Yankees make official DFA in roster shuffle to welcome back Giancarlo Stanton

After Andy Martino's Monday morning tidbit, Yankees fans knew they didn't have to wait any longer for Giancarlo Stanton's debut (even though it might've been nice to see him at Fenway Park over the weekend). It was real. He was returning Monday at home against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, after "Monday or Tuesday" had been floated over the weekend.

Then came the hard part, though: Who to cut? Regardless of which direction the Yankees went (pending an unexpected injury), Stanton's return meant the end of the road on the MLB roster for a versatile piece. Both Oswald Peraza and Pablo Reyes are out of minor-league options, and must be passed through the waiver process after a DFA, which would likely result in a leap to a different organization.

One reason it felt like they didn't activate Stanton over the weekend was the resulting uncertainty from Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s groin issue in Kansas City. Could the Yankees afford to have two people on the active roster who couldn't play the field while ridding themselves of a versatile bench piece?

Apparently, that fear is now officially behind us. The Yankees made the move on Monday afternoon, bringing Stanton back and DFAing Pablo Reyes.

Yankees activate Giancarlo Stanton, DFA Pablo Reyes after wild heroics in Kansas City

Reyes' DFA comes only four days after the highlight of his season (by far): his wacky dash around the bases, featuring a halting gait and a belly flop into home plate for the only run of the Yankees' 1-0, sweep-securing win in KC. He'll now either die a hero or rejoin the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, remaining available in case of emergency. Based on his performance thus far this season, it seems plausible that no team will claim him. That said, he has a history of being a live body and providing value. More likely than not, he's gone.

Out of the lineup? Tonight, it's Paul Goldschmidt against hard-throwing righty Jose Soriano. Goldschmidt also didn't start Sunday, though he did line a pinch-hit single against reliever Brennan Bernardino. Something to monitor.

In Stanton's shorter-than-expected rehab assignment, he went 3-for-11 with four RBI with Double-A Somerset. Now, the Yankees will finally get the right-handed thump they've been lacking back in a major way, a day we never thought would come during a difficult spring.