Offseason In Review: New York Yankees
The Yankees mostly opted for the status quo, as their 2026 club will look a lot like the 2025 version. A few small differences could take them up a notch.
Major League Signings
- OF Cody Bellinger: Five years, $162.5MM (includes opt-outs after 2027 and 2028, $20MM signing bonus)
- OF Trent Grisham: One year, $22.025MM (accepted qualifying offer)
- 1B Paul Goldschmidt: One year, $4MM
- LHP Ryan Yarbrough: One year, $2.5MM
- IF/OF Amed Rosario: One year, $2.5MM
- RHP Paul Blackburn: One year, $2MM
2026 spending: $85.525MM
Total spending: $195.525MM
Trades and Claims
- Selected RHP Cade Winquest from the Cardinals in Rule 5 draft
- Claimed RHP Kaleb Ort off waivers from Angels (later lost to Angels via waivers)
- Acquired LHP Ryan Weathers from Marlins for OF Dillon Lewis, OF Brendan Jones, IF Dylan Jasso, IF Juan Matheus
- Claimed OF Marco Luciano off waivers from Orioles (later outrighted)
- Claimed OF Michael Siani off waivers from Dodgers (later lost back to Dodgers via waivers)
- Claimed RHP Dom Hamel off waivers from Rangers (later outrighted)
- Acquired RHP Angel Chivilli from Rockies for 1B T.J. Rumfield
- Traded LHP Jayvien Sandridge to Angels for cash considerations
- Claimed OF Yanquiel Fernández off waivers from Rockies (later outrighted)
- Claimed RHP Osvaldo Bido off waivers from Angels
- Acquired IF Max Schuemann from Athletics for RHP Luis Burgos
Option Decisions
- OF Cody Bellinger declined $25MM player option in favor of $5MM buyout (later re-signed)
- Team exercised $3MM club option on LHP Tim Hill
- Team declined $5MM club option on RHP Jonathan Loáisiga
Notable Minor League Signings
- Rafael Montero, Randal Grichuk, Paul DeJong, Seth Brown, Jonathan Ornelas, Michael Arias, Yerry Rodríguez, Ali Sánchez, Zack Short, Adam Kloffenstein, Payton Henry, Dylan Coleman
Extensions
- None to date
Notable Losses
- Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Jonathan Loáisiga, Austin Slater, Mark Leiter Jr. (non-tendered), Scott Effross (non-tendered), Ian Hamilton (non-tendered), Jake Cousins (non-tendered, still unsigned), Allan Winans (signed with NPB club)
There was a lot to like about the Yankees in 2025, but they came up just a bit short of the ultimate goal. They won 94 games in the regular season, the same as the Blue Jays, with Toronto only taking the division title based on the tiebreaker rules. The Yanks got a Wild Card spot and took out the Red Sox but were felled by the Jays in the Division Series.
Going into the 2025-26 offseason, a lot of the key pieces would be remaining in place. The area with the greatest potential for change was the outfield, which was a strength in 2025. Aaron Judge won his third American League MVP Award. Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham enjoyed productive seasons (a breakout, career-best year in the latter’s case). Grisham and Bellinger both headed to free agency at the start of the offseason, the latter by triggering an opt-out in his previous contract.
Theoretically, the Yankees could have turned to some internal replacements, but there would be big risks there. Jasson Domínguez had an uneven year in 2025. His offense was passable but not too exciting. In 429 plate appearances, he hit just ten home runs. A 9.6% walk rate helped his on-base percentage, leading to a .257/.331/.388 line and 103 wRC+. He stole 23 bases but received awful grades for his left field defense. His minus-7 Defensive Runs Saved and minus-10 Outs Above Average were some of the lowest among big league outfielders.
There’s also Spencer Jones, who crushed 35 home runs on the farm last year, including 19 at Triple-A. However, he posted those homers while striking out in 35.4% of his plate appearances. Presumably, he’d strike out even more frequently against better competition in the big leagues. No qualified major leaguer struck out at a higher rate than 32.3% in 2025.
