The Yankees have some tough decisions to make by 4 p.m., ET Tuesday, MLB’s deadline for adding prospects to the 40-man roster.

Whomever misses the cut will be eligible for next month’s draft Rule 5 Draft.

There are only three locks: center fielder Spencer Jones, and right-handers Elmer Rodriguez and Chase Hampton, but the Yankees would like to protect a bunch of other minor leaguers, including a few that aren’t ranked among their top 30 prospects by MLB Pipeline.

The catch is the Yankees’ only have open four spots counting the re-signing of free agent left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, who agreed to a return Monday on a one-year, $2.5 million pact. More spots can be freed up, but they’ll need openings for the rest of their winter trade or free agent additions.

Minor leaguers are exempt from the Rule 5 draft for the first few years of their professional career. Players who sign their first contract at age 18 or younger need to be protected after their fifth season, players who sign at age 19 or older after their fourth.

Players selected in the Rule 5 draft must remain on the active 26-man roster or injured list of their new team for one full season before being able to be optioned to the minors. The drafting team’s fee to the club losing the player is $100,000. If the drafting team doesn’t want to keep the player on its active roster or IL, the player must be offered back for $50,000.

Here are bios, fresh scouting reports from a veteran MLB scout and predictions for 12 Yankees prospects that are candidates for their 40-man roster:

JACE AVINA, OF

Age: 22 (23 on June 6, 2026).

Size: 5-11, 180.

Bats: Right.

Acquired: Traded by Brewers to Yankees with OF Brian Sanchez for 1B/OF Jake Bauers on Nov. 17, 2023.

2025 stats: Hudson Valley (high A), .295 average, 52-for-176, 8 HR, 31 RBI, .917 OPS. Somerset (AA), .224 average, 38-for-170, 3 HR, 14 RBI, .656 OPS, 46 games. Totals, .260 average, 346 AB, 55 runs, 90 hits, 24 doubles, 11 HR, 45 RBI, 5 SB, 49 BB, 104 K, .791 OPS, 98 games.

Prospect ranking: No. 24, MLB Pipeline.

The skinny: Reno, Nev., native was MVP of the rookie-level Arizona Complex League in 2021, his draft year, after batting .294 with 10 homers and 29 RBI in 36 games. … Career .251 hitter with 50 homers in 1,479 plate appearances over 353 games in four seasons (2022-25). … Made 31 starts in center field, 28 in right and 24 in left last season. … Has reached base on hit by pitch 56 times in his career, including 18 times in 64 games in 2022 and 17 times in 99 games in 2023. … Drafted by Brewers in 14th round in 2021 out of Spanish Springs High in Sparks, Nev., and signed for $255,900.

Scout’s take: “I watched Avina for a series this summer, 17 at-bats. He takes advantage of below-average pitchers to get hits. There’s a little bit of power there. He can turn on a ball and drive it into the left-center gap. There’s some strength to the pull side. He displays some zone knowledge, but will chase pitches. The defense is not very good. He’s limited at all three outfield positions. His overall routes were poor and need work, his first step slow. His arm is slightly below average, but it is accurate with a quick release. He’s a below-average runner and not a great athlete. I doubt this is a guy the Yankees will protect.”

Prediction: Left off 40-man roster.

BRENDAN BECK, RHP

Age: 27 (28 on Oct. 6, 2026).

Size: 6-2, 218.

Acquired: 2021 draft, 2nd round (55 overall) out of Stanford. Signed for $1.05 million.

Prospect ranking: No. 11, MLB Pipeline.

2025 stats: Somerset (AA), 5-2, 1.82 ERA, 11 games, 9 starts, 54.1 IP, 52 K. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA), 8-3, 4.44 ERA, 15 starts, 77 IP, 71 K. Totals; 13-5, 3.36 ERA, 26 games, 24 starts, 131.1 IP, 103 hits, 51 runs, 49 ER, 36 BB, 123 K.

The skinny: Led Yankees minor leaguers in wins in 2025. … Pitched to a 1.59 ERA in 10 starts as a first-year pro in 2024, one in a rookie league and then nine with High A Hudson Valley. .. Younger brother of Tristan Beck, a Giants reliever for the last three seasons. … Was Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year in 2021 after going 9-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 17 games, 15 starts, with 143 K in 108.2 innings as a fourth-year junior.

