Yankees News: Non-tender deadline, 40-man roster, Domingo Germán, Jake Bauers

The Yankees' 40-man roster underwent its first significant makeover on Thursday (first of many? please say first of many), as six players were exiled into free agency.

A few names were less than noteworthy. Ryan Weber, a beloved longman (and occasional closer), has a good deal of elbow rehab ahead of him, and was a non-surprising option to be outrighted. Reliever Matt Bowman, outfielders Billy McKinney and Franchy Cordero, and Domestic Violence Policy offenders Jimmy Cordero and Domingo Germán joined him. All six players can be claimed, but will likely reach free agency.

Germán was the most prominent name sliced off the roster, but no matter how long the Yankees held onto him to soak up innings following his 2019 suspension, it was clear after his stint on the restricted list for an alcohol abuse-related tantrum in 2023 that he'd reached the end of the line.

How much more roster movement before we can get to the good stuff and start swapping prominent prospects and pitching depth for Juan Soto? There are a number of hurdles left to cross.

Yankees News: Next Key Date is Non-Tender Deadline

This season's non-tender deadline is Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 PM EST. That means that, by that date and time, all MLB teams are required to offer ("tender") contracts to the controllable players under their purview that they would like to keep. The Yankees theoretically could non-tender an expensive arbitration case like Gleyber Torres, but that would never happen.

However, a few ancillary arbitration cases with escalating salaries like, say, Kyle Higashioka and Jonathan Loaisiga? Both are in danger (Higgy significant, Lasagna less so), and both will be shopped in trades before the hammer comes down.

Nov. 17 is also when another Yankee who many thought would be sent away on Thursday could find himself on the chopping block...