With some questions about both Domínguez and Jones, and the Yankees always in win-now mode, it seemed like the outfield would be a priority. One spot was quickly filled, as Grisham somewhat surprisingly accepted the qualifying offer. His career had been unimpressive prior to 2025, but the breakout was extreme. He hit 34 home runs and drew walks at a 14.1% clip. Grisham’s .235/.348/.464 line led to a 129 wRC+. His defensive grades slipped, but he was considered a strong fielder in every other season of his career, so it’s possible last year’s downturn was more of an odd, one-year blip than a true decline.
Skeptics could point to Grisham’s larger body of work, with a .191/.298/.353 line over the previous three seasons combined, but there were reasons to believe Grisham could cash in on that strong season. Just one offseason earlier, Jurickson Profar had done precisely that. After years of subpar performances, Profar parlayed his strong 2024 season into a three-year, $42MM deal with Atlanta. Grisham went into free agency younger and with a better defensive reputation, so he had a case to top Profar’s guarantee.
MLBTR predicted Grisham could get $66MM over four years, even with the QO attached, but he decided to return to the Bronx for just one year at $22.025MM. A multi-year deal at that same annual value may not have been there, but a three- or four-year deal at a lighter rate with a larger overall guarantee seems like it would have been feasible. Grisham would be a bargain for the Yankees if he can come anywhere close to last year’s performance, and doing so would position him for a major contract next winter.
With Grisham back in the fold, the Yankees still had one outfield spot to consider. They were connected to various names both in free agency and via trade, including Kyle Tucker, Luis Robert Jr. and others, but a reunion with Bellinger always made a lot of sense. He had thrived in his one year in the Bronx. Bellinger hit .272/.334/.480 for a 125 wRC+ on the year overall but with a massive .302/.365/.544 line and 152 wRC+ when playing in Yankee Stadium with its short porch.
The two seemed a perfect match for each other, but the courting process dragged out nonetheless. Bellinger remained on the open market into January. Reports trickled out indicating that the Yankees had made him an offer, then another. There was reportedly an impasse, with the Yankees offering five years and Bellinger seeking a longer deal, but the two sides finally reached an agreement in late January.
The $162.5MM guarantee and five-year term were within the realm of expectations. MLBTR had predicted five years and a slightly lesser guarantee of $140MM. The Bellinger deal was particularly notable for being frontloaded and having two opt-outs. He’ll get a $20MM signing bonus and big salaries of $32.5MM in the first two years, followed by salaries just under $26MM in the final three. Since he can opt out after 2027 and 2028, it’s possible for him to bank $85MM in the first two years and then return to the open market after his age-31 season. The nature of that deal means that Bellinger’s hit for the competitive balance tax will be higher than usual.
After Bellinger was back in the fold, there was some speculation that Domínguez and/or Jones could end up on the trade block. To this point, however, there hasn’t been any strong indications that the Yankees have considered that route. With Grisham only signed for one more year and Bellinger potentially opting out after 2027, there are future opportunities available for those youngsters.
Though the outfield was the main target, the rotation needed some consideration as well. The Yankees will be getting Gerrit Cole back at some point in 2026, after he spent 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he still won’t be ready by Opening Day. They will also be without Carlos Rodón to start the season, as he had surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. Clarke Schmidt had UCL surgery in July of last year and will begin the season on the shelf as well.
The Yanks were connected to some big names over the winter, including Framber Valdez, Edward Cabrera, Michael King, Freddy Peralta, Tatsuya Imai and MacKenzie Gore. Their rotation strike ended up being less splashy than those options. They sent four prospects to the Marlins to acquire lefty Ryan Weathers.
Weathers was once a notable prospect and has shown some flashes of potential in the majors, but not over a long sample size. He had good results with the Marlins in 2024 and 2025 but some injuries limited him in both seasons. He tossed 125 innings over those two campaigns and produced a 3.74 earned run average, 22% strikeout rate, 6.8% walk rate and 45.6% ground ball rate.
A more proven arm could have been preferable, but a nice benefit of Weathers is that he’s controlled for three more years and still has an option remaining. He should get a rotation job alongside Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Luis Gil to start the season. Like Weathers, each of Schlittler, Warren and Gil can be optioned. A stint in the minors for someone in that group is possible if everyone is healthy when Rodón and Cole return. In the meantime, the Yanks also brought back Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn to serve as veteran swingmen.