Scout’s take: “Beck has potential backend starter potential for a big-league rotation. His laser-straight fastball comes in 89-93 and sits 90. It’s below average. His slider is below-average, too. He has an average curveball but shows a good feel for the pitch. None of that is great, but here’s what kicks Beck up: His command is well-above average for his fastball, slider and curve. That rings some alarm bells. This guy can pitch. He reminds me of Aaron Civale, who’s logged a lot of big-league innings the last six or seven years. I don’t know if Beck ever will be good enough to be in the Yankees’ rotation long-term because they’re an organization that is always trying to win a championship, but I can see him someday eating up innings and winning some games pitching for a team that doesn’t have a deep rotation.”

Prediction: Added to 40-man roster.

HARRISON COHEN, RHP

Age: 26 (27 on May 28, 2026).

Size: 6-0, 211.

Acquired: Signed as non-drafted free agent on Aug. 19, 2022 out of George Washington.

Prospect ranking: No. 30, MLB Pipeline.

2025 stats: Somerset (AA), 1-2, 2.01 ERA, 2 saves, 20 games, 22.1 IP, 30 K. Scranton Wilkes-Barre (AAA), 2-0, 1.57 ERA, 29 games, 28.2 IP, 3 saves, 29 K. Totals: 3-2, 1.76 ERA, 49 games, 5 saves, 51 IP, 26 hits, 11 runs, 10 ER, 30 BB, 59 K.

The skinny: Led Yankees minor leaguers with 49 outings in 2025. … His ERA was fifth lowest among 143 minor leaguers with 45 or more appearances. … Long Island native had a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts as a high school senior for Cold Spring Harbor. … Was George Washington’s No. 1 starter for the last three of five college seasons.

Scout’s take: “He’s interesting because his numbers in Triple-A were so good. There’s some deception in his delivery, so you can see why he’d had some success. He’s got a good cutter and slider. But here’s the thing: He’s a 6-footer with a 93-94 mph fastball. That ain’t going to cut it in the big leagues. If you have a below-average fastball for a reliever, you better command and control it because you’ve got no margin for error. He’s going to pitch in the big leagues and his command will determine whether he stays there. It has to be elite.”

Prediction: Left off 40-man roster.

ALLEN FACUNDO, LHP

Age: 23 (24 on Sept. 3, 2026).

Size: 6-0, 171.

Acquired: Signed on May 15, 2021 as minor-league free agent out of Venezuela.

Prospect ranking: Not in MLB Pipeline’s Yankees’ top 30.

2025 stats: FCL Yankees (rookie), 0-0, 0.00, 2 games, 1 start, 5.1 IP, 10 K. Tampa (Low A), 1-1, 2.14 ERA, 8 starts, 33.2 IP, 35 K. Totals: 1-1, 1.85 ERA, 10 games, 9 starts, 39 IP, 24 hits, 10 runs, 8 ER, 17 BB, 45 K.

The skinny: Returned in June after undergoing May 2024 Tommy John surgery. … Slider is his best pitch, but his fastball has touched 100 mph. … Has 207 strikeouts, 71 walks and allowed only one homer over 148 innings in four pro seasons (2021, 2023-25).

Scout’s take: ”This a lefty with a big arm, so the Yankees don’t want to lose him even though he didn’t get out of A-ball in four seasons because he’s had injuries. He was 93 to 100 mph and sat when I saw him. His slider was slightly below average, the changeup awful. The command and control are inconsistent and he lacks body control on the mound. He’s not a great athlete. Honestly, it’s a risk-reward power arm for the bullpen, I wouldn’t start him because he doesn’t have enough pitches. But he’s definitely worth protecting.”

Prediction: Added to 40-man roster.

CHASE HAMPTON, RHP

Age: 24 (25 on Aug. 7, 2026).

Size: 6-2, 220.

Acquired: 2022 draft, 6th round (190th overall) out of Texas Tech. Signed for $497,500.

Prospect ranking: No. 8, MLB Pipeline.

2025 stats: None.

