2 Yankees players fans wish were on non-tender chopping block, 2 that actually are

The deadline to tender arbitration-eligible players a contract is Friday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees have, once again (how does this keep happening?), an insane amount of players they need to settle a salary with for 2026. This team is constantly dealing with roster clogs and arbitration.

There are a number of "no-brainers" here, like Jazz Chisholm Jr. (projected to make $10.2 million), David Bednar ($9 million) Luis Gil ($2.1 million), Oswaldo Cabrera ($1.2 million), Fernando Cruz ($1.3 million) and Jose Caballero ($1.9 million). Then there are injury concerns, like Clarke Schmidt ($4.9 million) and Jake Cousins ($841K). Then there are "we're just not too sure" when it comes to Camilo Doval ($6.6 million) and Jake Bird ($1 million).

And then there are the few others who fans want gone. A couple will undoubtedly be let go, but we know the Yankees won't quit them all.

2 Yankees players fans wish were on non-tender chopping block

Scott Effross

He who must not be named marks another disastrous Brian Cashman trade. The list is endless. At the time back in 2022, Cashman traded No. 7 prospect Hayden Wesneski to the Chicago Cubs for Effross, a 28-year-old with a grand total of 61 games under his belt. That number has increased to ... 88 since he joined the Yankees.

Effross was great in his 13 games in the Bronx that year, but succumbed to Tommy John surgery before the playoffs. He didn't pitch at all in 2023. He appeared in three games in 2024 due to multiple setbacks and new injuries. And he was so dreadful in 2025 that he only saw garbage duty in 11 games (8.44 ERA, 1.78 WHIP).

He's only set to earn $800K in arbitration, but since the Yankees just got locked into a $22 million commitment to Trent Grisham, every dollar matters. We know the Yankees will not part with Effross, though, because he has one minor league option remaining and we know how much the front office values that flexibility. Just be prepared for him to get lit up on a few occasions in 2026.

Anthony Volpe

It will NEVER happen. NEVER. If it does, you'd probably see the first Yankees parade in New York since 2009. Volpe is set to earn almost $4 million in arbitration and will start the season on the injured list after undergoing surgery on his shoulder — something that could have been avoided since he suffered the ailment in May.

Whatever the case, the Yankees have little need for Volpe. He's not a starting shortstop (though they will continue to tell us he is), and now he's too expensive to be a bench piece. In an alternate universe he would be traded or non-tendered, but the Brian Cashman-led Yankees would rather die a slow death than admit to a wrong of this magnitude.

2 Yankees who are definitely getting non-tendered before 2025 deadline

Ian Hamilton

Now that Ian Hamilton is finally out of options, the Yankees will see the light and understand there probably isn't a place for the oft-injured Hamilton and his regressing play. Though he's only projected to make ~$1 million in arbitration, that's money the Yankees must spend wisely.

Hamilton once again dealt with injuries in 2025 and finished with a 4.28 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 40 innings. He was banished from the big league roster once the trade deadline arrived after the Yankees completely overhauled their bullpen. He might be banished for good now that he doesn't have the flexibility to be shuttled to and from Scranton anymore.

Mark Leiter Jr.

The Yankees already shocked us by getting tricked into Trent Grisham's qualifying offer, so it'd be on brand if they brought back Mark Leiter Jr. in any capacity for 2026. But they have to admit defeat somewhere, and freeing up $3 million (Leiter's projected arb cost for 2026) is a move they need to make. He's subtracted 0.7 WAR from the Bombers since arriving at the 2024 trade deadline.

He admirably appeared in 59 games last year and dealt with a fracture in his leg, but the results were bad before, during and after that. He logged a 4.84 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. He gives up endless contact (11 H/9 since joining the Yankees). There is no world in which his 4.89 ERA and 1.59 WHIP return to New York at this price point, and it's hard to believe the Yankees would even want to settle on a cheaper price. They need to re-work the relief corps again, and letting Leiter Jr. start fresh elsewhere is a good, clean break.