A reunion between the Yankees and Cody Bellinger always made sense. Now that that box has been checked, Brian Cashman shouldn’t consider his Bombers a finished product.
Rather, Bellinger’s agreement on a five-year, $162.5 million deal, which comes with some added perks, merely maintains a roster that is more or less the same as the one that couldn’t get past the Blue Jays in the ALDS last season. While Cashman and company have insisted that the Yankees like the team that they have in place — they did tie Toronto for the best record in the American League and boasted baseball’s best offense last year — there is still room for improvement now that Bellinger has been taken care of.
With the club’s top priority returning and the Yankees’ 2026 competitive balance tax payroll currently projected to be $317.8 million, per FanGraphs, what could the pinstripers do next?
ACQUIRE ANOTHER STARTER
The Yankees have already addressed their rotation this offseason, making Ryan Weathers their most notable new arrival after swinging a deal with the Marlins. However, Weathers should be seen as more of a project, and he’s an injury risk.
So is Luis Gil. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt will all begin the season on the injured list. Rodón, Max Fried, Cam Schlittler and Will Warren are all coming off career-high workloads. And Weathers, Schlittler, Warren and Gil are still maturing.
So while the Yankees have a lot of talented starters, this group also requires time and patience for health and development. An extra starter would protect the Yankees’ rotation from another injury while raising the group’s ceiling should it ever reach full strength.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, one player of interest came off the board Wednesday night, as the Mets and Brewers agreed to a blockbuster trade that will send Freddy Peralta to Queens. However, the Yankees have also checked in on Washington’s MacKenzie Gore, and they’ve previously been linked to Miami’s Sandy Alcantara, whose employer has become a go-to trade partner for New York. The Twins have Joe Ryan and Pablo López, but The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that Minnesota planned on keeping the two in December.
Keep in mind, the cost of acquiring a starter via trade has been incredibly high this winter.
As for free agents, Zac Gallen and Framber Valdez remain at the top of the market, but the Yankees haven’t expressed serious interest in either. Less pricey options include Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt.
That said, the Yankees may not feel compelled to spend much on another starter, be it with money or trade chips, given all the arms on hand and Peralta’s removal from the trade block. Cashman has repeatedly mentioned adding starters with bullpen flexibility — Weathers and re-signed swingmen Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn fit that description — and the team is high on top pitching prospect Elmer Rodríguez.
BEEF UP THE BULLPEN
The Yankees have already added two new relievers to the major league roster this offseason, claiming Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Astros and nabbing Cade Winquest from the Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft. While the Yankees have a knack for finding diamonds in the rough for their bullpen, neither should be considered a significant add or guaranteed a roster spot.
With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver defecting to Queens, among other departures, the top of the Yankees’ bullpen features closer David Bednar, nasty-but-erratic setup men Camilo Doval and Fernando Cruz, and side-arming southpaw Tim Hill. After that, the projected bullpen options include Yarbrough, Blackburn, Ort, Winquest, Brent Headrick, Yerry De Los Santos and Jayvien Sandridge.
That’s a group that could and should be upgraded, but the Yankees, typically adverse to spending lavishly on bullpen help, passed over a free agent class that included a few closers and high-leverage relievers.
Perhaps some assistance will come via trade. The Yankees could also shift one of their young starters to the pen if they add to the rotation.
TRADE A YOUNG OF, ADD A RIGHT-HANDED HITTER
With Bellinger staying in left field and potentially under contract for five years, Trent Grisham back in center and Aaron Judge occupying right, the Yankees could dangle outfielders Jasson Domínguez or Spencer Jones in trade talks for pitching.
The two have plenty of potential, but the switching-hitting Domínguez, 22, is a defensive liability in left — the Yankees don’t view him as an option in center — and has yet to show that he’s a threat from the right side of the plate. The 24-year-old Jones, a left-handed hitter, has raw power but comes with swing-and-miss concerns.
Jones is also a long-term option for center field with Grisham on a one-year deal.
For now, the youngsters project as fourth outfielders barring an injury to one of the veterans. While more at-bats could become available if Giancarlo Stanton ends up on the IL yet again, Domínguez and Jones are still developing and could use every day playing time.
The Yankees, meanwhile, would benefit from adding a right-handed hitting outfielder to their bench, as their lineup is incredibly left-handed. The team has shown interest in a few such players this offseason, including Austin Hays and ex-Yankee Harrison Bader.
The Yankees are also seeking a right-handed hitter who catches, as incumbent backstops Austin Wells, J.C Escarra and Ben Rice are all lefties.
