Yankees add Frankie Montas, Oswald Peraza to 2022 ALCS roster

HOUSTON — The Yankees have a new 26-man roster as they try to take down the Astros in the ALCS.

Ahead of Wednesday’s Game 1 at Minute Maid Park, the Yankees announced their roster that added Oswald Peraza, Frankie Montas and Greg Weissert and subtracted Aaron Hicks, Marwin Gonzalez and Lucas Luetge from the group they used to beat the Guardians in the ALDS.

DJ LeMahieu (right toe), Andrew Benintendi (broken hook of the hamate bone) and Ron Marinaccio (right shin stress reaction) also remained off the roster because of their respective injuries.

LeMahieu had tried to make it back for the ALDS, coming off the IL for 18 plate appearances during the final week of the regular season (batting 4-for-16 with two walks) and then getting more live at-bats during the layoff before the series with the Guardians began. But the Yankees ultimately opted not to include him on the ALDS roster, with Boone saying the veteran was still too “compromised” by his injury, which may still be the case for the ALCS.

Yankees pitcher Frankie Montas during a game against the Rays on Sept. 9, 2022. Robert Sabo Oswald Peraza during a Yankees game against the Red Sox on Sept. 25, 2022. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Peraza’s addition was notable after the Yankees benched shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa for the final two games of the ALDS due to his defensive struggles. Oswaldo Cabrera moved from left field to shortstop for those two games, though after Hicks suffered a season-ending knee injury in Tuesday’s Game 5, it remains to be seen how the Yankees handle those two positions for the ALCS.

Montas (shoulder) has not pitched since Sept. 16, and while he is not fully built back up as a starter, he said Tuesday night he could offer a two-inning role out of the bullpen.

Marinaccio is evidently still not ready to return to action despite throwing bullpens and facing hitters over the past week. Instead of him joining the roster, that spot went to Weissert, the fellow rookie right-hander who can be tough on both righties and lefties.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone speaks with DJ LeMahieu during batting practice before Game 5 against the Guardians on Oct. 18, 2022. AP

Benintendi had gone to Tampa with Marinaccio and Montas last week to try to prepare for the ALCS, but the outfielder recently received a shot after experiencing some lingering pain as he upped his workload.

Luetge did not pitch in the ALCS while the versatile Gonzalez only appeared in Game 5 after Hicks’ injury.