A reunion between the Yankees and Cody Bellinger always made sense. Now that that box has been checked, Brian Cashman shouldn\u2019t consider his Bombers a finished product.<\/p>\n
Rather, Bellinger\u2019s agreement on a five-year, $162.5 million deal<\/a>, which comes with some added perks, merely maintains a roster that is more or less the same as the one that couldn\u2019t get past the Blue Jays in the ALDS last season. While Cashman and company have insisted that the Yankees like the team that they have in place \u2014 they did tie Toronto for the best record in the American League and boasted baseball\u2019s best offense last year \u2014 there is still room for improvement now that Bellinger has been taken care of.<\/p>\n With the club\u2019s top priority returning and the Yankees\u2019 2026 competitive balance tax payroll currently projected to be $317.8 million, per FanGraphs<\/a>, what could the pinstripers do next?<\/p>\n ACQUIRE ANOTHER STARTER<\/p>\n The Yankees have already addressed their rotation this offseason, making Ryan Weathers their most notable new arrival after swinging a deal with the Marlins. However, Weathers should be seen as more of a project, and he\u2019s an injury risk<\/a>.<\/p>\n So is Luis Gil. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rod\u00f3n and Clarke Schmidt will all begin the season on the injured list. Rod\u00f3n, Max Fried, Cam Schlittler and Will Warren are all coming off career-high workloads. And Weathers, Schlittler, Warren and Gil are still maturing.<\/p>\n So while the Yankees have a lot of talented starters, this group also requires time and patience for health and development. An extra starter would protect the Yankees\u2019 rotation from another injury while raising the group\u2019s ceiling should it ever reach full strength.<\/p>\n Unfortunately for the Yankees, one player of interest came off the board Wednesday night, as the Mets and Brewers agreed to a blockbuster trade that will send Freddy Peralta to Queens. However, the Yankees have also checked in on Washington\u2019s MacKenzie Gore, and they\u2019ve previously been linked to Miami\u2019s Sandy Alcantara, whose employer has become a go-to trade partner for New York. The Twins have Joe Ryan and Pablo L\u00f3pez, but The Athletic\u2019s Ken Rosenthal<\/a> reported that Minnesota planned on keeping the two in December.<\/p>\n Keep in mind, the cost of acquiring a starter via trade has been incredibly high this winter.<\/p>\n As for free agents, Zac Gallen and Framber Valdez remain at the top of the market, but the Yankees haven\u2019t expressed serious interest in either. Less pricey options include Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt.<\/p>\n That said, the Yankees may not feel compelled to spend much on another starter, be it with money or trade chips, given all the arms on hand and Peralta\u2019s removal from the trade block. Cashman has repeatedly mentioned adding starters with bullpen flexibility \u2014 Weathers and re-signed swingmen Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn fit that description \u2014 and the team is high on top pitching prospect Elmer Rodr\u00edguez.<\/p>\n BEEF UP THE BULLPEN<\/p>\n The Yankees have already added two new relievers to the major league roster this offseason, claiming Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Astros<\/a> and nabbing Cade Winquest from the Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft<\/a>. While the Yankees have a knack for finding diamonds in the rough for their bullpen, neither should be considered a significant add or guaranteed a roster spot.<\/p>\n With Devin Williams and Luke Weaver defecting to Queens, among other departures, the top of the Yankees\u2019 bullpen features closer David Bednar, nasty-but-erratic setup men Camilo Doval and Fernando Cruz, and side-arming southpaw Tim Hill. After that, the projected bullpen options include Yarbrough, Blackburn, Ort, Winquest, Brent Headrick, Yerry De Los Santos and Jayvien Sandridge.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a group that could and should be upgraded, but the Yankees, typically adverse to spending lavishly on bullpen help, passed over a free agent class that included a few closers and high-leverage relievers.<\/p>\n Perhaps some assistance will come via trade. The Yankees could also shift one of their young starters to the pen if they add to the rotation.<\/p>\n TRADE A YOUNG OF, ADD A RIGHT-HANDED HITTER<\/p>\n With Bellinger staying in left field and potentially under contract for five years, Trent Grisham back in center and Aaron Judge occupying right, the Yankees could dangle outfielders Jasson Dom\u00ednguez or Spencer Jones in trade talks for pitching.<\/p>\n The two have plenty of potential, but the switching-hitting Dom\u00ednguez, 22, is a defensive liability in left \u2014 the Yankees don\u2019t view him as an option in center \u2014 and has yet to show that he\u2019s a threat from the right side of the plate<\/a>. The 24-year-old Jones, a left-handed hitter, has raw power but comes with swing-and-miss concerns.<\/p>\n Jones is also a long-term option for center field with Grisham on a one-year deal<\/a>.<\/p>\n For now, the youngsters project as fourth outfielders barring an injury to one of the veterans. While more at-bats could become available if Giancarlo Stanton ends up on the IL yet again, Dom\u00ednguez and Jones are still developing and could use every day playing time.<\/p>\n