In a disappointing turn of events, the New York Yankees have announced that infielder Oswald Peraza will be sidelined for the next 6-8 weeks due to a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. Manager Aaron Boone revealed the news during a press conference this morning, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch and other reporters.

Peraza had been dealing with shoulder discomfort during Spring Training, causing him to miss 10 days of action. He made a brief return to play in two games earlier this week before being sidelined once again due to ongoing soreness. Following an MRI and other tests over the past two days, it has been determined that Peraza will now miss a significant portion of the upcoming season.

The best-case scenario for Peraza's recovery sees him returning to baseball activities in six weeks. However, even in this scenario, he will need time to ramp up and compensate for the lost preparation time. As a result, the most optimistic timeline for his return would likely be in late May.

The 2022 season marked Peraza's debut in the majors, and he impressed with an impressive slash line of .306/.404/.429 in 57 plate appearances. However, his performance dipped last season, posting a line of .191/.267/.272 in a larger sample size of 191 plate appearances. Due to the crowded nature of the Yankees' infield, Peraza spent most of his time at Triple-A, primarily playing as a third baseman when DJ LeMahieu moved to first base.

Peraza has always been recognized for his strong defensive skills at multiple infield positions, leading to speculation that he could eventually challenge Anthony Volpe, last year's AL Gold Glove winner, at shortstop. However, the Yankees currently view Volpe as their shortstop of the future. With the potential free agency departures of Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo after the upcoming season, there might be an opportunity for Peraza to secure a regular role at second base or third base. Nevertheless, his main focus now is to have a healthy and productive 2024 season.

Prior to Peraza's injury, there were doubts whether he would even start the season on the Yankees' 26-man roster. The team had been actively searching for a veteran backup infielder who could serve as a backup shortstop for Volpe. This search has become even more crucial now with Peraza's prolonged absence. The Yankees may now consider keeping Peraza at Triple-A on an everyday basis while pairing an experienced bench player with Oswald Cabrera or Jahmai Jones.

Several non-roster players, including Jeter Downs, Kevin Smith, Jordan Groshans, and Josh VanMeter, are currently in the Yankees' camp. One interesting prospect is Jorbit Vivas, who lacks both Triple-A experience and playing time in the major leagues. In light of Peraza's injury, the Yankees might also explore options in free agency, potentially targeting players who become available later in Spring Training or through roster cuts or opt-outs in minor league contracts.

The Yankees will have to navigate Peraza's absence and find suitable depth options to compensate for his loss. It remains to be seen how this setback will impact the team's plans moving forward, but they will undoubtedly be hoping for a swift and full recovery for Peraza as the season progresses.