Justin

Topa

Topa will stick around with the Yankees as emergency relief depth after making a pair of appearances in August.

Topa passed through waivers unclaimed after being jettisoned from New York’s relief mix over the weekend. The 35-year-old journeyman made just a pair of appearances for the Yankees during a brief stint with the club. He should be able to latch on somewhere for the final month of the season.

The Yankees needed to clear a spot on their active roster for the return of Max Fried on Saturday and unfortunately for Topa he drew the short straw this time around. The 35-year-old hurler made just two appearances during his time with the Yankees, logging three scoreless frames with a 3/1 K/BB ratio. It’s possible that another club comes calling on waivers.

Brendan Beck was sent down last night to open up a spot. Topa, who has pitched for the Brewers, Mariners and Twins over parts of seven big-league seasons, will be making his Yankees debut. He had an 8.05 ERA in 19 innings for Minnesota earlier this year. He has a career 4.27 ERA in 168 2/3 innings.

Topa had signed a minor league deal with the Royals in early July but he exercised an opt-out clause earlier this week and has now latched on with the Yankees. The 35-year-old hurler holds an 8.05 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and a 12/11 K/BB ratio over 19 innings at the big league level this season.

Topa latches on with the division-rival Royals after struggling to an inflated 8.05 ERA across 19 innings for the Twins earlier this season. The well-traveled 35-year-old will function as organizational relief depth at Triple-A Omaha.

Topa was designated for assignment, and now the 35-year-old will be free to find a new team. How much interest other clubs will have is up for debate, as he forged an ugly 8.05 ERA in his 19 innings this year. Topa will likely be looking at a “prove it” minor league deal at this stage of his career.

The Twins needed to clear space on the 40-man roster for Orlando Arcia, so Topa will be the one who goes. The 35-year-old at one point seemed like a good bet to be part of the Twins’ closer committee, but he has pitched to an 8.05 ERA in 19 innings for them this season. However, he did have a 3.90 ERA in 60 innings out of the bullpen for Minnesota last season, so there’s a chance that some team puts in a claim to grab him off waivers.

Topa came on with a comfortable 4-1 lead to protect in the ninth, but things tightened up quickly as Kazuma Okamoto crushed a one-out, two-run homer to make it a one-run game. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Jesus Sanchez then followed with singles to put the tying run in scoring position before Lenyn Sosa bounced into a game-ending double play. Trying to speculate on save chances in the Twins’ bullpen is a fool’s errand.

There were no hard-hit balls against Sands; a groundball single, a sac bunt and then an outfield flare were enough to produce the decisive run. This one shouldn’t alter his status in the closing mix in Minnesota. It especially doesn’t hurt because Justin Topa gave up a run in the seventh, and Eric Orze took a blown save by allowing a run in the eighth.