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.