Yankees calling up ex-Twins reliever out of nowhere as we wait for other shoe to drop

After successfully getting through Sunday's action against the Blue Jays without using Brendan Beck (though he did warm up!), the Yankees appear intent on being somewhat annoying with their latest roster shuffle.

According to Joel Sherman's sources, former Minnesota Twins reliever Justin Topa is coming up to the big club after five one-run innings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Topa, 35 years old, has minor-league ERAs of 3.88, 0.71, and 1.80 with three different Triple-A teams in three different organizations this year (Blue Jays, Royals, Yankees). Unfortunately, he carries a 17.05 ERA in his last seven games with the big club, and was cut out of Minnesota with an 8.05 ERA earlier this season.

On the other hand ... LIU Brooklyn stand up? He had a 2.61 ERA and .240 batting average against with Seattle in 2023, and has been chasing those heights ever since; his 3.90 ERA/.281 batting average against last year with the Twins suggests he's a fringy Ron Marinaccio type with a big breaker at best.

Yankees' Justin Topa call-up could go from moderately annoying news to very annoying news

Now ... and this is the most important part ... why is he here?

Are the Yankees covering for an injury? Paul Blackburn threw two innings on Sunday, while Brent Headrick closed it out and David Bednar warmed up in the ninth. Fernando Cruz did not appear. Neither did Tim Hill.

Are the Yankees swapping out Yerry de los Santos for a bit after running him ragged on Saturday? Have they seen enough of Bradley Hanner?

Or are they demoting Beck after he wasn't used Sunday for coverage, then recalling Beck/Elmer Rodriguez as Saturday's 27th man and taking the bullpen lift for the week while they can get it? That is the safest and likeliest reasoning, but it would also involve an annoying dedication to keeping the rotation in Status Quo Mode, losing an upgrade opportunity with the Red Sox in town over the weekend.

If Gerrit Cole stays on regular rest and starts the opener against the Astros, he will appear in the Boston series. If Cole starts on extra rest and pitches Game 2, he'll miss it — as will Cam Schlittler, if the Yankees stay on turn. Whatever New York has to do to make sure that one of those pitchers, if not both, faces Boston will be crucial. Maybe Schlittler gets a mini-breather and Elmer Rodriguez comes up for the Astros finale (in Topa's place), then Beck is again recalled for the doubleheader?

Either way, now that the Topa news has leaked, we'll have to sit and wait to see how, exactly, the Yankees have bothered us here with their decision-making.

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