Yankees’ Winter Meetings Leave Fans Wondering

ORLANDO, Fla. — Did they really come to make any moves?

As the winter meetings wind down and the Yankees prepare to head back to New York, it’s becoming clear there won’t be any major announcements. General manager Brian Cashman noted that the market seems to be progressing at a “glacial speed.”

“I haven’t accomplished anything,” Cashman expressed on Wednesday morning. “We’re trying to engage and find common ground, but it’s been rough. I don’t enjoy the questions we’re facing, and I suspect the other teams aren’t thrilled with my trade proposals either.”

“We are having discussions that might lead somewhere, but it’s obvious that if we had concrete options, we would have already acted.”

The Yankees are eyeing Cody Bellinger as their primary target. However, there hasn’t been much movement in the market for him since Kyle Schwarber re-signed with the Phillies on Tuesday, a development that some believed could spark other trades.

Because they have internal options like Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones for left field, the Yankees seem inclined to wait for Bellinger rather than rushing into a deal just to secure him for the time being.

Cashman revealed that he feels more equipped to make decisions now than last winter, when everything was on hold waiting for Juan Soto’s choice.

“We’re being opportunistic,” he said. “We appreciate our current players, sure. But there are others out there we might favor even more. There’s always a cost to consider—whether that’s through trades or free agency—but there’s more certainty involved. My job is to navigate that and make it work.”

“Once we identify an opportunity that aligns well, we’re ready to jump in and make some changes. But if not, we still value what we have. Dominguez is growing as a player, and Jones is just starting his career. Those are two names to keep in mind.”

“But honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from this whole thing.”