June 7: Gregorius has officially been reinstated from the injured list, per an announcement from the Yankees. Estrada has indeed been optioned to Triple-A, while Tulowitzki was transferred to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot. Tulo has already been on the 10-day injured list for more than 60 days, so his transfer is nothing more than a formality.
June 6, 9:54pm: The Yankees have optioned Estrada to make room for Gregorius on their 25-man roster, Hoch was among those to tweet.
7:39pm: The Yankees are expected to reinstate shortstop Didi Gregorius from the injured list tomorrow, writes MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. He’s sat out the entire season to this point as he recovers from last October’s Tommy John surgery. His activation will require a 40-man and 25-man roster move, as he’s currently on the 60-day injured list.
Gregorius has been well ahead of schedule on his rehab assignment. Original projections by the team specified merely that the Yankees hoped for a “summer” return, but he’s obviously on the very early end of even that broad range. Gregorius has already logged eight games of duty on a minor league rehab assignment, and while he’s batted only .156/.206/.250 through 34 plate appearances across a pair of minor league levels, the Yankees have clearly seen enough to feel confident in his ability to return.
The return of Gregorius will add a high-profile player to what has been somewhat of a patched-together infield. The Yankees’ offseason addition of DJ LeMahieu has proved to be a godsend, as he’s helped to cover the absences of not only Gregorius but Miguel Andujar and Troy Tulowitzki. With Gregorius back in the fold, he’ll see semi-regular action at shortstop, with Gleyber Torres splitting time at the two middle-infield spots and LeMahieu perhaps sliding over to third base. It’ll likely mean a decrease in playing time for the red-hot Gio Urshela, who has unexpectedly erupted with a .325/.371/.455 slash through 170 plate appearances (entering play today).
If there’s a member of the infield mix who appears particularly in jeopardy, it would appear to be Kendrys Morales, who hasn’t hit much since being acquired by the Yankees. Like the more productive Luke Voit, Morales is limited to first base when playing defense, thus limiting manager Aaron Boone’s infield flexibility. If Morales is pushed out by the return of Gregorius, that’d open up some additional at-bats for the mix of Voit, Gregorius, LeMahieu, Torres and Urshela as well. Alternatively, the Yankees could option Thairo Estrada back to Triple-A, keep Morales for the time being and move either Tulowitzki or Giancarlo Stanton from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Both have already been on the IL for more than 60 days anyhow.
No disrespect meant but Urshela and LeMahieu deserve playing time regardless of who comes off the DL. Did I will be worked in and with rest all will get playing time. Morales will be lucky if he’s still in pinstripes this time tomorrow. If he is, he needs to worry about splinters.
As much as I think Morales kinda sucks, we might just see Estrada get sent down instead of Morales getting DFA’d effectively exchanging a SS for a SS instead of having 3 SS on the 25 man while only having one other kinda backup 1B in DJ.
Morales does kinda suck tho, so we might see him gone even with the better positional fit
I agree with you. I am a big Estrada fan, but I don’t see him getting regular ABs with Urshela, Didi, DJ, Gleyber, and Voit in the mix.
Morales can hang around until Stanton and/or Iudge come back, but then he’s probably toast…
Morales doesn’t “kinda” suck, he does suck. The fact he’s in Boone’s lineup every day is a joke! Would much rather see Thairo Estrada getting those DH reps.
The joke that has them in first place. Go back to your Disney channel Becky.
I am a huge Didi fan, but I agree. Urshela and LaMahieu have earned their time. Should be interesting to see how they use these two now. It would be a disservice to take their bats out of the lineup.
Didi at short 3 out of every 4. Gleyber at 2nd 3 out of 4 and spells Didi. Lemaheiu plays 3B, 2B and 1B to spell Urshela and Voit. And use the DH to test Sanchez and others for half days. Should be a good problem to have.
Too confusing…..
how so?
How does didi coming back move either of those two out of the line up? Urshela stays at third Gleyber moves to second and didi probably won’t be playing everyday right out of the gate. It’s the same idea as when they went and got DJ he needs to stay in the lineup and they will find ways to do it wether it be outfield first second or third there will be at bats
How did it move either of those two out? You literally just stated how it did. You mentioned a complete infield without DJ. He’s never played the OF in his professional career and I don’t expect that to change. He’ll find some starts at the infield slots but he’s a premier defensive 2B that really should be there every single day.
