The Yankees on Tuesday signed right-handed reliever Justin Topa to a Major League contract and assigned him to the active roster. Giancarlo Stanton was transferred to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man roster spot.
Topa, a native of Binghamton, N.Y., appeared in 23 games for the Twins this year with an 0-1 record and an 8.05 ERA. He had joined the Yankees on a Minor League deal on Aug. 14, allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings over four appearances with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
A 17th-round Draft pick of the Pirates in 2013 out of Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus, Topa debuted in 2020 with the Brewers. He appeared in 17 games over three seasons with Milwaukee before posting a career-best 2.61 ERA in 75 games with the Mariners in 2023.
After the Twins released the 35-year-old in May, he spent time in the Minors with the Blue Jays and Royals. When at his best, Topa generates a ton of ground balls. He owns a 53.9% career ground-ball rate, nearly 10% higher than league average.
Stanton, out since late April with a right calf strain, strained his left calf in a fall while running the bases last week, putting a return this season in doubt. He was nearing a return from the right calf strain when he suffered the injury.
He had posted a .724 OPS with three home runs and 14 RBIs across 24 games in the second-to-last season of his 13-year contract that began in 2015.