ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Yankees are ready to welcome Gleyber Torres back from the disabled list Wednesday, when they face Rays right-hander Nathan Eovaldi.
Without disparaging replacements Neil Walker, Tyler Wade and Brandon Drury, Aaron Boone is looking forward to having the chance to write the All-Star second baseman’s name on a lineup card.
“We have missed him — obviously he is a guy who has burst onto the scene not only in New York but around the country,” Boone said before Torres went 2-for-4 with a double for Single-A Tampa on Monday in a minor league game 20 minutes from Tropicana Field, where the Yankees lost to the Rays, 7-6. Torres also made two fielding errors.
“I am really excited to get him back and all that he brings in different spots in the order, more down in the order with so many big hits,” Boone continued. “ Just what he brings instinctually to our defense, I am looking forward to getting him back.”
The Yankees have gone 7-7 since Torres went on the DL on July 5 with a right hip problem. He went 1-for-3 for Tampa on Saturday and had a scheduled day off Sunday.
The plan is for him to DH on Tuesday to see how the hip responds to back-to-back games and be activated Wednesday.
To make room for Torres, who is hitting .294 with 15 homers and 42 RBIs and an OPS of .905 in 63 games, the Yankees will likely drop an infielder. That decision will likely result in Drury or Wade being sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“We will start having those discussions today and tonight in the kind of direction we want to go,” Boone said. “See Gleyber get through [Monday] and have those discussions.”
Joe McIlvaine, a senior adviser in the Orioles’ player personnel department, was spotted at the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate Trenton on Monday when the Thunder hosted Hartford.
With the Orioles shopping lefty reliever Zach Britton and likely listening on starters Kyle Gausman and Dylan Bundy, the Yankees could have an interest in any of the three. McIlvaine could also have been on hand to watch Hartford, the Rockies’ Double-A club. The Rockies started Monday night’s action two games back of the NL West-leading Dodgers.
The Cubs, Diamondbacks and Dodgers were among the teams represented by scouts at Tropicana Field on Monday and likely more interested in Rays players.
Yankees scout Jay Darnell, who the Yankees lean on heavily for evaluating pitchers, attended the A’s-Rangers game in Arlington, Texas on Monday night when Cole Hamels started for the Rangers. Hamels was pounded, giving up nine hits, seven runs — all earned — and two home runs in a 15-3 loss.
Aroldis Chapman threw on flat ground in left field before Monday night’s game and was loosening up in the bullpen during the ninth inning. Chapman was coming off a horrendous three-run, three-walk, one-hit-batter and one-hit ninth inning Saturday against the Mets.
Clint Frazier has been added to the big-league DL after being examined by Connecticut neurologist Anthony Alessi on Monday, when it was discovered the outfielder is suffering from post-concussion migraines. Monday’s tests included an MRI exam.
Frazier suffered a concussion Feb. 24 in spring training when he hit his head against the left-field fence in Bradenton, Fla., and didn’t get into a minor league game until early May. He was removed from a minor league game Thursday night with SWB when he dived for a ball.
Frazier got tangled up with Orioles third baseman Tim Beckham running the bases July 11 in Baltimore, and after the game, he complained of nausea. The Yankees did a concussion test, which was clear, and Frazier made two more appearances before being optioned to SWB on July 15. After the diving attempt Thursday, Frazier complained again, and another SCAT test was done, and there was a hit on it.
Because of the incident July 11, Frazier has been put on the major league DL as opposed to the minor league DL.
When Frazier will be able to return to action isn’t known, and Boone didn’t want to guess.
“I don’t want to speculate on that too much,” Boone said. “We feel pretty good about the treatment and evaluations he has got over the past few days and now [Tuesday] hopefully we get him back on the field soon, but obviously it’s a sensitive situation.”
Utility infielder Ronald Torreyes has returned from Venezuela, where he dealt with a family issue. Torreyes was with SWB when he left the club June 25 and has returned with Single-A Tampa where he played five innings at shortstop and went 1-for-3 on Monday. Torreyes started the season with the Yankees and was sent to SWB on May 20. He returned to the big leagues June 7 and was sent to SWB on June 14.
Boone said he isn’t concerned CC Sabathia has had three injections of lubricant in his right knee this season.
Sabathia was slated to start Tuesday night against the Rays, but Masahiro Tanaka will take that start, and Luis Cessa will face the Rays on Wednesday. Sunday’s rainout enabled the Yankees to juggle their rotation. Sabathia is slated for Thursday against the Royals at home.
That will give the veteran lefty 11 days of rest between, starts which is akin to a stint on the 10-day DL and something Boone thinks Sabathia will benefit from.
“We envisioned, even before the season started, that even when things are going well , we know … CC benefits from extra days,” Boone said.
Since Sabathia is 38 and has a history of knee problems, there is a concern about the hinge.
“He has done well, but sure it’s something you have to worry about because it is something he has to deal with and maintain. He has done a good job of maintaining it,” Boone said of Sabathia, who is 6-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 18 starts.
