Dec. 30: The team has now formally announced Rosario’s new contract.
Dec. 13: The Yankees are re-signing infielder Amed Rosario to a one-year contract. The deal pays Rosario $2.5MM in salary, plus another $225K is available in incentive bonuses. Rosario is represented by Octagon.
Acquired from the Nationals at the trade deadline, Rosario hit .303/.303/.485 over 33 plate appearances and 16 games for New York, and his playing time was further limited by a 10-day injured list stint due to a left SC joint sprain. Still, Rosario lived up to expectations by chipping in at second base, third base, and in right field, while providing the Yankees with a productive right-handed hitting bat.
That righty-swinging balance is a plus within a New York lineup that is heavy in left-handed batters, and having Rosario back will give the Yankees some platoon flexibility with either Ryan McMahon at third base or even Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base. McMahon is a superb defender but a much lesser hitter than Chisholm, so Rosario will probably get most of his playing time spelling McMahon at least against southpaws.
Once regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects during his time in the Mets’ farm system, Rosario posted some okay offensive numbers as a regular with the Mets and Guardians. His overall effectiveness was limited by a lack of walks, struggles against right-handed pitching, and subpar defending at the shortstop position.
Though he is only entering his age-30 season, Rosario now looks to have settled into a role as a part-time player who can fill in at multiple positions, though he doesn’t provide much defensive value anywhere. His biggest plus is his ability to hit southpaws, as Rosario has a career .298/.336/.464 slash line in 1196 PA against left-handed pitching.
The Yankees clearly liked what they saw in Rosario last year, and after bouncing around to six different teams since the start of the 2023 season, Rosario probably appreciates some stability in returning to the Bronx for a full season in the pinstripes. He receives a slight raise over the $2MM deal he received from Washington last winter.
With Rosario back in the fold, the Yankees have brought some experienced depth back into the infield mix. Anthony Volpe will miss the start of the season recovering from shoulder surgery, so if Jose Caballero ends up getting a lot of the shortstop time in Volpe’s absence, Rosario’s presence helps fill the utility void on New York’s bench. Brendan Donovan is another versatile player known to be on the Yankees’ trade radar, plus the club has also been more loosely linked to All-Star Bo Bichette, in what would be an even more seismic shake-up of the Bronx infield.
Jack Curry of YES Network was the first to report that Rosario was re-signing with the Yankees on a one-year deal. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Rosario’s $2.5MM salary, and ESPN’s Jorge Castillo added the news about the incentive bonuses.
Great solid move for the bench. I’m glad he’s coming back
McMahon was OPS+ 81 for the Yankees last year. Rather expensive for excellent defense and a weak bat. But Rosario is still a pure backup.
McMahon should improve now that he’s gone through the Coors hangover adjustment. A near league-average bat with plus-plus defense and a platoon partner in Rosario when needed should work
aint this just some copium. 90 OPS+ with Colorado, 80 on NYY. Career OPS+ of 91 despite playing at Coors doesnt suggest itll magically improve at age 31 in his 10th year at the MLB level
As angry as I am about the Yankees self-imposed budget limitations, Hal crying poor, Cashman’s misappropriation of funds, and the Yankees current offseason (to this point, anyway), Rosario is a really good pickup. His numbers are misleading because he’s going to be used predominantly against lefties, against whom his numbers are much better.
His ‘25 vs lefties is: .302/.328/.491/.819
@Yankee
Can we tone things down a bit? Hal never mentioned anything about a pre-determined budget or any kind of financial restraint being put on Cashman.
What Hal actually said was that the payroll would be “at or above last year’s level” and that they’re “prepared to exceed” the highest luxury tax threshold if it means putting together a championship-caliber roster. He specifically stated that Cashman has the flexibility to pursue the players they’ve identified as targets, and that payroll considerations won’t prevent them from making the moves they believe are necessary to win.
He did mention that staying under the luxury tax would be “ideal” but acknowledged it’s “not likely” given their goals for the team. That’s just being realistic about the cost of competing at the highest level – not imposing artificial constraints.
