Yankees Notes for 2/26

1. The Yankees sign OF Randal Grichuk to a minor league deal.

While he is a non-roster invitee, it is fair to consider Grichuk a favorite to make the MLB roster out of Spring Training.

After a solid 2024 campaign in Arizona (.291/.348/.528 (139 OPS+) in 279 plate appearances), Grichuk crashed hard in 2025. Playing for the Diamondbacks and Royals, he hit a pitiful .228/.273/.401 with nine home runs in 293 plate appearances.  Combined with his meh defense, he compiled -0.4 fWAR.

That said, there are positives under the hood. His average exit velocity was 92.4 MPH, and he compiled a 49.5% hard-hit percentage.  Both his expected batting average (.259) and slugging percentage (.457) were significantly above his actual numbers. I don’t look at expected numbers and conclude that everything was bad luck. However, there is enough there for this to be a worthwhile transaction.  Splitting the difference between his 2024 and 2025 campaigns can give us a productive player (to be exact, splitting the difference essentially gives you what he was in 2023, where he hit .267/.321/.459).

His splits don’t show him as a lefty masher, though most of his power comes at the expense of left-handed pitching. In 2025, he had a higher batting average versus right-handed pitching, but his SLG was 80 points higher against LHP.

Power is his calling card, as he offers little in the plate discipline department. I bet some would be surprised to know he has 213 career home runs and .465 SLG. If that power continues to fall as it did in 2025, his offensive value will be…well, it won’t exist.

His defense doesn’t jump out at you, but it doesn’t kill you. In 2025, he spent most of his time in right field, but he has significant experience in left field.  Center field was once a big part of his game, but not anymore.

Bottom Line:

Grichuk is a veteran who still carries value and some bounce-back potential. He is the type of player you need to be willing to cut ties with the moment he shows he can’t play anymore, though.

2. CC Sabathia‘s number will be retired.

The Yankees, in need to give someone a day in 2026, landed on Sabathia for the honor. Anything that pushes Alvaro Espinoza Day aside is worth doing, however.

I have nothing against Sabathia’s number being retired. However, I don’t care. I am the rare Yankees fan who doesn’t care about historical uniform numbers. The honor was diluted a while ago, but would I raise a fit if they started recycling every number that is currently retired? No. Maybe they can strike a deal for Clint Frazier to wear #7 on Old Timers’ Day.

Does Sabathia “deserve” it?  Not a debate I find to be worthwhile.  He shows up on many all-time Yankees’ pitching lists, so there is that. Did you know that only six pitchers in Yankees’ history have made more starts than Sabathia? That only nine pitchers have more than his 134 wins? He had a strong career in New York and was a model citizen.

Bottom Line:

Most importantly, he is recent enough that Hal Steinbrenner can sell some tickets. When September 26th comes around, however, I will be more concerned about the standings than Sabathia’s uniform number no longer being produced by Nike (except for merchandise sales, of course).

3.  Spring Training So Far

Spring Training is meaningless.  “Well, actually…”  There isn’t a “well, actually” to be had, because Spring Training is meaningless. It is designed to be meaningless. Why do people continue to read into things that don’t matter?  You won’t remember the Spring Training numbers the moment they take the field in San Francisco.

“But look at Spencer Jones!”

Jones is the Spring Training Ted Williams, as he owns a .324/.432/.647 triple slash in 40 career spring training games.

“So, are you saying that I shouldn’t believe one thing I am seeing with my own two eyes?”

I don’t care whose eyes you are using – it is still meaningless.  100% meaningless. Stop trying to make something meaningful out of something that isn’t.

While performance helps players battling for a roster spot, the team’s needs will always come first. If a random outfielder hits .600 in Spring Training, but the bench is more in need of an infielder, guess who gets the job?

So, enjoy the games. Enjoy the fact that baseball is on your television (I practice what I preach, as I watch very little of Spring Training action), but don’t take what you are seeing as useful.

4. Giancarlo Stanton can’t open a bag of potato chips

Switch to Pringles?  Was it ever determined if Pringles are actually potato chips?  As long as Stanton hits home runs, I am not sure why I care much about his Lays’ addiction. I would be more concerned if he could open a bag of chips but couldn’t hit anymore.

5. Fangraphs releases its Top 100

Yankees on the list:

49. George Lombard Jr.
53. Elmer Rodriguez
69. Dax Kilby
73. Carlos Lagrange

Fangraphs projects Lagrange as a closer, so it makes sense that he would be ranked 20 slots below Rodriguez, who is seen as a starter.

I have added this list to my chart.

 

Yankees Notes for 2/9

Other recent posts:

Prospect Rankings Chart
Thoughts on Paul Goldschmidt (if you like the signing, prepare to be triggered)
Non-roster invitee primer

1. The Yankees acquire UTIL Max Schuemann from the Athletics for RHP Luis Burgos

“Who da heck is Luis Burgos?”  I’ll tell you:  He’s a 20-year-old Rookie League pitcher coming off a decent campaign (2.44 ERA (4.25 FIP) with a 55.5% GB in 51.2 innings). That’s all I have for you.

“Who da heck is Max Schuemann?” I’ll tell you: A depth piece we shouldn’t get too worked up over. Last week, I wrote that the Yankees don’t have a true backup shortstop as long as Jose Caballero is the starter. We have to wait and see if Oswaldo Cabrera is healthy. Amed Rosario can play anywhere, but playing him at shortstop is a death wish.

Schuemann fits the “defense first” utility profile. He can’t hit at all, to the point that the Athletics played him in 101 games but gave him only 213 plate appearances in 2025. In those plate appearances, he hit .197/.295/.273 (62 wRC+) with two home runs and seven stolen bases.  Remember that the Athletics played in one of the most extreme offensive ballparks. Defense is where he shines, and he isn’t one of those “He can’t hit, so he must be a good fielder regardless of evidence to the contrary” types. In 2025, he was +8 in OAA, including a +5 at 2B (202 innings), +4 at 3B (119.2 innings), and +1 at SS (128.2 innings).  He also has limited experience in the outfield, where he compiled a -2 OAA in 2025. He can also pinch-run, as he is 21-for-23 stealing bases in 234 career games.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated Yanquiel Fernandez (recently claimed from the Rockies) for assignment. We’ll see if the power-first outfielder can clear waivers.

Bottom Line:

I can’t believe I am saying this, but Schuemann has value. It isn’t much value, but his glove is very good, and he can draw some walks (10.3% in 2025), which allows him to utilize his speed. You can do much worse at the end of the bench. When Anthony Volpe returns, Schuemann (if he makes the team) has the added benefit of three minor-league options.

