{"id":494181,"date":"2026-02-23T13:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T13:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/494181\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T13:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T13:43:10","slug":"new-york-yankees-2026-starting-pitchers-and-sp-prospects-breakdowns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/494181\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Yankees 2026 Starting Pitchers and SP Prospects Breakdowns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In preparation for my annual Top 400 Starting Pitchers ranking article in February 2026, I spend the fall and winter months thoroughly reviewing every team\u2019s rotation, taking the time to analyze every piece of the pitcher and write my analysis months in advance. I usually don\u2019t share these publicly until then, and the last two years I elected to share them exclusively with PL Pro members.<\/p>\n<p>PL Pro members get four major benefits inside these articles:<\/p>\n<p>1. Early Ranking Access<\/p>\n<p>As I go through each team, I rank each pitcher relative to the other pitchers I have already covered inside a Google Spreadsheet. While I often change these throughout the winter even after completing their write-up, PL Pro members have access to view the progress of those rankings before they are made public.<\/p>\n<p>Exclusive Look At Nick\u2019s Updated 2026 SP Rankings:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>2. 2026 Player Projections, powered by PLV<\/p>\n<p>At the start of each write-up, you can view each player\u2019s Pitcher List player projection for 2026, powered by PLV. These projections matched hitters alongside BatX in 2025, and performed exceptionally well across the Top 200 SP. They even beat me in the daily streamer challenge by one.\u00a0So close.<\/p>\n<p>3. Nick\u2019s Starting Pitcher Sheet \u2013 The One Sheet for all Pitcher Research<\/p>\n<p>With the help of Kyle Bland, I have a Team SP one-sheet that provides all the relevant data on every pitcher for each team featured in these articles. Here is the example for the <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/teams\/arizona-diamondbacks\/\" class=\"team-tag\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_2.png\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Image Preview<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Arizona-Diamondbacks-SP-One-Sheet.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Full Sheet<\/a><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the ultimate resource for your personal SP research. I cannot express enough how helpful it is to have everything in one place.<\/p>\n<p>4. Ad-Free Experience<\/p>\n<p>Read these without any ads and without a sidebar. It looks so much better.<\/p>\n<p>So many more additions outside\u00a0these articles<\/p>\n<p>Live Draft Assistant app (just updated to 2.0!), access to our 1,500+ member Discord, all our apps, and so much more.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Get Two Months of PL Pro FREE!<\/p>\n<p>Use promo code SPBREAKDOWNS26\u00a0and get $40 off PL Pro Yearly ($120 value of PL Pro monthly!):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\/pl-pro-yearly\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for PL Pro today<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>One Sheet Of All Yankees SPs: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Expected Starters<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/max-fried\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Max Fried<\/a> (LHP)<\/p>\n<p>2025 Stats: 195.1 IP | 2.86 ERA | 1.10 WHIP | 23.6 K% | 6.4 BB%<\/p>\n<p>2026 PL Projection: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Fried is as safe as they come. He\u2019s not going to wow you with a strikeout an inning, but those cutters inside to RHB carry genuine surprise cut and the sinker to LHB is a weak-contact machine. With Cole and Rodon sidelined, he\u2019s the foundation of this rotation, and the Wins will flow accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>The curveball at 75 mph with 99th percentile drop is the putaway to both sides, though it\u2019s almost too big, which limits its strike rate. The missing piece? His changeup fell from a 19-20% SwStr in 2022-23 to 14% last year against RHB, and the sweeper is not the elite breaker we normally see to LHB, returning under 60% strikes and distant from the tighter slider we saw earlier in his career. If either the changeup or slider\/sweeper take a step forward, Fried has the potential for a 26%+ strikeout season. Until then, he\u2019s your ratio rock. Pair him with a K-forward arm and enjoy the quality ratio floor with a boatload of dubs.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take: Fried\u2019s cuttter to RHB and sinkers to LHB provide elite ERA stability and great home run suppression. The changeup and sweeper need to take a step forward for Fried to flirt with the champions, but you\u2019ll be hard-pressed to find an unhappy manager with Fried on their roster.