The narrative that ownership is imposing strict financial limitations just doesn’t align with Hal’s actual comments. Let’s stick to what was actually said rather than creating controversy where none exists.
Actual payroll fell from the 2024 to 2025 season. Not what most teams do after losing the WS. Hal wants to be in the neighborhood actually winning it all is a distant 2nd to profit.
Not Hal, but several insiders have reported that Cashman is under orders to stay below $300MM. We will see, but I noted, “to this point anyway,” regarding this offseason.
It’s not hyperbole to say Cashman has misappropriated funds because, imo, he wouldn’t even make the playoffs if not for payroll allowing him to compensate for his many mistakes, ie, Donaldson, IKF, Stanton, Stroman, etc. (although I like Stanton, it was the wrong move at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons).
Here’s what I don’t get: why do you care so much about how other Yankees fans feel about the team? Why do you get so defensive of a team that hasn’t won in 16 years? Why do you tell others how they should respond to what they feel is selling short when they spend their money on the team?
On that note, why are you okay with how Hal/Cashman run the team as a fan?
@Yankee Clipper: I think you’re right on target with the criticisms. As someone who grew up in the 90s and watched the Yankees dominate with both homegrown talent and big free agents, it’s odd to see them taking a backseat to anyone (Dodgers, to an extent the Mets with Soto, the Blue Jays, etc). George would have never allowed it.
Agreed. The Yankees need to strengthen their bench and add some overall depth. He hits lefties. Good addition. Hopefully they use him more than they did after the trade.
Offseason done – Hal
“We did it, Patrick! We saved the city!”
A right-handed bench hitter that can give you a good at bat, and the dude became the hype man for the Yankees. That was an easy move to make for Cashman.
So much for the Orioles having the best lineup in the AL East. ~
(Ducks for cover)
Pete Alonso is chump change, Yankees have Volpe!
I heard the Yankees are all in on Mr. Met, while the Mets are offering a 1 yr @ 200 mill deal to Derek Jeter (but won’t go 2 years @ 40 mill per).
“And Volpe injured is TWICE the player that Pete Alonso is….”
– Aaron Boone (probably)
Unfortunately as a Yankee fan, this will be the type of signing going forward this year. Good pickup in a vacuum, but this team needs needle movers a la Bichette, Tucker, Imai
@Mrpap
Kick rocks. This idea that the Yanks have suddenly decided not to spend is so stupid. Freid, Beli, Williams, Goldy – Cortez and a couple of minor leaugers could’ve easily been $60-$70 before luxury taxes put back in their pockets. Am I the only one that remembers when the Yanks literally had ex all- stars at every position that were all aging into their 30s at the same time with virtually no ability to move them for younger players and no farm? I’m not mad if they think had about issuing guys contracts that pay guys tens of millions well into their late 30s. You take that risk with Judge and Stanton and so fast it’s 50/50. I doubt Rosario represents even a top 5 move they’ll make before ST.
They also offered a princess’s dowry to Soto. Not chump change
@KnicksFanCavsFan
“Am I the only one that remembers when the Yanks literally had ex all- stars at every position that were all aging into their 30s at the same time with virtually no ability to move them for younger players and no farm?”
The only guys I can think of is ARod, Ellsbury, Hicks, and DJL non-concurrently so no. That hasn’t stopped the Yankees from contending.
The prices this offseason make no sense to me. Some sky high and some like nothing at all. This should be a $5m deal in today’s market
Yeah, this is peanuts. Rosario isn’t anything special, but he’s a solid bench guy.
nah, I’m sure yankee fans are so “entitled” they feel this guarantees the WS
It’s hilarious how so many people use entitled incorrectly. To be entitled to something means you’re supposed to have it. Used correctly it would be feeling entitled or having a sense of entitlement.
@kc38 The marginal guys 30 and over keep getting less and less, and the ones who wait seem to be the ones who end up without a chair as the music stops–and get minor league or split deals.
