The New York Yankees are once again among the top MLB contenders in 2025, but one veteran is moving on from Gotham City. The news comes as the Yankees had designated the versatile vet for assignment.
After going unclaimed through waivers, Pablo Reyes opted to declare for free agency rather than being sent down to the minors by New York, per MLBTradeRumors.com. Here is how MLB.com describes the somewhat complicated process when a player like Reyes is designated for assignment.
“When a player’s contract is designated for assignment — often abbreviated ‘DFA’ — that player is immediately removed from his club’s 40-man roster,” the MLB website explains. “Within seven days of the transaction (had been 10 days under the 2012-16 Collective Bargaining Agreement), the player can either be traded or placed on outright or unconditional release waivers.
“… If the player clears outright waivers, he may be assigned outright to the Minor Leagues. However, players with more than five years of Major League service time can reject an assignment to the Minor Leagues, and players with more than three years of Major League service time, or who have been previously outrighted, may reject the outright assignment in favor of free agency in lieu of the assignment. If the player clears unconditional release waivers, he is unconditionally released.”
Pablo Reyes Was Hitting Just .194 With the Yankees
Reyes’ advantage has been his versatility as the veteran has experience playing both outfield and second base. The challenge is that Reyes’ bat has struggled.
Prior to the recent news, Reyes was hitting just .194 in 24 appearances for the Yankees in 2025. Reyes is now free to sign with another club, but it remains to be seen how strong of a market the veteran will find.
“Pablo Reyes elected free agency after going unclaimed on waivers, according to the MLB.com transaction tracker,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco detailed in a June 19, 2025, story titled, “Pablo Reyes Elects Free Agency.” “The Yankees had designated the out-of-options utilityman for assignment when they activated Giancarlo Stanton on Monday.
“Reyes had been on New York’s active roster for the first two and a half months of the season. He broke camp after signing an offseason minor league deal. There wasn’t much playing time available for either Reyes or Oswald Peraza, another utility infielder who can’t be optioned,” Franco added.
“The Yankees essentially needed to decide between the two players once Stanton returned from his elbow injuries. They gave a longer leash to the 25-year-old Peraza, a former highly-regarded prospect whose bat has stalled in recent seasons.”
Yankees Rumors: New York Could Reunite With Pirates Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa Via Trade
The Yankees continue to be mentioned in popular MLB trade rumors. New York Post’s Jon Heyman floated a potential reunion for New York with Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa as a likely trade candidate.
“Old friend Isiah Kiner-Falefa is likely to be dealt by Pittsburgh,” Heyman wrote in a June 19, story titled, “Yankees could reunite with infielder as MLB trade deadline names emerge.” “Could the Yankees, who showed interest last year, make sense to shore up the infield?
“The Pirates made clear they won’t trade superstar starter Paul Skenes. But they may have one of the better sales in a supreme sellers’ market. They will likely deal Andrew Heaney, and could listen on Mitch Keller, Ke’Bryan Hayes and other vets.”
Versatile MLB Veteran Cuts Ties With Yankees This Week