After Cody Bellinger returned back to the Yankees Wednesday, the team is still not complete. The Yankees still need to make additions to this team to make them a true World Series threat in 2026.

In terms of position players, that room seems full. The Yankees claimed Marco Luciano off waivers. While Luciano is not a name that jumps off the page, he could provide some upside. He can play almost every position on the field and is a right-handed hitter. In a small sample size of 41 plate appearances, he owns a .333 batting average against left-handed pitching. In the minors, he hit to a .292 average against lefties. He is a good high risk, high reward option for the Bombers.

The pitching department is where the shortcomings are. The Yankees need to add to both their rotation and their bullpen.

 

The Yankees Rotation should be solid. It will get deeper as Rodón, Cole and Schmidt all return to the roster.

Still, I think the Yankees could use another starter. I think Ryan Weathers plays better in the bullpen than in the rotation.

Max Fried, Will Warren, and Cam Schlittler… pic.twitter.com/mo4mGe4SHu

— Matthew Nethercott (@mnethercott_) January 22, 2026

The Yankees bullpen is awful.

Outside of David Bednar and Tim Hill (and he has limitations), it’s a bunch of wildcards.

Sure, Comilo Doval and Fernando Cruz could be good, but they could also to struggle to throw strikes.

The rest of the Pen’ is a huge question mark. The… pic.twitter.com/3OgO0xROp3

— Matthew Nethercott (@mnethercott_) January 22, 2026

 

 

 

 

The reason the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays in the ALDS was their pitching. Max Fried, Luis Gil, and Carlos Rodón were all fatigued, or injured by that point of the season. Depth can go a long way. Pair that up with a shallow bullpen for the majority of the season putting more on the starters, you have a mess.

Here are four options — two starters, two relievers, the Yankees can add before the season to make their roster better.

LHRP JoJo Romero
Sep 16, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher JoJo Romero (59) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

The St. Louis Cardinals are officially open for business this offseason, and while their roster holds several intriguing chips, lefty JoJo Romero stands out. An experienced high-leverage arm with closing experience, Romero is coming off a stellar 2025 campaign where he posted a 2.07 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 61 innings. Though he occasionally battled command issues against right-handers (.330 wOBA), he remained a lockdown force against lefties, held them to a meager .189 average without surrendering a single home run. His reliability was on full display late in the year, as he secured 12 holds and allowed runs in only three of his final 15 appearances.

 

The Yankees are reportedly interested in Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero, which could be a great add at the back of the Yankees bullpen

Romero is coming off the best season of his career after posting a 2.07 ERA through 61 IP last season. The stat that stands out to me though is… pic.twitter.com/iU7SkjbjSo

— Freddie🫡 (@PlayoffYankees) December 14, 2025

LHP Garret Cleavenger
Sep 19, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Garrett Cleavinger (60) reacts after giving up a two-run home run during the seventh inning to Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (16) at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

With the Tampa Bay Rays shifting into rebuild mode following the trade of Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum to Pittsburgh earlier this offseason, the Yankees have a prime opportunity to bolster their bullpen with southpaw Garrett Cleavinger. Sources indicate New York has maintained a high level of interest in Cleavinger since extensively scouting him at the trade deadline, viewing him as a high-leverage solution for the back end of their relief corps.

Coming off a 2025 campaign where he posted a 3.42 ERA and a 10.6 K/9 over 52.2 innings, Cleavinger has established himself as a premier “strikeout artist” fueled by a high-velocity fastball and a slider that generated an elite 34% whiff rate. While his walk rate occasionally spikes, his ability to escape inherited runner situations made him a trusted late-inning weapon for manager Kevin Cash. Crucially, Cleavinger has evolved beyond a “lefty specialist” role; while he remained nearly untouchable against left-handed hitters, his .232 average against righties proves he is a versatile, multi-out threat. Given his strikeout prowess and late-inning reliability, the Yankees should move aggressively to secure a deal for the talented lefty.

 

Garrett Cleavinger has quietly been one of the most underrated relievers this year, posting a 2.00 ERA, 2.99 xERA, and 3.24 FIP with a 34.4% K% over 54 IP.

His Slider and Sweeper (both most valuable) have whiff rates above 36%.

Here are all 41 strikeouts on those pitches: pic.twitter.com/Dz4jdvvepw

— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) September 10, 2025

RHP Kris Bubic
Jul 26, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic (50) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Kansas City Royals face a pivotal decision this offseason as they look to revamp an offense that struggled throughout 2025, and left-hander Kris Bubic has emerged as their most valuable trade asset. After successfully transitioning back to the rotation following Tommy John surgery, Bubic enjoyed a breakout 2025 campaign, posting a career-best 2.55 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over 116.1 innings. Despite a late-season shoulder strain that sidelined him in August, the southpaw proved he could be a frontline starter, utilizing a revamped slider and elite command to rack up 116 strikeouts while holding opponents to a meager .230 average.

While he was particularly dominant against left-handed hitters, his ability to neutralize righties was equally impressive, making him much more than a situational arm. With only one year of team control remaining before free agency in 2027, the Royals are reportedly listening to offers from pitching-needy contenders sensing a prime opportunity to flip Bubic’s sell-high value for an impact bat to slot into their 2026 lineup. The Yankees could send Jasson Dominguez in a deal to the Royals, who have a need for an outfielder like him.

 

Kris Bubic first start since 2023 was a gem.

His first W of the year. #FountainsUp pic.twitter.com/9F9waVh8rk

— Royals Muse (@KCRoyalsMuse) March 31, 2025

RHP Drew Rasmussen
Sep 13, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

I mentioned above about the Rays in a bit of a rebuild. It would make sense for them to consider dealing all star Drew Rasmussen. Following a dominant 2025 breakout where he earned an All-Star nod and finished ninth in AL Cy Young voting, Rasmussen proved his durability by setting a career-high with 150 innings pitched, finishing the season with a 2.76 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. His performance was anchored by an elite 31.4% whiff rate and a mid-to-upper 90s fastball, which helped him hold left-handed hitters to a meager .153 average.

Despite a storied history of elbow procedures, Rasmussen’s return to a full starter’s workload has made his current contract—which includes a $5.5 million salary for 2026 and a flexible team option for 2027—one of the most valuable trade chips in the league. As the Padres and other pitching-needy contenders weigh aggressive offers, the Rays face the familiar dilemma of whether to capitalize on Rasmussen’s “sell-high” value now or lean on his frontline stability as they look toward a renovated Tropicana Field in 2026.

 

Drew Rasmussen, K’ing the Side in the 4th. pic.twitter.com/kqN7rIzXcJ

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 4, 2025

(Top Image Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)