Yankees are Playing a Very Dangerous Game With Carlos Lagrange

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Lagrange has been lighting it up in Spring Training, and Yankees fans are buzzing as a result.

In three outings thus far, Lagrange has pitched to the tune of a 0.93 ERA with a 0.72 WHIP, allowing just four hits while registering nine strikeouts over 9.2 innings of work.

New York's top pitching prospect, Lagrange is hitting over 100 mph on his fastball, and he also features some nasty breaking stuff (plus a potentially devastating changeup).

But is it possible the Yankees could ruin Lagrange before he even gets a chance to hit his stride?

More and more, we keep hearing that New York might ultimately bring Lagrange up as a reliever at some point in 2026. He definitely has closer stuff, and Aaron Boone has likened him to Dellin Betances.

I get it: electrifying closers are great, and Lagrange appears to have the archetype of one. But frontline starters are better.

Right now, Lagrange is a starting pitcher, and that's how it should stay unless he shows he cannot be a starter. Much like Betances many years ago.

The last thing the Yankees need is to pull a Joba Chamberlain, moving Lagrange back and forth between roles before they ultimately burn him out.

Not only that, but the biggest concern regarding Lagrange is his command. The right-hander has averaged 5.2 walks per nine innings thus far in his minor-league career. While you obviously want your starters throwing strikes, as well, it's even more imperative for a relief pitcher, who might be coming in with men already on base.

Plus, starting pitchers have far more of an impact. Yes, Mariano Rivera was an all-time great, but would you rather have Mariano or Justin Verlander? As much as it may pain Yankees fans to admit it, the answer is easy.

While no one from the Yankees organization has not outright said that Lagrange will be converted to a reliever, it's not hard to read between the lines.

If Lagrange hits the big-league level in 2026 like some are predicting, it almost certainly won't be as a starter. New York's rotation already runs seven deep when healthy. The bullpen, however, is a question mark.

I could absolutely envision a scenario in which the Yanks call up Lagrange late in the season to come out of the bullpen, much like they did with Chamberlain back in 2007.

Unless the Yankees are absolutely positive that Lagrange is not going to be a long-term starter, the Chamberlain/Betances plan is just not advisable.

Hopefully, all of the recent buzz is nothing more than hearsay, but Boone's comments on the situation evoke a strong sense of foreboding when it comes to New York's plans for the young flamethrower.

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