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ST. LOUIS —Zack Britton continues to give the Yankees reasons to believe he’ll be ready to help in September.

The former All-Star left-hander threw 14 pitches in a live batting practice at the team’s training facility in Tampa on Thursday as he finishes his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Manager Aaron Boone said it went “good.”

“I actually talked to him (Thursday),” Boone told reporters prior to a 4-3 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Friday. “He was really excited about it. I watched it. Looked good. The sinker profile looked really good. I think perhaps as big as anything, I think the next day he felt really good, strong. So, I think he’s got another bullpen this weekend and I think he’s got another live session in the middle of next week.”

Is it unfair for the Yankees or for fans to expect the old Britton as soon as he gets back?

“It’s gone well,” Boone said. “It really has. Every step of the way, I think while talking with him about it, all the steps, he’s been really encouraged. He’s done a lot of really good work down in Tampa with not only coaches but with sports science stuff. He’s worked on a lot of things that I think he feels good about. But again I don’t want to put some kind of expectation on it. He’s doing really well and we’ll just continue to see if and when he becomes a factor for us.”

Britton was a critical part of the Yankees’ bullpen from when he got traded to the Bronx from Baltimore in 2018. In 2019 and 2020, he posted a combined 1.90 ERA in 86 games. He made just 22 appearances in 2021 before needing Tommy John.

The Yankees are hoping he can help ease the burden on recently struggling closer Clay Holmes, and help fill the holes left by season-ending injuries to Mike King and Chad Green. The Yankees hope to get Miguel Castro back from the injured list in September, too.

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PHILADELPHIA - Outfielder Odubel Herrera and pitcher Jeurys Familia were handed their release by the Phillies on Saturday after no team claimed them on waivers.

The veteran players - both who had struggled this season - were designated for assignment on Tuesday when the Phillies made a flurry of deadline deals, acquiring reliever David Robertson, starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard and outfielder Brandon Marsh.

Herrera made his major-league debut with the Phillies in 2015 and was an all-star the next season. He hit .281 in 2017 and was respectable the following year, batting .255 with 22 home runs, but a domestic violence charge and subsequent suspension knocked him out for most of 2019 and he wasn’t part of the extended roster in the COVID year of 2020.

Herrera returned for the final year of his contract in 2021, hitting .260 with 13 home runs. He was re-signed to a one-year, $1.75 million contract this year - far off the $10.35 million he made in 2021 - but hit just .238 with five home runs and made some notable defensive and base-running mistakes.

Familia pitched for the Mets for all but a couple months of the last 10 seasons - he was traded to the A’s in 2018 but returned to New York the next year - saving 125 games, including 51 in a 2016 all-star season.

The right-hander signed a one-year, $6-million contract with the Phillies after going 9-4 with a 3.94 ERA last season but struggled to a 6.09 ERA in Philadelphia. In one of his last outings, he was brought in to protect and six-run lead in Pittsburgh and gave up five runs while recording just one out.

On Thursday, the Phillies released veteran shortstop Didi Gregorius, who spent three seasons in Philadelphia.

The Phillies also out-righted Ryan Sherriff to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Saturday. He had been designated for assignment on Monday after his 60-day rehab concluded. The 32-year-old left-hander posted a 2.51 ERA over three minor-league levels this year.

• GETTING A LOOK AT THE NEW GUY: Edmundo Sosa was the first trade deadline acquisition for the Phillies when he was acquired from St. Louis for JoJo Romero on July 30 but he’s been mostly a cheerleader.

Sosa has appeared in two games with one at-bat, but that will change Saturday as he starts his first game with the Phillies at third base with a left-hander, Patrick Corbin, on the mound for the Washington Nationals.

“I’m kind of excited to see Sosa for sure, get a look at him,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson. “We’ll get him at shortstop one of these days too because he’s a high-end defender at shortstop.

“You try to juggle around as much you can and make sure they don’t go too many days without a start, keep him going. (Phillies starter) Ranger Suarez gets a lot of pull-side ground balls and they have a lot of right-handers. We saw him play third in the St. Louis series. He has a lot of agility and quickness.”

