Yankees Notebook: Oswald Peraza, Willie Calhoun caught in roster shuffle with Aaron Judge’s return
BALTIMORE — With Aaron Judge back in the mix, the Yankees had to make a few roster moves on Friday.
The Yankees activated Judge for their series opener in Baltimore. To make space on the big league roster, they demoted infield prospect Oswald Peraza.
The Yankees could have removed an outfielder with Judge back, but maintaining depth was important there, as he will need some DH and off days as he returns from a torn ligament in his right big toe that’s not 100% healed yet.
Outfielders Greg Allen, Billy McKinney and, to a lesser extent, Jake Bauers could have all been alternatives for Peraza, but none of them have options. Peraza does, so he became the odd man out again after losing the Yankees’ starting shortstop battle to Anthony Volpe in the spring.
While Peraza has played well at Triple-A, he hasn’t done much with limited major league opportunities this season. Still, Aaron Boone is pleased with the professionalism Peraza has shown all year as he’s bounced back and forth between the majors and minors.
“Just proud of the way he’s not been discouraged by anything and gone out and had another valuable, really strong season,” Boone said of Peraza, who has slashed .261/.352/.495 for the RailRiders. “Like he’s played well, and that’s not an easy thing to do.”
CALHOUN CUT
The Yankees also designated Willie Calhoun for assignment on Friday following the conclusion of a rehab assignment for a quad injury. Calhoun had hit well over a stretch prior to the injury, but he’s better served as a designated hitter than as an outfielder. Also out of options, there wasn’t any room left for him on the 40-man roster.
“He did a nice job with us,” Boone said. “Really, really enjoyed the person, too. He was a guy that was a lot of fun to be around while also taking advantage of some opportunities and doing a really nice job with us. So those are the hard decisions that sometimes unfortunately have to come up in the course of the season.”
I(NFIELD)KF
With Judge back, Peraza gone and Josh Donaldson on the injured list, Boone said that Isiah Kiner-Falefa will get more looks at third base moving forward. An infielder by trade, Kiner-Falefa has mostly played the outfield this season after working out there in spring training.
A Gold Glover at the hot corner in 2020, Kiner-Falefa has played left, center, right, second, short and third this season. He’s also pitched four times.
COINCIDENTAL COVERUP
Carlos Rodón drew the admiration of the popular Uni Watch blog after he apparently covered up the Yankees’ Starr Insurance patch, an advertisement, during the early innings of his last start. “Hero Pitcher Covers Up Yanks’ Uni Ad,” read part of the website’s headline for a story about the apparently rebellious act.
However, Rodón told the Daily News that covering the patch was not intentional.
“I had no idea,” he said.
