Early look at Yankees’ 10 potential free agents with predictions

NEW YORK — The Yankees tried hard to keep their superstar 1A last winter when Juan Soto hit the free agent market after one great season hitting behind Aaron Judge.

When $760 million over 16 seasons wasn’t enough to keep Soto from heading to Queens to play for the Mets for 15 years and $765 million plus perks, the Yankees pivoted to spending big on a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher and two former MVPs for the lineup, left-hander Max Fried and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt as free agents and Cody Bellinger in a trade to replace Soto’s left-handed power while bringing excellent defense at all three outfield spots plus first base.

The Yankees will have more tough money calls to make this coming offseason with 10 players on their roster who can become free agents.

Will they keep Bellinger if he does what everyone suspects and passes on vesting his $25 million player option for 2026?

Will they try to bring back center fielder Trent Grisham, who has followed a poor first season with the Yankees with a fabulous second one that’s included a career-best 21 homers and what figures to be a third Gold Glove?

What about Luke Weaver? They’ve had him eating up a lot of bullpen innings cheap the last two seasons. He’s going to get paid by someone.

Will the Yankees move on from Goldschmidt and hand first base to Ben Rice, who suddenly is catching more than Austin Wells?

One decision that surely will be a formality:

Two-time All-Star reliever Devin Williams will be a one-and-done Yankee after following nothing but great seasons in Milwaukee with a dud for the ages in pinstripes.

Here is an early look at the Yankees’ 10 potential free agents with predictions on whether they’ll stay or go:

CODY BELLINGER, OF/1B

Age: 30 (31 on July 13, 2026).

Contract: Making $27.5M in first of two player-option seasons included in a three-year, $80M pact signed with Cubs on 2/25/24. Has $25 million player option or $5 million buyout for 2026.

2025 hitting stats: Yankees, .269 average, 431 AB, 65 runs, 116 hits, 21 HR, 68 RBI, 10 SB, .808 OPS, 111 games.

2025 fielding stats: 0 errors, 55 games (38 starts) in left field; 0 errors, 36 games (34 starts) in right field; 2 errors, 34 games (33 starts) in center field; 0 errors, 6 games (2 starts) at first base.

Prediction: Re-signs with Yankees.

PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT

Age: 37 (38 on Sept. 10, 2025).

Contract: Making $12.5 million on one-year free agent pact signed on 12/21/24. Free agent after season.

2025 hitting stats: Yankees, .276 average, 398 AB, 65 runs, 110 hits, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 5 SB, .753 OPS, 112 games.

2025 fielding stats: 3 errors, 106 games (93 starts) at first base.

Prediction: Signs with another club or retires.

TRENT GRISHAM, CF

Age: 28 (29 on Nov. 1, 2025).

Contract: Making $5 million on one-year pact signed with Yankees on 11/22/24. Free agent after season.

2025 hitting stats: Yankees, .244 average, 348 AB, 55 runs, 85 hits, 21 HR, 46 RBI, 1 SB, .804 OPS, 103 games.

2025 fielding stats: 1 error, 100 games (87 starts) in center field.

Prediction: Signs with another club.

TIM HILL, LHP

Age: 35 (35 on Feb. 10, 2026).

Contract: Making $2.85M on one-year free agent pact signed with Yankees on 2/4/25 that includes $3M club option or $350,000 buyout for 2026.

2025 pitching stats: Yankees, 4-3 record, 3.04 ERA, 56 games, 53.1 IP, 43 hits, 22 runs, 18 ER, 6 HR, 14 BB, 28 K.

Prediction: Club option vested.

JONATHAN LOAISIGA, RHP

Age: 30 (31 on Nov. 2, 2025).

Contract: Making $4.5M on one-year pact signed with Yankees on 12/11/24 that includes $5M club option for 2026.

2025 pitching stats: Yankees, 0-1 record, 4.25 ERA, 30 games, 1 save, 29.1 IP, 34 hits, 15 runs, 14 ER, 7 HR, 10 BB, 25 K.

Prediction: Club option not vested.

AMED ROSARIO, INF/OF

Age: 29 (30 on Nov. 20, 2025).

Contract: Making $2M on one-year pact signed with Nationals on 1/8/25.

2025 hitting stats: Nationals & Yankees, .277 average, 155 AB, 19 runs, 43 hits, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 1 SB, .747 OPS, 50 games.

2025 fielding stats: 4 errors, 24 games (20 starts) at 3rd base; 2 errors, 16 games (13 starts) at 2nd base; 0 errors, 4 games (1 start) in right field; 0 errors, 1 game (0 starts) as pitcher.

Prediction: Re-signs with Yankees.

AUSTIN SLATER, OF

Age: 32 (33 on Dec. 13, 2025).

Contract: Making $1.75M on one-year pact signed with White Sox on 11/20/24. Free agent after season.

2025 hitting stats: White Sox & Yankees, .236 average, 123 AB, 20 runs, 29 hits, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB, .721 OPS, 51 games.

2025 fielding stats: 2 errors, 21 games (15 starts) in right field; 0 errors, 20 games (9 starts) in left field; 0 errors, 2 games (0 starts) in center field; 0 errors, 1 game (0 starts) at first base.

Prediction: Signs with another club.

LUKE WEAVER, RHP

Age: 31 (32 on Aug. 21, 2025).

Contract: Making $2.5M in club option year of one-year, $2M pact signed with Yankees on 1/11/24. Free agent after season.

2025 pitching stats: Yankees, 2-3 record, 2.68 ERA, 45 games, 47 IP, 25 hits, 16 runs, 14 ER, 7 HR, 13 BB, 49 K.

Prediction: Re-signs with Yankees.

DEVIN WILLIAMS, RHP

Age: 30 (31 on Nov. 2, 2025).

Contract: Making $8.6M on one-year pact signed 1/9/25. Free agent after season.

2025 pitching stats: Yankees, 3-5 record, 3.90 ERA, 16 games, 8 starts. 55.1 IP, 48 hits, 24 runs, 24 ER, 10 HR, 5 HR, 17 BB, 49 K.

Prediction: Signs with another club.

RYAN YARBROUGH, LHP

Age: 33 (34 on Dec. 31, 2025).

Contract: Making $2M on one-year free agent pact signed with Yankees on 3/24/25. Free agent after season.

2025 pitching stats: Yankees, 3-1 record, 5.60 ERA, 49 games, 17 saves, 45 IP, 35 hits, 31 runs, 28 ER, 19 BB, 59 K.

Prediction: Re-signs with Yankees.

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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.

Early look at Yankees’ 10 potential free agents with predictions

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