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 – Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner will vault past a $300 million payroll again in 2026, or he won’t.
“It’s the same every year,’’ Steinbrenner said of his business model, first asking GM Brian Cashman about “all the possibilities’’ in trade and free agency.
Next, “I’ll decide whether I’m able or willing to pull the trigger on them,’’ said Steinbrenner, adding that “it’s not going to be any different’’ this winter.
And yet, Steinbrenner would prefer to bring the Yankees’ payroll under the last luxury tax threshold of about $304 million, and the team’s figure currently projects at about $280 million.
Two weeks away from MLB’s Winter Meetings, Steinbrenner addressed several pinstriped subjects during a Monday conference call:
Pursuit of Cody Bellinger, Yankees’ winter upgrades
Given the demand and a thin outfield market, the free agent price is only going higher on Cody Bellinger.
Cashman hasn’t shied from calling Bellinger a top target, but Steinbrenner would only say “we’re looking at every area of need’’ without any specific names.
“We still need another outfielder. We need to improve the bullpen for sure,’’ said Steinbrenner, who expressed satisfaction with his starting rotation.
“I really love our starting rotation next year,’’ said Steinbrenner, adding that “I think we’re pretty good on our infield as well, but we’re going to look at all options as we always do and see what’s possible and what’s not.’’
That suggests shortstop Anthony Volpe returning as the starter (possibly by late April, due to shoulder surgery) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. playing through his free agent walk year.
Steinbrenner said “we’ve tried and we’ll continue to try’’ to add a star player from Japan, but his satisfaction with the rotation might work against a heavy pursuit of Tatsuya Imai.
As currently constructed, “it’s going to be an incredible rotation next year if everyone comes back as planned,’’ said Steinbrenner, hopeful for returns of Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery rehab) and Carlos Rodon (elbow procedure) early in the first half.
Yankees’ 2026 payroll is a “fluid situation”
Trent Grisham’s acceptance of the $22.025 million qualifying offer further burdens the 2026 budget, but whether it limits the Yankees’ spending remains to be seen.
At this point, “it’s way too early’’ to get a fix on player acquisitions and costs.
Ideally, Steinbrenner wants to be under $300 million, but he’ll provide a payroll range before Cashman arrives at the Winter Meetings.
“It’s a fluid situation. That range can go bye-bye in two seconds,’’ said Steinbrenner, who pursued Aaron Judge (successfully), Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Juan Soto (unsuccessfully) at over-range price tags in recent offseasons.
“It’s hard to give you a number, that’s what I’m trying to say.’’
Overall, Steinbrenner wouldn’t detail the Yankees’ profit-loss margin but emphasized added expenses (performance science, player development, stadium costs).
A looming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement (December 2026) won’t alter Steinbrenner’s business model this winter.
He supports a player salary cap, but “only if it’s accompanied by a floor’’ to elevate spending by small market clubs, at a figure “reasonable enough’’ to promote competitive balance.
Running it back with Aaron Boone
Steinbrenner once again pledged support of his manager, saying “you can’t pin this on Aaron Boone, that’s for sure,’’ for a 2025 season that ended short of a championship.
Overall, Steinbrenner admired his club’s commitment and attitude and praised Boone’s leadership and in-game operation.
A four-game Division Series loss to the eventual AL champion Toronto Blue Jays “was on the players’ shoulders, period.
“We went in healthy…I really thought we were going to go on a roll,’’ said Steinbrenner, but “they didn’t hit, we had a couple bad starts’’ in the ALDS.
Steinbrenner “absolutely went into the playoffs believing we could win a championship. The team was good enough to win a championship, but they’ve got to play up to their potential.
“The Blue Jays did and we didn’t.’’
Yankees areas to improve in 2026
Despite saying “there’s nothing coaching wise I feel that we could have done differently,’’ the Yankees moved on from three big-league coaches.
“Mental mistakes, baserunning for sure,’’ rankled Steinbrenner. “That’s why we made a change there…and we’re going to expect better results this year.’’
Steinbrenner “didn’t like’’ a “six-to-seven week period’’ when the Yanks played under .500.
That included an early August sweep at Miami, which Steinbrenner referenced in lamenting being one win shy of repeating as AL East champs – robbing the Yanks of postseason home field advantage.
During that Miami series, Boone became agitated with first base coach Travis Chapman (replaced for 2026) on a baserunning blunder involving Chisholm.
“The baserunning mistakes were not good,’’ Steinbrenner said, speaking generally.
Overall, “we’re too good for that’’ midsummer swoon that hit the Yanks again, “but it was bad (in 2025) and it cost us the division.’’
Dodgers’ dominance, Yankees’ world championship drought
As for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ repeat championship, “they earned every bit of it,’’ said Steinbrenner, now 16 years removed from the Yanks’ last world title.
Steinbrenner has walked a fine line about spending vs. winning, acknowledging both the Dodgers’ “tremendous resources’’ and their ability to play “to their potential’’ through October.
“There was nothing low about my payroll and the Mets’ and look where we ended up,’’ said Steinbrenner. “All we can do is…put together the best roster that we can and not have a six-week period (of losing) like we did last year.’’