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/cam-schlittler\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cam Schlittler<\/a> (RHP)<\/p>\n<p>2025 Stats: 73.0 IP | 2.96 ERA | 1.22 WHIP | 27.6 K% | 10.2 BB%<\/p>\n<p>2026 PL Projection: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes you just want pitchers on your team who are fun. Cam is one of those arms, even if there are reasons for skepticism \u2013 recent back inflammation\/lat soreness aside, which he\u2019s outlined as a \u201cnon issue\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He wasn\u2019t overwhelming initially, making us wait for a breakthrough outing in Tampa Bay where Schlittler figured out the optimal mix: four-seamers, cutters, curveballs. That cutter at 91-92 mph separates from his 96 mph heater with dramatic movement while the velocity stays close enough that hitters can\u2019t distinguish them out of the hand. That\u2019s the tunnel. When he locates it, the results are devastating.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is he hasn\u2019t consistently located it, particularly to RHB where a 38% zone rate produced sub-60% strikes. The curveball carries similar potential with similar inconsistency: just 6% SwStr to RHB at 21% usage. That\u00a0really\u00a0needs to get better, as I don\u2019t believe Schlittler should be able to cruise through outings just with his four-seamer for a full season.\u00a0There\u2019s also the workload question. 150+ innings through minors and majors, plus playoff starts pushing toward 165 total. That\u2019s significant volume for a young arm who added velocity rapidly, and the spike still nags at me.<\/p>\n<p>If health holds, the growth trajectory is real. His four-seamer is obviously a fantastic foundation (whiffs to both sides of the plate and constantly upstairs!), and there\u2019s room for growth via cutter approach, curveball command, and improved sinker usage inside to RHB, plus the Yankees are sure to lean on him heavily as a staple throughout the season. Among the \u201cHype 7\u201d as Eno likes to call them, Schlittler stands out as the safest of the sophomore arms. Just stay healthy. Please.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take: Schlittler\u2019s four-seamer is a great foundation, though I expect a touch of regression that will put more weight on the cutter to find the zone more often and the curve to return more whiffs. Expect gains among the arsenal to help withstand some of the regression, while the situation in Pinstripes is lovely enviroment for continued production.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/will-warren\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Will Warren<\/a> (RHP)<\/p>\n<p>2025 Stats: 162.1 IP | 4.44 ERA | 1.37 WHIP | 24.1 K% | 9.1 BB%<\/p>\n<p>2026 PL Projection: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Last year was a journey. Warren was initially a sinker\/sweeper arm with a good changeup and skepticism brought to you by the Council of Sinker\/Sweepers: We Need A Fastball For LHB. However, Warren flipped the script, featuring more vert than expected on his four-seamer, and embraced the movement with his flat attack angle and seven feet of extension to become a four-seamer\/sinker arm to both LHB and RHB. And get this: That four-seamer returned a ridiculous 18% SwStr rate to RHB. Incredible.<\/p>\n<p>Oddly enough, the four-seamer that would appear to be the answer to his sinker\/sweeper problems was terrible against LHB. At 50% usage, it returned an abysmal 7% SwStr rate, receiving little help from his curveball limping to the occasion with a 46% strike rate. Without the sinker to mix as effectively with the four-seamer, it makes sense that there is less confusion and an easier time at the plate (let alone, better equipped to handle the lively sweeper), and yet, the four-seamer with curves + changeups\u00a0should\u00a0be better. Sadly, the changeup isn\u2019t consistent enough and Warren doesn\u2019t have the ability to favor the sinker down-and-away, either.<\/p>\n<p>The good news? He has a rotation spot and you don\u2019t need to spend an expensive draft pick. If Warren is able to wrangle his secondaries, he\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/michael-king\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Michael King<\/a> 2.0. That\u2019s a huge IF, of course, and you\u2019re in a good spot to monitor the first two starts, searching for clues to determine if his LHB approach has improved and if he\u2019s freed himself from the two-headed attack of fastballs to RHB. Just jam that sinker inside, throw good sweepers, elevate, and nail down the change. IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK?! It\u2019s a lot to ask. Oh. Well, I\u2019m still going to ask it.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take: Warren went from a sinker + sweeper approach to four-seamers first in a shocking turn of events, and I\u2019m not sold that he has the command in his secondaries to be the best of both worlds. He certainly has the stuff to excel with a ton of movement on breakers and the slowball, but the jury is out if he can find an approach he can consistently execute. A great upside flier given the runway if he\u2019s locked in early, just don\u2019t get too dependent on a breakout.