The Yankees found themselves in the rare position of being outbid by the Mets for the top free agent. They responded with multiple lesser but still significant pickups, including an eight-year deal to add a top-of-the-rotation arm.
Major League Signings
- LHP Max Fried: Eight years, $218MM
- 1B Paul Goldschmidt: One year, $12.5MM
- RHP Jonathan Loáisiga: One year, $5MM (including buyout of '26 club option)
- LHP Tim Hill: One year, $2.85MM (including buyout of '26 club option)
2025 spending: $52.35MM
Total spending: $238.35MM
Option Decisions
- RHP Gerrit Cole rescinded decision to opt out of remaining four years and $144MM on his nine-year deal
- Team declined $17MM option on 1B Anthony Rizzo in favor of $6MM buyout
- Team declined $5MM option on RHP Lou Trivino
- Team exercised $2.5MM option on RHP Luke Weaver
Trades and Claims
- Traded LF Taylor Trammell to Astros for cash
- Traded C Carlos Narváez to Red Sox for minor league RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and international bonus pool space
- Acquired RHP Devin Williams from Brewers for LHP Nestor Cortes, 2B Caleb Durbin and cash ($2MM)
- Acquired CF Cody Bellinger and cash ($5MM) from Cubs for RHP Cody Poteet
- Acquired RHP Fernando Cruz and minor league C Alex Jackson from Reds for C Jose Trevino
- Acquired RHP Michael Arias from Cubs for cash
- Claimed RHP Allan Winans off waivers from Braves (later outrighted off 40-man roster)
- Claimed RHP Roansy Contreras off waivers from Orioles (later lost on waivers back to Baltimore)
- Claimed SS Braden Shewmake off waivers from Royals
- Claimed RHP Owen White off waivers from Reds (later lost on waivers to White Sox)
- Claimed LHP Brent Headrick off waivers from Twins
Notable Minor League Signings
- Colten Brewer, Carlos Carrasco, Brennen Davis, Geoff Hartlieb, Ronaldo Hernández, Brandon Leibrandt, Tyler Matzek, Pablo Reyes, Wilking Rodríguez, Dominic Smith, Andrew Velazquez, Rob Zastryzny
Extensions
- None
Notable Losses
- Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, Clay Holmes, Nestor Cortes, Tommy Kahnle, Jose Trevino, Anthony Rizzo (still unsigned), Alex Verdugo, Jon Berti (non-tendered), Tim Mayza (non-tendered), Cody Poteet, Carlos Narváez, Caleb Durbin, Lou Trivino
The Yankees' season ended with a blown five-run lead in the World Series Game 5 clincher. The front office didn't have much time to think about that defeat. They faced a number of crucial decisions within the opening days of the offseason.
Some of those were straightforward. They exercised a $2.5MM option on Luke Weaver while moving on from Anthony Rizzo and Lou Trivino. They exercised their option on manager Aaron Boone, a precursor to the two-year extension he would sign early in Spring Training. They made the qualifying offer to Juan Soto. The biggest question of the offseason's first week: would Gerrit Cole test the market?
The ace had to decide whether to opt out of the remaining four years and $144MM on his nine-year free agent deal. If he triggered the opt-out, New York could override it by exercising a $36MM club option covering the 2029 season. Cole took his decision to the wire before deciding to opt out. The Yankees balked at the option. For a day, it looked like Cole would be one of the biggest risk-reward plays on the open market.
Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription
- Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.
- Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony.
- Remove ads and support our writers.
- Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker
I appreciate their effort, but I don’t love their execution. Too many question marks, too many holes.
The good news is there is a chance that a young, affordable nucleus is taking shape and they are another year closer to having some albatross contracts fall off the books.
Pitching injuries hurt them. Before that they probably win division. I think Goldschmidt Bellinger will both be better than last year.
They can still win the division though. I definitely beg to differ.
I never said they couldn’t so you don’t differ with me.
I don’t see the Yankees as that great of a team, just the best in a pretty weak AL. Their offseason additions will be interesting to watch play out though. I could see all blowing up in their faces (for various reasons) or all working out which would likely cement them as the top team of the AL.