2. The Yankees outrighted UTIL Braden Shewmake and RHP Dom Hamel to Scranton

Add both to the list of non-roster invitees in Spring Training. Shewmake should compete for the final roster spot (with Cabrera, Schuemann, and whoever else), while Hamel is likely looking to provide Triple-A pitching depth, whether as a starter or a reliever.

My broken record is still out: This is why you claim players, even if you don’t think they will stick on the 40-man roster. Veterans littering the Triple-A landscape is nothing revolutionary. It’s an MLB depth league (for the most part). Shewmake lasted the entire 2025 campaign on the Yankees’ 40-man roster, which shows me they see value in him (he does have a first-round pedigree, so there’s that).

3. Former Yankees are off to the Red Sox

The Brewers shipped infielder Caleb Durbin and catcher/infielder Anthony Seigler to the Red Sox today.

Yankees’ fans have an attachment to Durbin, who put together a .256/.334/.387 (105 wRC+) line for Milwaukee in 2025.  Combining that with his average-ish defense equated to a 2.6 fWAR. While he doesn’t offer much power,  he hit 11 home runs in 2025 and can potentially take advantage of the Big Monster to improve on his 25 doubles. He’s a contact-first infielder with some speed and defense, a valuable player to have around but likely not worth fretting over much.

Seigler, a first-round pick by the Yankees, made his MLB debut in 2025. He went 12-for-62 (.194) with a double. Once considered an athletic, switch-hitting catcher with extreme upside, injuries (and, to be fair, ineffectiveness) held him back. His biggest strength in the minors (drawing walks) translated in his cup of coffee (11%), but it is hard to envision him as anything more than a depth piece in Boston.

Bottom Line:

This wasn’t a bad trade for the Red Sox. I wouldn’t mind having Durbin on the Yankees’ bench, though his inability to play shortstop would be a deterrent. He outperformed my expectations last season and even finished third in the Rookie of the Year race.

He feels like one of those players that people will look up on BaseballReference in 2142 and be surprised he somehow had a 10-year career with 15 different franchises. If only I could be alive to explain it to them.

NCAA Basketball Top 25 for 2/9

FYI: All ratings, including SOS, Offensive Efficiency, and Defensive Efficiency, are courtesy of the KenPom.

Top 25:

1. Arizona (23-0) (1) – Their schedule hasn’t been easy, but the gauntlet begins now.
2. Michigan (22-1) (2) – While not quite the Arizona gauntlet, life will be tough on the Wolverines as most of their remaining tough games are either on the road or on a neutral court.
3. Duke (21-2) (3) – Duke haters won’t love this, but the week played out in a way that keeps them here despite losing to North Carolina.
4. Houston (21-2) (7) – Nice wins over UCF and BYU (road) jump them up the rankings. Their Offensive Efficiency (4th) is rated higher than their Defensive Efficiency (9th).
5. Iowa State (21-2) (8) – Like Arizona, a gauntlet awaits. It makes sense, as the first half of their Big 12 schedule didn’t feature many of the Big 12’s elite.
6. UConn (22-2) (4) – Their issues (among elite teams) on offense continue to haunt them.
7. Illinois (20-4) (6) – Forgiveable road loss. Easier schedule than Michigan (plus they get the Wolverines at home) down the stretch.
8. Nebraska (21-2) (9) – Even during a bad season, it isn’t fun playing Rutgers on the road. Nice job by the Cornhuskers to end their 2-game losing streak.
9. Kansas (18-5) (13) – Winners of seven straight, they will get a shot at Arizona on Monday. Followed by a Valentine’s Day matchup at Iowa State.
10. Purdue (19-4) (10) – They stopped the bleeding, but barely against an undermanned Oregon squad. Now they go on the road to face Nebraska and Iowa.
11. Michigan State (20-4) (11) – Nothing defines college basketball better than losing to Minnesota and following it up by beating Illinois.
12. Florida (17-6) (14) – Walloped Texas A&M to take over first place in the SEC. A National Championship repeat is not out of the question.
13. North Carolina (19-4) (19) – Five in a row, including conquests of Virginia and Duke.
14. St. John’s (18-5) (20) – The Red Storm have won nine in a row, as they are a Top 20 defense (just outside the top 20 in offense)
15. Gonzaga (23-2) (5) – Everyone is entitled to a bad game, but losing at 12-14 Portland was a shocker. When you are expected to dominate a mid-major conference and don’t, you will lose ground.
16. Vanderbilt (19-4) (12) – 3-4 since their 16-0 start.
17. Saint Louis (23-1) (17) – How secure is their NCAA Tournament bid, regardless of how they do in the A-10 Tournament? It is looking better by the week.
18. Virginia (20-3) (18) – Don’t have a long list of impressive wins, but have been consistent. The Cavaliers don’t play Clemson, but have one game against Duke as they try to win the ACC.
19. Texas Tech (17-6) (16) – The Red Raiders have that win over Duke in their back pocket. A tad inconsistent overall.
20. Clemson (20-4) (21) – The best thing I can say is that the Tigers win the games they are supposed to win.
21. Miami (OH) (24-0) (22) – Going on the road to play Marshall was a tough test. A test they easily conquered.
22. BYU (17-6) (15) – Nobody can say they have played poorly during this 1-5 stretch, but they aren’t passing the tests they need to pass.
23. Louisville (17-6) (23) – The Cardinals have already blown their shot at the ACC title. Their offense remains dangerous.
24. Iowa (18-5) (24) – Make that six straight wins for the methodical, yet effective, Hawkeyes.
25. Utah State (20-3) (25) – Their schedule is average-ish, even if they are 0-0 against AP Top 25 squads. They are the most comfortable of the Mountain West squads.

Dropped Out:

None

Just Missed:

Arkansas (17-6) – The 7th-ranked offense. The 58th-ranked defense. That sums it up.
Kentucky (17-7) – An 8-1 flourish after a 0-2 conference start puts them right in the thick of the SEC race.
Villanova (18-5) – The “best of the rest” in the Big East lacks the signature win that would put them in the Top 25.

My Take: Yankees Re-Sign Paul Goldschmidt

Prospect Rankings Chart

1. The Yankees re-sign Paul Goldschmidt to a 1-year contract

This is lunacy. This is stupidity. This is lazy. This is absurd. This is pointless. This is borderline criminal.

