'Don't Give a S--t,' MLB Exec Rips Injuries Report, 'Would You Rather Be the Yankees or the Angels?'

At least one MLB executive has no time for a recently released injury data combining days missed for players in the majors and minors dating back to the 2024 season.

The Athletic's Eno Sarris and Brittany Ghiroli compiled the data from this three-season span that shows the New York Yankees have had the most days missed on the injured list at 23,381 across the big leagues and minor leagues.

One scouting director largely dismissed the data, telling Sarris and Ghiroli they "don't give a s--t" about where a team ranks on the injured list rate:

"We have so much information now we've almost tricked ourselves into believing we have the slightest clue about predicting injuries. And we don't. Injuries are always going to happen and teams are always going to try to find a way to solve the unsolvable problem that is trying to keep them in check. When I look at this list, I don't give a s— where my team is on the IL. I want to know where we are in the standings. Would you rather be the Yankees or the Angels?"

The context of the data is meant to figure out whether some teams are just unlucky or if there is something in their scouting and evaluation process that makes them take risks on players more susceptible to injuries.

One reason the scouting director threw the Angels under the bus is they have the sixth-fewest days lost to the IL since the start of the 2024 season, though that hasn't done anything to help them make the playoffs in the last 12 years.

The Yankees' total days missed to the IL is No. 1 by a significant margin. The New York Mets are the only other team above the 20,000 mark (20,089).

In terms of days missed at the MLB level, the Yankees are fifth behind the Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays.

One potential explanation offered by a National League executive is that big-market teams are "more apt" to put a player on the IL because they can afford to relative to small- and mid-market clubs.

"Teams with deeper pockets are much more apt to stuff a player who is day-to-day on the IL," an NL executive said. "Versus small- and mid-market clubs who have to consider the cost. Having a lot of big leaguers on the IL gets expensive."

There may not be any real rhyme or reason to why teams land where they do on a list of injuries. You could perhaps argue it's an age thing. Last season, for instance, the pitching staffs for the Yankees, Mets and Orioles ranked in the top six of average age.

The Yankees also played without Gerrit Cole for all of 2025 due to Tommy John surgery.

Despite those injury issues, the Yankees have missed the playoffs just once since 2017. They reached the World Series during the 2024 season, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

The Angels, meanwhile, enter play on Thursday tied with the Colorado Rockies for the worst record in MLB.