Yankees Bullpen Adjustments Ahead of Trade Deadline
The Yankees seem to be proactive about improving their bullpen, well before the trade deadline.
Carlos LaGrange, a promising prospect known for his powerful fastball, has been moved to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s bullpen. At just 23 years old, LaGrange has been clocked at over 160 mph with his pitch, and he was still managing to throw in the low 90s during his last outing on Thursday.
This remarkable speed initially drew the Yankees to him. Speculation about his role in the majors started during spring training, with some suggesting he could serve as a reliever this season, despite still being seen as a potential future starter.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed hope about LaGrange’s future contributions, saying, “Hopefully he’ll be in a position to be an option for us this season.”
LaGrange has tallied 49 innings across 11 starts at SWB. The aim now is to acclimate him to a relief pitching schedule.
Boone noted, “We definitely see him long-term as a starter, but from a 2026 perspective, he could make an impact out of the pen without disrupting anything.”
Given the challenges faced last year when the bullpen couldn’t be adequately addressed before the trade deadline, it’s understandable that the team is considering LaGrange as a potential solution.
JC Escala, who has caught LaGrange during spring training, expects to see enhanced performance from him: “He’s going to get better. He had already thrown 100 pitches. Now he’ll be at 102-103 pitches. This is good. He will help us.”
Back in March, there was already talk of LaGrange possibly being called up as a relief pitcher midway through the season, and it seems he was on board with that transition.
LaGrange had said previously, “I’ve worked hard my entire career as a starting pitcher, but if they need a relief pitcher, I’ll do whatever they want.” It highlights his commitment to the team’s needs.
This transition was first reported by the YES Network.
Meanwhile, Clark Schmidt threw a 20-pitch bullpen session at the stadium recently as he works on returning from Tommy John surgery. He mentioned that he could face hitters soon, possibly before the month concludes, as part of his rehab assignment.
Schmidt, who previously underwent Tommy John surgery during his college days, may rejoin the Yankees in the later half of the season, though the team’s rotation is quite robust, leading to some uncertainty about his role.
In his first two starts since returning from Tommy John surgery, Gerrit Cole appeared to show little rust.
Also, Max Fried, coming off a bruised left elbow, was reported to have thrown at 75 feet for the second consecutive day, with Boone mentioning, “He seems to be handling everything very well.”
Initially, Paul Goldschmidt was slated to start at first base but transitioned to DH due to some discomfort in his lower back, allowing Ben Rice to take over at first base. Goldschmidt still managed to deliver three hits, including a double and a home run.
Giancarlo Stanton is set to begin live blood pressure readings on Wednesday. Additionally, Amed Rosario has returned from the paternity list, starting at third base on Tuesday. The Yankees honored Lou Gehrig Day alongside other MLB teams by wearing a number 4 patch on their jerseys.