2022 was Amed’s last good or even decent year. He’s been worth 0.7 rWAR combined for 2023-2025. Figure in age-related decline and he’ll be replacement level or worse in 2026. If he was in the market for $5m, a sensible team would tend strongly to go with a kid and take the benefit from a kid’s reflexes, speed, and defense rather than Rosario’s .300 OBP, very occasional pop, and bad defense.
He’s 30 for the entire year. There’s no reason to think he’ll fall off a cliff in 2026 just because it’s 1 more calendar year later. Most GA don’t hit the market until age 30 so by your logic there’s no need to sign any because they’ll be in serious decline by the first year of their contract.
Yankees strike big! lol
Solid bench guy, and very cheap. Welcome back, Ahmed!
No “h”
It was a quick post. Worth a comment? Nah.
Fair enough
I heard Boston was interested in this comment.
He never lived up to his big-time prospect status, but he’s quietly settled in as a very solid utility piece at an extremely affordable price. Solid move for NYY bringing him back.
@HBan22 Not… really. Rosario’s been the slenderest hair above replacement level since the end of 2022. He shouldn’t play SS, leaving him as poor at 2B, 3B, and ‘break glass’ anywhere else.
That’s not a solid utility player, more like the 26th man on a contender that’s not particularly creative (hey, Cash!), particularly since he’s turning 30 in 2026.
When you’re minus 7 by OAA and minus 5 by FRV, you’re one of those guys who would be better known as “can play anywhere, badly” rather than as any sort of constructive utility player.
Leaves one hitter spot for Belli. Although Volpe will start year on IL.
Good move for the bench..now let’s get Bellinger signed already.
The stove is hot!
Searing haht!
Now if they sign Bellinger, go after middle relief arms. I would be okay with those moves, not happy . But keeps us in the hunt.
Makes sense, he was big for them after getting traded this year. Good complement to their largely LH starting infield.
Cashman afternoon nap has concluded
This is a good piece to the puzzle, but still a lot of work to be done!
Yankees filled the utility spot but still need to figure out the Bellinger situation and probably need a RH hitting option that can play 1B
@RSox
I definitely get that Rice, assuming he’s the starting 1B, struggled to hit RHP as evident by his .683 OPS in his brief career but “brief” is the operative world. I wonder “how does a young hitter improve vs a weak side they struggle against if they don’t get reps in game situations?”. I see the wisdom of having an option but If rather that option be able to play other useful positions rather than just 1B. And I’m willing to let Rice and others work thru their pains with the understanding that they REALLY need to work thru it quickly.
The Yankees are not in a Bellinger “situation”. Sounds like they have offered the five-year contract in the range of the Alonso and Schwarber deals, and his agent is asking for seven years. They won’t give him seven years. That isn’t a situation, it’s a negotiation. Sounds like Bellinger won’t sign until after Tucker. They have the same agent (Boras).
Agreed that he most certainly won’t sign until after Tucker does.
Tucker’s agent is Casey Close.
You are correct about their agents. My mistake. Bellinger will still wait for Tucker to sign.
@Rsox
Bellinger is too old. Yankees need to get younger and get rid of a bunch of dead wood contracts before they become dominant again.
@old
Beli is 31. That’s old? Yanks have 5 position players under 27 and everyone is under 35. Relax.
@KnicksFanCavsFan
Yankees are teh 5th oldest team in MLB right now with an average age of 32.
