Yankees fortify roster, recalling Jonathan Holder and Miguel Andujar

The Yankees Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders fell one game short in their defense of the Triple-A National Championship and an opportunity to play in the finals. The end of that season, though, means the Yankees can place a call for help as needed. They did that today.

The Yankees announced today before the start of this afternoon’s game with the Baltimore Orioles they have recalled a right-handed pitcher, Jonathan Holder, and infielder, Miguel Andujar.

Holder is familiar to the team and fans, having made 34 appearances for the Yankees out of the bullpen. His last appearance came on July 31. A converted starter, Holder adds to a bullpen with as much depth as any manager could wish for.

With little or no chance to make the team’s 25-man playoff roster, Holder will need to pitch lights out in the few appearances he is likely to make over the next two weeks. He is bolstered, however, by the fact the Pinstripes drafted him in the 6th round of the June 2014 Amateur Draft.

Andujar was the odd man out in the Spring when Joe Girardi decided to go with Ronald Torreyes as an extra infielder and replacement for the injured Didi Gregorius.

Primarily, though, he was dismissed because the Yankees felt he needed more seasoning in the minor leagues. Deflated at first, Andujar made his way from Double-A Trenton to Triple-A Scranton, where he has hit for a .317 average.

More from Yanks Go Yard

• Predicting Yankees-Diamondbacks LF trade package after Ken Rosenthal update
• Yankees add to championship core with Wilmer Difo signing
• Aaron Judge’s ‘breadcrumbs’ showed he was never leaving Yankees, has more moves in mind
• Creating a Yankees-Bryan Reynolds trade package after latest Pirates update
• Yankees analyst Cameron Maybin projects surprise landing spot for Gary Sánchez

The Yankees thinking is further supported by a bit of pop displayed in Andujar’s bat, as between the two teams, Andujar has hit 16 home runs and driven in 82.

Joe Girardi is likely to give Andujar ample playing time as soon as the Yankees solidify their spot as the top Wild Card team in the American League. This could come as early as Thursday, at which time the team will have completed a three-game series with their lone rival, the Minnesota Twins.

Yankees picture next year is murky

The picture, however, gets far murkier next season when Chase Headley is playing out the final season of his contract, and Gleyber Torres comes back, presumably healthy again.

That conundrum could be relieved over the winter when any of the three, including Andujar, are offered up for trade. Headley, in particular, has upped his value considerably this season and, coupled with the $13 million he will cost the organization next year, could make him expendable if the organization stands by their intent to remain under the luxury tax threshold.

Which, in turn, conjures up thoughts about Torres and his future with the team. Except for the flair he showed in Spring Training,  together with the season-ending injury he suffered, there hasn’t been anything that comes close to the player he’s supposed to be.

Still, he’s a player with a tremendous upside, and it’s up the Yankees to figure out how and where he fits into their future.

Next: Yankees all-time best utility players

In any event, though, Andujar’s future will largely be determined by what happens with both Headley and Torres.

Since both Holder and Andujar were both on the Yankees 40-man roster, no further moves stemming from their promotion are necessary.