It's not every day you hear about the mighty New York Yankees having to wait their turn, but the 2025 MLB draft is serving them a dose of patience. Thanks to their deep pockets and a tendency to splash cash, the Yankees have skimmed over the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, leaving them with a penalty of ten spots in the draft order.
Their expected No. 29 pick has slid back to No. 39.
It's a curveball that puts them picking in the Competitive Balance Round A, typically reserved for teams in smaller markets with smaller revenue pools. But the boys in pinstripes are nothing if not resourceful, and they'll have to make this work.
Joining them in this zone are familiar faces: both the Los Angeles Dodgers, who bested them in the World Series, and crosstown rivals, the New York Mets, find themselves in the same boat. It's a crowded space for some of baseball's biggest spenders.
So what does this all mean for the Yankees' strategy? Enter Baseball America, whose prospect analysts rolled up their sleeves and did a mock draft scenario earlier this week.
With the Yankees’ delayed first pick, they’ve eyed Gavin Fien from Great Oak High School in Temecula, California. The intriguing part?
Fien is a jack-of-all-trades, adept in both the infield and outfield, and ranks as the No. 30 prospect, making him a solid choice even at this lower pick.
Fien’s potential to play third base certainly adds to his appeal, plugging a hole the Yankees are keen to fill. Of course, like any high school talent, he brings the promise of future potential but will need time to develop into a big-league ready player.
Yet, this is a journey the Yankees know well. Just a couple of years back, George Lombard Jr. was picked fresh out of high school and has been dazzling during his stint at Major League camp, although he too has a bit more growing to do.
Last year’s top pick for the Yankees saw them snag a pitcher, Alabama’s own Ben Hess. Prior to that, Lombard was their focus, with the team alternating between picking pitchers and position players in recent years.
Catcher Austin Wells, drafted in 2020, has claimed a spot with the Yankees, unlike Trey Sweeney, chosen the following year, who now plays for the Detroit Tigers after two trades. Meanwhile, Spencer Jones, the 2022 pick, continues his climb through the minor leagues.
So, as the stage sets in Atlanta during All-Star Weekend from July 13-14, the Yankees will await their moment on the clock, armed with their homework and ready to make their move amidst baseball’s best. They're playing the long game here, building not just a team, but a roster that can keep their formidable legacy alive. And if history serves any lesson, it's that you should never count the Yankees out.