What are the Yankees thinking?

Goldschmidt plays one position, a position the Yankees have tried to convince us is in good hands with Ben Rice. So, naturally, they bring back a veteran platoon first baseman who crashed and burned in the second half last season.

Let me give the Yankees a reality check:  Old players don’t tend to get better. Goldschmidt had a marginal 103 wRC+ in 2025 and was worth 0.8 fWAR. His baserunning graded out below average. His OAA was -3, “good” for 13th among qualified MLB first basemen. Correct: All this talk about his supposed defensive prowess is just that. He isn’t a good defensive first baseman, and he isn’t an adequate offensive one. What does that leave us with, exactly?  An organization that talks about adding versatility to the team adds an old first baseman who hasn’t played well over a full season since 2023.

I give credit where it is due:  Goldschmidt was a major help when Giancarlo Stanton was on the IL last season. His offensive surge happened while Stanton was out. However, even the narrative that he was good in the “first half” is misleading. He was good through May. After that, he hit .226/.277/.333.

That is when you say “Thank you for your service” and move on.

Bottom Line

This could mean more time for Rice as the backup catcher, allowing them to place Goldschmidt at first base on those days.

It’s still stupid.

A corresponding 40-man roster move has yet to be announced.

The Yankees reportedly also had interest in Ty France. France is stronger defensively, and it surprised me to see that his wRC+ was “only” 11 points lower than Goldschmidt’s.  92 isn’t good, and I am not advocating for Ty Freaking France. He would be equally absurd.

2. The Yankees claim Osvaldo Bido, designating Braden Shewmake for assignment

That was an impressive run for Shewmake. He was on the 40-man roster for the entire 2025 season, though he never made it to the Bronx. He is a former first-round pick who offers infield versatility.

Bido, 30, owns a 5.07 ERA in 193.2 innings as a swingman for the Pirates and Athletics. His best season was 2024, when he pitched to a 3.41 ERA in 16 games (9 starts), covering 63.1 innings. He struck out hitters at a 24.3% rate, but also walked 10% of those who strolled to the plate.

Bottom Line

Everything is connected. The Yankees traded Jayvien Sandridge to the Angels. To make room for Sandridge, they waived Bido, who is now a Yankee.

Shewmake didn’t have a role on paper, though the Yankees can use someone who can cover shortstop while Anthony Volpe is out. Oswaldo Cabrera could be that guy. Amed Rosario has plenty of shortstop experience and could play the position when you are desperate. That isn’t ideal. Jose Caballero is favored to be the Opening Day shortstop.

Yankees: A Look at the Non-Roster Invitees

One of my favorite posts every year is an analysis of the non-roster invitees to spring training. The odds that one of these players will make the team are low, but it’s happened many times before.

As a reminder, anyone on the 40-man roster is automatically invited and is not considered “non-roster.”  Hence, Elmer Rodriguez and Spencer Jones won’t be on this list.

Catchers

Abrahan Gutierrez – Drafted in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft, Gutierrez owns a 473-game minor league career. His offense peaked in High-A (.258/.357/.410 in 530 plate appearances). Double-A (.241/.305/.332) and Triple-A (.250/.333/.295) haven’t been as kind. He provides organizational depth in a system that is lacking catchers.

Payton Henry – A 6th-round pick by the Brewers in 2016, Henry has 20 games of Major League experience with the Marlins (2021-2022). In those 20 games, he owns a .186/.314/.209 triple slash. In 2025, the 28-year-old hit .249/.323/.415 with 11 home runs in 269 plate appearances for the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley.

Miguel Palma – Only 24, Palma was handed $300,000 by the Astros in 2018. That was significant, as the Astros were unable to hand out any bonuses higher than that (this was under the old rules, when you were penalized for going over your international budget). Pipeline ranked him 24th in the Astros system in 2024, noting his strong defense (though with a below-average arm) and double-digit homer potential.

Ali Sanchez – Signed to a minor league contract, Sanchez has the most experience amongst the quartet. In 50 career games between the Mets, Cardinals, Marlins, Blue Jays, and Red Sox (well-travelled), he owns a .183/.220/.233 (24 wRC+) line. Most professionals can do that if they bring a wiffle ball bat to the plate. In 2024, while playing with the Marlins, his defense was strong in only 31 games, but his horrendous offense still made it impossible to avoid a negative fWAR (-0.2).

Infielders

Paul DeJong – Everyone reading this knows about DeJong, who has played in 925 MLB games with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Giants, White Sox, Royals, and Nationals. In 2024, he belted 24 home runs. That is impressive, though it came with a less-than-ideal .227/.276/.427 triple slash. While he is a versatile infielder with plenty of shortstop experience, it’s hard to see a role for him, especially since he isn’t a lefty masher.

George Lombard Jr. – Lombard Jr. was impressive last spring, leading some dimwits to suggest he should break spring training with the big club. Thankfully, that’s not how MLB teams operate.  It is always fun seeing the top prospects, but don’t go crazy if he starts 9-for-16 or something silly like that. Can he make his debut sometime in 2026? If I had to place a percentage on that, maybe 20%?

Jonathan Ornelas – A 3rd-round pick by the Rangers in 2018, Ornelas was one of the first minor league free agent signings this offseason. He hasn’t done much in his 32-game MLB career (Rangers, Braves), and his 115-game Triple-A sample was atrocious in 2025 (.196/.295/.303; 62 wRC+). Like many players of his ilk, he earns jobs by being versatile. He has minor league experience at 2B/SS/3B/LF/CF.

Zack Short – Strength: 15 home runs in 594 plate appearances isn’t so bad.  Weaknesses: Despite that, he is a career .172/.271/.296 hitter who rates out below average offensively and defensively.  Maybe he’s a nice guy?  If he isn’t, oof.

Outfielders

Kenedy Corona – Corona (who will be 26 in March) made his debut with the Astros in 2025, going 0-for-2 with a pair of walks. Why do we talk about the Double-A wall so much? In High-A, Corona looked like a legitimate prospect, hitting .296/.380/.507 with 12 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 68 games (308 plate appearances). In Double-A, those numbers fell to .234/.325/.390, though he did hit 22 home runs and steal 55 bases in 189 games (816 plate appearances). He has speed and can play any outfield position, which gives him marginal value.

