The Yankees on Saturday brought back another player from last year’s club not named Cody Bellinger.
In this case, it was valuable utilityman Amed Rosario, who played well for the Yankees – especially when it came to crushing lefty-pitching – after coming over via trade before the 2025 deadline.
Rosario agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal, a source confirmed.
The 30-year-old figures to have a similar role to the one he had last season after the Yankees acquired him from the Nationals.
Rosario, who overall hit .302 with an .819 OPS vs. left-handed pitching in 2025, appeared defensively at five positions for the Nationals – third base, shortstop, second base and the corner outfield spots.
He figures to get most of his playing time, at least at the start of the season, platooning at third base with Ryan McMahon. The left-handed hitting McMahon played Gold Glove caliber defense at third after the Yankees acquired him before the trade deadline from the Rockies but struggled at the plate. He hit .214 with 20 homers and a .693 OPS last season, including hitting .208 with four homers and a .641 OPS in 54 games with the Yankees.
Rosario’s ability to play short could also come into play as Anthony Volpe is to miss the first month of the season at least recovering from surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder. At the moment, Jose Caballero will start in Volpe’s place.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is currently the starter at second but the infielder could prove a valuable trade piece at some point in the offseason if the Yankees struggle on the free agent market to fill some of the biggest winter needs. Re-signing Bellinger for the outfield continues to be winter priority No. 1 for the team, followed by adding to both the rotation and bullpen.
Erik Boland started in Newsday’s sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.