Thought they were good until all their pitchers arms fell off. Now East is really up for grabs.
Don’t see many questions with additions. Bellinger is 700 ops guy. With luck and stadium could be near 800. Goldschmidt could hit wall. Who knows at that age. But I will bet it isn’t his final year and he is 700 ops and I think can be near 800 as well. Fried is just health as any pitcher. Same with Williams. Unless they have awful medical staff he should be fine.
“— or so it seemed.”
Ooh, foreshadowing…What happened next?
Every day for the Yankees be like “Bring out your dead.”
Joe, glad I caught you. I just spoke with my buddy who has done restorations and been around that business for a long time – he said the ones you find on Amazon (as long as they have good reviews) are the ones he usually gets or recommends to people because there isn’t much of a difference. He did caution to make sure you get the dimmable ones because they’re too bright otherwise.
As far as the Yankees….. yep, the game follow up is usually, “so who broke what?”
Really appreciate that Clipper. I hadn’t even considered the dimmable aspect.
I know nothing about cards, but GARedSoxfan is a huge source of knowledge on cars. He has me searching for an appropriate 2018 Mustang GT.
Theeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees Win!! Ahahahahaha!
The Cortes trade when big arms were available for nothing more than $$$ all offseason seems so… Cashman.
Getting an elite closer for a shot Nestor and a fringe prospect was a steal. You can criticize a lot of the Yankees decisions from this offseason but the Williams trade is not one of them
Pay Cortes or sign free agent? Same thing. Yankees got Williams for free. If they thought that prospect could be anything you would never trade it for an expensive rental reliever.
Theeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees Win 86 Games!!
If the Yanks aren’t careful with the next two offseasons they run the risk of getting pounded by the Red Sox as a matter of practice. Red Sox ranked but they’ve got an awesome core. And, they will have money to spend, if John Henry decides to attack through free agency.
Nice pieces already and elite farm system. Yankees signing QO players and going over tax is taking it’s toll. 300 million takes care a lot of problems though.
“Elite farm system”? In what universe?
@yankee doubter, the Red Sox for sure have an elite farm system which is what dream gm was referencing.
A+
Paying Soto 800 900 million would have been F-.
Got best free agent 1b Goldschmidt.
Got Bellinger and Williams for free.
Fried expensive. Cost picks. But if you are going to give pitchers mega contracts he’s as good as any I guess. Rather had Snell. But like better than Burnes.
I know it is ST, and no one has any idea of what pitchers are working on, but after yesterday’s disaster, I am wondering if the D-backs are concerned about Burnes at all.
I pay little to nothing attention on spring training. Don’t know how he is looking. It’s about getting ready for regular season and not the results. If his velocity was significantly down is a concern. If he gave up 10 runs because he was focusing on working his 3rd 4th best pitches it’s no concern.
This evaluation is purely based on their offseason needs and not to do with recent events injuries and issues.
Starting Pitching:
The acquisition of Max Fried is a major win. This significantly improves their rotation.
Grade: A
Bullpen:
Adding Devin Williams improves the bullpens overall quality.
Grade: B+
Offensive Production:
Adding Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt addresses offensive needs, providing more power and consistency.
Grade: A-
Defensive Flexibility:
Cody Bellinger’s versatility improves the team’s defensive flexibility.
Grade: B
A reasonable prediction for the Yankees’ 2025 win record would be in the range of 90-95 wins. Based on recent injuries, this will probably drop to around 80-85.
F
They let Soto walk and let Gerritt Cole walk back his opt-out on his way to the Surgeon’s Table.
I’m still laughing about Cole, and that was like 2 or 3 weeks ago.
Like I said, I have to either question Cashman if he didn’t have Cole undergo a complete physical, or question the NYY doctors if he did undergo a physical and they failed to catch anything.
He missed half his starts, then he was really good, but his playoffs with a 22/10 in 29 IPs is well below his expectations.
Great summary of Yankees off-season. Well done MLBTR.