Whether right or wrong, the New York Yankees have a long-standing tradition of going to free agency with their players and not giving them early extensions. Many other organizations do not have this tradition. On the contrary, many other organizations have begun a trend of locking up their future stars before even reaching the Major Leagues. So while the Yankees may not make a new tradition out of extending their players, we’ll examine the case for three such players who deserve consideration.

FOLLOWING THE TREND OF THE TOP PROSPECT: GEORGE LOMBARD JR

The New York Yankees aren’t much for following the latest trends as soon as they happen. At times, it seems as if New York tends to follow the model set forth by Casey Stengel and Miller Huggins. And when it comes to the idea of extending a player who hasn’t stepped foot in the Majors, the Yankees might as well still be called the Highlanders. However, following this trend serves two purposes for the Bronx Bombers. First, it incentivizes the Yankees to bring up George Lombard Jr (GLJ) as soon as it’s potentially possible.

The Yankees tend to slow-play the guys they don’t really want in the Majors and rush through the guys that they do (i.e., Clint Frazier (slow-played) and Anthony Volpe (rushed)). With GLJ, the Yankees have a primed defensive shortstop who is actually capable of playing the position in all facets of the positional job requirements (most notably the differences in GLJ and Volpe’s throwing ability), but also a player whose offensive upside has continued to improve at every level.

Anthony Volpe has three seasons in the Major Leagues to try and build his case for the everyday shortstop job, despite clear evidence against his abilities to actually do the job. This season, the Yankees’ front office and managerial staff seemed to finally take their heads out of the sand on his ability. Now, that said, after Volpe’s recall following Jose Caballero’s injury, Anthony performed admirably enough to remain in the Majors over Spencer Jones, who performed terribly in his two-week audition.

All of that being said, GLJ is not like Anthony Volpe, whom all other organizations view as a second baseman, at best. GLJ is a shortstop who had the potential to rise up and become a permanent fixture in the Yankees lineup for years to come. So why not push the timeline up a tad and extend the future superstar before the clamoring starts about his potential trade-bait status? This is the Yankees’ opportunity to signal to the world that New York is ready, willing, and able to make the call on a future rising star.

RISING STAR SLUGGER: BEN RICE

Speaking of a rising star, Ben Rice is the second candidate for a potential extension by the New York Yankees. Unlike George Lombard Jr., Rice has already begun proving himself at the Major League level. What started as a feel-good underdog story has quickly transformed into one of the Yankees’ most important developmental victories in years. Drafted outside the early rounds and originally viewed more as organizational depth than a future centerpiece, Rice has forced his way into the conversation with his offensive upside, plate discipline, and versatility.

The modern game values hitters who can control the strike zone, work counts, and punish mistakes with power. Rice checks every one of those boxes. His ability to consistently get on base while also driving the baseball has made him one of the more dangerous young left-handed bats in the Yankees organization. In many ways, he represents the type of offensive profile the Yankees have desperately lacked over the years: a hitter capable of adjusting, grinding through at-bats, and avoiding the all-or-nothing approach that has plagued the lineup for stretches.

The Yankees also have another reason to seriously consider an early extension with Rice: cost certainty at a premium offensive position. Whether Rice ultimately settles in as a catcher, first baseman, designated hitter, or some combination of all three, his bat appears legitimate enough to remain in the lineup long-term. Locking him up now before he potentially explodes offensively could save the organization tens of millions of dollars down the line.

Perhaps most importantly, Rice feels like the type of player fans naturally gravitate toward. He wasn’t the hyped first-round phenom. He wasn’t the top international signing. He earned his way through the system and developed into a legitimate contributor. Yankee fans respect that kind of rise. If the organization truly believes Rice can become a middle-of-the-order fixture, extending him early would send a message that the Yankees are finally willing to reward and invest in their own developmental success stories before they become expensive stars.

FUTURE ACE OF TODAY: CAM SCHLITTLER

Every championship-caliber Yankees era has been built around dominant frontline pitching. From Whitey Ford to Ron Guidry to Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia, the Yankees have always thrived when they possessed an arm capable of stabilizing an entire rotation. Cam Schlittler has the potential to become the next great homegrown arm to carry that responsibility.

For years, one of the biggest criticisms of the Yankees organization has been its inability to consistently develop elite starting pitching internally. While the Yankees have excelled at finding bullpen pieces and back-end starters, true frontline starters have often required trades or massive free-agent contracts. Schlittler represents an opportunity to potentially change that narrative.

The right-hander possesses the kind of power arsenal modern teams covet. His fastball explodes through the zone with late life, while his secondary pitches continue to improve and generate swing-and-miss potential. More importantly, he has shown the mentality needed to pitch in high-pressure environments. Some prospects have electric stuff but lack the poise necessary for New York. Schlittler, however, appears unfazed by expectations, and that confidence matters when projecting future Yankees stars.

An early extension would also be a gamble worth taking because of how expensive frontline pitching has become across baseball. Teams are paying astronomical prices for top-of-the-rotation arms in free agency. If the Yankees truly believe Schlittler can develop into a future ace or even a reliable number-two starter, buying out arbitration years early could provide tremendous long-term value.

There’s another layer to this discussion as well: organizational identity. The Yankees have spent years searching for sustainable roster construction while balancing expensive veteran contracts. Extending young players like Schlittler before they become established stars would create greater financial flexibility and roster stability for the future.

BREAKING TRADITION DOESN’T MEAN ABANDONING IT

The Yankees do not need to suddenly become the Atlanta Braves or Tampa Bay Rays by extending every young player who flashes potential. There’s value in patience and allowing players to prove themselves over time. However, baseball has changed dramatically, and organizations that adapt tend to stay ahead of the curve.

George Lombard Jr., Ben Rice, and Cam Schlittler each represent different types of opportunities. Lombard symbolizes the future face of the franchise and a premium defensive cornerstone. Rice represents a breakout offensive success story developed internally. Schlittler offers the tantalizing possibility of a cost-controlled frontline starter developed within the system.

The Yankees have long operated under the belief that the pinstripes themselves are enough to keep players around. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it leads to losing leverage, paying significantly more later, or watching relationships deteriorate unnecessarily. Early extensions are no longer simply “small market” tactics. They’ve become a smart organizational strategy.

If the Yankees truly want to evolve while maintaining their championship expectations, these are exactly the types of players worth betting on before the rest of baseball fully realizes their value.