The New York Yankees overhauled their bullpen with pitchers under team control at this year’s trade deadline.
So while looking to free up financial space to re-sign Cody Bellinger and give raises to Jazz Chisholm Jr. and closer David Bednar, the Yankees could opt to not tender contracts to some potentially expensive and ineffective relievers, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic.
Kirschner floated the Yankees passing on contracts for Mark Leiter Jr., Ian Hamilton, Scott Effross and Jake Cousins.
Each player was not a part of the Yankees’ postseason roster, when they first defeated the Boston Red Sox in the American League Wild Card Series then fell to the eventual AL champion Toronto Blue Jays in four games in the AL Division Series.
Non-tendering Mark Leiter Alone Could Save The Yankees Millions
Passing on those four relievers could save the Yankees $5 million, according to Kirschner, which would be valuable based on Hal Steinbrenner’s desire to keep the Yankees payroll under $300 million in 2026.
Kirschner floated Leiter as a non-tender candidate, since he is the most costly of the above-listed pitchers. He is projected to earn about $3 million in arbitration — after he lost his hearing last year and made $2.05 million in 2024.
Leiter will turn 35 in March, and the Yankees could do much better than him — particularly at his tax rate.
“Leiter was the only player to finish the season with the Yankees and be left off the roster in the American League Division Series,” Kirschner wrote. “He was mostly ineffective after coming off the injured list from a leg injury in early August. He finished his last 18 appearances with a paltry 13.1 percent strikeout rate.”
Jake Cousins, Ian Hamilton and Scott Effross Likely Won’t Be Back
If you forgot Cousins, Hamilton and Effross were on the 40-man roster, you likely weren’t alone. Hamilton, 30, was demoted to Triple-A after the Yankees acquired Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird and had an ERA+ of 96 — making him completely replaceable.
Effross had an 8.44 ERA in 10 2/3 innings and a minus-0.2 bWAR. His tenure with the Yankees has been littered with injuries, including a hamstring strain sustained in spring training, and he did not pitch after July 25.
“Hamilton was demoted to Triple A this season after losing his command. Itâs likely he wonât return,” Kirschner wrote. “Effross has not been able to pitch to his potential after several injuries. He likely will be non-tendered.”
The only above-listed reliever that could come back is Cousins, who did not pitch in the majors and likely won’t next year while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Cousins was great in the Yankees’ run to the World Series in 2024 — he moved into a high-leverage role in the postseason setting up for closer Luke Weaver.
“Cousins will likely miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June,” Kirschner wrote. “The Yankees could tender him a contract and have him rehab in their organization, while placing him on the 60-day injured list. But they might value the roster spot in the offseason.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Insider Predicts Yankees Will Soon Part Ways With Four Pitchers appeared first on Heavy Sports.