3 Yankees prospects who've made themselves untouchable at 2025 trade deadline

The Yankees are expected to be active buyers at the trade deadline, with the front office rumored to be looking for some bullpen help and maybe a middle infielder or a starting pitcher.

In order for the Yankees to afford major league-ready additions, it's likely some notable prospects will have to be moved, as is the way in baseball.

Many fans believe that, besides the fantastical 20-year-old George Lombard Jr, any one of the Yankees' prospects are up for grabs for the right return at the trade deadline.

Despite this sentiment, we believe the performances of three specific pinstriped prospects have made them invaluable to the franchise and earned the right to be untouchable at the trade deadline.

3 Yankees prospects who should not be traded before 2025 deadline

Carlos Lagrange

Signed for a measly $10,000 back in 2022, the potential of now-22-year-old Lagrange has never been in question. He features an electric fastball that has touched 102 miles per hour and strikes out batters at a ridiculous rate.

However, despite his borderline fantastical talent, his first couple of seasons in professional baseball left quite a bit to be desired.

After a solid debut in the Dominican Summer League, his first full season of pro ball came in 2023, where he pitched to an ERA nearing 5.00. The biggest issue was his inability to consistently find the strike zone, as he walked nearly 15% of batters and got hit hard after falling behind in counts.

Even with the numbers elevated, his stuff was as lively as ever. His fastball and slider missed lots of bats, resulting in 63 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings.

Hopes were high for the young Dominican heading into the 2024 season, but he ultimately took a step back. His strikeout numbers remained video game-like, but his walk rate worsened to an awful 24%. His name began to be floated around trade talks, as it looked like he might need a change of scenery.

Nothing happened at the deadline in 2024, and the young right-hander was sent to pitch in the Arizona Fall League after the conclusion of last season.

Lagrange pitched magnificently in the fall league, making the AFL All-Star team. His once all-over-the-place delivery became more repeatable and fluid, with his mechanics starting to catch up with his talent and frame. As a result, his walk rate decreased and he began to throw more strikes, even if he was still heavily reliant on his fastball.

The question marks surrounding Lagrange have started to dissipate in 2025, as he has decreased his walk rate to 12% while maintaining his high strikeout numbers. He earned a promotion to Double-A Somerset after posting a 4.10 ERA across eight starts with Hudson Valley.

Additionally, while he has struggled in his first four starts in Somerset, he has continued to transform from being a thrower to a pitcher, and his education is only continuing with every start he makes.

He has begun to throw his secondary pitches more often, and has landed them for strikes at a much higher rate than he did in previous seasons.

While the results haven't been ideal thus far, Lagrange has proven that he could either be a front-end starter or a dominant closer at the big league level should he continue to improve.

We find it hard to believe that the Yankees would part with the young fireballer after the potential he has shown this year.

Roc Riggio

Another prospect who has grown leaps and bounds this season is the 25-year-old Roc Riggio, whom the Yankees selected in the fourth round back in 2023.

Primarily a second baseman, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy currently ranks as the 24th prospect in the Yankees system.

Riggio hit under .220 in each of his first two professional seasons before finally starting to put it together in 2025, as he is currently hitting .266 with 14 homers and a .980 OPS. He started the season in High-A Hudson Valley before being promoted to Somerset at the same time as Lagrange.

The success Riggio found in Hudson Valley has translated nicely to the higher level of play in Double-A, as he has continued to hit home runs and hit around .260. Should the trend continue, we could see him in Triple-A sooner rather than later.

While the Yankees certainly want to keep a player of his quality, what we think makes Riggio untouchable this season is the position he plays; middle infield is an area of need for the Yankees, especially with the aging DJ LeMahieu failing to impress.

If all goes well, Riggio could be competing for a spot on the major-league roster as early as next spring, as his aggressive, pull-heavy swing could make him a perfect fit for Yankee Stadium.

Cam Schlittler

The closest to "major-league ready" out of any of the prospects named here, Schlittler would be a highly sought after name if he was made available at the deadline. However, given his skill and the injury issues that the Yankees pitching staff has suffered this season, Brian Cashman and Co. might be eager to keep the talents of the 24-year-old in the Bronx long-term.

A stout physical presence, Schlittler stands at 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds. Primarily a three-pitch pitcher, the Massachusetts native comes at batters with a heater that has touched 99 MPH and a pair of elite breaking balls with his curve and slider. He also sporadically throws a changeup that has potential but needs work.

Schlittler started this season in Double-A before earning a promotion to Triple-A in early June, where he has been the best he's ever been: He has a 1.69 ERA through his first four starts, a period in which he has pitched 21 1/3 innings and struck out 33 batters.

The former seventh-round pick who is currently ranked as the Yankees No. 10 prospect could be with the big club before the season done. He is known to have impressed Aaron Boone during spring training, and pitching coach Matt Blake heaped praise on the young right-hander following his six shutout innings against the Worcester Red Sox on Wednesday.

Schlittler could be a valuable addition to the rotation or the bullpen, although he profiles more as a starter in the long-term.

Either way, we doubt he leaves the organization anytime soon, and especially not at the deadline.