Paul Goldschmidt became a free agent after the 2025 season, but first base wasn’t a big priority since Ben Rice took over that job. The Yanks were able to bring Goldy back on a modest $4MM deal, seemingly to serve a more complementary role this time. His bat was around league average in 2025, but he still crushed lefties. Since the Yankee lineup skews left-handed, there’s a role for Goldschmidt. Amed Rosario was also brought back for similar reasons and the Yanks also added Randal Grichuk via a minor league deal.
In the bullpen, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver became free agents after 2025, but the Yankees seemingly tried to address those departures proactively. At the 2025 deadline, their three relief additions were David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird. Since all three would still be under club control for 2026, the Yanks may have felt less pressure to replace Williams and Weaver this winter.
Their most notable bullpen move was fairly modest, as they acquired Angel Chivilli from the Rockies. He is still unproven, with a 6.18 ERA in 90 1/3 innings. The Yanks will hope that getting him away from Coors Field will help. He has an intriguing arsenal with high-90s velocity and strong ground ball rates. Chivilli isn’t slated for free agency for at least five years and still has an option remaining. The Yanks also took a shot on Cade Winquest in the Rule 5 draft. He had a 3.99 ERA in the minors last year.
There was some chatter around Jazz Chisholm Jr. this offseason. Since he’s slated for free agency after 2026, there were some trade rumors and the possibility of an extension also came up. It never seemed especially likely that the Yanks would move on from him, and he indeed is still on the roster. The Yankees don’t do many extensions and still haven’t done anything with Chisholm, though he has said he’s open the possibility. It’s theoretically possible for momentum to build at any time, but Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported this week that substantive talks have still not occurred.
Ultimately, the roster is going to look very similar to last year’s. Shortstop Anthony Volpe will miss some time due to offseason shoulder surgery but could rejoin the club in April. José Caballero will cover that spot in the interim. Apart from that, the position player group is essentially identical. There’s a bit more change on the pitching side, but the staff is also going to have a lot of continuity.
There’s not really anything wrong with that. The Yankees were one of the best teams in the league last year. Running back mostly the same squad should put them in position to be really good again. It’s also possible they could be a bit better. They will get Cole back at some point, which should give them a boost, and they’ll get a full season from Schlittler, who just debuted last July. If Weathers can stay healthy, he’s another potential bonus. If there are obvious shortcomings on display in the next few months, the Yanks could address those at the deadline, but for now the roster has been tweaked more so than overhauled.
How would you grade the Yankees' offseason?
Photo courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images
MLBTR Podcast: Max Scherzer, The Red Sox’ Lineup, Spring Extension Candidates, And More!
The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.
This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss…
- The Blue Jays re-signing Max Scherzer and how that alters their rotation picture (3:45)
Plus, we answer your questions, including…
- Could it help with parity if the small-market clubs got even more competitive balance picks and if all picks could be traded? (18:25)
- Why do the Yankees seemingly over value their prospects? Wouldn’t it be better to trade Jasson Domínguez instead of relegating him to a depth role? (36:00)
- Do the Red Sox have enough power in the lineup? What bats could be available at the deadline who would fit the lineup? Would Masataka Yoshida have any trade value if he performs well in the World Baseball Classic? (47:15)
- Which players are likely to be extended before the start of the season or which ones would you like to see extended? (55:45)
Check out our past episodes!
- Twins And Orioles’ Injuries, The Guardians And Angels’ Quiet Offseasons, And Chris Sale’s Extension – listen here
- The Tigers’ Rotation, A Brewers-Red Sox Trade, And Late Free-Agent Signings – listen here
- Twins Front Office Shake-Up, The Brendan Donovan Trade, Eugenio Suarez, And More! – listen here
The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff. Check out their Facebook page here!
Photo courtesy of Nick Turchiaro, Imagn Images
Yankees, Randal Grichuk Agree To Minor League Deal
Feb. 26: Grichuk will earn a $2.5MM base salary if he makes the Yankees’ roster, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Feb. 25: The Yankees are in agreement with veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk on a minor league contract, reports Jack Curry of The Yes Network. The Paragon Sports International client will be in camp as a non-roster invitee.
Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported this week that the Yankees continued to look for a righty-hitting platoon bat. Grichuk fits the bill without commanding a guaranteed roster spot. The 34-year-old will try to play his way into a spot on Aaron Boone’s bench during Spring Training. If he does, he’d take at-bats from Trent Grisham against left-handed pitching. Cody Bellinger is one of the best left-on-left hitters in MLB, so he’d play center field with Grichuk drawing into the corner opposite Aaron Judge.
Grichuk isn’t coming off a great season. He’d hit at a league average level for the Diamondbacks and was traded to the Royals at the deadline. His bat cratered in Kansas City, leaving him with a .228/.273/.401 slash line across 293 trips to the plate. That included an underwhelming .227/.273/.430 mark in 183 plate appearances with the platoon advantage.
The 11-year MLB veteran had destroyed lefty pitching in the three preceding seasons. Between 2022-24, he put up a .317/.367/.573 mark against southpaws. He connected on 25 home runs, 34 doubles and four triples in fewer than 500 plate appearances. He had the fifth-highest OPS against lefties over that stretch (min. 450 PAs).
That version of Grichuk would obviously be an excellent piece to have off the bench. His strikeout rate against lefties climbed nearly seven percentage points a year ago, so there’s no guarantee he’ll get back to his 2022-24 form. He’s not going to get a huge sample of short side platoon at-bats during Spring Training, leaving the Yankees with an interesting call in whether to have him round out their bench.
Jasson Domínguez already looked likely to begin the season in Triple-A. If Grichuk makes the team, that’s an inevitability barring multiple Spring Training injuries. It’d leave the Yankees with a very right-handed bench. Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario are locks, leaving backup catcher J.C. Escarra as the only lefty bench bat in that scenario. Oswaldo Cabrera would either start the season in Triple-A or on the injured list, while out-of-options Jorbit Vivas would be traded or placed on waivers.
The Yankees probably need to carry Grichuk on the Opening Day roster to keep him in the organization. He’s an Article XX(b) free agent — a veteran who finished last season on an MLB roster. Those players who sign non-roster invites have three guaranteed opt-out dates under the collective bargaining agreement: five days before Opening Day, May 1, and June 1. Grichuk can return to the open market at the end of Spring Training if he doesn’t break camp with New York.
Yankees Still Open To Adding Platoon Bat
Spring training games have begun but further roster tweaks are still possible. Joel Sherman of The New York Post reports that the Yankees are still open to adding a right-handed-hitting outfielder or catcher. Sherman mentions the club’s previously-reported interest in players like Randal Grichuk, Austin Slater and Chas McCormick. Grichuk is still a free agent. Slater and McCormick are in camp with other clubs on minor league deals, Slater with the Tigers and McCormick with the Cubs.
The Yankees have a lefty-heavy lineup, with six of their projected regulars swinging from that side. The three righties are right fielder Aaron Judge, designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton and shortstop José Caballero. The lefies are center fielder Trent Grisham, left fielder Cody Bellinger, first baseman Ben Rice, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., third baseman Ryan McMahon and catcher Austin Wells.
The Yanks do have a couple of righties to complement that group, with Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario projected to be on the bench. It would be nice to add even more coverage from the other side of the plate, especially with Goldschmidt only capable of playing first base.
Jasson Domínguez is a switch-hitter and could be the fourth outfielder but, given his youth, the Yankees should prioritize him getting regular playing time in the minors as opposed to being on the big league bench in a part-time role. He’s better from the left side of the plate regardless. Oswaldo Cabrera is a switch-hitter but he’s also better as a lefty bat. It’s also unclear if he’ll be fully recovered from last year’s ankle surgery by Opening Day. He and Domínguez both have options and could be sent to Triple-A.
The club currently projects to have J.C. Escarra, another lefty, as the backup catcher. He still has options, so it’s possible for the Yanks to add a righty-swinging catcher and bump Escarra to Triple-A. Sherman also wonders if the Yanks would be willing to ride with Rice as the backup catcher, but that seems highly unlikely with Rice slated to be the regular at first. There aren’t a lot of free agents left at this part of the calendar. Christian Vázquez is available and hits from the right side but he doesn’t have strong platoon splits in his career.
