Yankees protect potential 2025 starter, but risk losing key arm to Rule 5 Draft

On Tuesday evening, ahead of the 6:00 PM EST deadline for protecting eligible players on the 40-man roster, thus keeping them out of the Rule 5 Draft pool, the Yankees tapped their predicted number of two.

Somehow, they still managed to surprise us. Not only did they choose an unorthodox second player to be added to the big-league roster, but they also got a pitcher back out of nowhere.

Carson Coleman, lost to the Texas Rangers once upon a time, had a medical setback and was returned to the Yankees' organization Tuesday evening. He hasn't pitched since 2022, when he posted a 2.13 ERA in 63 1/3 innings, striking out 95 men between High-A and Double-A. If he has any chance at a full recovery, the Yankees will be thankful to have him back in their system.

As for the two players who are new to the Yankees' 40-man? New York added infielder Caleb Durbin, as expected; he will contend for the starting second base role out of spring training next year, and brings an allergy to strikeouts and surprising versatility to the fold. He was named the Arizona Fall League's Breakout Player of the Year on Tuesday as well, setting a league record for stolen bases and hitting .312 with a .975 OPS.

Their second pick? Catcher Jesús Rodríguez, who wasn't estimated by many to be involved in the proceedings. The 22-year-old hit .302 with 10 homers and an .856 OPS last year, mostly at Hudson Valley (though five of the homers came in 23 games with Double-A Somerset). He'll join recent addition J.C. Escarra and Carlos Narvaez below Austin Wells and Jose Trevino on the Yankees' catching depth chart.

Yankees likely to lose Zach Messinger in Rule 5 Draft after protecting Caleb Durbin, Jesús Rodríguez

Does this mean Trevino might be a part of the end-of-week non-tender wave the Yankees are dancing around, given their roster budget crunch? Regardless, it was unexpected.

The Yankees sticking with this pair means they'll leave No. 17 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) Zach Messinger unprotected. The 25-year-old hurler is a certified strike thrower, though Pinstripe Alley noted that he hasn't made significant progress in reshaping his fastball since being drafted. He'll more than likely be taken, and will get a chance to provide depth on one of MLB's bottom-five teams.

Other notable unprotected players include slugging first baseman TJ Rumfield and former first-round pick Anthony Seigler, but it's arms who are taken most often, so Messinger presents the highest flight risk.

Regardless, the Yankees took care of their most important piece of business on Tuesday, and Durbin's big-league path has now been a bit further paved.