Yankees Player Leaves MLB on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Dec 17, 2025 5:32 PM ET

The New York Yankees have had a relatively quiet offseason to this point. Their primary focus remains on re-signing outfielder Cody Bellinger while also pursuing an impactful arm on the free-agent market, with Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai among the possibilities.

These moves come in response to how poorly 2025 ended for the club, a season that closed in disappointment. New York fell to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS in four games, dropping the decisive contest at home to end their year.

Toronto seemed to hold the edge throughout the season, narrowly winning the AL East over the Yankees before eliminating them in October.

For a franchise that prides itself on its history, the Yankees have not won a World Series since 2009, and the drought continues to weigh heavily.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17)© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The bullpen has also been thinned out this winter. Two right-handed relievers, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, departed for Queens to join the rival New York Mets, reducing depth from a unit that has long been a strength.

That trend continued on Wednesday. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees granted the release of right-hander Allan Winans, who plans to continue his career overseas in Japan.

“The Yankees have given release waivers to pitcher Allan Winans to seek an opportunity to play in Japan, a source told The Post,” Sherman reported on X.

The Yankees have given release waivers to pitcher Allan Winans to seek an opportunity to play in Japan, a source told The Post.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 17, 2025

Allan Winans had been on the Yankees’ 40‑man roster and showed promise at Triple‑A last season, posting a 1.63 ERA across 21 games and 18 starts. However, he struggled in limited big‑league action, recording an 8.61 ERA in three appearances, including one start.

Winans was unlikely to crack the rotation in the Bronx, with Gerrit Cole returning from injury and established arms like Max Fried and Carlos Rodon already in place. Now, with his release, he will not be part of the Yankees’ future at all.

With Winans’ departure, the Yankees now have an open roster spot, but the move underscores how much turnover their bullpen has endured. As the offseason continues, the pressure is on New York’s front office to replenish pitching depth and ensure the team is better positioned to chase its championship expectations in 2026.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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