The Yankees announced that they have acquired right-hander Michael Arias from the Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. The latter club had designated Arias for assignment earlier this week. The Yankees have multiple 40-man vacancies and don’t need to make a corresponding move.
Arias, 23, was originally an international signing of the Blue Jays. Signed as a shortstop, he was released and then signed by the Cubs, who moved him to the mound. Arias has shown some potential as a pitcher but lack of control has been the biggest drawback, which isn’t especially surprising for a guy who has only been in this role for a few years.
Overall, Arias has thrown 182 innings across multiple levels over the past four years, allowing 4.25 earned runs per nine. His 27.7% strikeout rate in that time is a solid number, but his 16.5% walk rate is quite high.
Despite the issues, the Cubs added him to their 40-man roster in November of 2023 to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. His control didn’t improve in 2024, as he tossed 60 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A with a 4.77 ERA, 25.2% strikeout rate and 16.8% walk rate. When the Cubs signed Colin Rea, they bumped Arias off the roster.
For the Yankees, they have a few roster spots open, so there’s little harm in taking a flier. Arias still has a couple of options and can be kept in the minors as they try to help him harness his stuff better. Per Eric Longenhagen and Travis Ice of FanGraphs, his arsenal includes “a mid-90s sinker, a potentially plus-plus changeup, and a righty-dowsing slider.”
“Cash considerations” may want to hang it up for good. He gets traded about every other week.
Great below average shortstop turned pitcher with horrible issues with control and the Yankees scoop them up. No they don’t need a great hitting & fielding 3b like Bregman. They don’t need bats like Santander or Alonso. Just junk collecting.
Well another Yankee expert heard from….so let’s see…..Bregman, wants a 7 year deal and if that’s not enough of a non-starter, his offensive metrics are declining and his power numbers, even though they have declined also, are built for the Astros home field and wouldn’t be the same in 17 other major league ballparks…..no thanks.
Secondly, Santander, who I’m a fan of offensively, is not very good in the field and left field in Yankee stadium is challenging enough for a good fielder let alone someone who doesn’t field well, and has a below average arm…
Thirdly and finally,….Alonso….right handed hitter, and another guy who wants to be paid for what he did with the Mets and also had a down year in 24 that wants a long term deal….and has questionable defense which would doom the Yankee infield and put the pitching staff in pretty constant jeopardy………hows that for why not and I really was pretty kind in my reply…….
Well, we don’t want to say “sold”. Some people get their undies in a knot. Even though it’s the contract that’s sold, not the player.
still better than that stiff “future considerations”
Can he pitch left-handed?
If anyone can teach him how, Matt Blake San do it…
“Can he pitch left handed”..No he can’t, but I can. My new agent, Scott Boras, says that for a 10 yr, high AAV deal you can find out exactly how “good” I am.
If you really were a Boras guy, he’d have a 15lb Stainless Steel binder containing 700 pages that detail how you are favorable comparable to Sandy Koufax, but will age like Randy Johnson.
Don’t forget your opt outs mlb fan.
@Joe You are hereby agent-certified to represent MLB Fan for Boras Corp. I’ve got Jon Heyman holding on line one for comments.
The GMs sure like those Johnny Cash records.
Broke ass Cubs, looking for pennies to pinch.
lol, or just needed a rule 5 spot
Smart trade. Kid has potential. You can do way worse on the 40 man Go Round. I’ll be watching.
Not surprising Mike is on a zoom call with Roger Beshens Football Slider.
Roger Beshens shaping techniques will definitely be beneficial for Michael Arias.
Were you in an accident or something? Do you have to wear a hockey helmet 24/7? Asking for a friend.
It sounds like you had a hockey accident without wearing a helmet based on what you just said. I am talking on behalf of a friend I’ve never met before.
Unclemike is an alleged predator, he admits enjoys watching high school girls.
The football slider would be an excellent addition to arias’s pitch mix.
So they jettison a 23 year old live arm in favor of a 34 year old journeyman junkballer. Sounds about right.
This is exactly what the Yankees need. Classic Yankees move. “hey do you guys have any junk We could collect ? Great here’s the cash“ no we don’t need a great third base who can hit like Bregman. We don’t need bats like Santander or Alonzo. This is perfect – a mediocre shortstop turned pitcher with horrible control issues. Perfect.
I’ve actually seen you complain enough here that I recognize your username. And I don’t recognize anyone’s usernames on MLBTR. Congrats on this monumental achievement.
78 IQ the Yankees are at the top team payroll tier.
Yeh, a real Yankee expert…LOL
@178
yeah, because clllllearly they have him a huge contract. of coooooourse he’s going to be our starting “insert whatever position he plays.” Bro… he’s a recently converted 23 yo reclamation project that has minor league options left and will almost certainly be sent to the minors for more development. I know you’re a troll, but dang, every post you have something negative to say? All I hear from you is hawk tooey gluck gluck gluck. Give it a rest. And even tho it needs not be said, they DON’T need Santander nor Alonzo. They have a full OF and 1B.
Same guy complains halfway through a contract that we never should have signed those guys. No pleasing them…
who is alonzo?
So many idiotic comments littering this page. They have room on the 40 and got this kid for nothing. What’s the downside? Doesn’t mean they can’t still add a 2B or 3B.
It takes about 40+ players over the course of a season to get to the end…..sometimes you never know when you strike gold…nothing wrong with seeing whether this guy might be able to add just 1 win in the 25 season making his acquisition a good thing…..
Need bullpen guys that have options so even though he’s a righty, it’s a simple decent get.
If he’s the new Ron Marranacio, I’ll take it.
blake: gentlemen, we can rebuild him. we have the technology.
@das
Are you from Toledo by any chance?
So do the minor league Yankees players have to get haircuts too? This guy might not be happy…
Bet arias is overjoyed getting away from cubs and with the bronze nombers