No to Niese


John Niese's hopes for a New York encore ended, at least temporarily, on Sunday when the Yankees released him. The former Mets pitcher spent the first part of 2016 with the Pirates, who then swapped him back to the boys from Flushing. When no team snapped him up during free agency, he landed a minor league deal with the Yankees, along with the invititation to major league camp. Hoping to land a bullpen job, he posted a 4.50 ERA this month. Worse, the club felt his arm strength wasn't up to par.
Niese has an invitation to join the Yankees extended spring training program with the hope he can impress. But it's far from what the nine-year veteran was aiming for.

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