It’s possible that more guys shake loose as Opening Day nears. Some players on minor league deals with other teams won’t break camp, which could lead to those players opting out or being released. Fringe roster players might end up on waivers.
The Yanks may be hoping for that path on the outfield side. Their interest in Grichuk hasn’t yet resulted in a deal. Slater and McCormick still don’t have roster spots and could end up available in the coming weeks. Slater has default opt-outs in his deal since he was an Article XX(b) free agent, which means he finished last year on a big league roster and had at least six years of service time. He can opt out five days prior to Opening Day, May 1st or June 1st. Detroit’s Opening Day is March 26th, so that opt-out should come on March 21st.
The Tigers project for a lefty-heavy outfield mix consisting of Riley Greene, Parker Meadows and Kerry Carpenter. When Carpenter is in the designated hitter spot, switch-hitting Wenceel Pérez should step in. Slater’s righty bat would fit well in there but the Tigers already have Matt Vierling and Jahmai Jones on the roster. Slater was briefly with the Yankees in 2025 but injuries prevented him from making notable contributions.
McCormick would not have uniform opt-outs in his deal because he was not an Article XX(b) free agent. He has less than five years of big league service. He became a free agent because he was outrighted off Houston’s roster at the end of the season. As a player with at least three years of service time, he had the right to become a free agent and exercised that right.
Though he wasn’t guaranteed any opt-outs, Sherman notes that McCormick did get one put into his minor league deal with the Cubs for March 21st. Chicago projects for a starting outfield of Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki. McCormick could push for a fourth outfielder job but the Cubs also added Michael Conforto on a minor league deal this week, giving McCormick more competition.
Photo courtesy of Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images
AL East Notes: Westburg, Yankees, Rays
Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg has been no stranger to injuries over the first few years of his time in the majors, and his latest ailments are a partially-torn UCL and oblique soreness. The oblique issue appears to be fairly minor, but he’s received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his elbow in hopes of rehabbing his UCL and will be out until at least May due to the issue. Setbacks of this sort have become all too common for Westburg in recent years. Since making his big league debut in 2023, he’s missed time due to a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a strained hamstring, and an index finger sprain.
When on the field, there’s no question that Westburg has proven to be one of the Orioles’ most talented young players. An All-Star in 2024, Westburg is a career .264/.312/.456 hitter in just over 1,000 career plate appearances and can play capable defense at both second and third base. The .269/.317/.497 slash line Westburg posted in 101 games prior to the aforementioned broken hand during the 2024 season is even more impressive and shows that the 27-year-old has the potential to be a star for Baltimore when he’s healthy enough to take the field at full strength.
Those times have been increasingly uncommon over the past few years, however, and when asked about it by Orioles reporters Westburg seemed frustrated. He told MASN’s Roch Kubatko that he doesn’t know when he’ll be able to play again after his latest PRP injection, and Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun relays that Westburg admitted the constant injuries have taken a mental toll on him.
“I’d like to sit here and say, ‘extremely confident,’ but some of this wears on you mentally,” Westburg said (as relayed by Weyrich) when asked about his ability to stay healthy and be an everyday player for the Orioles. “So, there are doubts, but like I said, I’m going to do my best to kind of see what avenues that I can go down to maybe help bulletproof my body a little bit more. I don’t know if there’s a way to do that, but I’m going to try.”
While Westburg looks to push through the obstacles currently standing between him and a return to the field, the Orioles will be looking to open the season without either him or second baseman Jackson Holliday. That could open the door for Coby Mayo to return to third base and recent trade acquisition Blaze Alexander to see time at they keystone. Utility man Jeremiah Jackson and third baseman Bryan Ramos are among the other players currently on the 40-man roster who could compete for additional time on the infield while Westburg and Holliday are unavailable.
More from around the AL East…
- The Yankees are bolstering their international scouting department with the addition of longtime Cubs front office member Nao Masamoto, according to a report from Patrick Mooney and Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. The pair note that Masamoto has been instrumental to the Cubs’ recruitment efforts with players coming over from Nippon Professional Baseball and their ability to provide a smooth transition for the players (like Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga) who do wind up signing with them. Chicago has emerged as a destination for Japanese talent during Masamoto’s tenure with the club, while the Yankees have struggled to court players like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki in recent years. While they were once a top choice for NPB talent themselves, they haven’t rostered a Japanese player since Masahiro Tanaka departed MLB following the 2020 season.
