Right-hander Peter Strzelecki has opted out of his minor league deal with the New York Yankees and is now a free agent, MLB Trade Rumors reported, citing Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
The move is a narrow MLB transaction, but it gives relief-needy clubs another veteran depth arm before the summer market fully opens. Strzelecki signed with the Yankees on May 23 and did not receive a major league roster spot during his brief stay in the organization.
Strzelecki Leaves Yankees After Triple-A Look
MLBTR reported that Strzelecki made six Triple-A appearances after joining the Yankees, covering 4 2/3 innings. He allowed four earned runs in that small sample, but the underlying strikeout line was sharper: nine strikeouts among 22 batters faced, a 40.9 percent rate, with only one walk.
The same report said Strzelecki averaged around 92 mph with his four-seamer and sinker while also using a slider and changeup. That pitch mix and velocity were not enough for the Yankees to add him to the active roster.
Free Agency Reopens For Veteran Reliever
Strzelecki, 31, has pitched 83 2/3 major league innings with the Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Guardians from 2022 through 2024. MLBTR credited him with a 3.44 ERA over that span, along with a 24 percent strikeout rate, 8.4 percent walk rate and 35.8 percent ground-ball rate.
His recent path has been more uneven. He spent 2025 in the minors with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays, posting a combined 9.41 ERA. He then signed a minor league deal with Milwaukee before the 2026 season, was briefly added to the Brewers roster in May and was designated for assignment the next day without appearing in a game.
Between the Brewers and Yankees systems this year, MLBTR listed Strzelecki with 24 1/3 minor league innings, a 4.81 ERA, a 28.2 percent strikeout rate, a 4.9 percent walk rate and a 45.3 percent ground-ball rate. The report also noted that a .333 batting average on balls in play and 61.2 percent strand rate made the ERA look harsher than the peripherals.
The roster catch is straightforward: if Strzelecki gets a major league spot elsewhere, he is out of minor league options. For now, the verified development is that his Yankees stint ended with an opt-out and another trip to free agency.