Atlanta expects to reinstate Yates (elbow) from the 60-day injured list at some point in August, barring any setbacks in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Yates had the elbow procedure March 24 of last year, so he would be 16 months removed from surgery by the time August arrives. The 35-year-old Yates may need some time to shake off some rust once Atlanta activates him and may not take on a high-leverage role right away, but he could prove to be a valuable late-season addition to the bullpen. Just three years earlier, he turned in one of the best reliever seasons in recent memory, converting 41 of his 44 save chances while submitting a 1.19 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 101:13 K:BB in 60.2 innings for the Padres.

Yates (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Yates joined Atlanta in late November on a two-year deal, but he'll begin the 2022 campaign on the injured list as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in March 2021. The right-hander converted 53 of 57 save chances across his first two full seasons with the Padres and will attempt to return to full health late in the 2022 season.

Yates (elbow) signed a two-year, $8.25 million contract with Atlanta on Monday which includes a team option for a third season at $5.75 million, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Yates was arguably the best reliever in the league over his last two full seasons, riding a 38.7 percent strikeout rate to 53 saves and a 1.67 ERA. Those seasons came in 2018 and 2019, however, as he missed almost the entirely of the last two years due to multiple injuries. He most recently underwent Tommy John surgery in late March, a procedure which will likely wipe out much of his 2022 season in addition to all of 2021. There's a chance Atlanta has landed a top-tier pitcher for the 2022 stretch run and beyond with this deal, but Yates will turn 35 in March, adding plenty of age-related risk to an already risky profile and giving him a very low floor to go along with his high ceiling.

The Blue Jays transferred Yates (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The transaction clears up a spot on the 40-man roster for lefty Tommy Milone, whose contract was selected in a corresponding move. Yates is slated to miss the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery March 24.

Yates (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The move is merely a formality, as Yates will miss over a year while recovering from Tommy John surgery. It's only a matter of time before he shifts to the 60-day injured list whenever the Blue Jays need to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

Yates underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Gregor Chisholm of the Toronto Star reports.

EDGE Analysis

Yates had already been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an elbow injury, and the 34-year-old officially underwent his second Tommy John surgery of his career Wednesday. Yates will face a lengthy recovery timetable but could be back on the mound at some point in 2022. Jordan Romano and Rafael Dolis are the leading candidates to take over as Toronto's closer in 2021.

Yates' elbow injury is serious enough to shut him down for the season and will probably lead to his second Tommy John surgery, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Previous reports indicated that Yates would miss multiple weeks with a flexor pronator strain in his right arm, but it appears as though the diagnosis is far more serious than that. It's not yet confirmed that he'll require Tommy John surgery, but there doesn't appear to be any hope of him pitching this season even if he avoids the procedure. He underwent the surgery once already back in 2006, prior to the start of his professional career, and it's tough to have much optimism for his future given that he'll be 35 years old when he eventually returns. Jordan Romano and Rafael Dolis are the leading candidates to close for the Blue Jays in his absence.

Yates said Monday that he expects to miss multiple weeks after he was diagnosed with a flexor pronator strain in his right arm, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The injury is an unfortunate break for Yates, who was believed to be back to 100 percent at spring training after requiring a procedure last year to address bone chips in his elbow. The fact that he's now dealing with another arm injury is troubling, and the Blue Jays aren't expected to provide a concrete timeline for his return until the team evaluates him further. Jordan Romano and Rafael Dolis become the most likely candidates to pick up saves for Toronto to begin the season, after Yates had looked to be locked in as the team's closer upon signing a one-year, $5.5 million deal over the winter.

Yates will make his second appearance of the spring Saturday against the Phillies, and Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker described the ninth inning as "his job to lose," Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The team has held off naming one of its big offseason acquisitions as the closer, but with Yates looking healthy in his first spring action, an official announcement should come before camp breaks. The right-hander, who turns 34 next week, is looking to bounce back from a 2020 season cut short by bone spurs in his elbow, but Yates at his best is among the best relievers in baseball, as he racked up 53 saves with a 1.67 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 191:30 K:BB over 123.2 innings for the Padres in 2018-19.

Yates is expected to make his spring debut against the Tigers on Thursday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Yates missed most of the 2020 season due to bone chips in his right elbow, but he signed with Toronto in January and feels fully healthy early in spring training. "I feel like it's behind me. I feel like it's ready to move on. It's full go," Yates told Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun. Although the Blue Jays haven't yet named a closer for the 2021 campaign, Yates is the favorite for the role given his past success in the ninth inning.