New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman should provide more clarity on the club’s offseason when he speaks to the media this week at MLB’s GM meetings in Las Vegas. When Cashman last addressed reporters a few weeks ago, the Yankees had yet to hold pro scouting meetings, which shape their offseason.

The Yankees have a few key needs to fill this offseason, including in the outfield and bullpen. With a few questions in the rotation, they also could use another starting pitcher.

Below are the 10 best free-agent fits for the Yankees this offseason. It does not mean these are the 10 best players available in free agency. How the Yankees’ roster is built and their needs play a major role in these rankings. Contract projections are from Tim Britton’s rankings in The Athletic.

Let’s get to it.

Kyle Tucker is projected to land the most lucrative free-agent contract this offseason. (Matt Dirksen / Chicago Cubs / Getty Images)

1. Kyle Tucker, OF, 29 years old

Britton’s contract projection: 12 years, $460 million 

Tucker is the prize of this year’s free-agent class. We already did a breakdown of why he should be the Yankees’ top priority this offseason. In short, Tucker is clearly the best offensive player available. In the past three seasons, his 147 wRC+ ranks seventh best across MLB. Over those three years, Tucker ranks 18th in fWAR.

He had a weird 2025 season with the Chicago Cubs. He played through a hairline fracture in his right hand, which contributed to his numbers dipping during the summer. He also sustained a calf strain toward the end of the season. Still, Tucker finished with a 136 wRC+, a top-20 mark in the sport.

Sure, there are concerns that Tucker doesn’t possess elite bat speed, and his sprint speed is well below average, but fewer offensive talents of his stature become available in free agency nowadays. The Yankees should be in the business of acquiring the best possible talent, and Tucker is that player this offseason.

It remains to be seen if the Yankees would be willing to pay significantly more for Tucker rather than sticking with the next player in this ranking.

2. Cody Bellinger, OF, 30 years old

Britton’s contract projection: 7 years, $182 million 

Bellinger was fantastic in 2025, finishing with a 125 wRC+ and 4.9 fWAR. His ability to play all three outfield spots significantly helped the Yankees this season. He also can handle first base, though he played there sparingly for New York.

The biggest reason he shouldn’t top this list is because of his inconsistency over the past several seasons. He’s gone from winning the National League MVP to being non-tendered by the Los Angeles Dodgers to being traded in a salary dump to being one of the better overall players this season. Trusting Bellinger to have a high floor over the long term may be a riskier bet than Tucker, who has not finished a season with fewer than 4 fWAR in the past five years.

Of all the teams that could show interest in Bellinger, the Yankees might be the best fit for him. He had a .909 OPS at home this season compared to a .715 OPS on the road. Make no mistake: Signing Bellinger would not be a bad outcome for the Yankees.

3. Tatsuya Imai, SP, 27 years old

Britton’s contract projection: 8 years, $190 million 

The Yankees could benefit from adding another starting pitcher. They will be without Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt when the season begins. It is unclear how Cole and Schmidt will perform after undergoing major elbow surgeries.

Imai posted a 1.92 ERA over 163 2/3 innings for the Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball. The Yankees have thoroughly scouted Imai and have shown interest in re-establishing a presence in the Japanese market.

Imai’s fastball sits around 95 mph, with a top velocity of 99 mph this season. His slider was his best pitch, recording a 45 percent whiff rate. It’s an intriguing slider because it breaks arm-side, similar to Trey Yesavage’s slider. Imai also throws a splitter, curveball and sinker. Given the Yankees’ success adjusting pitchers’ arsenals and harnessing their strengths, Imai’s pitch mix could get even better in their organization.

He’s on the smaller side for a starter, at 5 feet 11, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto has become one of MLB’s top pitchers at 5-10.

4. Kazuma Okamoto, 1B/3B, 29 years old

Britton’s contract projection: 4 years, $78.5 million 

The Yankees could use a platoon partner for Ben Rice at first base and Ryan McMahon at third base. There’s no better option on the market for that role than Okamoto. Munetaka Murakami is the best Japanese player available this offseason, but I don’t see how he fits. He’s a left-handed slugger who is a poor defensive option at first and third base. He can’t be a designated hitter with the Yankees because of Giancarlo Stanton. Murakami is a poor roster fit.

Okamoto, a right-handed-hitting corner infielder, has six 30-plus home run seasons in NPB. In 69 games for the Yomiuri Giants this season, Okamoto posted a 1.014 OPS. His 214 wRC+ was the best in Japan. His 11.3 percent strikeout rate and 90 percent in-zone contact rate this season were career-highs.

Somewhere in free agency he may find a starting job, which the Yankees can’t currently guarantee him. That may hurt their chances of signing him. But with his power potential combined with excellent contact skills, Okamoto stands out as a strong match; few available hitters better fit what the Yankees should be looking for this offseason.

