Yankees: 3 roster swaps to prepare yourselves for over next few weeks

Yankees fans, this is a safe space to get angry before the action goes down. Return to the comment section. Blast away.

You know what? We’re going to regret that by the end of the week.

At this moment, after placing Zack Britton on the IL with an elbow issue, the Yanks have 26 active players on their 26-man roster who all seem relatively essential. On Sept. 1, they’re able to expand that active unit to 28 men.

If everyone they’re expecting back returns healthy and ready to go, that limit still won’t be enough.

Jonathan Davis was promoted in Britton’s place on Monday, presumably as easy fodder for when Gio Urshela (who went 3-for-4 on Sunday night) needs to wrap up his rehab assignment with a promotion to MLB. Also, Brett Gardner’s a little sore. It all checks out.

But beyond Urshela, the Yankees still need to bring back Gleyber Torres. Corey Kluber presumably has to return. Luis Severino, if he’s healthy, will be on this roster. And, remember, Luis Gil isn’t even technically on the team right now. He’s just ping-ponging back and forth in whatever way the Yankees see fit, and will probably occupy Spot No. 27 when rosters expand. Let’s say Severino’s the 28th man. Alright. That still … leaves a few folks floating around.

Now, someone will get hurt. Someone always does. But even losing one additional name does not make this an easy game. Don’t say we didn’t warn you, because these three roster moves could sneakily bum you out.

Prepare to be bummed out by these 3 Yankees roster moves.

3. Domingo German for…Albert Abreu?

The last we heard from Domingo German’s camp, Aaron Boone indicated that he’d had a minor setback with some shoulder soreness, and remains on the 10-Day IL.

Hmm. How fortuitous, considering this team doesn’t exactly have a spot for him at the moment.

There’s a chance the Bombers continue to shelve German until oh, would you look at that, the season has ended. That would certainly be the easier route.

If he gets healthy first, though (he’s still only on the 10-Day IL), prepare yourselves for the possibility that he’ll have to kick Albert Abreu off the roster, who’s been a valued member of this bullpen puzzle ever since his blow-up in Tampa.

Again, the easier thing would be German rehabbing all the way through the offseason. But unless the Yankees want another Jacoby Ellsbury scenario on their hands, things aren’t always that easy.

Since that famed implosion at Tropicana Field, Abreu has only allowed an earned run on two separate occasions, both of which were two-plus-inning outings. He’s worked in all types of scenarios, from deadlocked games to bases-loaded, heavy-breathing save situations on the road in Chicago. Losing him for German would feel icky, and ideally, it won’t come to that.

2. Corey Kluber for Andrew Heaney

When Corey Kluber or Luis Severino return, they’re going to demand a roster spot, but it’s quite possible only Kluber will require a place in the rotation. Sevy’s return feels more like a pipe dream than ever before, and dreaming of him throwing more than one or two innings a game down the stretch (despite an obvious lack of structural damage) feels tough to execute.

Kluber, currently midway through his rehab stint, is still building up steam. When he comes back, though, will he simply bump Andrew Heaney out of the rotation? Or off the roster entirely?

Let’s say German never returns and Abreu is still active. Would you rather see Heaney trot in from the bullpen in any scenario that the hard-throwing righty previously would’ve occupied? Is there any place in a bullpen stacked with Joely Rodriguez, Wandy Peralta and Aroldis Chapman for Heaney to pop in for an inning or two? He wouldn’t have a role. He’d be Brody Koerner, the last man at the edges of the bullpen.

Is it really worth bending over backwards for that?

Losing a trade deadline acquisition for … well, nothing would sting. But downgrading the roster by losing Abreu or Rodriguez would feel equally hollow. Maybe New York will play it “safe,” demote Abreu, then slice Heaney 10 days later if Kluber proves himself healthy. Either way, this could get unsavory.

Which brings us to…