- A pair of Rays players are facing some restrictions as Spring Training games get underway. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported recently that right-hander Steven Wilson, who Tampa acquired from the White Sox in a trade during the offseason, has been slowed by a back injury entering camp. Wilson enjoyed a solid season with Chicago last year where he pitched to a 3.42 ERA across 59 appearances despite middling peripherals. Also sidelined at the moment is shortstop Taylor Walls, who Topkin notes was scratched from the Rays’ lineup due to oblique tightness. That sounds worrisome for Tampa, but the club has fortunately described Walls’ removal from today’s lineup as purely precautionary. Carson Williams would likely be the next man up to handle shortstop if Walls were sidelined during the regular season.
AL East Notes: Chisholm, Palacios, Kiner-Falefa, Bieber
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is open to extension talks but still hasn’t been approached by the club in that department, he tells Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Chisholm is entering his final year of club control before he’s slated for free agency.
It’s a similar situation to last year, when it seemed Chisholm was more open to talks than the club. Spring training is a common time for clubs to approach players about extensions, so it’s notable that there’s still no momentum in that department.
The Yankees don’t do many extensions in general and may prefer to wait things out in the middle infield. A year from now, it’s possible that prospect George Lombard Jr. has joined Anthony Volpe and José Caballero in the mix. If the Yanks can cover their middle infield spots internally, then they could focus next winter’s resources elsewhere. If not, they could pivot back to Chisholm as a free agent.
Some more camp notes from around the A.L. East…
- The Rays are going to get Richie Palacios some third base reps this spring, reports Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. Palacios has mostly played second base and the outfield corners in his career. His third base experience consists of ten innings in 2024. Adding some more versatility could help him carve out a bench role, though he does have an option remaining. Junior Caminero will be Tampa’s regular at third but his defensive grades weren’t great, so it could make sense for him to occasionally serve as the designated hitter or be replaced by a better defender late in some games.
- The Red Sox are going to have Isiah Kiner-Falefa play some first base in spring, reports Sean McAdam of MassLive. Kiner-Falefa has loads of experience at every position on the diamond except for first base. The Sox have Willson Contreras as their regular first baseman but the depth is banged up. Triston Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon last year and may not be reading for Opening Day. Romy González is also questionable for the opener due to a shoulder injury that recently required a platelet-rich plasma injection. Kiner-Falefa may not be needed there much due to the presence of Contreras but injuries can happen at any time and Kiner-Falefa also mentioned the possibility of pinch running for Contreras on occasion.
- The Blue Jays may be getting Shane Bieber back sooner than expected, according to manager John Schneider (link via Keegan Matheson of MLB.com). Schneider said that Bieber is “feeling good” throwing from 120 feet and might throw off a mound within two weeks. Last week, it was reported that Bieber would begin the season on the injured list out of an abundance of caution due to forearm fatigue. This update may not change that timeline, but the team has enough rotation depth to take it slow with his ramp-up regardless. A healthy Bieber would slot in behind Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, and Kevin Gausman in the Jays’ rotation. For now, Cody Ponce and Jose Berrios round out the group.
Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images
Yankees Infield Notes: McMahon, Volpe
The Yankees intend to get Ryan McMahon some work as a shortstop this spring, manager Aaron Boone tells Greg Joyce of The New York Post and other reporters. They’ll evaluate whether they feel comfortable using him as a potential backup option during the early part of the regular season. Anthony Volpe is beginning the season on the injured list after undergoing postseason labrum surgery. That draws utilityman José Caballero into the lineup at shortstop and leaves them without a clear backup at the position.
Amed Rosario has easily the most shortstop experience of any of their depth infielders. He was an everyday shortstop in Cleveland earlier in his career but struggled defensively and has mostly been pushed off the position. Rosario started 11 games there in 2024 and played all of two innings at the position last year. He’s more of a second/third baseman at this stage of his career, though his biggest appeal off the bench is his ability to hit left-handed pitching. Max Schuemann and Oswaldo Cabrera can cover shortstop but fit better at second or third base, while the out-of-options Jorbit Vivas has never started a professional game at short.
