Yankees Dec 11, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) talks with Yes Network during the winter meetings at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees made several roster moves on Thursday and welcomed back a pair of All-Stars to the team.

On Thursday, the Yankees activated both Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson off the IL. The two had completed rehab assignments earlier this week at AA-Somerset. Evidently, they’ve done enough to warrant a call back to the bigs.

“Today, the Yankees made the following roster moves: Returned from rehab and reinstated INF Josh Donaldson (#28) and OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton (#27) from the 10-day injured list,” the Yankees tweeted. Additionally, the team reinstated right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle.

These moves come at a good time for the Bronx Bombers. Through the first two months of the season, the Yankees currently sit in third place in the AL East. Despite an uphill battle against the torrid East-leading Tampa Bay Rays, New York is only six games back in third place. The team went 19-10 in the month of May and won four in a row recently and nine of 12 games prior to losing to Seattle on Wednesday.

Stanton and Donaldson will come back to the team in time for a marquee series against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. The Yankees and Dodgers, longtime rivals, will convene at Dodger Stadium for a three-game series this weekend.

Giancarlo Stanton himself has had plenty of success at Dodger Stadium. Remember: He hit the ball out of the stadium once before.

[NY Yankees]

About Chris Novak

Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022