2024 stats: FCL Yankees (rookie), 0-0, 2.70 ERA, 2 starts, 3.1 IP, 4 K. Tampa (low A), 0-1, 4.66 ERA, 3 starts, 8 K. Somerset (AA), 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 starts, 5.2 IP, 4 K. Totals, 0-1, 2.41 ERA, 7 starts, 18.2 IP, 11 hits, 5 runs, 5 ER, 9 BB, 16 K.

The skinny: Missed most of 2024 season with a flexor strain and all of 2025 rehabbing from Feb. 21 Tommy John surgery. … In 2024 was ranked Yankees’ No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Scout’s take: “Tommy John surgeries have gotten so much better that guys bounce back throwing harder and not seeming to miss a step, but it’s going to take Hampton a full year to get back to where he was. I’ll give you a prime example. Look at Sandy Alcantara down in Miami. He missed a full year with Tommy John, then he returned this year and was inconsistent. Next year, I guarantee you he’s back to being a one of the top pitchers in baseball. So the Yankees probably are going to find out in 2027 if Hampton is the same guy that he was pre-Tommy John … or even better. In ’23, Hampton was averaging 93-94 mph. His slider is pretty good. There’s some stiffness in his delivery, but he repeats it. His top half gets very rotational. He certainly has potential to be at least a middle-of-the-rotation guy in the big leagues.”

Prediction: Added to 40-man roster.

SPENCER JONES, CF

Age: 24 (25 on May 14, 2026).

Size: 6-7, 240.

Acquired: 2022 draft, 1st round (25th overall). Signed for $2.88 million.

Prospect ranking: No. 4, MLB Pipeline.

Bats: Left.

2025 stats: Somerset (AA), .274 average, 48-for-175, 16 HR, 32 RBI, .984 OPS, 49 games. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA): .274 average, 72-for-263; 19 HR, 48 RBI, .897 OPS, 67 games. Totals: .274 average, 438 AB, 102 runs, 120 hits, 23 doubles, 1 triple, 35 HR, 80 RBI, 29 SB, 58 BB, 179 K, .932 OPS, 116 games.

The skinny: His 35 homers and 179 strikeouts last season ranked second among minor leaguers. … His 35.4 percent K rate was the highest among 352 minor leaguers with at least 460 plate appearances. … Has 54 homers, 158 RBI and 54 steals in 238 games over last two seasons.

Scout’s take: “I thought Spencer took a major step forward this season. A guy that big, the strikeouts are going to be there. There aren’t many guys that tall, guys like Aaron Judge, who are able to control the zone. It’s just not normal. His ability to put an emphasis on going the opposite way, especially the second half of the season,I think made huge dividends for him as a hitter. His ability to start going with pitches helped him. I mean, God, look at his power numbers in the second half. He was unreal. Defensively, he’s always been fine in center. He gets good jumps and can run. If the Yankees don’t get Cody Bellinger or Trent Grisham back to play center, I think Jones can handle the position next year, even early on.”

Prediction: Added to 40-man roster.

HENRY LALANE, LHP

Age: 21 (22 on May 18, 2026).

Size: 6-7, 211.

Acquired: Signed for $350,000 as international free agent out of Dominican Republic on May 4, 2021.

Prospect ranking: No. 9, MLB Pipeline.

2025 stats: FCL Yankees (rookie), 0-0, 6.00 ERA, 1 start, 3 IP, 2 K. Tampa (low A), 0-0, 1.65 ERA, 6 starts, 16.1 IP, 20 K. Totals, 0-0, 2.33 ERA, 7 starts, 19.1 IP, 11 hits, 5 runs, 5 ER, 14 BB, 22 K.

The skinny: Was on IL last season from Opening Day until July 29 due to a shoulder issue. … Due to injuries hasn’t pitched above low A five years in his pro career. … Born in Bronx and moved to his parent’s native Dominican Republic as child. … Father, who has same name and also is 6-7, played college basketball at St. Francis (NY) from 1997-2000 and then professionally in Europe. … Named Florida Complex League’s best pitching prospect in 2023. … Pitched two scoreless innings against Blue Jays last March in Spring Breakout.

