Yanks set ALCS roster; Peraza, Montas, Weissert make cut

October 19th, 2022

HOUSTON -- The Yankees announced their 26-man roster ahead of Wednesday’s opening game of the American League Championship Series against the Astros at Minute Maid Park, including the addition of rookie infielder .

Right-handers and were also added to the active roster, with New York opting to carry 13 pitchers and 13 position players. Montas will be used in a relief role.

“I was really excited just to be on the roster,” Montas said. “I didn't have a good first impression when I got here to the Yankees, but I'm just excited to go out there and show them that I can do really good things. I can go out there and get outs. I feel like that's what it's all about, as a pitcher, just trying to go out there and do your best and get people out.”

A Trade Deadline pickup who has historically pitched well against the Astros, Montas last appeared in a big league game on Sept. 16, when he sustained a right shoulder strain. Montas was 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in eight starts since being acquired from the Athletics.

“He looks really good right now,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “His live [batting practice] the other day was as good as I’ve seen him here. It was like, ‘Oh, there’s that guy.’ He’s ready; I don’t think he’s going to give us length. It’s just hopefully at some point he gets in there, and I feel like he could impact us.”

Outfielder Aaron Hicks, infielder/outfielder Marwin Gonzalez and left-hander Lucas Luetge were not carried over from the roster that won a five-game AL Division Series over the Guardians. Hicks sustained a left knee sprain in Tuesday’s ALDS Game 5 win; his estimated recovery time is six weeks.

It remains to be seen how the Yankees plan to use Peraza. In considering the ALDS roster, Boone had selected Gonzalez over the rookie, saying that he preferred defensive versatility and envisioned using Peraza only as a second pinch-runner behind Tim Locastro.

But Isiah Kiner-Falefa did not start in the last two games of the ALDS due to defensive concerns, raising the possibility that Peraza would start at shortstop. Rated as the Yankees’ No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Peraza batted .306/.404/.429 (15-for-49) in 18 games after being promoted on Sept. 1.

“It’s a smaller bench this round with only four [position players], so his athleticism comes into play,” Boone said. “He could pinch-run, or as you get later into the series, you could pinch-hit for a shortstop and he goes in. Maybe he gets a start at some point. I just feel like we’re adding a good player to the mix.”

Hashing out their calls in the sky en route to Houston, the Yankees chose not to add infielder DJ LeMahieu and right-hander Ron Marinaccio to the ALCS roster. Both were considered possibilities, in manager Aaron Boone’s view.

LeMahieu has been hindered by a ligament injury to his right foot. But the veteran took batting practice at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday and said that he was hopeful of being activated. LeMahieu played in five games near the end of the regular season but was left off the ALDS roster, as Boone judged him to be “too compromised” by injury.

“With DJ, if we have an injury come up, I would go to him,” Boone said. “But I still feel like it’s going to be [less than 100] percent where he’s not going to move great. He can’t really fire. But I know if we ran him out there, he would represent himself well.”

Marinaccio was left off the ALDS roster due to a stress reaction in his right shin. A rookie standout who pitched to a 2.05 ERA in 40 appearances this year, Marinaccio had tossed live batting practice at the club’s complex in Tampa, Fla., and was present for the clubhouse celebration after Game 5, also saying that he hoped to be activated.

“We feel like he’s not 100 percent,” Boone said. “That was a tough call, because [Marinaccio] has done a lot to get back, and it feels like he could be on [the roster] right now. But we also feel like he’s still kind of compromised, and Weissert matches up in some good spots from a depth standpoint for us.”

Here is the Yankees' full American League Championship Series roster:

Pitchers (13): Miguel Castro, Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Domingo Germán, Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loáisiga, Frankie Montas, Wandy Peralta, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Severino, Jameson Taillon, Lou Trivino, Greg Weissert

Catchers (2): Kyle Higashioka, Jose Trevino

Infielders (7): Oswaldo Cabrera, Matt Carpenter, Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Oswald Peraza, Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres

Outfielders (4): Harrison Bader, Aaron Judge, Tim Locastro, Giancarlo Stanton