Duke Ellis – How many players in history have a career 1.000 average with the Yankees?  In 2024, the Yankees called him up, and he went 1-for-1 in three games.  Including his brief tenure with the White Sox, the speedster has five stolen bases (five attempts) in 11 career games. In the minors, he is 180-for-205 in 359 games.  FYI: I won’t force you to answer the trivia question. Seven players have hit 1.000 with the Yankees:  Ellis, Larry Gowell, Chris Latham, Heinie Odom, Branden Pinder, Mickey Witek, and Taylor Trammell. All of them are 1-for-1 except for Latham (2-for-2). Pinder was a relief pitcher for the 2015 and 2016 squads. Also a pitcher, Gowell had a cup of coffee for the 1972 squad. He also fits the < 3.00 ERA square on the Immaculate Grid (1.29). He was Shohei Ohtani before Ohtani was born.

Infielders/Outfielders

Seth Brown – Brown hasn’t been an above-average hitter since 2022, when he hit .230/.305/.444 with 25 home runs for the Athletics. His offense fell off from there and crashed in 38 games in 2025. Given his 1B/OF profile, I’d be more intrigued if he batted right-handed.

Marco Luciano – I have written more about Luciano than anyone should write about him in a lifetime. The Yankees claimed him off waivers, designated him for assignment, and snuck him through waivers. He hasn’t done much in 41 career games for the Giants, but he did appear on Top 100 lists from 2020 through 2024. That’s a long time, as prospect fatigue is real. Baseball Prospectus ranked him in the top ten in 2021 and 2022. He’s interesting enough to keep an eye on.

Ernesto Martinez Jr. – The 6’6″ 26-year-old has fewer home runs (56) than stolen bases (86) in his minor league career. Martinez Jr. was a strong Double-A contributor, hitting .276/.363/.442 with 35 doubles and 15 home runs in 581 plate appearances. Additionally, after posting high strikeout rates in the lower minors, he was under 20% in Double-A (it spiked back to 26% in 311 Triple-A plate appearances, however). He declined Cuba’s invitation to play in the World Baseball Classic to concentrate on making the Yankees’ Opening Day roster. Like with Brown, I would be more intrigued if he batted right-handed.

Right-handed pitchers

Michael Arias – Only 24, Arias posted a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings for Somerset in 2025, including a 29/15 K/BB ratio. Arias declared minor-league free agency after the 2025 season but re-signed with the Yankees (likely received a raise). The Yankees originally acquired him from the Cubs for cash in January, 2025. Arias was signed as a shortstop (Blue Jays) but moved to the mound in 2021. Once a Top 20 prospect in the Cubs system, Arias throws hard but often has no idea where it is going. Hitters likely put on extra body armor when they see him strolling to the mound.

Brendan Beck – Beck, who I thought a team may look at in the Rule 5 draft, is a “safe” pitcher who can provide innings with less-than-ideal stuff. He has struggled to stay healthy since being drafted in the 2nd round in 2021, but was able to give them 131.1 innings of 3.36 ERA ball between Somerset and Scranton in 2025. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him make an emergency start for the big club this year.

Harrison Cohen – Cohen is probably their most-ready relief prospect heading into Spring Training. In 29 Triple-A games, he compiled an impressive 1.57 ERA over 28.2 innings with 29 strikeouts and 17 walks. Already 26 years old, it’s funny doing a Google search on Cohen, with doomsday articles popping up because the Yankees left him unprotected before the Rule 5 draft. One article even went down the Garrett Whitlock path. Listen, it sucks that the Yankees lost Whitlock. Not every prospect with a pulse will become Whitlock.

Carson Coleman – Coleman was once a top relief prospect who was slowed considerably by injuries. After the Rangers returned him to the Yankees (they drafted him in the 2023 Rule 5 draft, but he never appeared in a game for the organization due to injury), he posted a 1.57 ERA in 17 innings with a 15/2 K/BB ratio in 2025. That was his first action since 2022, and it would be a fun story if he ever stepped foot on a big league mound.

Dylan Coleman – No relation to Carson, Dylan has pitched in 97 MLB games with the Royals and Astros, posting a 3.84 ERA (4.33 FIP) over 93.2 innings with a 24.2% K and 14% BB. In 2021, his average fastball velocity was 98.2 MPH, and he was still humming at 97.6 in 2022. However, those numbers dipped to 95.2 and 94.4 in 2023 and 2024. He should be considered a sleeper in the Spring Training bullpen competition.

Alexander Cornielle – A lifer in the Brewers organization, Cornielle signed with the Brew Crew as an international free agent in 2019. He made his way through the organization as a starter, tossing 494.1 innings while reaching every level. In 2025, pitching for Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a 3.81 ERA over a career-high 137 innings with a 22.7% K and a 11.9% BB. Perhaps the Yankees will throw him into the bullpen competition, though he appears more likely headed to Scranton as starter depth.

Yovanny Cruz – Signed to a minor league contract in November, Cruz struck out an impressive 28.2% of hitters in 59.1 innings for Double-A Portland (Red Sox) in 2025. I will conveniently ignore the 17.3% walk rate. Cruz supposedly can reach triple digits with his 4-seam fastball, but has limited control/command of the pitch.

Drake Fellows – The Yankees have never had a “Drake” on their big league roster, giving him a chance to make some history. Like Cornielle, Fellows tossed a career high in innings in 2025 (112.1), posting a 4.41 ERA (4.46 FIP). He doesn’t strike hitters out (19.5%), relying more on groundballs (41.9%). The Pirates acquired Fellows as part of the Joe Musgrove trade in 2021. That was the trade that sent prospect David Bednar to the Pirates as well.

Bradley Hanner – Hanner struck out 29% of hitters for Cleveland’s Triple-A squad in 2025, though his inability to keep the ball in the ballpark (13 HR in 49.1 innings) and throw consistent strikes (11.7% BB) holds down his upside. He’s a project for Scranton’s coaching staff to worry about.

Ben Hess – Like Cam Schlittler last year, it wouldn’t shock me if Hess made his debut this season. The 2024 first-rounder had a 33% strikeout rate in his debut campaign, including a 31.3% rate in 36.2 innings for Double-A Somerset. Among pitchers who tossed at least 100 minor league innings, he ranked 6th in strikeout percentage. Fellow Yankees’ farmhand Carlos Lagrange was 5th (33.4%).

Adam Kloffenstein – Kloffenstein made it to the majors with the Cardinals in 2024, tossing one scoreless inning. Reacquired by the team that drafted him (Blue Jays) before 2025, he posted a 6.26 ERA in 82 Triple-A innings. He should provide starting depth in Scranton.