Scout’s take: “When you watch Lalane’s delivery, it’s kind of a stiff and rigid arm motion, but it’s three-quarters so I can see the ball running out of his hand. There’s a lot of moving parts. His fastball velos in all of his starts were 92.4, 91.2, 92.3, 91.8, 91.3, 93, 92. That’s a below-average fastball, which could be attributed to him coming back from arm surgery. But based on what I saw this year in person and on video, it wasn’t that impressive.”

Prediction: Left off 40-man roster.

HUESTON MORRILL, RHP

Age: 25 (26 on Nov. 27, 2025).

Size: 6-0, 168.

Acquired: Signed by Yankees on July 22, 2022 as undrafted free agent.

Prospect ranking: Not in MLB Pipeline’s Yankees’ top 30.

2025 stats: Hudson Valley (high A), 4-1, 0.42 ERA, 33 games, 6 saves, 43.1 IP, 38 K. Somerset (AA), 0-0, 4.15 ERA, 3 games, 4.1 IP, 4 K. Totals, 4-1, 0.76 ERA, 36 games, 6 saves, 47.2 IP, 18 hits, 5 runs, 4 ER, 17 BB, 42 K.

The skinny: Pitched to 3.12 ERA with three strikeouts, five walks and two hit batters in eight Arizona Fall League games this year. … Was a 36th-round draft pick by Angels in 2018, but opted for college at Oklahoma State to be a two-way player. … Hit .256 with 8 homers and 50 RBI in 148 games as a college shortstop (2019-22) while pitching to a 6.41 ERA over 26.2 innings in 17 games (2021-22).

Scout’s take: “I know Morrill put up really good numbers, but I wrote him up as an organizational arm. He was 25 this season. For me, that’s too old for high-A. He pitched really well at Hudson Valley against a bunch of 19- and 20-year-olds. This is an undersized righty with an OK arm. He’s got a decent fastball that touches 96 and sits 93. He throws a ton of cutters. He’s around the zone and doesn’t hit his spot with all of his pitches. With his pitch angle to the plate, he has difficulty controlling the movement and it’s a max-effort delivery where he over-rotates on every pitch. I think he’s at his peak from a talent standpoint.”

Prediction: Left off 40-man roster.

ERIC REYZELMAN, RHP

Age: 24 (25 on June 27, 2026).

Size: 6-2, 188.

Acquired: 2022 draft, 5th round (160th overall) out of LSU. Signed for $340,700..

Prospect ranking: No. 26, MLB Pipeline.

2025 stats: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA), 1-2, 4.29 ERA, 34 games, 1 save, 42 IP, 26 hits, 20 runs, 20 ER, 5 HR, 42 BB, 45 K.

The skinny: Northern California native had Tommy John surgery as a college freshman at San Francisco. … Pitched to a 5.72 ERA over two seasons at San Fran from 2020-21, then transferred to LSU and was 1-3 with a 4.04 ERA, 66 strikeouts and 18 walks in 2022. … Older brother was a 6-4 tight end on the football team at Fresno State, Aaron Judge’s alma mater.

Scout’s take: “He’s a fastball-slider guy. His fastball comes in at 94-95 mph, which is an average for a reliever. He wasn’t very good the times I’ve seen him. What stands out most is his poor command. Walking a batter per inning is very alarming. He also doesn’t have deception and his release point is inconsistent. He looks more like a thrower than a pitcher at times. For me, this is an organizational-type arm that you can move between Double A and Triple A.’

Prediction: Left off 40-man roster.

ELMER RODRIGUEZ, RHP

Age: 22 (23 on Aug. 18, 2026).

Size: 6-3, 160.

Acquired: Traded by Red Sox to Yankees on Dec. 11, 2024 with international bonus pool money for C Carlos Narvaez.

Prospect ranking: No. 3, MLB Pipeline.

2025 stats: Hudson Valley (high A), 6-4, 2.26 ERA, 15 games, 14 starts, 83.2 IP, 99 K. Somerset (AA), 5-3, 3.08 ERA, 11 starts, 61.1 IP, 74 K. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA), 0-1, 7.20 ERA, 1 start, 5 IP, 3 K. Totals, 11-8, 2.58 ERA, 27 games, 26 starts, 150 IP, 104 hits, 52 runs, 43 ER, 57 BB, 176 K.

