As the minor league teams finish up their final month of the regular season, it is becoming clear that the Yankees are going to have tough decisions to make regarding which players to protect from the 2019 Rule 5 draft. In the past, the Yankees have lost players such as Tommy Kahnle and Jose Quintana due to a lack of 40-man roster spots. They have also seen players drafted and returned, such as Nestor Cortes Jr. and Mike Ford, who are now contributing at the big-league level.
Many tough decisions come from balancing the roster with players who are knocking on the door and prospects with high ceilings who may need more time to develop.