Yankees recall Luis Gil from Triple-A, option Yerry de los Santos

The Yankees recalled right-hander Luis Gil from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ahead of Sunday's game against the Red Sox, the club announced, and optioned right-hander Yerry de los Santos to make room on the active roster.

What happened

Gil returns to the major leagues after a stint in Triple-A. The club announced the move prior to Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium, where Will Warren is scheduled to start opposite Boston's Ranger Suarez. De los Santos heads back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the corresponding transaction.

The timing is standard late-August roster choreography: a club with postseason designs shuffles its pitching depth as the calendar turns toward September, when active rosters expand from 26 to 28 players. Gil's recall gives the Yankees another arm ahead of a three-game set at Angel Stadium that begins Monday.

Why it matters

The move restocks the bullpen or rotation depth depending on how the Yankees deploy Gil, who has worked both as a starter and in relief during his major-league tenure. With Warren on the mound Sunday and Elmer Rodríguez and Gerrit Cole slated for the first two games in Los Angeles, the club has flexibility in how it uses the recalled right-hander.

De los Santos' option clears the roster spot without requiring a 40-man maneuver, a clean swap that preserves the club's flexibility as it navigates the final month of the regular season. The Yankees are in the thick of the Wild Card race and trail in the division, so every roster slot carries weight.

Where the club stands

The Yankees enter Sunday with an 81-61 record, good for second place in the AL East, four games behind the division leader. They hold the top Wild Card spot, a comfortable margin but one that invites no complacency with a month to play. The club is riding a one-game winning streak.

After Sunday's game against Boston, the Yankees head west for a three-game series at Angel Stadium. Warren starts the finale at home, then Rodríguez and Cole are lined up for Monday and Tuesday in Los Angeles. The rotation is set through the first two games of the road trip, which gives the front office a clear window to slot Gil wherever the need is greatest.

The schedule ahead is manageable but compressed. Three games against the Angels, then the grind continues with September looming. The Yankees have built enough cushion in the Wild Card race to experiment with roster construction, but not enough to coast. Every decision about who pitches when carries playoff implications.

What to watch

Gil's first assignment will clarify his role. If he appears in relief over the next few days, the Yankees are using him as bullpen reinforcement. If he slots into a start later in the week, the club is managing its rotation workload with an eye on September and October.

The September 1 roster expansion arrives in two days, which will allow the Yankees to carry 28 players instead of 26. That extra breathing room often means more pitchers, more pinch-hit options, and more defensive substitutes down the stretch. Gil's recall is a preview of that deeper bench.

De los Santos' stay in Triple-A may be brief. The shuttle between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and the major leagues is well-worn this time of year, and a pitcher optioned in late August is often back up within a week or two, especially once rosters expand. For now, the Yankees have the arm they wanted for the next few days, and the flexibility to adjust again when the calendar flips.

The broader question is how the Yankees use their pitching depth over the final month. Gil's versatility makes him a useful piece in multiple scenarios: a spot start to give the rotation a breather, a high-leverage relief appearance, or a long man to cover innings if a starter exits early. The club has not announced which role he will fill first, but the schedule will force an answer soon.

Warren's start Sunday is his second turn through the rotation since being called up. Rodríguez and Cole follow on Monday and Tuesday, which means the Yankees have their next three starters lined up. If Gil is not needed in relief over the weekend, he could be in position for a start later in the week, depending on how the club wants to manage workload as September begins.

The Yankees are in a position to be deliberate. Four games up in the Wild Card race, they can afford to think about October while still playing September. Gil's recall is part of that calculus: adding an arm who can contribute in multiple ways, without forcing a 40-man roster decision or burning an option on a player the club might need later.

The move also reflects the reality of late-season roster management. Clubs with playoff aspirations carry as many pitchers as they can justify, especially once the September expansion takes effect. The Yankees are building that depth now, two days early, because the schedule allows it and the need is clear. De los Santos goes down, Gil comes up, and the club has one more option when the bullpen phone rings or the rotation needs a sixth starter.

What happens next depends on how the Yankees deploy Gil and how the rest of the pitching staff holds up over the next week. The calendar is about to turn, the rosters are about to expand, and the margin for error is shrinking. Gil's recall is a small move in a long season, but it is the kind of small move that matters in a tight race. The Yankees have added a piece. Now they have to decide how to use it.