D-backs recall Yoan Lopez, Kevin Cron; option Andy Young, Joel Payamps

The Arizona Diamondbacks made a series of roster moves on Monday, swapping out one relief pitcher and one position player with two other players of the same positions.

Reliever Yoan Lopez and infielder Kevin Cron were recalled from the alternate training site. Relief pitcher Joel Payamps and infielder Andy Young were sent back to the alternate training site.

“They’re moves that we feel like are gonna help us in different situations,” manager Torey Lovullo said ahead of the Monday’s matchup with the Oakland Athletics. “I can’t possibly walk through all the scenarios but we want to win baseball games. in certain situations we have certain guys that we are going to look to help us win those games and that’s where we wound up today.”

Lopez comes back up after starting the season on the MLB roster but being sent out on Aug. 5.

Lopez, 27, had a 4.15 ERA in five games for the Diamondbacks this season before being optioned earlier this month. He has a career 3.41 ERA in 85 games over parts of three season with the D-backs. Last year, he set a career high with 70 appearances, which was top-30 in MLB.

Lopez is going to find himself in basically the same role he was in prior to his send out, Lovullo said.

Cron, like Lopez, was already on the roster this season but was optioned on July 29. He appeared in only two games this year. In 2019, he had 78 plate appearances in 39 games with a .211 batting average and six home runs.

“I know Kevin didn’t get a ton of at-bats early before we shifted him to the alternate site so I’m anxious to see what he can do,” Lovullo said. “He’s going to DH tonight and he’s a good hitter. He can hit the baseball and can do some things that are going to help us score some runs.”

Young, the D-backs’ No. 17 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, played seven games and had four hits in 14 at bats with a double, a home run and three RBIs.

“Andy Young was doing a really good job of controlling the zone and was having a lot of quality at-bats,” Lovullo said. “It was nice to see what he can do and it was a hard send down, it was a hard decision. But in Cron’s case, he adds a little thump to the lineup. He has the ability to hit ball out of the ballpark and help us put some crooked numbers … and ultimately win some games.

“I was looking to add as much punch and give us the ability to score as many runs as possible and we feel Kevin will help us do that.”

Payamps, 26, did not appear in a game after getting called up on Sunday.

Follow @mattjlayman