Yankees Release Seth Brown After Six Months in Minor League System

The New York Yankees have released veteran first baseman and outfielder Seth Brown, ending his brief tenure with the organization just six months after signing him to a minor league deal during the offseason. Brown, 33, was brought in as organizational depth as the Yankees prepared for the 2026 season, but never emerged as a realistic option for major league playing time.

Brown's performance both at the major and minor league levels demonstrated why the Yankees ultimately moved on. In 2025, his last season in the majors, he appeared in only 38 games and posted a .185/.303/.262 slash line with one home run and a concerning 30.3% strikeout rate. His time at Triple-A Scranton this year showed modest improvement but still fell short of expectations, as he recorded a .235/.327/.426 line with nine home runs over 53 games while maintaining a 33.2% strikeout rate that resulted in a slightly below average wRC+ of 97.

The Yankees' decision to call up younger outfielders Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez made clear that Brown was unlikely to receive a major league opportunity barring a significant injury. Additionally, the presence of Paul Goldschmidt—who has had a strong 2026 season—solidified the first base position, while Cody Bellinger provided additional outfield depth. Brown's position on the left side of the plate made him redundant with the team's existing roster construction.

The release reflects the Yankees' confidence in their organizational depth. The team has multiple alternative options in their minor league system with potentially greater upside, including 27-year-old Ernesto Martinez Jr., who produced a .244/.306/.487 line with 12 home runs in 55 games at Triple-A and was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers. Another prospect, Tyler Hardman, a 2021 fifth-round pick who has battled injuries including Tommy John surgery, put together an impressive season at Double-A before earning promotion to Scranton. The Yankees also have Oswaldo Cabrera on their 40-man roster as a versatile option capable of playing multiple positions.