Skidding Yankees activate Aaron Judge, Mark Leiter Jr.

The New York Yankees reinstated captain Aaron Judge and right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. among a flurry of moves on Tuesday.

Judge was on the 10-day injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow, while Leiter was on the 15-day IL with a stress fracture in his left leg.

Judge, who has not played since July 25, is expected to be the designated hitter Tuesday when the Yankees resume their series with the Texas Rangers in Arlington. Manager Aaron Boone said the team wants more time to evaluate the two-time MVP's arm before putting him back in right field.

New York made more roster changes after dropping its fourth straight game with an 8-5 loss in 10 innings to the Rangers on Monday night. The Yankees have slipped 5 1/2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East entering Tuesday.

The Yankees also recalled Yerry de los Santos from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, designated fellow right-hander JT Brubaker for assignment and placed outfielder Austin Slater (left hamstring strain) on the 10-day IL.

The Yankees demoted right-handed reliever Jake Bird to Triple-A after Monday's game.

Bird, 29, took the loss after giving up a three-run homer to Josh Jung. Bird is now 0-1 with a 27.00 ERA in three appearances since arriving in a trade deadline deal with Colorado on July 31.

Judge, 33, leads the majors in batting (.342), on-base percentage (.449) and slugging (.711) and has 37 homers and 85 RBIs in 103 games this season.

Leiter, 34, is 4-6 with a 4.46 ERA and two saves in 41 relief appearances for New York this season.

De Los Santos, 27, has no decisions and a 1.78 ERA in 17 appearances out of the Yankees' bullpen this season.

Brubaker, 31, has no decisions and a 3.38 ERA in 12 relief appearances for the Yankees this season.

Slater, 32, is 0-for-7 with one RBI in three games for New York since arriving in a July 30 trade with the Chicago White Sox.

--Field Level Media