The Yankees agreed to one-year contracts with infielder/outfielder Oswaldo Cabrera and right-hander Clarke Schmidt on Friday, avoiding arbitration, whereas non-tendering 5 pitchers forward of a late-afternoon deadline.
Among the many gamers reduce free was right-hander Mark Leiter, Jr., who made 59 appearances however light throughout the second half of the season. The membership additionally non-tendered right-handers Michael Arias, Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, and Ian Hamilton, making all 5 quick free brokers.
Schmidt agreed to a $4.5 million wage for 2026 as he continues his rehab from Tommy John surgical procedure carried out in July. The 29-year-old goals to return throughout the second half of the season, coming off a marketing campaign by which he posted a 4-4 document with a 3.32 ERA in 14 begins.
Cabrera will earn $1.2 million subsequent yr. The utilityman is predicted to be prepared for Spring Coaching after sustaining a grotesque season-ending left ankle fracture on Could 12. The 26-year-old hit .243 with one homer and 11 RBIs in 34 video games.
Leiter was arguably the most important shock of the Yanks’ non-tenders, coming off a season by which he began robust however struggled within the second half. His 10.06 strikeouts per 9 innings stood out, however he was inconsistent.
The 34-year-old didn’t permit an earned run in 23 of his first 26 appearances, pitching to a 6-7 document with two saves and a 4.84 ERA in 59 aid outings total. He was acquired from the Cubs on the Commerce Deadline in July 2024 and earned $2.05 million this previous yr.
Arias, 24, pitched to a 2.73 ERA with one save over 23 appearances at 4 ranges of the Yankees’ system, together with 17 at Double-A Somerset. He has but to make his Main League debut; nonetheless pre-arbitration, his non-tender clears a 40-man spot.
Cousins, 31, underwent season-ending Tommy John surgical procedure in June and isn’t anticipated to be out there till the second half of 2026. He logged to a 2.37 ERA over 37 appearances for the Yanks in 2024 and earned $841,050 this previous yr.
Effross, 31, battled accidents all through his Yankees tenure. He returned to make 11 appearances, ending 5 video games, however posted an 8.44 ERA and didn’t seem within the Majors after July 25. He earned $800,000 this previous yr.
Hamilton, 29, went 2–1 with a 4.28 ERA in 36 appearances. He allowed no runs in 26 of them, however the Yankees optioned him in late July. He earned $941,050.
The Yankees tendered contracts to eight arbitration-eligible gamers: infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., right-hander David Bednar, right-hander Camilo Doval, shortstop Anthony Volpe, infielder/outfielder Jose Caballero, right-hander Luis Gil, right-hander Fernando Cruz and right-hander Jake Hen.
New York can proceed negotiating with that group, with wage figures set to be exchanged in January forward of potential hearings.
