By Jon VankinShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberAfter losing closer Devin Williams to their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets, in free agency on Monday, the New York Yankees are continuing the process of rebuilding their bullpen — a process that began at the trade deadline this year when general manager Brian Cashman dealt for not just one but three high-leverage relief pitchers: David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird.
But last week, according to the MiLB.com transactions page, the Yankees made a move that has the potential to strengthen their bullpen even further, signing a 24-year-old righty to whom they had declined to offer a contract just earlier this month. The non-tender made the pitcher, Michael Arias, an immediate free agent. But the Yankees were not ready to give up on Arias just yet.
...Arias throws a fastball that has been clocked as high as 99 mph "with heavy sinking and tailing action," according to an MLB Pipeline scoring report. Before the 2024 season, Pipeline rated Arias as the No. 14 prospect in the Chicago Cubs system.
The Cubs signed Arias as a minor league free agent in 2021 after the Toronto Blue Jays released him. In 2018, Toronto signed Arias out of the Dominican Republic as a shortstop, but never put him in a game before finally cutting him loose.
The Cubs converted him to a pitcher, and though Arias had considerable difficulty throwing his pitches inside the strike zone, the Cubs nonetheless made room for him on their 40-man roster in 2024 due to his "insane ability to punch batters out," according to Chi City Sports reporter Tyler Koerth, writing on Sunday.
But when the Cubs needed space on the roster for newly acquired relief pitcher Colin Rea, they designated Arias for assignment, then traded him to the Yankees for cash in January. He remained on the New York 40-man roster throughout this season, but was dropped when New York non-tendered him.
Now, they have Arias back in the fold.
More MLB: One-Time Tigers 1st-Round Pick Signs With NL East Team
"For the Yankees to re-sign him, this is a major win. Any organization would welcome an arm as electric as his, especially on a minor league deal," wrote Koerth. "Whether he valued the instruction and feedback he received from New York’s coaching staff or saw a clearer path to finally reaching the big leagues, the decision to return is great for the Yankees. Still, it’s hard to imagine that several other teams weren’t interested during his brief stint in free agency."
In his five-season minor league career, Arias has pitched 211 2/3 innings and struck out 263 batters. Unfortunately for him, the former Cubs prospect also walked 152, which appears to be the primary reason he has never been given a chance at the major league level.
More MLB: Yankees Pick Up 99-MPH Sidearm Bullpen Fireballer After Cubs DFA No. 18 Prospect
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