11 Yankees elect free agency and fans should eye these names to hopefully return

The phrase “kill your darlings” is often associated with writing. It means removing an element of your work that you might absolutely love, but it just doesn’t belong. That concept can actually accurately describe what it feels like to follow your team’s minor league system. No matter how much you might appreciate a player in Double-A, it doesn’t always mean that they’re a good fit for the major league club. That might just happen with a number of players in the New York Yankees farm system.  

As reported by Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, 11 Yankees minor league players have elected free agency. Among the group are some familiar, albeit low-level names who have spent a fair amount of time in the Majors. This includes pitcher Justin Topa and outfielder Jarred Kelenic. 

If you just had to do a double-take at the fact that Kelenic was a part of the Yankees organization in 2026, you wouldn’t be alone. The former top prospect signed with the club in August before appearing in just 19 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. After playing uninspired ball for the RailRiders, he’ll once again be on the move.   

But beyond those headliners, pitcher Alexander Cornielle and outfielder Luis Durango are perhaps the two names that fans should be keeping tabs on the most this offseason. While the players are now free to sign with any organization, the Yankees could still bring them back for the 2027 season. With each player’s potential to break out next year, that would be a good thing. 

The Yankees should look to bring back Alexander Cornielle and Luis Durango

Cornielle made his MLB debut with the Yankees on Sept. 25 in fairly unspectacular fashion. While up 6-1 in the ninth against the Baltimore Orioles, Yankees manager Aaron Boone called on Cornielle to close out the game. Although the 25-year-old completed the job, he surrendered two runs on three hits in a rocky inning of work. For a player making their debut, it probably didn’t go how he envisioned.  

However, that doesn’t mean that the 2026 season was all bad for the young pitcher. Despite not possessing lights-out stuff, Cornielle showed a tremendous amount of growth as a pitcher later in the year. He peaked in August when he was named International League Pitcher of the Month. In five starts, he boasted a 1.50 ERA while striking out 25 batters in 24 innings. 

With a very solid foundation to build on, there’s a lot to like about Cornielle. With pitching depth always being a good thing throughout baseball, the Yankees would be smart to bring back the righty for 2027. Whether he would be utilized as an emergency starting pitcher or as a middle relief arm in the 'pen, there is certainly use for Cornielle. 

The same could be said about Durango and the Yankees’ need for speedy bench players. Although he lacks the explosive bat that can change a game with one swing, Durango has the ability to be a real disruptor on the base paths. With his high rate of contact at the plate and success at swiping bags, Durango has drawn comparisons to Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson. 

As we saw in the World Series, Simpson was one of the Rays’ most dangerous players. That’s not to say that Durango will develop into a carbon copy of Simpson, but the potential is certainly there. In 259 at-bats across three minor league levels, Durango sported a .320/.377/.386 line. Even better, he struck out just 35 times. At 23 years old, Durango still has plenty of time to take his game to another level.

There will be some massive free agent signings to keep an eye out for this offseason, especially from the Yankees. But it’s the under-the-radar moves that could provide the most value. Cornielle and Durango are still lottery tickets at this point in their careers, but the Yankees could hit a jackpot with each of them.   

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