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.
LAS VEGAS – A year after losing the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Yankees’ winter plan revolves around another Scott Boras client.
In a thin market for outfielders, Cody Bellinger is a free agent the Yanks “certainly would love to have come back,’’ said general manager Brian Cashman.
“We’d be better served if we can retain him,’’ Cashman said Wednesday. “If not, we’ll have to look at alternative ways to fill it and see where it takes us.’’
But losing out to, say, the Phillies, Dodgers or Mets for Bellinger’s services would force the Yankees to replace a key lefty hitter at a vital position, along with seeking bullpen arms, rotation depth and bench help.
Yankees’ pursuit of Cody Bellinger
Speaking with reporters remotely, Cashman is not attending MLB’s GM Meetings here due to an unspecified, non-baseball related issue, though the Yanks are represented by executives including assistant GM Michael Fishman.
“Last year we put all our chips in the Soto basket and had to wait that one out,’’ said Cashman, whose pivot – after Soto signed a record deal with the Mets – included trading for Bellinger and signing lefty ace Max Fried.
By the start of MLB’s Winter Meetings in four weeks at Orlando, Fla., “hopefully we’ll have a pretty clear definition of what’s going on,’’ Cashman said of the Bellinger situation.
In a market driven by deep-pocketed contenders, Bellinger, 30, might command a long-term contract closer to $200 million, after opting out of the final year of his deal at $25 million.
Speaking generally, Cashman said that payroll “is usually not an issue’’ for the Yankees, but that owner Hal Steinbrenner has yet to define for his GM what the “ultimate payroll number’’ will be for 2026.
Yankees’ interest in Trent Grisham
By extending the qualifying offer to Trent Grisham, Cashman said the Yankees were “comfortable’’ in committing $22.025 million for one year of the lefty-hitting center fielder.
Grishman is just as likely to decline it and move into free agency.
“(Grisham) had a hell of a year for us,’’ said Cashman. “We’d be happy if he accepted.’’
Should Grisham accept, Cashman said he’d still engage Boras on Bellinger.
If Grisham rejects, “we’ll be talking to both Grisham and Bellinger, regardless.’’
Jasson Dominguez is viewed strictly as a corner outfielder and he’ll be playing Winter Ball, said Cashman, who added that slugging, lefty-hitting center field prospect Spencer Jones is currently working out at Yankee Stadium.
That was Jones’ choice, said Cashman, with the intent to “hit the ground running heading into spring training,’’ where Jones hopes to win a job outright.
And if both Grisham and Bellinger are signed by the Yanks, “maybe it creates trade flexibility,’’ said Cashman, though “I don’t know where any of this is going to take us.
“Stay tuned.’’
Yankees’ search for pitching upgrades, depth
Starters Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt won’t start the 2026 season on time, creating an immediate challenge.
Cashman suggested the potential for importing outside starting depth, which seems like a must – either via trade, free agency or internationally.
Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, 27, is expected to be posted this month by his NPBL team, making him available in negotiations with all 30 MLB clubs.
“We’ll play in those markets if it’s a fit for us,’’ said Cashman, who previously pursued right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, who signed with the world champion Dodgers.
Cashman identified the bullpen as something “we need to improve upon,’’ adding that he planned to engage with his own free agents Devin Williams and Luke Weaver.
Both could be closers elsewhere, but they’d be setup relievers in the Bronx, behind David Bednar.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s long-term potential in pinstripes, Yankees’ search for balance at catcher
Cashman views Ben Rice as an everyday player and “right now, the lane is first base, as teams continue to make inquiries about the lefty hitter who made an impact in 2025.
Acknowledging that “you’d like to have the balance’’ of a right-handed hitting catcher to pair with lefty-hitting Austin Wells, Cashman added that “the catching market is very thin.’’
Free agent catcher Danny Jansen fits that current Yankee need, and he’s likely to be in demand for several contenders.
Cashman said he spoke with Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s agent Wednesday.
Entering his free agent walk year, Chisholm is “one of the best second basemen in the game,’’ said Cashman, adding that the idea of a contract extension didn’t come up.
But if the Chisholm camp wanted to have “a legitimate conversation about’’ the lefty hitter’s value to the Yanks going forward, Cashman said he’s open to it.
Cashman said he “made the difficult decision to look for a different lead voice’’ letting go of longtime head of international scouting Donny Rowland, whose contract just expired.