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/ryan-weathers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Weathers<\/a> (LHP)<\/p>\n<p>2025 Stats: 38.1 IP | 3.99 ERA | 1.28 WHIP | 22.3 K% | 7.2 BB%<\/p>\n<p>2026 PL Projection: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Weathers may scare some based on the volume and lack of\u00a0breakout\u00a0performance when on the mound, but for a guy going well past the point of\u00a0This Needs To Work,\u00a0Weathers is exactly the arm you\u2019re looking for. He has the perfect recipe of health risk and growth potential that outlines a late pick who you can confidently hold or drop early.<\/p>\n<p>The first adjustment is simple. He has a sinker with 18 inches of horizontal break that looks like a legitimate weapon to fend off LHB, and he threw it 7% of the time last year. Meanwhile, the four-seamer to LHB posted a 57% strike rate, and I\u2019m laughing at how obvious of a change that will be. We even saw Luzardo go from Miami to Philly and make the same effective tweak last year and I\u2019d be floored if we don\u2019t see it in 2026. Sweet.<\/p>\n<p>The bigger issue is his sweeper feel to LHB, which may still be present in 2026. It\u2019s a necessity for lefty-on-lefty and Weathers hasn\u2019t nailed down any version of the breaker across his career. The good news? His changeup has been called upon to fill the secondary void and it has worked wonders to LHB across 18% usage, matching the 20%+ SwStr rate it features against RHB. Lefties aside, his approach to RHB speaks \u201cSWATCH\u201d at higher velocity, whose biggest hurdle is staying on the field. Well, he\u2019s on the field now and likely starting opening weekend. That means your SP #6 \u2013 you know, the pitcher you draft who normally is off your team within a month \u2013 could be a rock for the entire year if he evades the injury bug, with quality being a lesser question than others at his range. Yes, that is exactly\u00a0who you want to draft.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take: Weathers has actionable fixes (last year\u2019s 7% sinker usage to LHB is criminal) that should make him a beneficial addition to your squads as long as he\u2019s on the field, with potential growth if he can sort out a proper breaker to keep down-and-away to LHB. With health as the biggest concern, grab him now and hope his value sticks for months.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/luis-gil\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Luis Gil<\/a> (RHP)<\/p>\n<p>2025 Stats: 57.0 IP | 3.32 ERA | 1.40 WHIP | 16.8 K% | 13.5 BB%<\/p>\n<p>2026 PL Projection: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>Effectively wild. That\u2019s the whole story with Gil, and it\u2019s both the appeal and the frustration wrapped into one maddening package.<\/p>\n<p>A 12% walk rate is untenable, and yet he\u2019s posted a 3.50 ERA across 200+ innings. How? A 37% ICR and the fact that being unpredictable cuts both ways. Hitters can\u2019t time him because the sequencing is genuinely chaotic. They don\u2019t know if they should swing or take, and that indecision generates enough weak contact and chase to keep the run prevention afloat while the WHIP bleeds.<\/p>\n<p>The 2025 season didn\u2019t help. He lost a tick of velocity, SwStr rates declined, and the slider and changeup command wasn\u2019t there. There\u2019s a charitable read that a healthy offseason resets things. Sure. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s the most likely outcome. Late-round flyer territory.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take: Elite stuff, terrible command, and an ERA that somehow defies the 12% walk rate. No concrete evidence a command breakthrough is coming. A late-round dart throw, nothing more.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On The Fringe<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/gerrit-cole\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gerrit Cole<\/a> (RHP)<\/p>\n<p>2024 Stats: 95.0 IP | 3.41 ERA | 1.13 WHIP | 25.84 K% | 7.4 BB%<\/p>\n<p>2026 PL Projection: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m optimistic about Cole, and let me explain why with one very specific, very correctable adjustment. In 2022, Cole used his slider as a two-strike weapon to LHB 65% of the time, producing a 27% put-away rate and 28% SwStr. When he returned in 2024, that usage cratered to 33% in two-strike counts, and the put-away rate fell to 12%. He lost the feel of throwing it down-and-in. The fix is straightforward: restore the slider to its two-strike role, lean into the cutter (a wonderful new addition), keep the four-seamer elevated, and use the sinker inside to RHB. The cutter gives him something he didn\u2019t have before, a legitimate count pitch that frees the slider to be the finishing blow again.<\/p>\n<p>The 7% walk rate was anomalous. The arm likely hurt. Tommy John, when pitchers aren\u2019t rushed back (looking at you, Strider), tends to be a straightforward recovery for elite arms. A June return is realistic. Among all IL stashes, Cole is the one I\u2019d target first.