3 Yankees who should probably be non-tendered before Friday's deadline

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MLB's non-tender deadline is set for 6 p.m. ET on Nov. 17. Teams will either be cutting players loose by way of opting not to offer them a contract or trading them to another team willing to pay their projected salary for 2024. The New York Yankees don't have a ton of tough decisions to make, but they have a few money-saving opportunities (that aren't glitches in the system).

The one that's been widely talked about is trading Gleyber Torres. Almost every contender out there would be willing to take on his ~$15 million salary for 2024. The Yankees have no intention of extending him, if we're to read context clues. There's probably not much of a future for him in New York, anyway. Why force it for another year when this roster clearly isn't built to win?

Torres has dominated the conversation, though. What about the other smaller cost-cutting options seemingly right at the Yankees' fingertips? The conversation was already started when Domingo Germán, Billy McKinney, Jimmy Cordero, Matt Bowman, Ryan Weber and Franchy Cordero were outright released earlier this month.

But there are a few others who should probably be thanked for their service and afforded an opportunity elsewhere. The Yankees need to improve, not tread water and rely on things they can't control.

3 Yankees who should probably non-tendered before Friday's deadline

Kyle Higashioka

The Yankees, after adding Agustin Ramírez ahead of the Rule 5 protection deadline on Tuesday, now have SIX catchers on the 40-man roster. That feels like malpractice even before further roster cleanout commences. On what planet do you have more healthy catchers than playable outfielders?

They also added Carlos Narvaez the week prior, and he only has experience at High-A Hudson Valley. As for the guys who will actually play, it's looking like Austin Wells will be the starter and Jose Trevino will be the backup. Ramirez and Narvaez will either be traded or stashed so they can't be swiped, and Ben Rortvedt will be held onto because he has options. Once he becomes expendable, he's gone.

That leaves Kyle Higashioka, who's projected to earn $2.3 million in 2024. That's a cost the Yankees do not need to carry. On top of Higgy's defense slowly regressing, his pop has also faded. He's been given more than enough runway to prove himself. Whether he caught Yankees disease or something else halted his progression, we don't know, but his time here should come to an end. We salute.

Lou Trivino

Brian Cashman whining about injuries when arguing with reporters at the GM Meetings last week had us thinking ... then WHY do you keep carrying oft-injured/injured players?! Lou Trivino would fall under the latter category for 2024.

He underwent Tommy John surgery in May. That, at best, puts him on pace for a second half return. You might think that isn't so bad, but think again for a second. On what planet is one's peak production immediately replicated in their first games back from reconstructive elbow surgery? Never! And why would you factor such a question mark into your plans?

Trivino is set to earn $4.1 million in 2024, which means the Yankees, again, in a best-case scenario, would be paying that amount for a half-season of up-and-down production. We don't doubt Trivino can get back to form rather quickly, we just won't bet on it. And far too many times that's where the Yankees have placed their wagers.

Not to mention, this is Trivino's final year of arbitration eligibility. He's a free agent after 2024, so it's not like the Yankees are getting multiple cost-effective years with a roadmap for him to remain a key bullpen piece. Non-tendering him and Higgy, right off the bat, would save $5.4 million, or what we'd call "halfway to Kevin Kiermaier."

Jonathan Loaisiga

This one might rile up some fans, but we have to put our foot down. Aaron Boone already commented on Jonathan Loaisiga's lack of availability, so do you think the Yankees are happy about his tenure with the team?

You can have all the talent in the world. You can have the best "stuff." If you can't play, you're sadly a non-factor. It's all just hype and projections that don't exist. Think Josh Donaldson, and how the Yankees magically thought he was going to "turn it around" in 2023 without any real evidence to support it.

The unfortunate truth about Loaisigia is that he's been healthy for one season, which was the cursed 2021 campaign. Fitting. Since 2018, he's logged just 215.2 innings. 2021 marked the only time he's thrown more than 48 innings in a single MLB campaign. And he's yet to harness his command.

Walks remain a problem for the right-hander, and after a lengthy layoff due to elbow surgery, he returned in 2023 to flash brillance in 17 outings only to land back on the IL with more elbow trouble. How does that portend anything positive for 2024?

It might not be a boatload of money, but non-tendering Loaisiga saves the Yankees another $2.5 million. And now you're 75% of the way to Kiermaier. Why lobby to release a guy with so much potential? Mainly because the Yankees' lone positive quality is printing good bullpen arms. If they can't figure out a way to replace distressed assets in Trivino and Loaisiga, then perhaps this audit should be featured on 60 Minutes.

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