McMahon’s professional experience at shortstop consists of three innings for the 2020 Rockies. He didn’t play there at all in the minor leagues. Listed at 6’2″, 217 pounds and a below-average runner, he’s clearly better suited for third base work. McMahon is an excellent defender at the hot corner, ranking second at the position in Defensive Runs Saved (after Ke’Bryan Hayes) and third in Outs Above Average (behind Hayes and Maikel Garcia) over the last three seasons. His range would be stretched at shortstop, but he should have the hands and arm strength to make the routine plays.
That might be all the Yankees would need to consider him for a temporary backup role. He’d still see the vast majority of his time at third base. If they feel McMahon’s a better fill-in at shortstop than Rosario, they could lift Caballero for a pinch-hitter in key spots and would be better protected in the event of an injury.
That’d also help the roster flexibility. Cabrera and Schuemann still have options remaining. They have three bench jobs committed between Rosario, Paul Goldschmidt and a backup catcher (probably J.C. Escarra). Not needing to carry another shortstop would mean they could have Vivas break camp or consider keeping Jasson Domínguez up as a fourth outfielder. If they want a true shortstop off the bench, they’d probably need to select a non-roster invitee like Braden Shewmake, Zack Short or Paul DeJong onto the 40-man roster.
Ideally, that’ll all be a short-term arrangement. Volpe could return early in the season, pushing Caballero back to the super utility role for which he’s tailor-made. The 24-year-old discussed his rehab with Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, noting that he has begun a hitting progression but isn’t at a point where he can risk diving for ground-balls. Volpe indicated he’s not closing the door on making his season debut before April is out, though Hoch adds that GM Brian Cashman suggested a return in May is likelier.
Volpe has been a below-average hitter in each of his first three seasons in the big leagues. He has shown 20-20 potential but with a subpar batting average and on-base percentage. He was out to a better start last year before suffering the shoulder injury in early May. Even if the offensive regression may have been coming regardless, the injury seemed to take a toll on the other side of the ball. The 2023 Gold Glove winner had a surprisingly poor season defensively. Caballero was the better player down the stretch, but the Yankees are hoping Volpe will more forcefully reclaim the starting job once he’s healthy.
Yankees Outright Yanquiel Fernandez
The Yankees are outrighting Yanquiel Fernandez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the team announced. The outfielder was designated for assignment last week, shortly after the team claimed him off waivers from the Rockies. Fernandez will be in MLB Spring Training with New York.
New York was able to get the former top prospect through waivers, allowing the club to retain him as depth. With Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger back, it’s a crowded position for the Yankees. The plethora of veteran outfielders could leave Jasson Dominguez without a roster spot. Triple-A standout Spencer Jones is also on the verge of contributing in the majors. It’s a lengthy list for Fernandez to leapfrog, but he has the pedigree to make an impact if everything breaks his way.
The 23-year-old Fernandez was one of the organization’s brightest stars heading into last season. He ranked third on MLB.com‘s list of Colorado’s top prospects. Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs had the outfielder at fifth coming into the year. Fernandez has seemed to hit a roadblock at the upper levels, though. He’s slashed a mediocre .259/.320/.437 in 97 games at Triple-A the past two years. A .757 OPS is far from a failure, but the stat line did come at the extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
Fernandez got his first look in the big leagues this past year, and it went poorly. He delivered a 55 wRC+ across 147 plate appearances. Fernandez’s strikeout rate pushed 30% with the Rockies. The one positive for the outfielder was getting to show off his absolute cannon of an arm. Fernandez averaged an absurd 97.2 mph on his throws from right field, which ranked in the 100th percentile. He was a slightly negative defender by Outs Above Average, but the arm strength was apparent.
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Yankees, Rafael Montero Agree To Minor League Deal
The Yankees are adding veteran reliever Rafael Montero on a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training, as first reported by Héctor Gómez. The deal comes with a $1.8MM base salary and $500K roster bonus if the ISE Baseball client makes the MLB club.
Montero divided the 2025 season between a trio of clubs. He began the year on the Astros, playing out the final season of a three-year contract that Houston had quickly come to regret. They managed to offload a portion of his salary in an April trade with the Braves, who would flip him to the Tigers at the deadline. Montero managed a decent ERA in Detroit but had concerning underlying marks throughout the season.