He did say that they will be slotting him in the lineup everyday anyway to give players rest. Thats how he doesnt get moved out of the lineup
They’ll figure it out. I would think they will want to give Didi some days off as he works back in. Torres has played quite a bit to this point and currently has a sore left shoulder, so he could probably stand an occasional day off. LeMahieu and Urshela can split time at third base, with LeMahieu getting some ABs at 1B and 2B as well. This is really good timing I think, and Estrada goes down for a bit to get his at-bats. He’s certainly increased his value!
Option gleyber he sucks
Troll much?
DJ can spell 1B and 3B. Morales needs to be let go. Urshela has earned his playing time. Or, Didi can DH for a bit and keep the hot hands/bats in the lineup
Capo,
Morales and Cessa do nothing for The Yankees.
Cessa is another Shreve, he is
a detriment to the team, When are they gonna learn!!!
DJL can handle first pretty easy, 6”4, soft hands, don’t need Morales… if it’s a poll he’s my vote off the island…
I see it as
3b urshela/Dj
SS DIDI/Torres
2B Torres/ Dj
1B Voit/Dj
DH whoever is resting between the 5 and Thairo can backup whenever you give a full offday.
Morales needs to be cut
Yeah basically this lol all based on matchups but morales is a rusted cog. He needs to be DFA’d
So glad to have him back !!!! Also this means morales goes bye bye !
Patriot,
Pleaseee, bye bye Cessa too in the same boat!
There’s always an extra seat on it lmaoo
LMAO, YANKEEPATRIOT,
That extra seat cannot appear fast enough Thank You for the laugh
Of course, send down the guy hitting. 304!
I see why Estrada was sent down as he technically can be a DH but, the team wants him to get reps in field. He was not supposed to be up this year anyway. He is great insurance if a guy gets injured or if Gio falls back to his career hitting #’s. Gio does have 8 errors on the year so far and that’s not great. Miggy had 24 or so last year. I don’t know if the Yankees trust Gio has truly turned a corner like Voit has and wil continue to hit and play great D as an everyday player playing 140 games a year. Estrada is a guy I liked for a couple years and have followed as much as you can a minor league player. He seems very mature for his age and does not look over matched or shaky on both sides of ball. But, the kid needs to play everyday for now. Too bad he can’t play OF too, great super UTL option if Miggy is the long term 3rd baseman. I don’t want them to trade Estrada and until Didi shows he’s healthy and/or they resign him I can’t see them trading him. I hope not at least.
I’m not sure why people aren’t saying this, but an infield of DJ @ 1st, Gleyber @ 2nd, Gio @ 3rd, Didi @ SS & Voit @ DH seems to make the most sense. There’s no way anybody contributing as much as Urshela is sees less playing time.
Exactly this! And whenever someone needs an off day DJ moves to 2b or 3b while Torres backs up SS
Be interesting to see what happens next year. Assuming they don’t trade Frazier, which I hope they don’t do, and Urshela continues to play well, Gardner won’t be resigned for obvious reasons and wonder what they do with Andujar. Urshela seems like a better fielder and if he even comes close to what Andujar gives you at the plate, I can’t see moving him out of that position.
Didi Gregorius should start out as the primary DH. The left handed bat will help. I assume that’s why the Yankees are keeping Kendrys Morales around.
Welcome back Didi!
Here’s something mind blowing: if Didi, Judge, Stanton and Sevy all make it back, that’s roughly 20 WAR/year getting added to a team that’s already in first place.
Throw Gardner in the Garbage already & go out and trade for SP and not junk SP REAL SP. Go out and get Smoak from Toronto
Not today! The decks are sloping fast!
Micheal Brantley .322
Brett Gardner .217
For the past several year I have been saying please don’t bring back Brett Gardner.
In the off season I said don’t sign Gardner and don’t bring back CC he can’t get outta the 5th inning and will give up 6 runs by then. What do they do bring back both these losers
I was right I was right I was right.
I will NOT watch a Yankees game until B Gardner is GONE and I still haven’t watch one game this year.
Hal has become cheap!