Carlos Lagrange – I just mentioned Lagrange under the Hess blurb. How much more needs to be said? He throws exceptionally hard, topping out at 103. He is a big kid who has control issues that often accompany tall pitchers. The upside is enormous, and one can dream about how hard he might throw in short relief stints. That’s not for now, however. The smart play is to keep him in the rotation as the possibility of him becoming a top-flight starter still exists.

Travis MacGregor – Back in 2016, the Pirates selected MacGregor in the second round out of high school. He has since appeared in 229 minor league games (68 starts), compiling a 4.72 ERA in 526.1 innings. After being a nearly-exclusive starter between 2016 and 2021, he has been mostly a reliever since. 2025 was the first season where he didn’t start at all, but the numbers didn’t respond to the permanent switch (4.94 ERA in 51 innings). That said, he generates a solid groundball rate (45.9% in 2025) and strikes out enough hitters (23.9%) to keep you interested.

Left-handed pitchers

Kyle Carr – Carr earned this invitation. The third round pick in 2023 (Palomar College) pitched to a 1.96 ERA over 119.1 innings for High-A Hudson Valley. His strikeout rate was average-ish (21.7%), but his groundball rate was elite (51.7%). This earned him a promotion to Double-A Somerset, where his first taste didn’t go well (8.56 ERA, though in a small 13.2 inning sample). Advanced metrics paint the picture of a pitcher who had some good luck in High-A and bad luck in Double-A. His 3.74 overall FIP probably points to how good he really was.

Bottom Line:

The Yankees have a few competitions this spring, so we’ll see if any of these players step up to take one.  There was talk today from Jon Heyman that the Yankees are likely to start Jasson Dominguez in Triple-A, which would open an additional slot.

Missing from the list of non-roster invitees is Mexican League MVP Nick Torres. I can also see the argument for LHP Brock Selvidge. I have no idea what is going on with relief prospect Eric Reyzelman. I was convinced he would make it in 2025, but he struggled badly in Scranton before ending the season on the injured list.

The catching depth is interesting, if the definition of “interesting” is scary. They go three deep with Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra, and Ben Rice. Stay healthy, guys.

Yankees Notes for 2/4, Part 2

Other recent articles:

Cody Bellinger thoughts
Ryan Weathers acquisition
2/4, Part 1

1. The Yankees claim OF Yanquiel Fernandez from the Rockies

If you don’t know the drill by now, you should. This is more musical chairs at the bottom of the 40-man roster. To make room for him, they designated RHP Dom Hamel for assignment. The Yankees claimed Hamel on January 27th. If he is claimed, he will go to his fourth organization since September.

Fernandez, signed for $295,000 in 2019, made his MLB debut in 2025, hitting .225/.265/.348 with five doubles and four home runs in 52 games. He spent most of his time as a designated hitter, but also started 16 games in right field and one game in left.  This is not a versatile kid, as most of his minor league career was also spent in right field.

Before the 2024 season, Fernandez was a Top 100 prospect, with Pipeline the most bullish (72nd). He was also ranked by Baseball America (92) and Baseball Prospectus (87).

He gained most of his prospect shine because of his power profile. As a 19-year-old in 2022, he hit .284/.340/.507 with 21 home runs and 109 RBI in 112 games for Fresno (A). He followed that up with a 25-home run campaign in 2023, though he struggled in his first taste of Double-A (.206/.262/.362 with eight home runs in 56 games).  He hit better as a 21-year-old in 2024 (.283/.339/.439), but struggled again when promoted to Triple-A.

Hamel was once the Mets Minor League Pitcher of the Year and would have been in the bullpen mix. He still might be, if he clears waivers.

Bottom Line:

Once again, there is no need to go crazy.  They value Fernandez more than Hamel. That’s it. Next week, they might value someone over Fernandez.  Being on the bottom of 40-man rosters means you’d better have an Uber Premium account.

2. Baseball Prospectus has a different perspective on the Yankees’ system

Their annual Top 101 Prospects list comes with a twist:  George Lombard Jr. is not the top prospect in the system.

Rather, Dax Kilby (40th) takes the crown over Lombard (42), Elmer Rodriguez (60), Carlos Lagrange (61), and Ben Hess (89). Pipeline, Baseball America, Keith Law, CBS Sports, and ESPN did not rank Hess.  Prospectus is the first major site to rank five Yankees’ prospects in the Top 100.

Hess was the Yankees’ first-round pick in 2024 out of Alabama. He made his professional debut in 2025, compiling a 3.22 ERA (2.50 FIP) over 103.1 innings, with an impressive 33% K. His walk rate was on the high side (10.9%), though he reduced it somewhat after being promoted to Double-A (9%).

Just like with Rodriguez and Lagrange, one can argue between Hess and fellow 2024 draftee Bryce Cunningham, though Cunningham was limited to 54.1 innings and didn’t pitch in Double-A (he probably would have if his season didn’t end early).

3. CBS Sports ranks four Yankees’ prospects

First of all, this is the first list that didn’t place Konnor Griffin at the top, as they ranked the Pirates’ prodigy third. They instead went with SS Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers. This isn’t crazy, as McGonigle is regarded as a top prospect as well. Also ahead of Griffin is SS Jesus Made (Brewers).

As for the Yankees, once again, we have some fluctuation:
26. Lombard Jr.
47. Rodriguez
49. Lagrange
84. Kilby

Prospectus is bullish on Rodriguez/Lagrange. CBS takes it a step further, placing them in the Top 50. For what it is worth (nothing), I am likely to place Lagrange higher than Rodriguez on my Top 30. My mind can still be changed.

R.J. Anderson, who compiles the CBS Sports list, proclaimed that Lombard Jr. could make his debut before his 21st birthday in June. Bullish, indeed. Like some others, he thinks Lagrange could be destined for a bullpen role. We will probably have a better answer on that as the 2026 season unfolds.

There is no doubt Kilby’s offensive upside is enormous. If evaluators feel he can shift from shortstop to center field, he doesn’t lose much (if any) positional value.

As for Lombard Jr., opinions seemingly vary. That is not true, though. He is ranked anywhere from 20th to 46th, but with essentially the same analysis on every site.  Dynamic player, should stick at shortstop, batting average is not likely to be a strength. It comes down to how those tools are evaluated and how much importance each expert places on them. It also comes down to how they evaluate other players in Lombard Jr.’s grouping.

