Yankees steal top-20 prospect reliever from Cubs after foolish DFA

For the second time this offseason, the New York Yankees have swiped a very recently minted top prospect from the Chicago Cubs. This time, the move wasn't years in the making like the case of Brennen Davis' sad injury travails; Chicago simply ran out of patience and roster space, and the Yankees will now stand to benefit.

When the Cubs acquired Colin Rea late last week (in Craig Counsell's Brewers Vengeance, Part 10,000 of Infinity), they had the opportunity to drop recent addition Matt Festa or journeyman Gavin Hollowell from their 40-man roster. Instead, they chose Michael Arias, MLB Pipeline's No. 18 prospect in their system as of 2024.

Were the Cubs doing the Yankees a favor following the Mark Leiter Jr./Jack Neely swap of last summer? Who's to say?

Either way, the Yankees ended up coming to terms with the Cubs on a trade here, adding a converted shortstop who throws 98 MPH.

Yankees acquire former Cubs top prospect reliever Michael Arias after DFA

Hopefully, we don't have a future "Mattingly, Trim Those Sideburns!" moment coming between the Yankees and Arias, because this fella looks extremely cool the way he is.

Con: Arias walked 48 men in 60 1/3 innings last season, struggling a bit more mightily at Triple-A Iowa (5.45 ERA in 36 1/3 frames).

Pro: Just one year prior, in 2023, he whiffed a remarkable 64 men in 42 1/3 innings at the Low-A level, posting a 1.16 WHIP and .164 batting average against. Yes, he still walked 25 men, but ... nobody touched him, and he's got one clear flaw to zero in on? That's Matt Blake Bait!

Even if the Cubs based their decision to drop Arias on "knowing more than the Yankees do," they still granted Blake and Co. the opportunity to get their hands on an extremely projectable reliever, which might be Blake's favorite pastime. That was always going to be how this season's bullpen was built, outside of one or two cheap deals for established lefties. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Chicago.

It was just one year ago that Arias flashed all the potential in the world while getting comfortable at a new position after being signed as an infielder. A high-ceiling arm in need of tutelage is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Yankees' pitching lab.

And, once again, got to shout out the Cubs, specifically, for ordering it for us as a gift. Aw, you shouldn't have!