Yankees Looking Forward to Next Season
Aaron Judge, still in his uniform, shared his thoughts on Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham becoming free agents following the Yankees’ playoff exit against the Blue Jays in October. “I would love to run them back and see what happens,” he stated.
It’s interesting—although it’s not that cut and dry. With spring training just over two weeks away in Tampa, the Yankees are set to largely retain the same roster that faced challenges in last fall’s playoffs, save for a few key changes.
Last week, Barringer signed a five-year, $162.5 million deal, effectively completing the Yankees’ offseason puzzle unless anything unexpected surfaces.
On another note, Grisham accepted a qualifying offer of $22,025,000 while Tim Hill’s $3 million option was picked up. Additionally, Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario, and Paul Blackburn re-signed for one-year contracts totaling $7 million. The only significant new addition came from acquiring left-handed starter Ryan Weathers in a trade with the Marlins.
Interestingly, the Yankees haven’t done much to shake off the perception that their lineup leans heavily left-handed. This leaves the door open for further additions to strengthen their bullpen and find right-handed catchers.
Jason Dominguez’s role has become less certain with Bellinger’s return and he could serve as trade bait for those endeavors.
For a team that won 94 games last year—tying with the Blue Jays for the most in the American League—the Yankees are leaning into the idea of being the best version of themselves, not the team that faltered last summer and subsequently fell to the Blue Jays in the postseason.
“Our season is over, and to be honest, this last year has been tough for me,” manager Aaron Boone reflected during the winter meetings. They felt strong and healthy, peaking at the right moments, only to lose a series to a team that had its struggles. While always aiming for improvement, he noted the positives, recognizing the many talented young players who stepped up last season and the need for their continued growth.
The most significant change anticipated between 2025 and 2026 is the hoped return of Gerrit Cole early in the season, as he missed last year due to Tommy John surgery. The exact impact of the former Cy Young Award winner remains uncertain.
Moreover, the team expects to benefit from Cam Schrittler being part of the rotation for an entire season following his impressive performance starting 14 games last year. They see potential in Ben Rice, who became a middle-order hitter last season and will now face more left-handed pitchers. There’s also hope that Grisham’s breakout was genuine. They want to see if the players acquired at the 2025 trade deadline—David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Ryan McMahon, Jose Caballero, Rosario, and Jake Byrd—can make lasting impacts, not just short-term additions.
So, will this gamble pay off? Or will trying something similar again and expecting different results turn out to be a lesson in madness? With only a few weeks left, the Yankees are set to embark on that journey.
