The Yankees chose three players, and put Luke Voight on the injured list

[ad_1]

The Yankees announced a series of roster moves ahead of this evening’s game against the Red Sox. New York picked the contracts of defensive player Greg Allen, catcher Rob Brantley and player player Howie John Park (previously reported). As expected, All-Star player Aaron Judge, third baseman Gio Orchila and catcher Kyle Higashioka have made the list of those infected with the COVID-19 virus. (Manager Aaron Boone noted that all three players had tested positive for the virus this afternoon as part of the outbreak within the Yankees.)

In addition, first base player Luke Voit has been placed in IL for 10 days, retrospectively through July 13, with inflammation in his left knee. Teammate Chris Gittens of Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has been called up to take his active spot on the roster.

Both Allen and Brantley have a fair amount of great experience in the league, although neither has played in the major leagues until this point in 2021. Allen, a substitution hitter, was a good fit for the Indians and Padres between 2017-20. He has only managed a lukewarm .239/ .298/ .343 streak across 618 appearances on the MLB board, but he is an elite runner capable of covering all three areas of the court. The 28-year-old had a solid season with Scranton, racking up .272/.409/.369 over 128 trips to the plate, pulling 15 walks and reaching notably to base by hit-by-pitch nine times.

Brantley, a left-wing prop, has appeared in parts of six major league seasons for four different clubs. He made one appearance for the Giants last year but hasn’t scored more than 36 games on the MLB board in any one season since 2013. The 32-year-old has an excellent .270/.391/.477 with six guards in. 133 plates appeared with the Rail Riders this year and will be available as a backup for Gary Sánchez while Higashioka is on the shelf.

As part of the 2021 health and safety protocols, players selected to the Major League roster as replacements for players who come off the COVID-19-infected roster can be removed from the 40-player roster without being subject to exemptions. Thus, Allen, Brantley and Park could each take off 40 players and send them back to Scranton without being offered to the other teams when Judge, Orchila and Higashioka return.

Voit’s status in IL has nothing to do with the Yankees’ COVID-19 status. It’s the third period of the season for the struggling first player, who had a disappointing 2021 campaign due to health issues. The prognosis of left knee osteoarthritis is particularly concerning since Voight began the season on IL after undergoing surgery to repair a meniscus tear in the area. (His second assignment was due to oblique stress.) Poon told reporters (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch), Voight will have a lubrication syringe and research a platelet-rich plasma treatment. The team hasn’t given a timetable for his comeback, but it looks like they may be looking for another major absence given the captain’s comments.

That should leave first base for Gittens, who was selected on the list during Voit’s second mission to IL earlier this year. The 27-year-old didn’t do well during his first 25 appearances on the MLB board, but he had a brutal, frank season at Triple-A. The right hitter mashed into a .359/ .519/ .718 clip across 104 board appearances with RailRiders this year.

[ad_2]