Bottom Line:

Let’s take a look at where sites have ranked the Yankees’ prospects. I will add more sites as I see them. Note that Keith Law stated in a different article that Kilby was his first cut, hence his 101st ranking. Additionally, ESPN’s Yankees list included where they ranked a few other prospects beyond their Top 100.

The table below renders differently on Desktop vs. Mobile devices.

PlayerPipelineBaseball AmericaThe AthleticESPNBaseball ProspectusCBS SportsFangraphs
George Lombard Jr.32462420422649
Carlos Lagrange799388159614973
Elmer Rodriguez8259NR87604753
Dax Kilby9461101113408469
Ben HessNRNRNRNR89NRNR
Spencer JonesNRNRNR177NRNRNR

Yankees Notes for 2/4

Other posts:

Cody Bellinger thoughts
Ryan Weathers acquisition
2/4, Part 2

I am working on a Top 30 prospects list. I hope to finish that before Spring Training. Depends how motivated I am every day.

1. Update on players designated for assignment

Outfielder Michael Siani was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers. This will be his second stint with the Dodgers this offseason, and there’s no guarantee he will stick. Siani is a defense-first outfielder who is perfect for roster depth, but his bat keeps him on the fringes of 40-man rosters.

LHP Jayvien Sandridge was traded to the Angels for cash considerations.

The Yankees were able to retain UTIL Marco Luciano, outrighting him to Scranton. This means he passed through waivers. Sometimes, a player who clears waivers and is outrighted can refuse the assignment and declare free agency. Luciano hasn’t yet earned that right.

Bottom Line:

As I mentioned in another post, teams sometimes claim players for this reason. They may feel as if the player has no chance to stick on the 40-man roster for long, but hope they can sneak him through waivers.

2. Former Yankees on the move

C Ben Rortvedt, a piece of the ill-fated Josh Donaldson/Isiah Kiner-Falefa deal, was designated for assignment by the Reds (to make room for Eugenio Suarez). There was a time when people thought this was a sneaky get for the Yankees, but life in MLB hasn’t worked out for him. He owns a .190/.279/.270 (57 OPS+) in 633 plate appearances with a 25.1% K rate. His career fWAR is 1.2 in 227 games. He is lucky his defense grades out well.

1B/3B Jeimer Candelario, who spent time in Scranton last season, has signed a minor-league deal with the Angels. Candelario was a 3.0+ fWAR player in 2022 and 2023 but has fallen off considerably since.

Finally, LHP Ken Waldichuk, one of four prospects sent to the Athletics for Frankie Montas, was designated for assignment by the Rays. In 42 games (29 starts) for the Athletics between 2022 and 2023, Waldichuk compiled a 5.28 ERA in 175.2 innings, with a 21% K rate and a 10.3% BB rate.

After returning from injury in 2025, he spent time in the minors. Life didn’t go well, as he pitched to an 8.17 ERA in 54 innings with a 68/42 K/BB.

Before 2023, he started showing up on Top 100 Prospects lists, and someone is bound to take a chance on him. The hope for any team signing him is that his dreadful 2025 campaign was due to rust.

3. The Yankees release some minor league talent

The following prospects were released from their contracts:

C Edison Vivas (Hudson Valley)
C Johan Contreras (Tampa)
2B Gabriel Terrero (FCL)
OF Angel Ventura (DSL)
OF Remy Veldhuisen (DSL)
RHP Wilfrido Bido (DSL)
RHP Jose Rosario (DSL)
RHP Michell Chirinos (DSL)

Playing for the DSL squad in his 2023 debut campaign, Terrero hit .299/.407/.533 with seven home runs in 37 games.  Over the last two seasons, while playing for the FCL squad, he hit .265/.368/.394 in 82 games while stealing 23 bases in 24 attempts. He stands out the most from the group as a $100,000 international signee.

While listed as a Hudson Valley release, Vivas only played one game at that level.  Contreras played four seasons in the DSL/FCL, hitting .217/.338/.308 in 100 games. In other words, while I talk about the Yankees’ needing catching depth, Vivas and Contrares were destined for an organizational role at most.

Bido hasn’t pitched since 2023. He showed promise in his 2022 debut with the DSL squad, compiling a 1.96 ERA in 36.2 innings.  Meanwhile, Rosario pitched in 15 DSL games in 2024, compiling a 9.00 ERA, while Chirinos pitched to a 4.87 ERA in 61 innings between 2023 and 2024.

Veldhuisen hit well in the DSL, putting up a .284/.441/.364 triple slash in 68 games. That said, he turns 21 in two weeks. Ventura is a speedster who hit .260/.378/.327 in 249 plate appearances in the DSL. He stole 39 bases in 44 attempts.

Bottom Line:

To be blunt, it’s a case of out with the old, in with the new. While there is always hope for catchers (every organization needs depth), it is unlikely we will hear much about these prospects.

4. Brendan Donovan traded to the Mariners

The Yankees reportedly had interest in Donovan, and why not? He can play multiple positions and has a good bat to go with it (.287/.353/.422 in 515 plate appearances in 2025). He was worth 3.2 fWAR in 2024 and 2.9 in 2025, with his offense grading out higher than his defense.  He isn’t great at any one position, but he is serviceable.

The Yankees likely had interest as a fallback plan if they couldn’t sign Cody Bellinger. Donovan is too good for a part-time role and is a left-handed bat. Finding playing time for him would have been tough, if not nearly impossible.

The Cardinals received an intriguing switch-pitcher as part of the return. Jurrangelo Cijntje, a Top 100 prospect (Pipeline), was the Mariners’ first-round pick in the 2024 draft (Mississippi State). In his first professional campaign, he was promoted to Double-A. He showed he belonged, pitching to a 2.67 ERA in 33.2 innings with a 37/16 K/BB. Reportedly, the Mariners were going to have him focus on pitching right-handed in 2026. We’ll see what the Cardinals think. The Cardinals also received a pair of outfield prospects and two Competitive Balance picks (#68 and #72). The #72 pick was acquired from the Rays, who were the third team involved in the deal.

Bottom Line:

Donovan is a fun player. He wasn’t a perfect fit for the Yankees, given that he bats left-handed and had no clear path to playing time.

5. The Yankees have interest in RHP Nick Martinez and OF Austin Slater

I noted Slater in my last post as a player the Yankees seemingly had moved on from. However, Brendan Kuty reported that not only are the Yankees interested, but they also made an offer early in the off-season. Who knew? Not me.

