NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees suffered two more injury blows on Tuesday -- first baseman Mark Teixeira landed back on the disabled list, and fellow infielder Kevin Youkilis has been lost for at least 10-12 weeks.
Teixeira has inflammation in his right wrist -- the same wrist which caused him to miss the first 53 games of the season. But manager Joe Girardi believes Teixeira will be back when the 15-day DL stint is up.
"We think it's at least going to be a week, so our thought process [is], let's just make sure that we're not shorthanded for a week," Girardi said. "And then if he's healthy after a week, he can get a few at-bats of rehab, and then we'll have him back."
"There's not really a hesitation in my mind that makes me believe that he won't be back when the 15 days is up," Girardi added.
Teixeira said he re-injured the wrist while doing some extra work on his mechanics with hitting coach Kevin Long in Anaheim over the weekend. "It's inflammation -- you pick a scab too much, it's gonna keep bleeding," Teixeira said. "You've gotta let it heal. Just probably overdid it a little bit."
"It's something that I'll need to manage all year," Teixeira added.
Youkilis will be out far longer. He was examined by renowned back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins, and diagnosed with a herniated disk, which will require surgery.
This is different from the back injury that kept him out for 30 games earlier this year. Youkilis returned to the team May 31, but has been just 5-for-41 at the plate since.
"He still wasn't performing, but there wasn't complaints," general manager Brian Cashman said. "But then after that 18-inning game [in Oakland], then the next day there was complaint that he was starting to feel a different sensation, a numbness."
As of now, the Yankees will continue to use David Adams and Jayson Nix at third base. Lyle Overbay will return to starting at first base.
"We're always looking to upgrade if we can, regardless of position," Cashman said. "Keep in mind too about, we expect to get Alex (Rodriguez) back. So as of right now, we're going with what we have. And if we ever run into something that makes sense, then we'll look at that."
Rodriguez continues to rehab in Tampa -- he "tracked pitches" on Tuesday, according to Girardi. But Cashman said he still has no projected timetable for Rodriguez's return to the Yankees.
"I haven't drilled down on that just yet to be honest," Cashman said. "I think once you start doing simulated games where you're playing both offense and defense … when you get through these type of simulated situations, when can you start an injury rehab assignment, that's when you start kind of being able to really get a guesstimate."
In addition to placing Teixeira on the disabled list Tuesday, the Yankees designated Chris Bootcheck for assignment, and promoted pitcher Adam Warren and outfielder Zoilo Almonte from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.