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take: Cole\u2019s slider fell from a 27% put-away rate as a two-strike weapon in 2022 to 12% in his return, a deployment issue, not a stuff issue. With the cutter providing a new count pitch, a return to elite K rates is realistic. The top IL stash.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/carlos-rodon\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carlos Rod\u00f3n<\/a> (LHP)<\/p>\n<p>2025 Stats: 195.1 IP | 3.09 ERA | 1.05 WHIP | 25.7 K% | 9.3 BB%<\/p>\n<p>2026 PL Projection: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>The talent has never been the question with Rod\u00f3n. The question is whether a bone spur procedure and a mid-May timeline (likely drifting later) disrupts the feel enough to matter.<\/p>\n<p>I worry it does. Pitchers who enter the year on the IL with non-Tommy John ailments have a frustrating history of timelines pushing back and returns being bumpy. Rod\u00f3n, who already fights his command, is exactly the type to suffer from a disrupted spring. And the changeup to RHB was inconsistent even when healthy. He\u2019ll be productive when he\u2019s back. I don\u2019t doubt that. But 28-30% strikeout rates? That depends entirely on changeup and slider feel, and I wouldn\u2019t bet on it.<\/p>\n<p>At pick 200, I\u2019m interested. At pick 140 with spring training hype, I\u2019m out.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take: Mid-May bone spur return carries typical IL-start risks: timeline drift, disrupted feel, and a changeup that was already inconsistent to RHB. Value at pick 200, an overpay much earlier.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/cade-winquest\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cade Winquest<\/a> (RHP)<\/p>\n<p>2025 Stats: 106.0 IP | 3.99 ERA | 1.36 WHIP | 23.9 K% | 8.5 BB% \u2013 All in A+ and AA with Cardinals<\/p>\n<p>2026 Projection:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237015 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771854190_300_image.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"41\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>A Rule Five pick from the Cardinals, the 28th overall, and the lesson I learned last year is that these guys deserve attention as potential starters. Because Rule Five picks must remain on the 26-man roster all season, Winquest will be in the majors from day one as the stretched-out SP6.<\/p>\n<p>The four-seamer is the draw: 94-97 mph with up-and-arm-side movement, giving it two-plane action that should work particularly well against LHB. He\u2019s reportedly working on a sinker. The breaking balls are less developed at 84-85 mph, but this is where the Cardinals-to-Yankees pipeline matters. The Yankees\u2019 pitch design infrastructure could unlock sweeper or cutter shapes that the Cardinals\u2019 system didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>The first rotation opening that arises (and one will, because it always does) belongs to Winquest. A free waiver-wire add waiting to happen.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take: Winquest\u2019s 94-97 mph four-seamer with two-plane movement is legit, and Rule Five status guarantees major-league presence all season. The first rotation spot that opens is his.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Names To Know<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/clarke-schmidt\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Clarke Schmidt<\/a> (RHP)<br \/>Don\u2019t chase this. Schmidt underwent an internal brace procedure with a July-August timeline. By then, the Yankees will have seven rotation options healthy, plus Winquest and prospect options. The necessity won\u2019t be there.<\/p>\n<p>The cutter was becoming a legitimate weapon before the injury, and his feel for spin gives him a foundation. He\u2019s a solid pitcher. I just wouldn\u2019t invest a roster spot waiting for a back-half return into a crowded rotation. File him as a September waiver-wire add if circumstances align.<\/p>\n<p>Quick Take: A July-August return into a crowded rotation makes Schmidt a non-factor for draft purposes. Monitor late-season, not before.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/ryan-yarbrough\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Yarbrough<\/a> (LHP)<\/p>\n<p>Yes, the Yankees have signed The Fratty Pirate once again and with the lack of depth in this rotation until the big guns return, you may see him as a bulk arm for a game or two. It\u2019s not out of the question he can steal a Win here or there, but y\u2019all know<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/osvaldo-bido\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Osvaldo Bido<\/a> (RHP)<\/p>\n<p>Ah yes, Bido\u00a0has a new landing spot\u00a0for the sixth time this off-season.