Martinez is a swingman. In 40 appearances (26 starts) for the 2025 Reds, he went 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA (4.33 FIP) over 165.2 innings. He owned a 17% K and 6.1% BB. In 2024, he compiled a 3.10 ERA (3.21 FIP) over 142.1 innings, with a 20.4% K and 3.2% BB. Among pitchers who tossed 140+ innings, his BB% was second-lowest in baseball.

Bottom Line:

The Yankees have two swingmen signed for 2026 (Ryan Yarbrough, Paul Blackburn), with the possibility of Ryan Weathers eventually moving to a similar role. You can never have too much pitching, but it’s fair to ask where Martinez would fit into the equation.

As for Slater, the Yankees’ Opening Day roster is nearly set in stone. There is one slot open for as long as Anthony Volpe is out and everyone else stays healthy (Giancarlo Stanton is on the team, after all)

NCAA Basketball Top 25 for 2/2

FYI: All ratings, including SOS, Offensive Efficiency, and Defensive Efficiency, are courtesy of the KenPom.

Top 25:

1. Arizona (22-0) (1) – After their games against Oklahoma State this week: Kansas (road), Texas Tech, BYU, Houston (road), Baylor (road), Kansas, Iowa State (only meeting this season). If they survive that gauntlet…
2. Michigan (20-1) (2) – The Wolverines are back atop the KenPom. One issue to watch is that they tend to get sloppy with the ball.
3. Duke (20-1) (3) – The first time around, Louisville had an excuse for losing to the Blue Devils. The second time around, they were healthier, but Duke trounced them by 31.
4. UConn (21-1) (4) – Do they have enough offense to support their elite defensive play?
5. Gonzaga (22-1) (5) – They swept Santa Clara, Saint Mary’s, and San Francisco at home. They still have to play those teams on the road.
6. Illinois (19-3) (7) – The Fighting Illini’s offense is scary. Their 11-game winning streak includes road victories over Iowa, Purdue, and Nebraska. This week, they have another tough road matchup with Michigan State.
7. Houston (19-2) (8) – Defense is their calling card, but their offense is ranked 11th in efficiency (defense is 10th). They may not have the super-elite defense of past teams, but are they better overall?
8. Iowa State (20-2) (9) – After a tough loss to Cincinnati, the Cyclones have won games by margins of 30, 23, 30, and 34. I won’t claim the competition has been elite, but that’s an impressive bounce back.
9. Nebraska (20-2) (6) – It was a tough week on paper, and the Cornhuskers lost their first two games of the season. However, the Cornhuskers were shorthanded against Michigan and only lost by three.
10. Purdue (18-4) (10) – The Boilermakers were unbeaten on the road until they ran into unranked UCLA and Indiana. It’s cliché, but that’s how conference play goes.
11. Michigan State (19-3) (11) – Two straight frantic comebacks, but the Spartans found out that coming back against Rutgers is easier than doing so against Michigan.
12. Vanderbilt (19-3) (14) – A 3-game winning streak puts them right back in the thick of a wide-open SEC race.
13. Kansas (16-5) (15) – Their turnaround has been remarkable. Are they a threat to Arizona on February 9th?
14. Florida (16-6) (17) – The KenPom loves them, thanks to racking up some nice wins in combination with being one of the country’s unluckiest teams.
15. BYU (17-4) (12) – Their losses this year are to UConn, Arizona, Texas Tech, and Kansas. Do the Cougars have a “not quite good enough to beat the top teams” issue?
16. Texas Tech (16-5) (13) – Their schedule has been tough. Unlike BYU, they have a few elite wins (Duke, Houston).
17. Saint Louis (21-1) (18) – How good of a seed can the Billikens earn? The A-10 isn’t powerful, but the KenPom is bullish on their performance.
18. Virginia (18-3) (19) – Their margins can be razor-thin, evidenced by needing two overtimes to defeat Notre Dame. The rest of the schedule isn’t extreme, so don’t count them out of the ACC race.
19. North Carolina (17-4) (20) – The Tar Heels are playing better, including that win at Virginia. Duke comes calling this weekend.
20. St. John’s (16-5) (22) – 9-1 in a watered-down Big East with both games against UConn remaining. We’ll find out more shortly.
21. Clemson (18-4) (23) – Their profile is a tad middling, with their two best ACC wins over SMU and Miami, and their best non-conference win over Georgia.
22. Miami (OH) (22-0) (24) – UMass gave them a run, but this squad continues to motor along. How do they do it?  They are sixth nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (40.1%) while playing an uptempo style that allows them to score 93.7 points per game. This team has to make the NCAA Tournament on fun factor alone.
23. Louisville (15-6) (16) – There’s nothing wrong with losing to Duke. There is something wrong with getting destroyed by the Blue Devils. The Cardinals remain dangerous offensively, but they must fix that defense.
24. Iowa (16-5) (NR) – The Hawkeyes are 1-4 in Quadrant 1, which holds down their ranking. The good news is that they have a lot of opportunities to improve on that down the stretch.
25. Utah State (18-3) (NR) – The losses to Grand Canyon and UNLV hurt, but they earned a big win over San Diego State to force a 3-way tie at the top of the Mountain West.

Dropped Out:

Arkansas (16-6) (21) – Strong offense, rough defense. They were dominant at home until Kentucky came to town.
Alabama (14-7) (25) – I encourage strong schedules. However, the Crimson Tide have been inconsistent enough to drop them out (for now). They are 3-4 in their last seven games.

Just Missed:

Tennessee (15-6) – Three straight wins against good teams (Alabama, Georgia, Auburn), and they remain the only team to defeat Texas A&M in conference play.
Texas A&M (17-4) – What a weird team. The Aggies are 7-1 in SEC play, but it is fair to say that the competition hasn’t been great. That changes this week with games against Alabama and Florida. Win those, and I will put them in the Top 25 next week.
North Carolina State (16-6) – Their disappointing run in non-conference play knocked them out of my Top 25 a long time ago. They have played better recently, including a road win over Clemson.

A Look at David Robertson’s Career

The Yankees had a fun draft in 2006. In the first round, they nabbed Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain. Rounds 8 and 9 produced Dellin Betances and Mark Melancon.

But when you go down the full 50-round list, another name stands out:  Alabama reliever David Robertson, chosen in the 17th round. Pitchers the Yankees chose before him include Tim Norton, Casey Erickson, Nicholas Peterson, Daniel McCutchen (109 career games, mostly with the Pirates), Gabe Medina, and Paul Patterson.  Norton is a sad story. In 2011, he was lights out in Trenton, and the Yankees moved him to Scranton, intending to promote him to New York within a few days. He blew out his arm in his first Scranton appearance and never pitched again.

