Yankees sneakily re-sign reliever after slicing him off roster at non-tender deadline

The New York Yankees did more housekeeping than pessimistic fans likely expected on non-tender day one week ago. With a packed 40-man roster and several marginal relievers due for a raise, the Yankees sliced five pitchers off the books and into free agency, highlighted (lowlighted?) by Mark Leiter Jr. and Ian Hamilton.

One of the arms they ditched wasn't even due for arbitration: Michael Arias, a former top Cubs prospect with a rocket arm (and corresponding command) who they picked up last January. That meant they were especially eager to drop him off the Scranton Shuttle. It also meant they might have planned to bring him back and stash him on a minor-league deal. That would mean he wouldn't be eligible for a call-up without a corresponding roster shuffle, but the Yankees would still get a second season to unlock him below the surface.

On Friday, the Yankees' mission was complete; Arias agreed to return to the system, and will likely attempt to conquer Triple-A again this summer before anyone entertains a big-league promotion.

Still, while he may be further away than the Yankees hoped last winter, there's always a place for an electric arm like Arias' in the high minors.

Yankees re-sign Michael Arias after non-tender deadline move

Arias converted from the shortstop position to the mound back in 2021, and while he may touch 100 on his best day, he almost never touches the plate's corners. His 12.8% walk rate last season, in his first year in the Yankees' pitching lab, was A) the best mark of his career and B) not very good at all.

The Yankees were hoping they could continue to make progress in 2026 after sneaking him past the waiver wire, probably talking loudly about his "unsalvageable" control in hopes of being heard by rival teams. He did post a 2.73 ERA last season, striking out 36 men in 29 2/3 innings, but his 15 walks in 21 frames at Double-A screamed "lucky as hell" to all onlookers.

Will the Yankees' changes finally take this season? Will he begin a second consecutive year in the Florida Complex League, absorbing base-level instruction? Either way, they were able to safely usher him off the roster and into the lower levels of their program. Step one of the mission has been accomplished.