Yankees release four minor league pitchers

Like they do every year, the Yankees have officially released a few prospects just before the organization gets ready for spring training. Not as many have been released this offseason as have been in other offseasons, but there were plenty who left as minor league free agents. All four players released were right-handed pitchers, likely speaking to the organization's depth in that department.

Easily the closest to the majors was Taylor Garrison, who reached as high as Double-A Trenton before getting the boot. The 25-year-old reliever was actually pretty successful in the early goings of his career and maintained an ERA below 3.00 in 2012 and 2013. He was converted into a starter in 2014, much like the organization did with Chase Whitley before him, however it didn't work out as well in 2015. He was out with an injury in May and June, spent July in Rookie ball, and eventually made it back to Trenton for the end of the season.

As a college draft pick from 2012, he would have been Rule 5 eligible next offseason, so he might have fallen victim to a roster crunch. He's the twin brother of former Yankees catching prospect Trent Garrison, who retired during spring training at the age of 25. Garrison could easily catch on with another organization as a potential middle reliever for as soon as this season.

The other three pitchers were all from the team's 2014 draft class, meaning they were given just two seasons (season and a half?) to impress. Matt Borens, taken out of college in the 11th round, is a surprising loss. You would think that such a high pick would get a little more leeway, but when you have a 6.30 ERA in Staten Island, the organization probably didn't think very highly of him.

Corey Holmes was another college pick, this time from the 20th round. He was hit by injuries immediately after signing and he missed all of the 2014 season. He also missed the beginning of 2015, but made it into a handful of games before going back on the shelf in mid-July. The Yankees probably got sick of waiting for him to be healthy.

Last of all, Lee Casas was a college pick out of the 28th round and had the same problems as Holmes had. Casas appeared in 15 games in 2014, but missed the entire 2015 season to injury. He was probably not worth waiting on when the system is already going to be full of young and talent players in extended spring training.

Aside from Garrison, their professional career are probably over. It's highly unlikely another team will want to take on a player with so small a body of work who already has injury issues. Just goes to show you how fast the dream can really be over. That's only four for now, but more could be on the move as the offseason comes to an end.