Michael Arias

Prospects TLDR: Arias signed with Toronto as a shortstop but never took a pro at-bat for the Blue Jays. Instead, he was released in the middle of 2020 and moved to the mound around the time he signed with the Cubs in early 2021. He had a breakout 2023 season split between Low- and High-A, during which he made 22 starts, pitched 81.1 innings, struck out 110 guys, and was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason. The Cubs proactively moved Arias to the bullpen in 2024, and he had a pretty rough year, especially after he was promoted to Iowa, where he walked a batter per inning. After the season he was DFA'd when the Cubs signed Colin Rea, and then traded to the Yankees where he'll be a high-upside reclamation project. Arias has always struggled with walks, but because he was so athletic and new to pitching it was reasonable to project that he'd get better in this regard. He hasn't even progressed to 40-grade control yet, and he's still wild enough that it detracts from the effectiveness of his stuff, which is electric. This is a funky, low-slot righty with a mid-90s sinker, a potentially plus-plus changeup, and a righty-dowsing slider. Arias' best changeups have devastating finish and are nasty enough for him to miss bats right-on-right. His slot makes it tough for him to get on top of his 82-86 mph slider. It has frisbee shape, but its late, tight movement still makes it an effective bat-misser. Arias has the weapons to deal with hitters of either handedness and he has experience working multiple innings at a time. He's still projected for an impact relief role here as a multi-inning weapon with plus stuff, but it's frustrating that his control hasn't improved.