My first year, I signed a minor league free agent to a horrible contract, 3 years at 3.6 million per. He's terrible and just taking up money and an extra roster space. Our season is almost done, and I have a bunch of money I didn't use (via prospect payroll and player payroll). If I release him, can the money for his subsequent years come out of my player payroll this year, thus freeing up space for the subsequent seasons? Is the release a buyout?
Or will this guy be stuck on my payroll for next year no matter what?