NEW YORK -- While the Yankees await final word on the suspensions for Gary Sanchez and Austin Romine, they added catching depth prior to Thursday's waiver trade deadline by acquiring Erik Kratz from the Indians in exchange for cash considerations.
Kratz, 37, has appeared in parts of seven seasons for five Major League teams, primarily as a backup. He last appeared in the Majors in 2016 for the Pirates and batted .270/.359/.472 with 38 runs, 16 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs, 37 RBIs and 32 walks in 86 games at Triple-A Columbus this season.
Sanchez was suspended for four games and Romine for two games for fighting and throwing punches in a benches-clearing incident on Aug. 24 against the Tigers in Detroit. Both players have appealed the suspensions, and that appeal is expected to be heard on Friday in New York.
"From what I understand, I don't think both players will be suspended at the same time," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Traditionally, you add a catcher in the month of September, so that should handle that."
Kratz has played in 225 Major League games across seven seasons with the Pirates (2010, '16), Phillies (2011-13, '15), Blue Jays (2014), Royals (2014-15) and Astros ('16), batting .200 with 24 homers and 73 RBIs.
He was assigned to the Yankees' Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster, but it is expected that he will be added to the 40-man roster and summoned to New York on Friday when rosters expand.
The only other catcher on the 40-man roster is Kyle Higashioka, who went hitless in 18 big league at-bats earlier this season and remains sidelined with a right shoulder injury.
Bombers bits
• Matthew Holliday (left lumbar strain) "could very well" rejoin the Yankees this weekend, according to Girardi. Holliday has gone 2-for-7 with two runs scored and two walks in a pair of games since joining Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on a Minor League rehab assignment.
• Clint Frazier (left oblique strain) hit in the indoor batting cage on Thursday and is expected to begin a Minor League rehab assignment when the Yankees leave town on Monday to begin a three-city road trip. Frazier said that he expects to hit on the field at Yankee Stadium on Friday.
"In Toronto, it was a very sharp feeling in my side of discomfort," Frazier said. "It's a feeling that I haven't reproduced since doing anything, which is good for me and good for the team. I feel like nothing ever happened."
• Luis Cessa (rib-cage injury) said that he has yet to resume throwing. Cessa was injured in an Aug. 14 start against the Mets and said that he was told it would take three to four weeks to recover.