Yankees Non-Tender Five Pitchers
New York Cuts Ties With Mark Leiter Jr., Among Others
The Yankees non-tendered five pitchers on Friday, making them all free agents.
Mark Leiter Jr, Michael Arias, Jake Cousins, Scott Efross, and Ian Hamilton were all cut loose, clearing nearly $6 million in salary.
Starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt, rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery, agreed to a $4.6 million salary for the 2026 season, and utility man Oswaldo Cabrera signed a $1.2 million contract. Both Schmidt and Cabrera avoided arbitration, and Cabrera could be ready for the start of spring training after he fractured his ankle in May.
Leiter, left off the postseason roster, joined the Yankees from a July 2024 trade from the Chicago Cubs. He had a 4.84 ERA in 59 games this past season and did not allow a run in 23 of his first 26 appearances.
Arias threw 29.2 combined innings across four different levels in the Yankees’ minor league system, reaching as high as Double-A Somerset.
Cousins could miss the entirety of next year after undergoing Tommy John Surgery in June. The right-hander became a reliable middle relief arm for the Yankees during the second half of 2024.
The sidewinder Effross dealt with several injuries during his three years with the Yankees, logging just 26.2 innings in 11 games since 2022. He had Tommy John Surgery in October 2022 and a back surgery in December 2023.
Hamilton made 110 appearances with the Yankees, joining the AL East club in 2023. He had a 4.28 ERA in 40 innings this season before New York optioned him to the minors in July.
Image Credit: New York Yankees pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
More to come!