Allan Winans: Everything you need to know

The Yankees released Winans on Wednesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. Winans asked for and was granted his released in order to pursue an opportunity to play in Japan. The right-hander has performed well in the minors (career 2.70 ERA) but hasn't figured it out at the big-league level, holding a 7.48 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 44:15 K:BB over 49.1 innings covering parts of three seasons.

The Yankees optioned Winans to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. Winans' stint with the Yankees lasted only one day without making an appearance. He's clearing out to make space on the roster for Paul Blackburn, who inked a major-league contract Thursday.

The Yankees recalled Winans from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Winans has spent most of this season in Triple-A, where he's started in 14 of 16 games with a 1.20 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 82:22 K:BB across 75 innings. That success in the minors hasn't translated to the majors, and across 9.1 major-league innings he has yielded 11 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits and three walks while striking out six batters. Winans will likely serve in a long-relief role out of the Yankees' bullpen.