New York Yankees News: Andrew Bailey Heading For Free Agency

On Wednesday the New York Yankees announced that right-handed reliever Andrew Bailey elected to become a free agent after accepting an outright assignment back to the minors. Following his acceptance, the Yankees then declined his $2MM option for 2016.

The 31-year old originally signed with the Yankees priors to the 2014 season as a reclamation project – missing the entire 2014 season while rehabbing from a second shoulder surgery. Prior to the 2015 season, he signed a minor league deal, and despite facing some early set-backs, he managed to go 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 28 minor league games before making his highly anticipated return to a major league mound as a September call-up.

While donning pinstripes, the right-hander went 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA in eight innings of relief.

I always liked Andrew Bailey and his ability to overcome adversity. The Wagner College Alum was once a two-time All Star with the Oakland Athletics and was one of the premier closers in baseball during the early stages of his career. When he was trade to the Boston Red Sox in 2012 his career took a turn for the worse, as he suffered a torn labrum and started to suffer one set-back after another in his pitching shoulder.

Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees gave Andrew Bailey the opportunity to continue pitching, but let’s call a spade a spade. Once he returned to the major’s his numbers indicated that he no longer has the stuff to be a reliable reliever.

At the end of the day, baseball is a business, and the Yankees have decided to cut ties with Andrew Bailey.

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