Aaron Boone explains Yankees’ ‘difficult decision’ to designate Michael Tonkin for assignment, sign Phil Bickford to active roster

The Yankees, before Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rockies, designated right-hander Michael Tonkin for assignment and signed right-hander Phil Bickford to the active roster — a move that manager Aaron Boone described as “tough.”

“Yeah, tough one today,” Boone said. “I mean, Tonk’s been great. He pitched well for us. He’s been a great teammate, so, difficult decision there.

“Just felt like we’re probably in a little bit, potentially, leaving ourselves short — not necessarily today, but in any kind of scenario, today, probably having a few guys down, including what would’ve been Tonk, where we would’ve have to use a lot of different guys that probably puts us in a bad spot tomorrow.

“So just felt like we needed a little more coverage today is really what it comes down to.”

Tonkin, 34, allowed 26 runs (21 earned) on 44 hits (five homers) while striking out 57 and walking 21 in 56 innings over 39 games this season.

“Yeah, today was a tough one,” Boone said of Tonkin, who added one hold and two saves in four opportunities since joining the Yankees as a late-April claim off waivers from the Mets. “Look, I don’t want to get this about me — this is about a guy and his career and a guy that’s pitched well and a really nice job and has been a really good teammate in there, too. So, yeah, that’s a rough one.”

Bickford, 29, rejoins the Yankees after being down with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre since July 5. In five games with the Yankees this season, Bickford has allowed nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits (one homer) while striking out four and walking one over five innings.

“He’s been doing a nice job and he’s got some length to him, probably give us a couple innings if we needed it,” Boone said of Bickford, who has a 3.00 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 45 innings over 34 games (one start) at Triple-A this season. “Obviously, there’s a number of people in the conversation to that. But he’s right now, it seemed like the right guy to take.”