NEW YORK – If the Yankees find a way to reunite with Cody Bellinger, their winter work might be more about reshaping than remaking a roster that won 94 games in 2025.
While the lefty-hitting Bellinger is the offseason centerpiece, the Yanks also need to upgrade their bullpen and rotation depth.
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Finding some right-handed hitting complements to their lefty-heavy position core is a task that could continue up to, and beyond, the February report date for pitchers and catchers.
Yankees’ 2026 projected starting rotation
Oct 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) pitches during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Who stays: RHPs Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt; LHPs Max Fried, Carlos Rodon.
Who goes: RHP Allan Winans, LHP Ryan Yarbrough.
Bottom line: After surgery to shave down a bone spur (elbow), Rodon isn’t due back until May. Rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Cole might be ready by early June and Schmidt could return by September.
That’s a lot of uncertainty before spring training, and the Yanks should be actively seeking to add short-term veteran rotation depth this winter.
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The versatile Yarbrough might resurface in spring training.
Given the high-priced, long-term commitments to Cole, Fried and Rodon, would the Yanks spend on a mid-level free agent starter and/or make Gil or Warren part of a trade discussion?
Yankees’ 2026 projected bullpen
Oct 2, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher David Bednar (53) and catcher Austin Wells (28) react after game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Who stays: RHPs David Bednar, Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, Yerry de los Santos; LHPs Tim Hill, Brent Headrick.
Who goes: RHPs Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Mark Leiter Jr., Jonathan Loaisiga, Scott Effross, Jake Cousins, Ian Hamilton, Paul Blackburn, Jake Bird.
Bottom line: Williams and Weaver are free agents, while Leiter Jr., Effross, Cousins, Hamilton and Bird are non-tender candidates.
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Unlikely to trigger Loaisiga’s $5 million option, the Yankees could still seek a reunion with the talented, oft-injured reliever on a lower-guarantee deal with incentives.
Doval is a potential trade candidate for clubs seeking a closer. He struggled out of that role in the Bronx, and the arbitration-eligible Doval’s reported $6.6 million contract for 2026 is moveable.
Yankees’ 2026 projected infielders
Who stays: Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, Jose Caballero, Ryan McMahon, Oswaldo Cabrera.
Who goes: Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario.
Bottom line: Goldschmidt, 38, said he wants to continue playing, but that’s likely to be elsewhere.
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But fellow free agent Rosario might be in play for the Yanks on a one-year deal; if not, they could be searching for another right-handed hitting reserve who can play the corner spots.
Volpe’s offseason shoulder surgery will cost him at least the first month of the season, opening a path for Caballero, Cabrera, or a candidate outside the organization.
Cabrera should be a full go following last May’s ankle fracture. Chisholm enters his free agent walk year, and a contract extension seems unlikely.
Yankees’ projected 2026 outfielders/DH
New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) hits a three run double in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium. All players wore #42 for Jackie Robinson Day.
Who stays: Aaron Judge, Jasson Dominguez, Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger.
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Who goes: Trent Grisham, Austin Slater.
Bottom line: The guess here is that the lefty-hitting Bellinger, a free agent, is re-signed to a multi-year contract.
Bellinger is too valuable to let go as a versatile defender, one who also tags lefty pitching and thrives at Yankee Stadium.
But at this time last year, we also couldn’t see Juan Soto leaving the Bronx.
In this configuration, Bellinger becomes the regular center fielder, with the lefty-hitting Grisham exiting as a free agent.
Another free agent, Slater barely played upon his trade deadline arrival, leaving the Yanks to search for a righty hitting veteran backup outfielder on a short-term deal.
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Yankees’ projected 2026 catchers
Oct 1, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) celebrates after hitting an hits an RBI single during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Who stays: Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra.
Who goes: None.
Bottom line: The Yankees traded so much catching capital over the last 12 months, impacting their depth at the position.
Rather than carry Escarra as a second lefty-hitting catcher, and with the anticipation of Ben Rice being the regular first baseman, the Yanks could seek a righty-hitting veteran backup to Wells.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees roster 2026 predictions for trades and free agency