Allan Winans: Released, headed to Japan

The Yankees released Winans on Wednesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Winans asked for and was granted his released in order to pursue an opportunity to play in Japan. The right-hander has performed well in the minors (career 2.70 ERA) but hasn't figured it out at the big-league level, holding a 7.48 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 44:15 K:BB over 49.1 innings covering parts of three seasons.