Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton expected to resume baseball activities early this week

Giancarlo Stanton can’t be considered close to returning yet, but the outfielder/DH is expected to take a step in that direction soon.

Stanton, placed on the injured list July 26 with left Achilles tendinitis and essentially off his feet since then, is expected to resume on-field baseball activities early this week, Aaron Boone said.

“I would say probably the next couple days he’ll start, whether it’s throwing and doing some tee work and upper body [work], hitting and stuff,” Boone said Sunday before the Yankees' 8-6 loss to the Royals at the Stadium. “Just talking to him briefly [Saturday], he’s definitely encouraged by the last few days. He’s noticed improvement and I think has moved the needle how he would have hoped. So hopefully that starts to pick up speed this week.”

Stanton is hitting .228  but has 24 homers and an .807 OPS.

Severino to throw

Luis Severino, out since July 14 with a right lat strain, is slated to begin his throwing program Monday. The righthander said Sunday it’s been four or five days since he last felt anything in the lat.

Britton latest

Though it has zero impact on the Yankees’ pursuit of a reliever — or two — before Tuesday's trade deadline, the news continues to be good when it comes to the possibility of Zack Britton pitching this season. The lefthander, who had Tommy John surgery last Sept. 8, is slated to face hitters at some point this week, the first time he has done so during his rehab.

While the Yankees believe Britton will return before the end of the regular season, it’s not something they're counting on — and they haven’t been since spring training, when Britton said  he would pitch in 2022.

 “I don’t want to put an expectation on it. He’s doing well,” Boone said. “He’s about to get to the live-hitter portion of the rehab and return, so we continue to be encouraged. But what it all means? We’ll wait and see.”