GONE IN A PICK: Yankees Scramble to Protect Triple-Digit Reliever Eric Reyzelman from Rule 5 Draft.vc

BRONX, NY — The quiet offseason for the New York Yankees has abruptly turned into a scramble as whispers have turned to confirmed reports: their triple-digit throwing reliever, Eric Reyzelman, has become a prime Rule 5 Draft target.

Reyzelman, a young arm throwing fire in the high minors, is now just one pick away from being snatched by a rival team for a fraction of his value. For the Yankees, losing a talent like this before he ever reaches the Bronx would reshape their bullpen plans overnight and spark the kind of regret that lingers for years (as it did when they lost Garrett Whitlock to Boston years ago).

The Unprotected Fireballer

While the Yankees successfully protected top prospects like Spencer Jones and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, they faced a devastating 40-man roster crunch, forcing them to leave several high-upside arms exposed. The name causing the most internal panic is Eric Reyzelman.

• The Velocity: Reyzelman routinely sits in the 97-99 mph range with his fastball, touching triple digits (100+ mph), an absolute necessity for modern high-leverage relief work. His power combined with a sharp slider makes him an immediate weapon.
• The Problem: The right-hander finished the 2025 season splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, posting respectable numbers and demonstrating the stuff necessary to succeed in a Major League bullpen right now.
• The Target: Rival teams, particularly those with strong pitching development (like the Guardians or Rays), see Reyzelman as a high-floor, cost-controlled piece they could stash in their bullpen for the entire season. For a mere $100,000 fee, they acquire a potential long-term closer.

The Front Office’s Tension: A Race Against the Clock

General Manager Brian Cashman and his staff now face a serious dilemma: they were counting on Reyzelman as an internal solution to their ongoing bullpen depth issues in 2026. The tension is rising because the deadline for the Rule 5 Draft is looming at the Winter Meetings, and every hour matters.

The Yankees’ options are limited and drastic:

1. Hope and Pray: The riskiest option—cross their fingers that a team doesn’t think Reyzelman is polished enough to stick on a 26-man roster for a full season (the Rule 5 requirement).
2. Trade for a Spot: The most likely immediate action—trade a minor-level prospect (who is not Rule 5 eligible) or a low-value player currently on the 40-man roster to open up one last crucial spot, and then immediately add Reyzelman. This is the only way to guarantee his safety.
3. Trade Him First: Trade Reyzelman himself to a non-contending team before the draft for a lesser prospect return, guaranteeing they get something instead of losing him for just $100,000.

The loss of a high-velocity arm like Reyzelman—especially given the Yankees’ ongoing need for reliable bullpen help—would be devastating, making the next few hours of the Winter Meetings a scramble to secure their triple-digit reliever.