his play near the top of the game. If the second baseman can surpass the back-to-back top five finishes in the AL MVP race that he’s accomplished since putting on the pinstripes, that would be a big boon for the Yankees.

MLB.com | Nathan Maciborski: LeMahieu’s return is a major part of the Yankees overall outlook heading into this year. His teammates rallied hard for his re-signing, including Luke Voit keeping in contact throughout the offseason looking for updates on the star’s negotiations. The team has made many decisions over the winter, but the group collectively has one finish line in mind: finally getting back to the Fall Classic.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: Today the Yankees will be facing off with an opponent they haven’t seen in over a year — Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. Hinch, of course, hasn’t been around due to a year-long suspension from MLB thanks to his involvement in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, and the media looked to Aaron Boone’s thoughts on seeing him again. Boone, however, expressed that he was looking to move on from the scandal after commenting on it last year when the details came out and dominated most of last spring’s conversation.

BallNine | Kevin Kernan: The Yankees have honored many of their former players in Monument Park, whether it be by retiring their number or giving them a plaque in commemoration to their career. Among the many names there, you won’t find Roy White’s — at least, not yet. Kernan makes the case for why the Yankees should correct that, detailing some of the most iconic parts of White’s career including a deep dive into White’s experience as a prospect training in the Deep South and his connection to the signing of Hideki Matsui.