5. Trent Grisham, OF, 29 years old

Britton’s contract projection: 3 years, $54 million 

The Yankees extended the qualifying offer to Grisham last week. He has until Nov. 18 to accept the one-year, $22.025 million contract offer. If he doesn’t and signs elsewhere in free agency, the Yankees would get a 2026 compensatory draft pick after the fourth round is complete.

This time last year, it would have been shocking for Grisham to be in this spot. But he hit 34 home runs and posted a 129 wRC+ as a center fielder this season, and stands to cash in after making just $5 million this year. Only Minnesota Twins star Byron Buxton had a higher wRC+ as a center fielder this season.

Because of his declining athleticism, there should be concern about giving Grisham a long-term deal. His defense slipped, and he was one of MLB’s worst defenders in center field. If his sprint speed continues falling, he’ll be a corner outfielder sooner rather than later.

It wouldn’t be a bad outcome for the Yankees if Grisham accepted the qualifying offer, but only if it doesn’t greatly impact their budget.

Robert Suarez had a 2.97 ERA and 40 saves for the Padres this season. (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)

6. Robert Suarez, RP, 35 years old

Britton’s contract projection: 3 years, $54 million 

Edwin Díaz is the best available closer, with Suarez right behind him. The New York Mets extended the qualifying offer to Díaz, which means landing him would cost the Yankees their second- and fifth-highest selections in the 2026 draft, as well as $1 million from their international bonus pool for the upcoming signing period. Those penalties are a bit rich for a closer, albeit a great one. But if the Yankees do go after someone with a qualifying offer attached, it should be Tucker.

Suarez is in his mid-30s, but he’s still throwing gas. His average fastball velocity this season was 98.6 mph. The Yankees didn’t have enough flamethrowers in their bullpen in 2025. They added David Bednar and Camilo Doval at the trade deadline, which helped the bullpen’s velocity, but they could use more.

Suárez had 40 saves and a 2.97 ERA this season for the San Diego Padres. His ERA was slightly inflated by two poor outings in which he allowed five runs while recording only one out. Pairing Suarez and Bednar at the back end of the Yankees’ bullpen would give them one of the best one-two punches in baseball.

7. Brad Keller, RP, 30 years old

Britton’s contract projection: 3 years, $30 million 

The Yankees’ bullpen needs a makeover after a disappointing season, and Keller would be a perfect fit. His average fastball sat at 97.1 mph this season for the Cubs. His 27.2 percent strikeout rate ranked in the 80th percentile. His 56.6 percent ground-ball rate ranked in the 95th percentile. There are few relievers available who get a ton of strikeouts while limiting hard contact.

Keller is similar to Luke Weaver in that he’s a converted starter who couldn’t find consistency in the rotation. Keller added 3 mph to his fastball by moving to the bullpen and became one of the most dependable setup men in the sport.

8. Ryan Helsley, RP, 31 years old

Britton’s contract projection: 1 year, $16 million 

Helsley was a disaster for the Mets after they acquired him at the trade deadline from the St. Louis Cardinals. In 22 games for New York, he had a 7.20 ERA. Obviously, those are disastrous numbers and Mets fans are overjoyed he will be playing elsewhere in 2026.

So why should the Yankees be interested? Helsley struggled with pitch tipping. That was the main reason his numbers tanked with the Mets. If that issue has been resolved, he could be a bounce-back candidate. His Stuff+ this season was 127, the second-best mark of his career. His fastball sits just below 100 mph, and he pairs it with a nasty slider. Helsley compiled the second-most fWAR among relievers between 2022 and 2024. If his 2025 season was an aberration, signing him to a one-year deal could be a steal this winter.

9. Austin Hays, OF, 30 years old

Britton’s contract projection: N/A

The Yankees could use a right-handed-hitting outfielder. Few make more sense than Hays, who should not cost much in free agency. He had a .949 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025. For his career, he has an .819 OPS versus lefties.

Hays, 30, has primarily played left field, and if Jasson Domínguez is the Yankees’ starting left fielder, the veteran would make a great platoon partner.

10. Danny Jansen, C, 30 years old

Britton’s contract projection: 1 year, $8 million 

The Yankees had three left-handed-hitting catchers last season. It seems unlikely they’ll do that again, which may make J.C. Escarra a trade candidate this offseason because Austin Wells and Rice will be on the roster, barring an unforeseen trade.

Jansen is one of the best blockers behind the plate, but he’s mediocre at framing. The Yankees, as an organization, are elite at framing. Perhaps they could help the veteran with his framing skills if they added him. Jansen also had a .742 OPS against left-handed pitching this season.