Greg Allen provided a spark for the Yankees when he was called up during their second COVID-19 outbreak of the season last month.

It’s also what made him expendable to be sent back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday night.

Because Allen was promoted to the Yankees as a COVID-19 replacement player in July, he did not need to clear waivers to return to the minors. The Yankees took advantage of that loophole Wednesday to maintain outfield depth after claiming Jonathan Davis off waivers from the Blue Jays and adding him to the active roster.

“That was obviously very difficult, just because of — first and foremost, what a good pro he’s been in the room, but also he’s performed and helped us win games,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ 5-3 win over the Mariners. “Kind of a unique situation of the opportunity to get a guy like Jonathan Davis. Obviously, one trade deadline now, so … no waiver trade deadline at the end of August.

“The opportunity to create depth, in any season, but especially what we’re going through in 2021, you probably can’t have enough depth moving forward.”

Despite hitting .270 with five steals and a .849 OPS in 15 games for the Yankees, the switch-hitting Allen was sent back to the RailRiders without the Yankees having to risk losing him to another team. Davis, the righty who hit .143 with four steals and a .482 OPS in 52 games this season for the Blue Jays, started in center field Thursday for the Yankees against the Mariners.

“I can very much see [Allen] being back with us at some point, especially considering how he’s performed for us,” Boone said. “So it’s essentially getting a good right-handed hitter that we feel like can platoon with [Brett Gardner] out there and still build up our depth moving forward.”