\u00a0But it makes sense for the Yankees! Why? Because they have nothing solid after\u00a0<a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/luis-gil\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Luis Gil<\/a>,\u00a0their fifth starter. Sure, they could go with <a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/cade-winquest\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cade Winquest<\/a> or even\u00a0<a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/ryan-yarbrough\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Yarbrough<\/a>,\u00a0or maybe they get stoked and call up\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/elmer-rodriguez\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz <\/a>or\u00a0<a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/carlos-lagrange\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carlos Lagrange<\/a>,\u00a0but let\u2019s be real, the Yankees want to find another\u00a0<a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/carlos-carrasco\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carlos Carrasco<\/a>\u00a0to fill in for a few frames to start the year\u2026or maybe they actually sign\u00a0<a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/lucas-giolito\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lucas Giolito<\/a>\u00a0if another arm goes down. ANWAY, with Bido, he has some lovely stuff, but horrific control and given his interpretation of a pinball this winter, there\u2019s little faith he\u2019ll suddenly find the zone aplenty.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/paul-blackburn\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Paul Blackburn<\/a> (RHP)<\/p>\n<p>Oh right, he\u2019s with the Yankees, too. This ain\u2019t it, y\u2019all. He\u2019s the ultra back-up if something goes terribly wrong, which should only apply to the Yankees, not your fantasy teams.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Relevant Prospects<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/milb\/prospects\/2025\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">MLB.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.fangraphs.com\/author\/elongenhagen\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eric Logenhagen\u2019s work at FanGraphs<\/a>\u00a0for many insights into these prospects. I also used our PLV Minor League Player App for additional data I couldn\u2019t find elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>For pitchers in Triple-A, our PL Pro MiLB app was an invaluable resource, gathering all velocity, movement, extension, and HAVAA marks with ease. For example, here\u2019s Kohl\u2019s Drake\u2019s Triple-A slider card <a href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot_4.png\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">this season inside the app.<\/a> Unlock this app and many more with\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/premium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">PL Pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/baron-stuart\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Baron Stuart<\/a> (RHP, 26, AAA) \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/video\/baron-stuart-s-seven-inning-complete-game\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch Video<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s pretty meh. Stuart gets a fair amount of run on his 94\/95 mph sinker, but he doesn\u2019t jam RHB enough, and his gyro slider comes in around slower than I\u2019d like to see at 84\/85 mph. There\u2019s a changeup to deal with LHB that he locates well + a four-seamer with lackluster movement, and the whole thing is\u2026meh. I have to believe the Yankees would go with Elmer or Lagrange instead.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/chase-hampton\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chase Hampton<\/a> (RHP, 24, AAA) \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/video\/chase-hampton-collects-three-strikeouts\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch Video<\/a><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re waiting for Hampton to return after undergoing TJS before the start of the 2024 season. He had a shortened 2024 season after fanning 145 batters in 106.2 IP in 2023, and we\u2019re just hoping he gives us something interesting when the time comes. Don\u2019t expect him to be killer right away.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/elmer-rodriguez\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Elmer Rodr\u00edguez-Cruz<\/a> (RHP, 22, AAA) \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/video\/elmer-rodriguez-cruz-strikes-out-eight-x4694\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch Video<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is good, but not quite as stellar as I was hoping for once I saw his #97 ranking in MLB\u2019s top 100 prospects. Lagrange\u2019s stuff is\u00a0lightyears\u00a0better, but ERC has better control, even if he\u2019s not spotting his sinker inside to RHB and floating the sweeper a bit too much. He\u2019s hurling 96 mph sinkers at average extension and 16\u2033 of ride (meh), but the 89\/90 mph gyro slider\/cutter is solid and could become a bigger whiff pitch in time. I\u2019m intrigued and his feel for spin is solid, though I\u2019m not banging the table for more. If the sinker gets inside and starts really jamming batters to set up the secondaries, and he flexes an alternate fastball to deal with LHB, then we\u2019re talking.