Carlos Lagrange's fastball doesn’t just make noise-it roars. When you've got a young pitcher hurling 102-103 mph with such power and precision, it's not about imagining a role; it's about envisioning dominance, picturing October, and seeing hitters walk back to the dugout shaking their heads.
Enter the Yankees' dilemma: starter or reliever? It's the kind of "problem" many teams wish they had. Lagrange has a surplus of talent and potential, but the certainty of his role is still up in the air.
Inside the Yankees' Inner Circle
The Yankees are well aware of Lagrange's potential. With a power fastball, a slider that makes bats miss, and a physique built for innings, he’s got the makings of a frontline starter, not just a bullpen filler.
But baseball isn't just about scouting reports; it's about performance in the strike zone. Last season, Lagrange's 5.74 walks per nine innings in Double-A loomed large, despite his impressive 3.22 ERA over 78.1 innings.
That's the crossroads he faces. While minor league wildness can be forgiven, the majors are far less forgiving.
Matt Blake's Open Door Policy
Pitching coach Matt Blake hinted at the bullpen option, and it wasn’t just idle chatter. It reflected a team already considering various scenarios.
“If he can stay as a starter, there’s huge value in that. But if there’s a need in the bullpen, it’s a conversation we’ll have to have.
We’d like him to start as long as possible and then pivot if necessary. It’s about finding where he helps us most and when.”
This isn’t just theoretical-it’s practical roster management.
Yankees’ Tried-and-True Strategy
The Yankees are no strangers to moving power arms to the bullpen. It’s a proven method to quickly introduce a dynamic weapon to the majors without letting command issues lead to prolonged struggles.
In relief, a two-pitch powerhouse like Lagrange is a different beast. Velocity spikes, the mental strike zone shrinks, and hitters have little time to adjust. Suddenly, a high walk rate isn’t as detrimental when outings are short and sharp.
Picture Lagrange coming in during the seventh inning: the scoreboard buzzing, fastballs hitting 104 mph, a wipeout slider, two strikeouts, and a weak grounder. Fans go wild. Social media anoints him the next bullpen star before he even settles in.
And truthfully, that version of Lagrange might be exactly what the 2026 Yankees need more than a future ace still in development.
The Unspoken Reality
Everyone knows starting pitchers hold more value. But when it comes to pennant races, it’s not about theoretical value-it’s about who delivers in August and October.
If Lagrange finds the strike zone this year, he remains a starter. Simple. If not, the bullpen becomes his fast track to the Bronx.
The Yankees aren't stressed. They're holding a live grenade of an arm, ready to see where it can make the biggest impact.