Yankees offseason news, free agency analysis by Pete Caldera, Anthony McCarron
Pete Caldera, Yankees beat writer for The Record and NorthJersey.com, and SNY’s Anthony McCarron discuss potential Yankees moves this winter.
NEW YORK – As the defending American League champs last offseason, the Yankees pursued top free agent Juan Soto to the Winter Meetings at Nashville – only to finish second to the Mets.
Left at the altar with a $760 million bid, the Yanks pivoted to lefty Max Fried at $218 million, took on most of Cody Bellinger’s $25 million contract via trade and signed Paul Goldschmidt for $12.5 million.
This winter’s strategy centers on retaining Bellinger, followed by the potential for improving the club’s pitching and infield depth in the free agent market.
Here’s how the Yankees might view that market as free agency begins:
7. Danny Jansen
The veteran, right-handed hitting catcher is expected to be a free agent.
Traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the Milwaukee Brewers at the July 31 MLB deadline, Jansen earned $8.5 million in 2025 and has a $12 million mutual option for 2026.
Jansen, 30, has played with three AL East teams, mostly with Toronto, and the Yankees should be seeking a solid catching complement to the lefty-hitting Austin Wells.
6. Kazuma Okamoto
Both Okamoto and lefty, power-hitting first baseman Munetaka Murakami are expected to be posted by their NPBL clubs, making them available to all MLB teams.
The right-handed hitting Okamoto, 29, would seem to be a better fit currently.
As a corner infielder and outfielder with a career .856 OPS in Japan, Okamoto could be a righty complement to Ben Rice, Ryan McMahon or Jasson Dominguez.
5. Pete Alonso
Maybe it’s an unlikely scenario, but what if fellow Boras client Bellinger goes elsewhere?
Suddenly, the Yanks might find themselves in pivot mode again, with a slugging right-handed hitting first baseman (one who thrives in New York) available to the highest bidder.
Having Alonso in the Bronx impacts Ben Rice but also hedges against an injury to Giancarlo Stanton and provides Aaron Judge with more protection – not to mention a clap back at the Mets.
4. Trent Grisham
Here’s the $22 million question…
As their own free agent, do the Yankees extend Grisham, 29, that qualifying offer? And would he accept it, playing at a high one-year salary instead of shopping for a multi-year deal elsewhere?
Bellinger isn’t subject to a QO, having previously received one. By extending it to Grisham, the Yanks have a safety net at center field if he accepts.
3. Michael King
The ex-Yankee is coming off a 2025 season plagued by shoulder and knee issues, limiting him to 15 starts and impacting his free agent market.
Given their high-salaried rotation, the Yanks might be in the one-year bin (Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer anyone?) if they’re searching here at all.
But you’d have to inquire on a talented pitcher whom the Yanks had to part with to net one year of Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres.
2. Kyle Tucker
The lefty-hitting right fielder is this winter’s free agent prize.
If he signs before Bellinger, that might increase Bellinger’s market. However it plays out, you’d expect the Yanks to at least make an inquiry here.
Would they get aggressive if Bellinger goes off the board, entering a bidding war for a four-time All-Star whose reported price tag could exceed $400 million?
1. Cody Bellinger
Back in free agency, the timing is finally right for the lefty-hitting Scott Boras client.
Coming off a solid season at age 30, Bellinger also has unique value to the Yankees as a versatile outfielder who batted .302 with a .909 OPS in 80 games at Yankee Stadium in 2025.
As Bellinger’s market potentially moves north of $150 million, what’s the Yankees’ limit on such a pivotal player, and what would Plan B even look like?
Other free agent possibilities for Yankees
Right-handed hitting first baseman Ty France has some infield versatility, having served as depth on the Blue Jays, who got him from Minnesota at the trade deadline.
A reunion with right-handed hitting infielder Amed Rosario is possible as a short-term backup with a positive clubhouse influence.
As a right-handed hitting corner outfielder, Rob Refsnyder (who came up in the Yankees’ system) has posted an .833 OPS over his last two seasons with the Red Sox.
Speaking of reunions, the talented but off-injured right-handed hitting center fielder Harrison Bader probably merits some consideration.
Righty-hitting outfielder Lane Thomas has a good track record, but he’s coming off a rough season with Cleveland.
If they’re checking on Alonso, what about Josh Naylor? And if only the Yanks had a DH opening and a pressing need for Kyle Schwarber’s monstrous lefty swing.