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/ben-hess\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ben Hess<\/a> (RHP, 23, AA) \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/video\/ben-hess-strikes-out-nine-in-five-innings\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch Video<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He throws 92-96 mph with a mid-to-high 70s curveball and that\u2019s just not it for me. He struggled in Single-A before settling into 36 frames of Double-A last season and I need\u00a0moar.\u00a0It\u2019s not the holidays right now, so I don\u2019t suggest picking up your Hess trucks quite yet. Maybe next winter.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/bryce-cunningham\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bryce Cunningham<\/a> (RHP, 23, A+) \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/video\/bryce-cunningham-s-nine-strikeouts\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch Video<\/a><\/p>\n<p>We haven\u2019t seen a whole lot of Cunningham, who was drafted in 2024 and only pitched 54.1 innings in 2025 due to an undisclosed injury before some games in the AFL. He apparently has a good fastball and a super legit changeup + a decent sweeper, but without more experience, there\u2019s little reason to believe he\u2019ll make an appearance in 2026. Let\u2019s wait for more exposure to pro ball before jumping on this.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/carlos-lagrange\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Carlos Lagrange<\/a> (RHP, 22, AA) \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/video\/carlos-lagrange-k-s-10\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch Video<\/a><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been covering a lot of these prospects and watching the video above is just pure JOY. Peaking at 103 mph, Lagrange is no stranger to strikeouts, sending 104 batters to the dugout in just 78.1 frames in Double-A last season + another 64 in A+ ball in 42.2 innings. That\u2019s nearly 170 strikeouts in 120 innings, which is flat out absurd. He does so with the heater and a 88-90 mph slider\/cutter, mid 80s sweeper, and low 90s changeup, though his long limbs create timing issues that can cause phases where he can\u2019t find the zone. That may ultimately force Carlos into a reliever role, but if he can discover control, boy oh BOY is he going to be fun to watch as a starter. I was cackling away and hope he gets his shot soon. JUST FIND THE ZONE KID.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/brock-selvidge\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Brock Selvidge<\/a> (RHP, 23, AA) \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/video\/brock-selvidge-fans-seven-over-six-solid-innings\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch Video<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He sure looks like a SWATCH, though he doesn\u2019t strikeout enough batters for me to get all too excited. It could be that the slider works best against LHB, with the changeup failing to make RHB quiver in their boots often enough to keep them off his decent fastball. Fanning under a strike-per-inning in Double-A does little to get me excited for a potential time in the Yankee rotation, but if the velocity and\/or changeup improve, there could be more.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"player-tag\" href=\"https:\/\/pitcherlist.com\/player\/henry-lalane\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Henry Lalane<\/a> (LHP, 21, A) \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/video\/lalane-fans-batter-spring-breakout\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch Video<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He can be a legit arm and despite his young age and low volume in the minors (under 130 innings), Lalane was available in the Rule-5 draft and wasn\u2019t selected, likely due to his health issues and lack of experience. If Lalane is healthy this year, the Yankees may be encouraged to give him a fast call-up and not waste any more bullets (a shoulder injury is a scary thing), looking like a SWATCH with a sloooow changeup flirting 80 mph, and a fastball around the mid-90s. At 6\u20197\u2033, there\u2019s hope he fills out with some extra giddy-up, too. He could fade into the unknown or rise quickly.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In preparation for my annual Top 400 Starting Pitchers ranking article in February 2026, I spend the fall&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":494182,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[49,48,462,82],"class_list":["post-494181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/494181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=494181"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/494181\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/494182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=494181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=494181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=494181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}