Hard-throwing reliever Tommy Kahnle, a noted Philadelphia Eagles fan, was activated off of the 10-day disabled list on Friday. Manager Aaron Boone also confirmed that first baseman Greg Bird is slated to return from the DL on Saturday.
Kahnle had been on the shelf since the middle of April with right shoulder tendinitis. The right-hander's last appearance before his injury came on April 12, and he had struggled to a 6.14 ERA in just 7⅓ innings prior to the DL stint.
His final rehab appearance was Wednesday with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he threw one inning and allowing a run on two hits.
"The more of our impact guys that are healthy down there [in the bullpen], I think they end up protecting each other," Boone said. "We feel like Tommy, when he's right, is one of those really 'impact' options for us."
MORE:Gleyber Torres thriving with NY Yankees while also rewarding his evaluators
MORE:Andy Pettitte to make his New York Yankees 'Old-Timer's Day' debut on June 17
MORE:Aaron Judge hits 471-foot bomb HR for New York Yankees vs. Rangers
Kahnle will join a bullpen that ranks seventh in the majors with a combined 3.50 ERA.
"If he has a clean outing, 1-2-3 [with] not a lot of pitches, and then seems like he's bounced back pretty well the next day," Boone said, "I wouldn't think that [using him two straight days] would be an issue."
The skipper hinted on WFAN Radio Thursday that Bird could return this weekend, and he said prior to Friday's game against the Angels that "we're looking to activate him" Saturday.
In Bird's rehab assignment at Scranton, he went 4-for-16 in the RailRiders' four-game series at Pawtucket, homering twice and driving in five.
"I think he's good to," Boone said. "It's the start of his major league season, but we still feel like – physically, timing-wise, all those things – he's in a pretty good place right now."
The biggest issue going forward will be how to fit everyone on the roster. Outfielder Billy McKinney was optioned to AAA to make room for Kahnle. The countermove to Bird's activation will be announced Saturday.
"We're still mulling over... what we think the best way to go is," Boone said. "It leads to a difficult decision, not a simple one, not an obvious one, and it's something, frankly that we're still working through."
More NY Yankees news
The Yankees traded minor-league catcher Erik Kratz to the Brewers for cash considerations. ... First baseman Adam Lind was released from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ... The organization signed catcher Wilkin Castillo from the Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks.