Hicks, Warren making strides in rehab

NEW YORK -- The Yankees are moving closer to welcoming a pair of important pieces back to their active roster, with outfielder Aaron Hicks and right-handed reliever Adam Warren showing progress in their respective injury recoveries.
On the disabled list since Sept. 6 (retroactive to Sept. 3) with lower back spasms, Warren played long toss on flat ground prior to Saturday's 9-3 victory over the Orioles and reported no issues on Sunday.
Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild is devising a plan to get Warren back on the mound, and manager Joe Girardi said that there is optimism that Warren will be able to return to action before the end of the regular season. He has been a valuable part of the bullpen, possessing multi-inning ability. Warren, 30, is 3-2 with a 2.40 ERA in 45 appearances this year.
"He feels good. It's very positive," Girardi said. "Just take it a day at a time and make sure that he gets through each day, but right now he feels good."
Hicks is performing tee and toss in the indoor batting cage at Yankee Stadium and should soon begin hitting on the field, according to Girardi.
Briefly slowed last week by a case of strep throat, Hicks had been on the DL with a left oblique strain since Sept. 3. The 27-year-old also served an earlier stint on the DL for a right oblique strain.
"BP should follow pretty quickly after this," Girardi said of Hicks, who is hitting .265 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs in 82 games.
• After left-hander Caleb Smith was placed on the 10-day DL Saturday with a viral infection, right-hander Domingo Germán was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Sunday's game. This marks the 25-year-old German's fourth stint in the Majors this year; he has no record and a 3.38 ERA in five appearances spanning 10 2/3 innings.