Yankees News: David Hale wasn’t released but his contract was restructured

Thursday’s Yankees news suggested that David Hale was released by the New York Yankees, but it turns out it was all just procedural so the team could restructure his contract. 

As if the waiting and uncertainty about when the 2020 season would start back up wasn’t enough, it seems David Hale had an eventful day on Thursday. News circulated that the reliever had been released by the Yankees, though no reasoning was mentioned for the decision. As it turned out, that wasn’t quite the case.

The whole situation put a scare into the 32-year-old, as he started receiving a flood of text messages from friends who had seen the reports, according to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com.

Technically, he was released but it was just a procedural move. Hale is still under contract with the team. As Kuty explains, the entire situation was simply an effort on the part of the Yankees and Hale’s agent to adjust the wording in his contract.

Hale’s original minor league contract contained an invitation to spring training and also included an opt-out clause if he wasn’t going to make the Opening Day roster. Hale’s decision was due at the end of spring training, but once everything was canceled on March 12 and the start of the regular season was postponed indefinitely it became a moot point.

MLB and the MLBPA have yet to iron out exactly how the league will handle opt-out agreements in existing contracts. It was Hale’s agent who first approached the team about rewording things. The Yankees were apparently happy to comply. Whenever spring training picks up again (it’s clear that players will need some time to prepare before any actual games will begin) Hale will once again have the option to opt-out of his contract if he isn’t going to make the team. The new due date will be five days before the start of the regular season.

Hale posted some of the best numbers of his career last season before an injury ended his season prematurely. He figures to be in the conversation for a spot in the New York bullpen this year, especially if the league expands the active roster for this season whenever games do return (as has been discussed).