Yankees add first batch of players to 40-man roster

In the hours before the Yankees 5-4 come from behind victory over the A’s on Sunday, the organization added three relief pitchers and Clint Frazier to the 40-man active roster.

The 2019 Yankees refuse to quit. A three-run eighth inning quickly got the Yanks within one run of the A’s on Sunday afternoon.

Heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Bombers once again lived up to their iconic nickname, first with a solo home run off to the bat of veteran Brett Gardner — and then a walk-off pinch-hit long-ball deep into the Yankee bullpen from New Jersey’s own Mike Ford.

Two games in a row decided by game-ending heroics (D.J. LeMahieu homered in the 11th inning on Saturday to cap the win), the Yanks have now won back-to-back contests due to homers for the first time since Alex Rodriguez and Johnny Damon did so in 2009.

The first team in baseball this season to 90 wins, the Yankees lap the majors with 41 comeback victories. The 138 games in which the Yanks reached the 90-win mark is the fewest they’ve done so since 1998 — a season where they swept the Padres to win the World Series.

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Prior to the September 1 win, the Yankees added four players to their active 40-man roster. With rosters officially expanding and clubhouses becoming more cramped until the postseason, relief pitchers Chance Adams, Ryan Dull and Tyler Lyons (who in-turn signed an MLB contract after inking a minor league deal on August 16 following his release from Pittsburgh) were promoted to the show.

Also getting the call to the Bronx was the enigmatic Clint Frazier. Going 0-for-2 with a walk may not have been the reintroduction to the majors Frazier was looking for, but manager Aaron Boone was said to be encouraged by Frazier’s “quality at-bats” that featured “solid contact,” even if Mike Ford did pinch-hit for him in the final frame.

Interesting side note on Clint Frazier, his 62 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre were enough for the Yanks to secure an extra year of service time on the 24-year-old’s contract.

Righty Ryan Dull was just that in relief of starter JA Happ. Dull, who was recently picked up from the Giants, allowed three runs on two hits, walked two and struck out one in just one inning of work. His ERA is now 13.50.

Unfortunately, one-time top prospect Chance Adams only fared slightly better, as he allowed an eighth-inning home run to Matt Olsen. However, Adams did strike out two men and threw 15 of 24 pitches for strikes.

Although Boone didn’t reveal his hand as to which other players could soon get the call following the completion of the Triple-A season, some suggest that the additions of catcher Kyle Higashioka, infielder Breyvic Valera, pinch-runner extraordinaire Terrance Gore and top overall prospect Deivi Garcia could all potentially contend for playing time during the final month of the regular season.

Of course that all depends on the slew of regulars the Yanks still have on the IL and if they’ll be returning to action prior to the playoffs.

In the hours before the Yankees 5-4 come from behind victory over the A’s on Sunday, the organization added three relief pitchers and Clint Frazier to the 40-man active roster.

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