NEW YORK -- Chuck Knoblauch and Ramiro Mendoza, sidelined since early August, were activated Friday by the New York Yankees.

	Mendoza

	Knoblauch

Knoblauch, bothered by tendinitis in his right elbow, was put on the disabled list for the first time in his career on Aug. 3. He had a cortisone shot Tuesday and planned to resume throwing Saturday.

It's unclear when the second baseman will be able to resume playing regularly. Yankees manager Joe Torre said before Friday night's game against Minnesota that Knoblauch, for now, would be limited to pinch-running.

The minor league regular season ends this weekend, eliminating the chance he could go on another rehabilitation assignment. The Yankees originally intended to keep Knoblauch in Florida, but the team's Tampa office apparently decided he would be better off in New York.

Mendoza, a key part of the Yankees' bullpen, was on the DL from June 25 to July 27 with weakness in his right shoulder, returned and went back on the DL on Aug. 4 with tendinitis in the shoulder.

He threw batting practice Friday at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa and probably will throw against Monday, New York general manager Brian Cashman said. The team isn't sure when the 28-year-old right-hander will be able to pitch in games.

With the expansion of active rosters to 40 on Friday, the Yankees recalled right-hander Craig Dingman from Triple-A Columbus and purchased the contract of outfielder Ryan Thompson from the Clippers.

Dingman was 6-1 with a 3.05 ERA for the Clippers. He struck out 65 and walked 20 in 73 2-3 innings. He had a 3.17 ERA with no decisions in four games for the Yankees from June 29 to July 15.

Thompson leads the Clippers with 23 homers and 75 RBIs. He hit .194 (6-for-31) with two home runs and six RBIs for the Yankees from July 13 to Aug. 12.

To make room for Thompson, the Yankees transferred Allen Watson from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL, where a player doesn't count against the 40-man roster limit.