As the countdown to spring training begins, the New York Yankees are finalizing their roster for the 2026 season. Recently, the team has been relatively quiet on the trade front, save for the significant re-signing of star outfielder Cody Bellinger to a five-year contract worth $162.5 million. In a noteworthy addition, the Yankees have claimed infielder/outfielder Marco Luciano off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.
Luciano, once heralded as one of the top prospects in baseball, has faced challenges settling into his role over the past few seasons, having switched organizations multiple times this offseason. Previously ranked as the fourth-best international prospect in 2018, he was signed by the San Francisco Giants for $2.6 million when he was just 16 years old. Luciano made his minor league debut in 2019, gradually climbing through the ranks and consistently earning prospects rankings from reputable sources like MLB Pipeline, Baseball Prospectus, and Baseball America through to 2024.
He made his major league debut with the Giants in 2023, managing a .641 OPS in 14 games. However, his fortunes fluctuated; his 2024 season saw just 27 appearances and a disappointing slash line of .211/.259/.303. The 2025 season was spent entirely with Triple-A Sacramento. Luciano’s recent path included a brief claim by the Pittsburgh Pirates, followed by a designation for assignment, and a subsequent claim by the Orioles, where he faced the same fate.
Now on the Yankees’ 40-man roster, Luciano’s future with the team remains uncertain given his lack of minor league options—if he does not secure a position on the club’s 26-man roster, he risks being exposed to waivers once again. The Yankees might consider designating him for assignment to manage their roster space, though they could also send him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre if he goes unclaimed.
The competition for a bench spot will be fierce, with players like Oswaldo Cabrera and Jasson Dominguez, both able to be optioned, likely ahead of Luciano unless he showcases significant improvement during the Grapefruit League play. Nevertheless, Luciano’s pedigree as a former top prospect and his array of skills have piqued the Yankees’ interest, providing him with an opportunity to revitalize his career in New York.
With hope for a positive turnaround, the Yankees are eager to see how Luciano performs in the coming months as they prepare for another season of baseball. Fans can look forward to more insights and updates by following Yankees On SI for their daily coverage.