The New York Yankees were busy on Friday, non-tendering five relief pitchers and re-signing Oswaldo Cabrera and Clarke Schmidt to one-year deals to avoid arbitration. The five pitchers non-tendered are all right-handers: Michael Arias, Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, Ian Hamilton, and Mark Leiter Jr.
Yankees Non-Tender Five Relievers
The non-tender moves were made all at once ahead of Friday’s deadline. These relievers mostly either struggled with the Yankees or missed a lot of time with injuries.
Arias, 24, is the only pitcher of the five without major league experience. He split 2025 at four minor league levels, ranging from Rookie ball to Double-A.
Cousins, 31, made 37 appearances for the Yankees in 2024, pitching to a 2.37 ERA in 38 innings. He spent his first three big league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He did not pitch in 2025, undergoing Tommy John surgery in June.
Today, the Yankees non-tendered RHP Michael Arias, RHP Jake Cousins, RHP Scott Effross, RHP Ian Hamilton and RHP Mark Leiter Jr.
Additionally, the Yankees have agreed to terms on one-year contracts with INF/OF Oswaldo Cabrera and RHP Clarke Schmidt, thus avoiding arbitration.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) November 21, 2025
Effross, 31, was in a similar boat for most of his time in New York. Acquired at the 2022 trade deadline from the Chicago Cubs, he was effective with a 2.13 ERA across 13 outings, picking up three saves. However, he missed the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. A back injury limited him to only 3 1/3 major league innings in 2024, and he only went 10 2/3 innings for the Yankees in 2025. Given how he started out with the Yankees, Effross now resides in the “what could have been” file.
Hamilton, 30, spent the last three seasons in the Bronx, making 30+ appearances each year and pitching to a 3.45 ERA across 135 2/3 total innings. While his WHIP of 1.268 was lower than it was when he pitched for the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins, it kept him in a mostly middle relief role. Hamilton’s first season in New York, 2023, was his strongest. That year, he compiled a 2.64 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 58 innings of work.
Leiter, 34, was a workhorse for the Bombers after being acquired from the Cubs in 2024. He made 21 appearances toward the end of that regular season and got some high-leverage innings in October. He made four appearances in the World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he did not give up an earned run. In 2025, he compiled a 6-7 record with a 4.84 ERA and 1.531 WHIP in 59 appearances (48 1/3 innings).
Two Key Faces Coming Back
The 26-year-old utility man Cabrera is coming back in 2026 after a freak ankle injury ended his season this year. Across four big league seasons, he is hitting .234 with 20 home runs, 95 RBI, and a .641 OPS. Not overwhelming numbers, but he makes up for it with his defensive versatility.
Schmidt, 29, looked to be a mid-to-top-tier starter last season. Unfortunately, like teammate Gerrit Cole, he had to undergo Tommy John surgery. He likely won’t be ready for Opening Day. By keeping him on another year, though, the Yankees will hope he can contribute in a big way when he does return.
Main Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