The 35-year-old righty combined for a 4.48 earned run average through 60 1/3 innings. He got a lot of swinging strikes and managed a slightly above-average 23% strikeout rate. That came with a lot of free passes, as he walked almost 15% of opponents. Montero has never had pristine command but had gotten the walks enough in check to be a key setup arm for the Astros in 2022. He carries a 4.77 ERA over 166 innings over the past three seasons.
Montero sits around 95 mph with his fastball and picked up a splitter last year that became his primary pitch, especially against left-handed batters. The latter offering is a big reason the Braves and Tigers took a flier. Detroit carried Montero on their playoff rosters. His only appearance came early in a bullpen game in which he failed to retire any of the three batters he faced.
The Yankees could have a couple bullpen spots available depending on whether they carry Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest into the season. David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn should have spots secure. They can’t option Winquest or recent waiver pickup Osvaldo Bido, though the latter has kicked around the waiver wire all winter and certainly isn’t a lock to stick. Jake Bird, Yerry De Los Santos, Kervin Castro, Angel Chivilli and Brent Headrick all have a minor league option remaining.
As a player with six years of service time who finished last season on Detroit’s major league roster, Montero hit the market as an Article XX(b) free agent. That means this deal comes with a trio of automatic opt-out dates under the collective bargaining agreement. He can trigger an out clause five days before Opening Day, on May 1, or on June 1. If he does, the Yankees would have two days to either promote him or grant him his release.
Yankees Injury Notes: Cole, Rodon, Schlittler
The Yankees have received a handful of positive reports regarding their injured starting pitchers, most notably for ace Gerrit Cole. The 35-year-old missed all of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in March. Cole is scheduled to face hitters “in a couple weeks,” manager Aaron Boone told reporters, including Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Boone added that Cole could be back in time to pitch in Spring Training games.
Cole is less than a year removed from surgery, so Opening Day was never in play for him. The notion that he could appear in spring action is encouraging and could put him on track to only miss the first month of the season. The 60-day IL remains an option, but if there’s even a small chance Cole could be back within a couple of months, New York will likely avoid that route.
After winning the AL Cy Young in 2023, Cole missed the first half of 2024 with elbow inflammation. He returned for 17 starts to close the season. Elbow concerns popped back up heading into last year, and Cole ended up going under the knife. The veteran has three seasons left on the nine-year, $324MM deal he signed with the Yankees in 2019.
Carlos Rodon was seen playing catch with Cole at today’s spring session. The left-hander had loose bodies removed from his elbow shortly after the 2025 campaign ended. The expectation is that Rodon could return before the end of April. Boone told reporters the lefty is “probably not far behind from the start of the season.”
Rodon recently said he was back throwing eight weeks after his surgery, adding that his mobility is much improved following the procedure. The 33-year-old made a career-high 33 starts this past season. He earned an All-Star bid and finished sixth in AL Cy Young voting, though a rough postseason brought a sour end to his year. Rodon was knocked around for nine earned runs in his two playoff outings.
The lone negative revelation from Thursday was that right-hander Cam Schlittler was managing what was initially described as mid-back inflammation. The young righty took to social media to clarify that it’s a left lat issue. “It’s early, so I just want to make sure I’m on top of it,” Schlittler told reporters, including Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Schlittler took a July callup and ran with the opportunity, providing a sub-3.00 ERA across his first 14 big-league starts. He garnered national attention in the postseason. Schlittler delivered eight scoreless innings in a win over Boston in the ALDS. He came through with a quality start against Toronto in the ALCS, though New York lost the game (and the series).
On the hitting side, shortstop Anthony Volpe is scheduled to begin his hitting progression before the end of February. The infielder is recovering from torn labrum surgery. “He is doing well,” Boone told reporters. “Strength is all there in the weight room and stuff like that. He’s got all that back. That’s the thing that took a little while. His range of motion is tremendous.”
Volpe had surgery in early October. Early reports were that he wouldn’t be able to hit for four months. The club has said Volpe will open the season on the IL. Jose Caballero is expected to handle shortstop until Volpe is ready to return.
Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel and Brad Penner, Imagn Images