3 Yankees players we'll be glad are gone in 2024 and 2 we wish stayed

Yankees player fans wish stayed: Wandy Peralta

Peralta's in San Deigo with King, as the right-hander unnecessarily reminded Yankees fans when it all went down. The lefty reliever signed a four-year, $16.5 million contract with three opt outs, which, in the end, was a deal the Yankees weren't going to match.

But for a second there, fans thought a reunion was happening. The Yankees remained interested (per reports) and no other team was chasing Peralta aggressively. It felt like New York was just sorting out its financial situation and Peralta was patiently waiting.

Sadly, that wasn't the case, and one of the most beloved Yankees of the last few years was gone, just like that. What was most upsetting is that this felt avoidable. Peralta wasn't traded as a necessary means to an end. He didn't regress to the point where he was undesirable (though his peripheral metrics in 2023 certainly declined, which probably had the Yankees hesitating).

While Wandy not returning won't be a death knell, it's definitely a hit in the vibes department, because he was a calming presence with a humorous and positive attitude.