The Yankees invited 21 players to spring training camp this year and the majority of them will not make the team. Once the 26-man roster is set a lot of the younger players will be sent back to the minors leagues while some of the veterans will ask for their release to become free agents and hope to sign on with another team looking for help at the major league level.
Take Chris Iannetta for example. With Kyle Higashioka pretty much locked in as Gary Sanchez’s backup catcher, I’d expect Iannetta to become a free agent if he doesn’t make the roster instead of agreeing to be the starting backstop at Triple-A Scranton.