Yankees fans continue to wait with bated breath for the organization to make that big splash and leave its mark on this offseason, but the reality is that it may not be coming. And that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
While talk continues to swirl around big-name free agents like Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker, New York lost a formidable core from its bullpen last season. The departures of Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Mark Leiter Jr. and Ian Hamilton create a gaping hole in the Yankees' pitching staff, but the club may not need to look very far to replace those contributions in 2026.
COMPLETE YANKEES PROSPECT COVERAGE
The Yankees have a stable of arms in their system and a few that are ready to contribute in the Bronx sooner than later. Here are five of New York's pitching prospects who could make an impact in the bigs this upcoming season:
Carlos Lagrange, RHP (MLB No. 74/NYY No. 2)
There is a lot of be excited about when it comes to Lagrange, who quickly made his way to Double-A Somerset last season despite limited time in the pros because of injuries in 2023 and 2024. The towering 6-foot-7, 248-pound righty reaches 102 mph with his heater, and he fine-tuned his slider, cutter and changeup to all plus-pitches this past season while improving his command for each. In 16 games (15 starts) at Double-A, the 22-year-old posted a 3.22 ERA with 104 strikeouts and a .185 average against over 78 1/3 frames. He will likely open the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and be on the doorstep of The Show from there.
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Brendan Beck, RHP (NYY No. 11)
The Yankees' 2021 second-rounder out of Stanford has only seen parts of two seasons on the field since being drafted, due to injuries. Beck underwent Tommy John surgery in late 2021 that delayed his pro debut to 2023. The right-hander was limited to 10 games that season and then was shut down again for the entirety of the 2024 campaign with more lingering elbow issues. However, with a clean bill of health this past year, Beck was one of the most dominant pitchers in the Minors -- amassing a 1.82 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and a .193 average against over 54 1/3 frames at Double-A to begin the season. He was promoted to Triple-A on June 22 and began to falter late at that level, but it could have just been fatigue as he finished the year with 131 1/3 total innings after only recording 34 total innings two years prior. The 27-year-old could be competing for a spot in the big league 'pen at Spring Training.
Eric Reyzelman, RHP (NYY No. 26)
The right-hander out of LSU is a bit of a wild card entering 2026. Coming off of one of the most dominating showings of any arm in the Minors in 2024, Reyzelman had a down year in 2025. So, who is the real version of the 6-foot-2, 188-pound right-hander? The hurler who posted a 1.16 ERA with a 0.96 WHIP, a .136 average against with 63 punchouts and 19 walks over 38 2/3 frames across three levels of the Minors in '24 or the one who amassed a 4.29 ERA and 42 walks over 42 innings at Triple-A this past season? Only time will tell, but Reyzelman has the arsenal -- when he's right -- to at least warrant a look if the Yankees find themselves shorthanded next season.
Cade Winquest, RHP (NYY No. 30)
There is a reason that New York made Winquest its first Rule 5 pick since 2011. The Yankees have kept a close watch on Winquest since his days at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he put down the bat and became a full-time pitcher. Yankees assistant general manager Michael Fishman told MLB.com that Winquest was next on the club’s board after taking Cam Schlittler in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft, but they never got that chance.
Featuring a mid-90s fastball, a big-breaking upper-70s curveball and a low-80s slider as part of a five-pitch mix, Winquest split this past season between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. He went 5-7 with a 3.99 ERA in 25 games (23 starts). He allowed 105 hits, struck out 110 batters in 106 innings and walked 39. The curve was his best pitch, holding opponents to a .143 batting average with an impressive 46 percent swing-and-miss rate.
As a Rule 5 pick, Winquest must remain on the Yankees’ 26-man roster all season or be offered back to St. Louis for half of his $100,000 selection price.
Harrison Cohen, RHP
Cohen was recently bumped off of the Yankees' Top 30 Prospects list, but that was not because of a lack of performance. After an impressive -- albeit brief -- 2024 campaign in which the 26-year-old righty posted a 1.35 ERA with a 0.90 WHIP, a .163 average against and 29 strikeouts to only nine walks over 26 2/3 innings (18 games) across three levels of the Minors that included 12 games at the High-A level, Cohen carried his success into the upper levels of the Minors this past season. Across 49 games in Double-A and Triple-A, the George Washington product amassed a 1.76 ERA and a .151 average against while fanning 59 over 51 total frames (49 appearances).
Working from an up-tempo delivery with a high leg kick, Cohen drops and drives toward the plate with a low arm slot. It's a combination that provides deception but also hampers his control at times, and that came into play in 2025 as he walked a career-high 30. Still, his stuff plays up enough that he could win a bullpen spot with New York out of camp if he can put together a strong showing at Spring Training.