Although there was much anticipation that teams would rush to sign players before the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires at 11:59 p.m. on December 1st, the free agent market has remained surprisingly quiet across the league. The Yankees, in particular, have been notably silent about their target players, resulting in a fairly uneventful offseason so far, especially after their sweep in the ALDS. Most recent news has focused on season-end awards, with critical upcoming roster deadlines including the November 17th cutoff to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft and the November 20th non-tender date.
Today, we’ll discuss the players being considered for Rule 5 protection. It’s important to note that the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft will likely be canceled this offseason—similar to the previous lockout in 2021-2022—since it’s scheduled during the December 7-9 Winter Meetings, which are expected to be canceled without a current CBA. The MLBPA had proposed moving the draft up to late November to precede the CBA expiration, but that proposal has seen no updates since July 1st.
Still, reviewing the pool of players who performed well enough in 2026 to warrant 40-man roster spots is useful. The Rule 5 Draft exists to prevent teams from hoarding minor leaguers who might have a chance to make a major league roster elsewhere. Players signed at age 18 or younger must be added to the 40-man within five seasons, while those signed at 19 or older must be protected within four seasons or risk becoming eligible for the draft. Any team selecting a player pays $100,000 to the original team, must keep the player on their 26-man active roster for the next season, or else expose him to waivers and offer him back to the original team for $50,000 if he clears waivers.
The Yankees currently have 49 players who are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft due to not being on the 40-man roster and their minor league service time.
Most of these players will not be protected on the 40-man roster. The Yankees are either confident those players wouldn’t be selected or are willing to lose them in the draft. However, with seven open spots on the 40-man roster, the Yankees have flexibility to protect a few players while keeping room for free agent signings or trades.
In my view, there is only one guaranteed candidate to be added to the 40-man roster—Carlos Lagrange. Seen as a top-three organizational prospect, Lagrange was even considered for a late-season bullpen call-up before a shoulder injury shortened his 2026. Scouts are divided on whether he should remain a starter or transition fully to bullpen duties, but his triple-digit fastball and plus secondary pitches like cutter, sweeper, and changeup make him a strong asset—especially with key bullpen departures and injuries looming. Though command has been an issue at times, Lagrange lowered his walk rate to a more manageable 11.6% while striking out nearly 30% of batters over 64.1 Triple-A innings in 2026.
On the position player side, few stand out. Roderick Arias is the most notable, having signed for $4 million as the top international prospect of 2022, but he has dropped in rankings and hasn’t reached Triple-A yet after five years. In 2026, he split time between High-A and Double-A, delivering a 107 wRC+ with 16 homers, 84 RBIs, and 38 steals across 128 games, but struck out in 30% of plate appearances. Tyler Hardman debuted in Triple-A last season and combined a 157 wRC+ at Double-A with 28 homers across 134 games at both levels, yet his 80 wRC+ mark in Triple-A and age-28 status raise questions about his major league upside. Other players like infielders Josh Moylan and Coby Morales and outfielders Jace Avina, Cole Gabrielson, and Garrett Martin had steady campaigns at Double-A but did not perform at a level justifying 40-man roster protection.
Pitching presents a more intriguing picture. The Yankees have three promising high-velocity arms that could soon factor into the major league bullpen discussion. Allen Facundo rose up organizational rankings with 7-3 mark in 22 starts, a 4.01 ERA, 4.09 FIP, and 148 strikeouts over 114.1 innings between Low and High-A. Eric Reyzelman, mostly a reliever, boasts an impressive 199 strikeouts over just 144 minor league innings. Hayden Merda posted strong strikeout numbers in 2026 but saw his ERA increase stepping up from Double-A to Triple-A. All three have hit triple digits with their fastballs and possess potential plus sliders but have elevated walk rates, likely limiting their chances as long-term starters though their raw stuff is certainly major-league ready.
Beyond these three pitchers, there’s less interest in protecting other Rule 5 eligible arms. Brock Selvidge, a left-hander, was sidelined in 2026 after an internal brace surgery and struggled with a 4.68 ERA across 18 starts in 2025. Lower-level starters Cade Smith and Luis Serna are still far from big league consideration. Triple-A relievers Harrison Cohen, Carson Coleman, and Zach Messinger are all 27 or older, with Cohen and Coleman finding Triple-A challenging and Messinger lacking major league-level stuff. Thomas Balboni Jr., a higher-velocity sidearm pitcher, is an interesting name but has only recently reached High-A, coming off a 2025 elbow injury.
Fan Take:
This deep dive into the Yankees’ Rule 5 eligible players highlights how teams must balance protecting top prospects while maintaining roster flexibility—a crucial offseason chess match. For baseball fans, understanding these under-the-radar moves reveals the strategic groundwork that shapes future competitiveness and showcases the hidden talent pipeline fueling the sport’s next generation.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