• EFLIN UPDATE: Starting pitcher Zach Eflin, who is on the 60-day injured list with a sore knee, threw an up-and-down Friday and is still in evaluation mode, according to Thomson.

“He feels good today,” said Thomson. “He was a little bit sore yesterday but he feels good today. So it’s a good sign.”

The Phillies acquired Syndergaard to essentially replace Eflin as they didn’t know if he would return. If the right-hander does come back, he might have to become a bullpen piece.

“Well, we’ll see when we get to that point, see how everybody else is performing and just play it by ear,” said Thomson. “But there’s nothing wrong with having six starters going down the stretch. I hope that we get that, not that we’d do that but I’ve seen it done before.”

• 1980 HONORS: The Phillies will induct outfielder Bake McBride and reliever Ron Reed in their Wall of Fame on Saturday night. Both were members of the Phillies’ first World Series-winning team in 1980. The entire 1980 team - including Pete Rose, who is banned from baseball for gambling - will be honored prior to Sunday’s game.

• SUNDAY’S STARTERS: The Phillies will complete their four-game set with the Nationals when Aaron Nola (7-8, 3.25) takes on Cory Abbott (0-0, 1.00) in a 1:35 start.

Bill Evans can be reached at [email protected]. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

So you’re saying there’s a chance?

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports there could be a little movement in contract talks between Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees.

The Yankees appear willing to increase their $213.5 million offer to Aaron Judge, but he still is seeking a deal closer to $290 million, getting an AAV of about $36 million, the same as Mike Trout’s 10-year, $360 million extension, but for likely eight years.

The 30-year-old Judge is having a walk year for the ages. He was the leading vote-getter for the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, earning a spot in the starting lineup for the American League.

On Sunday, Judge blasted his MLB-best 37th home run of the season in the 6-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles. ESPN projects Judge will hit 60 home runs this season, one behind Roger Maris’ team record of 61 in 1961. But that would make Judge the first batter to crack 60 home runs since San Francisco Giants left-fielder Barry Bonds’ record-setting 2001 season, when he clubbed 73 home runs.

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Sammy Sosa also topped 60 home runs in 2001, hitting 64 for the Chicago Cubs. Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, while with the Miami Marlins in 2017, came closest to 60 when he topped out at 59 home runs.

Judge also leads baseball in runs scored (80) and total bases (232). He ranks second in MLB in RBI (81), slugging percentage (.650) and WAR (5.1).

MORE MLB:

- Nationals’ Juan Soto trade rumors: Yankees reach out, but price tag may be too high as new front-runner emerges

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New Jersey's crisis counseling for victims of disasters aims to meet both short-term needs and long-term challenges.

NEW JERSEY — It's been nearly a year since the remnants of Hurricane Ida ripped through New Jersey, bringing tornadoes to the southern part of the state and massive flooding to the north, and leaving more than 20 people dead.

While the physical recovery is well underway or nearly complete for many, the emotional toll from destructive storms can linger for far longer.

That's where a program launched by the state of New Jersey comes in. New Jersey Hope and Healing, a crisis counseling program funded by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and operated in coordination with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

New Jersey Hope and Healing provides individual and group counseling, referral services and resources for those living in disaster-declared New Jersey communities.

The program also has been in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide support for those struggling with the stresses.

The counseling services are free and accessible seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. by calling 866-202- HELP (4357).

The need to provide these supports was one of the findings of a report on the impacts of Superstorm Sandy on adults and children both short-term and long-term. The report was a collaboration by the Rutgers University School of Social Work, the New York University College of Global Health and the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University.

The report found high levels of stress especially among children whose homes were affected by the storm, and urged mental health professionals to be aware of and responsive to the needs of those children.

David Abramson of New York University, who was involved with the Sandy study, told New Jersey Spotlight that what affects people most is feeling they cannot get back to their former lives, physically or financially.

"All of these things then lead to long-term mental health effects when you feel as though you don't have the ability to conserve or access the resources that you need to recover," he said.

That's where New Jersey Hope and Healing aims to meet needs, both in terms of the immediate aftermath and longer-term, helping survivors look at their disaster recovery options to deal with the physical challenges, and providing the emotional supports.

Those seeking supports can find full information on the New Jersey Hope and Healing webpage on the Mental Health Association of New Jersey website.

