Atlanta transferred Yates' (elbow) rehab assignment from the rookie-level Florida Complex League to Double-A Mississippi on Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

While he was in the FCL last weekend, Yates made his first appearance at any level since August 2020, as he missed last season and the first half of the 2022 campaign while recovering from March 2021 Tommy John surgery. Though his appearance came mostly against teenaged prospects, Yates was sharp in his FCL outing, striking out two over a scoreless inning. He's expected to make one-inning appearances Friday and Sunday for Mississippi before potentially moving his rehab assignment to Triple-A Gwinnett next week.

Yates (elbow) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Saturday, Jeff Schultz of the Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Yates has been slowly working his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in March 2021 and appears set to return to Atlanta's bullpen in the coming weeks. It's unclear which affiliate he'll start his rehab assignment with, but he'll likely need to make multiple appearances before being added to the active roster. Yates remains on track to join Atlanta at some point in early August.

Yates (elbow) continues throwing at Atlanta's spring training complex, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

It has been nearly two months since Yates resumed throwing, but Atlanta is not in any hurry to rush him back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in March of 2021. The expectation remains that he will be ready to rejoin Atlanta at some point in August.

Yates (elbow) tossed a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

The session consisted of only fastballs, and Toscano notes that Yates isn't expected to incorporate breaking pitches in his throwing workouts for at least another week. In any case, Yates' ability to get back on the mound represents a step forward for the right-hander, who is attempting to return from March 2021 Tommy John surgery, the second such procedure of his career. Atlanta is still targeting early August for Yates' return from the 60-day injured list.

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.