The summer has been a disaster for the New York Yankees where, despite still having five weeks to go before the end of the regular season, they are candidates to miss out on the playoffs. However, fans still have hope of qualifying, but they seem to be far from being a legitimate World Series contender this year. But in their plans for 2026, the team will need to make significant changes to its roster during the preseason if it is to be a competitive team again.
During the upcoming winter, trades and free agency will grab most of the attention from fans, but general manager Brian Cashman knows that promoting the right prospects can help him keep the franchise’s payroll under control. Bronx fans can expect to see several prospects get a chance to impact manager Aaron Boone’s roster next season.
Who are the ideal players for the Yankees in 2026?
Teams will have to think about brilliant young players, who are currently unknown, but who can generate results in the short term. These three prospects have the talent and experience necessary to make an immediate impact as rookies at the start of next season.
1.- Spencer Jones
Spencer Jones could get some major league action down the stretch this season, but he should be in the starting lineup for Opening Day 2026. He has been compared to Aaron Judge because of his enormous height. The downside of his game is that he has struggled to make solid contact during various stretches of his professional career. The speedy outfielder has made progress in that area during his time in Triple-A, but he will never compete for a batting title in the majors.
What Jones can do is give Boone and his coaching staff another athletic outfielder capable of hitting more than 25 home runs. Trent Grisham is heading to free agency after a super productive year. It’s possible Cashman will let him walk so Jones can get significant playing time. If Jones doesn’t start in 2026 with the Yankees, it probably means that he’s been traded for a veteran who will. It’s time for the franchise to give him the chance to be a starter or end his time with the team.
Carlos Lagrange
Carlos Lagrange is the player who has climbed the most in the latest MLB prospects update for the Yankees. The right-handed pitcher has quickly risen to second place in the organization’s midseason prospect list. At 22 years of age, he can intimidate opposing hitters with his 1.90 meters and 111 kilos on the mound. The fact that he has also reached 164 km/h with his fastball this season only adds to the fear that he could attack quality hitters.
Lagrange is still a starter in AAA, but his lack of control will likely make him a high-impact reliever in the future. If the Yankees make that role change, he has a chance to move up and help stabilize the team’s bullpen in 2026. He has the potential to be the Yankees’ next closer if he continues to progress at such a rapid rate.
3.- Brendan Beck
Brendan Beck doesn’t have the big-name reputation of the first two players on this list, but he has a great chance to pitch quality innings for the Bronx outfit in 2026. His ability to make an impact as a middle reliever or starter makes him a valuable asset for Cashman and his front office. Beck doesn’t have the talent to be more than a back-end member of the rotation.
Questions about when players like Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt might be ready to rejoin the rotation will dominate spring training news. This uncertainty leaves New York needing to find one or two starters who can keep the rotation afloat during the early months of the season.
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