It’s important to note that Robertson was (mostly) a reliever for the Crimson Tide, given how so many top relievers are failed starters. Robertson started three games in college. As a professional, he pitched in 979 games, starting two of them. One on a rehab stint in 2012 and the other when the Tampa Bay Rays did their “Opener” thing with him in 2021.

When you are a reliever chosen in the middle rounds, you want to make a strong first impression. Robertson did just that, jumping three levels during his debut 2007 campaign, pitching to a 0.96 ERA in 84.1 innings, allowing only 45 hits (zero home runs) while striking out 113. He would make his MLB debut a year later.

Only three years removed from college, Robertson eventually became a key member of the Yankees’ 2009 World Series Championship squad. What made that more fun was that it was hard to see it coming. While he showed signs in his 2008 debut, he compiled a 5.34 ERA in 30.1 innings. While it wasn’t a long stint, he began the 2009 season in Scranton, not appearing in the Yankees’ bullpen until Game 10. Joe Girardi used him in mop-up duty that day, and he responded by tossing two scoreless innings in a 10-2 loss to Cleveland.

Getting into the “circle of trust” proved to be a challenge, as his first six appearances were in Yankees’ losses. He didn’t earn a save until July 27th. His first hold had to wait until August 15th. While his usage was rising, many of the high-leverage middle-to-late relief spots were given to converted starter Phil Hughes and LOOGY Phil Coke. Of the 191 plate appearances against him in the regular season, only 29 were in high-leverage situations, while 130 were in low-leverage.

The Rise of “Houdini”

In the Top of the 11th in Game 1 against the Minnesota Twins, Girardi faced a dilemma. He already used Chamberlain, Coke, Hughes, Mariano Rivera, Alfredo Aceves, and Damaso Marte. Marte was going to become a story in the World Series, but after being acquired at the 2008 deadline, he was ineffective and injury-prone. His ineffectiveness extended into Game 1, where he allowed two hits to start the 11th.

Robertson was the last man standing. He was a fresh-faced 24-year-old without a postseason game on his resume. Girardi had no choice, as right-handed hitter Michael Cuddyer was strolling to the plate. Robertson, it was.

It didn’t start pretty, as Cuddyer singled to load the bases with nobody out, lowering the Yankees’ win probability to 17%. While this isn’t the Hollywood ending where Robertson strikes out the next three hitters, he induced a lineout, groundout, and flyout to escape the impossible jam, setting up Mark Teixeira‘s walk-off home run in the bottom of the inning.

Eight days later, in Game 2 against the Angels, he made his second career postseason appearance. This time, he (and the defense) created the drama, getting out of jams in the 12th and 13th innings, setting up for a dramatic win, his second in two career postseason games. He was the seventh pitcher used that day. In Game 3, Girardi again used him in extra innings, though he wasn’t the last man standing. Robertson recorded two outs in the bottom of the 10th, when Girardi decided to remove him for Aceves. While I don’t remember the online chatter that day (I can probably look it up in Google Groups!), I am sure people were thrilled when Aceves promptly gave up a pair of hits, which cost the game.  “F’n Binder Boy removing Robertson after 11 pitches!  We chose this instead of Don Mattingly?  Can we dump this moron after the season and bring in a real manager?”

Those were his major postseason contributions. He appeared in both World Series losses, allowing three of four inherited runners to score (a temporary “Fall of Houdini”).

The Overall Career

Robertson finished his career with a 2.93 ERA (2.98 FIP; 143 ERA+) and 179 saves in 881 games. He is ranked 35th all-time in Games Pitched, 70th in saves, and 9th in strikeouts among relievers (1,175). You need at least 1,000 career innings to qualify for rate leaderboards. Robertson fell short of that (894.1), but a 143 ERA+ is dominant. Over his 17-year career, his strikeout rate was 31.9%. Among pitchers with 850+ career innings, that is third all-time (not a typo), behind Kenley Jansen (34.7%) and Billy Wagner (33.2%). The latter is in the Hall of Fame, while the former is destined to get there.

While he is not a Hall of Fame pitcher, he ranks 17th all-time using JAWS. I can already hear people crying over him being ranked higher than stud relievers Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter. My answer to that?  Being in the vicinity of those legends shows you how underrated Robertson was. He wasn’t better, but he belongs.

In the eyes of the casual observer, Robertson gets dinged because he was rarely a closer. 110 of his 179 saves were compiled between 2014 and 2016. I wonder how many career saves Robertson ends up with if the Yankees ride with him for more than one season after Rivera’s retirement.

While not at the level of his regular-season success, his postseason numbers were solid, compiling a 3.40 ERA in 43 games, striking out 57 hitters in 47.2 innings. He made it to one more World Series after the 2009 run, losing with his Phillies teammates in 2022.

Bottom Line

It is hard to develop a pure reliever. The Yankees drafted five pitchers in one draft who would go on to have some success in relief roles. Betances and Robertson developed into studs. After starting 204 games between 2007 and 2015, Kennedy extended his career five years after moving to the bullpen, and Melancon earned 262 saves while appearing in four All-Star Games. Chamberlain, seen as the most talented in the group, had the “fast rise, slow crash” career arc.

Even with all that, only Robertson and Melancon were developed as relievers from start to finish.

Nowadays, the Yankees struggle with developing relievers, though they are good at taking rejects from other organizations and turning them into something. Since minor league relievers have low trade value, I don’t fret the lack of development. They can take any of their big-arm starting prospects and try a relief role, but that is a last resort, not a goal. Think Jonathan Loaisiga.

Robertson had a superb career and rightfully belongs somewhere on the list of all-time best Yankees’ relievers. Where would I place him? That’s tough:

1. Mariano Rivera
2. Rich Gossage
3. Sparky Lyle

He is somewhere under that line.  It’s hard to compare relievers from different eras, especially when you talk about the era before relievers became cool. How can I compare a short reliever like Robertson to guys like Johnny Murphy and Joe Page? Where do I place Dave Righetti, second behind Rivera in saves?  Dellin Betances was insane over his 358 games as a Yankee, including an astronomical 177 ERA+. That number jumps to 188 if you exclude his disastrous first eight career games. Love him or not (I am in the latter group), it would be irresponsible to exclude Aroldis Chapman from the conversation.

Whichever way you wish to rank them is your preference. Robertson being in the conversation is a testament to his dominance and longevity, another attribute many relievers struggle to achieve.