The New York Yankees have placed veteran designated hitter and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton on the 60-day injured list, a roster move that deepens uncertainty surrounding his potential return during the current Major League Baseball season, according to club announcements. Stanton has been sidelined since late April due to a right calf strain.
Roster Shift and Recovery Setbacks for Stanton
Stanton was nearing a return to active play last week when he suffered a setback while running the bases, resulting in a comparable strain in his left calf, as reported by the team. Prior to being transferred to the 60-day injured list, the 36-year-old slugger had appeared in 24 games this season, posting a .724 OPS with three home runs and 14 RBIs. He is currently in the penultimate season of a 13-year contract that began in 2015.
Bullpen Additions and Roster Adjustments
To bolster their pitching staff alongside the roster move with Stanton, the Yankees signed right-handed reliever Justin Topa to a Major League contract, adding him directly to the active roster. Topa joined the organization on August 14 via a minor league deal and made four appearances for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing two runs, one earned, across five innings.
https://x.com/Yankees/status/2092317186152968254
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves: Signed RHP Justin Topa (#56) to a Major League contract and selected him to the active roster. Transferred DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton to the 60-day injured list.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 25, 2026
Before joining New York, Topa pitched in 23 games for the Minnesota Twins this season, recording an 0-1 record and an 8.05 ERA. Yankees manager Aaron Boone addressed the bullpen depth additions during media availability. “We signed him and the right-handed reliever Eli Morgan this week, trying to create some depth down there,” Boone said. “Obviously, he has had some success in the Major Leagues. Right now, he covers us and will have a little opportunity with us.”
Evaluating the New Reliever’s Profile
Topa’s addition follows the club’s decision to option right-hander Brendan Beck to Triple-A following Sunday’s game. The 35-year-old reliever debuted in the majors in 2020 with the Milwaukee Brewers, where he pitched across 17 games over three seasons before posting a career-best 2.61 ERA in 75 appearances for the Seattle Mariners in 2023. After being released by the Twins in May and spending brief time in the Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals systems, Topa brings a notable ground-ball profile to the Bronx. Records show he maintains a career ground-ball rate of 53.9%, sitting nearly 10 percentage points above the league average.
Next Steps for New York
The Yankees continue their ongoing regular-season schedule while managing their active roster depth as the final stretch of the campaign approaches. Fans and observers can monitor official club updates and game broadcasts via MLB.com or the team’s official media channels for further developments on player availability.
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