Gov. Phil Murphy is calling on the Office of the State Comptroller to investigate New Jersey City University’s finances and how the Jersey City school turned an $108 million surplus into a $67 million deficit in eight years.

The governor cited reporting by The Jersey Journal in a news release calling for the probe. The ambitious expansion projects, undertaken to attract and retain students, have not been successful for the most part, school officials told The Jersey Journal in a report that tracked NJCU’s path to financial instability.

”New Jersey prides ourselves on offering a high-quality education to anyone seeking a postsecondary degree in our state,” Murphy said in a statement. “A university facing significant financial challenges will struggle to continue providing the high-quality education its students deserve — if it can remain open at all.

“As a public university, NJCU is accountable to our state government and the residents of New Jersey. In light of serious reports about NJCU’s financial situation, I firmly believe an independent investigation into the school’s finances and operations would be in the best interests of the public at this time.”

NJCU officials declined to comment on the prospect of a probe, a spokesman said Friday afternoon.

NJCU President Sue Henderson announced her resignation in late June, and hours later the school board of trustees declared a “financial emergency,” noting that the school had less than 30 days of cash on hand. Layoffs of some non-union employees ensued and interim school President Jason Kroll announced a series of austerity measures, such as barring employees from using their university-issued credit cards.

NJCU officials say they are lobbying state Sen. Brian Stack, D-Union City, and other state legislators to provide at least $10 million in addition aid. Stack has not responded to calls for comment on the school’s request.

Nine months prior to Henderson’s resignation, the faculty senate gave her a vote of no-confidence, claiming she turned a $101 million surplus into a $67 million deficit. Henderson served 10 years as president.

“By declaring a financial emergency, NJCU is publicly acknowledging what faculty and staff have been saying for more than two years — that NJCU is losing money,” Anne Mabry, a professor of English as a Second Language at NJCU, told The Jersey Journal in June.

“The leadership with Sue Henderson at the helm and with the blessing of the board of trustees, created an unsustainable business model, knowing full well that its ambitious plans for the West Campus and Fort Monmouth campuses depended on growing enrollment.”

Board of Trustees Chairman Joe Scott did not return a call for comment.

“Mayor (Steve) Fulop called the governor back in June to advocate for an appropriation to help NJCU, and we are hopeful there will be support from the state,” Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said. “NJCU is an invaluable community asset providing meaningful educational opportunities that many Hudson County residents may not otherwise have access to while also serving as a critical lifeline for children with special needs through the A. Harry Moore School, now celebrating its 100th year.

“It is our hope that this audit will help NJCU get back on track to ensure the university’s survival and financial stability for generations to come.”

Stack and Assemblyman Raj Mukherji, who told The Jersey Journal he is working on getting the school more aid, could not be reached for comment.

Insiders close to the school, who asked not to be identified, said if the state agrees to providing additional funds it likely will come with conditions of strict state oversight of NJCU’s finances.

“I personally am in favor of a full and transparent investigation into the university’s finances,” said Max Herman, an associate psychology professor at NJCU. “I think it will be good for the university. “I am concerned … that the governor’s letter impacts on our ability to receive desperately needed state funding.”

Enrollment at the school has been in steady decline for the past seven years. Enrollment has shrunk from 7,761 in 2012 to 5,158 for the fall 2022 semester. NJCU spokesman Ira Thor expects that number to increase before the fall session starts.

Under New Jersey law, the Office of the State Comptroller is responsible for conducting assessments of the performance and management of programs of the Executive branch of State government, including public institutions of higher education. The Office exercises its oversight functions independently.

The school has invested heavily in its expansion plans over the past eight years. It opened a business school on the Jersey City waterfront, a satellite campus at the former Fort Monmouth in Oceanport, and construction on a $400 million campus village on the city’s West Side is underway. The school has also upgraded its athletic programs.

Some faculty members criticized the expansion plans by pointing out that Anthony Bastardi, the CEO of Strategic Development Group, the developer for business school Downtown and the West Side project, is a former trustee on the NJCU board.

A higher education consulting firm hired by the school found NJCU had twice as many managers as other institutions its size and that significant sums were being spent on athletics, enrollment management and the business school.