The skinny: Baseball America’s Yankees minor league player of the year for 2025. … Led Yankees minor leaguers in innings and strikeouts. … Was ranked Red Sox’s 24th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2023. … Was 11-11 with a 2.60 ERA in three seasons as Red Sox minor leaguer from 2022-24. … Drafted by Red Sox in 4th round in 2021 out of Puerto Rico and signed for $497,500.

Scout’s take: “I wrote Rodriguez up as a potential No. 4 starter with upside. He was 93-to-96 mph and sat 94. He shows a pretty sharp slider that has swing-and-miss tendencies to it. He throws a sweeper, curve ball and changeup, too. He tries to strike every hitter out, but displays a feel for all of his pitches. There’s still room for him to add good weight. He gets hitters down in the count, then misses his spot and runs up his pitch count. His front side flies open quite a bit, and that doesn’t allow him to get out front with all of his pitches and leads to command issues. Until that changes, the better hitters are like, ‘If you can only throw fastballs for strikes, I’m going to sit on them all day. But despite that, this kid has a lot of potential and the Yankees have to protect him.”

Prediction: Added to 40-man roster.

T.J. RUMFIELD, 1B

Age: 25 (26 on May 17, 2026).

Size: 6-5, 225.

Acquired: Traded by Phillies to Yankees on Nov. 19, 2021 for RHP Nick Nelson and C Donny Sands.

Prospect ranking: No. 25, MLB Pipeline.

Bats: Left.

2025 stats: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA): .285 average, 499 AB, 85 runs, 142 hits, 31 doubles, 1 triple, 16 HR, 87 RBI, 5 SB, 70 BB, 108 K, 825 OPS, 138 games.

The skinny: Was unprotected for 2024 Rule 5 Draft and not selected. … Over last three seasons ranks second among Yankees minor leaguers in hits (343) and RBI (207), four in homers (48) and fifth in walks (159). … Selected by Phillies in 12th round of 2021 draft out of Virginia Tech and signed for $125,000.

Scout’s take: “The Yankees won’t protect T.J., but I like him because he’s a good kid who produces. There’s something there, but he’s an up-and-down big leaguer at best. He’s a guy that you can call up for 10 days to fill in at first, then send him back down and run him through waivers without losing him. I like his ability to make contact. He’s got knowledge of the strike zone. He seems to show barrel control, but it’s below-average pop for a first baseman. He hit 16 homers this year, but Scranton’s ballpark is a Cracker Jacks box to right field.”

Prediction: Left off 40-man roster.

BROCK SELVIDGE, LHP

Age: 23 (24 on Aug. 28, 2026).

Size: 6-3, 205.

Acquired: 2021 draft, 3rd round (92nd overall) out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz. Signed for $1.5 million.

Prospect ranking: No. 10, MLB Pipeline.

2025 stats: FCL Yankees (rookie), 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 1 start, 2.2 IP, 2 K. Tampa (low A), 0-1, 3.60 ERA, 2 starts, 5 IP, 5 K. Somerset (AA), 2-6, 5.16 ERA, 16 games, 15 starts, 75 IP, 61 K. Totals, 2-7, 4.68 ERA, 19 games, 18 starts, 82.2 IP, 74 hits, 52 runs, 43 ER, 44 BB, 68 K.

The skinny: Was sidelined from July 2024 to May 2025 with a biceps injury that led to surgery last September. … Walk percentage was 7.2 percent in his first three minor-league seasons, then climbed to 10.8 percent in 2024 and 12.2 in 2025. … Has 3.88 ERA with 345 strikeouts in 341.1 innings over four pro seasons. … Pitched four scoreless innings and struck out eight facing Blue Jays prospects in 2023 Spring Breakout game.

Scout’s take: “I have Selvidge as an up-and-down guy, a Triple-A depth arm. It’s not great command, not great stuff. Being left-handed helps, but if the command doesn’t improve he just profiles as a spot starter. He’s gritty. I’ll give him that. When I saw him this year, he was sitting 90-91 mph and topping out at 93 with below-average stuff. I doubt the Yankees protect Selvidge, but there’s still enough there that I’d give him a big-league spring training invite as a non-roster player.”

Prediction: Left off 40-man roster.

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