Bro check your numbers and use context when applying them. The Yanks batters average age in 2025 was 28.6 ranking them the 9th oldest. The average age of the pitchers was 30.6 ranking them the th oldest 6th oldest. However, the youngest tend to be the ones rebuilding. The Marlins hitters were the youngest at 25.7 followed by the Nationals, Athletics, Baltimore and St. Louis. The teams with the youngest pitching staffs were also mostly non-ontenders in the Guardians at 27.1 followed by the Nationals, Marlins and White Sox. The Mariners were the only top contenders in the top 5 youngest age category. All the top playoff contenders were in the same range as the Yanks (28) with the Dodgers bring the eldest at 30. From the pitching side. The Blue Jays, Cubs and Rangers were tied with an average age of 31. The Yanks were in the same age group (29-30) as the Red Sox, Dodgers, Padres and Phillies as far as top contenders are concerned. I’m my Linkin the Yanks have done a great job of blending vets with young affordable players. On offense we have Rice, Jazz, Volpe, Dominguez and Wells as possible everyday players. In the rotation Gil, Warren and Schlittler are all options that are 27 or younger. Cole, Freid, Rondon, Stanton, Judge, McMahon and if brought back, Bellinger would be the guys in that 30-35 range with Stanton bring the oldest. Most of their contacts are towards the end. Let’s not buy into silly narratives that the Yanks are an old team. Older didn’t mean bad and we are far from old or bad.
31 is old if you’re a fringe player, but it isn’t old if you’re as good as Bellinger.
Of all teams 5 highest paid players, the Yankees have the oldest 5.
In New York, making only $2.5 million a year means you still qualify for welfare and food stamps.
@mlb fan
Thank goodness for welfare and food stamps. I don’t think I’d be able to work as a full-time greeter at Walmart without it…
Awesome, now let’s get 2 bats to help Judge out lest he become Mike Trout on the Angels.
Good opt. RH hitter who hits LHP. Can play several positions, can run well, does not cost much in Baseball Bucks. You do not have to fill the roster in any predetermined order. Yanks need Bellinger or Tucker though. They know that. They could still use a RH hitter with some thump.
Hot Take: Rosario and Polanco have identical WAR next year.
Appreciate your optimism! If true, that would mean Volpe and Caballero both completely collapsed. Or Cabby for that matter.
Could also mean Polanco does not produce/produces negative WAR.
500 save club next season?
Rosario is going to have a pretty hard time racking up 500 saves in 2026.
Lol. Site disappeared then came back to this article!
This goes in the smart column next to the yarborough resigning
You guys keep being smart – “SMART AS A ROCK”!!
How’d it feel getting pummeled by the Jays, of all people ??? Three games to one, and you should have been SWEPT!!!
This year , Bellinger signs with the Mets, and the Yankees pride themselves in grabbing Rosario!!
That’s called real Yankee Intelligence!!! Maybe you’ll finish 3rd in the AL East this year!! Yeah… that’s Yankee Intelligence !
Ok
You sound obssessive and mentally challenged.
Dude you’re making way too much about the signing of a utility player. Who are these Yankees you say are gloating or celebrating the signing of him? You sound childish.
Allergic to walks.
Casey Close is Tucker’s agent.
Directly to the WS to beat the Japan Dodgers
3 hole baby. Keep it up Yankees.
Now they have good pieces off the bench with Rosario Waldo and Cabbie.
Another missed off-season for the tankees. This team is a profit first organization that doesnt care about winning.
Good signing. I’m hoping Escarra gets more playing time as well.
Doubt it. Rice will take away some of his playing time.
Yeah, Most likely.
A+
I like this move.. Rosario is a solid platoon guy. Good bat off the bench. The yankees need more guys that just put the bat on the ball. Not every swing needs to be a HR. Put it in play move some runners and see what happens just like Toronto did last year… Now moving forward Yankees have to address the following
1. LF and backup 1B … resign Bellinger
2. Pitching they could use a depth starter and reliever they resigned yarborough which is good but I’d like 1 more whether its a free agent or trade (Imai,michael lorenzen, Andrew chafin, pete fairbanks) go get 1 or 2. Imai pure starter Lorenzen could start or be a 7th inning type of reliever and the others mentioned are purely for the pen.
And lastly
3. Get a right handed catcher. Escarra is a nice player but they need right handed hitting catcher. The free agent market is filled with AAAA OR 35 plus career .200 hitting catchers that are cheap not sure they are a upgrade so perhaps seek a trade. If bellinger is resigned jason Dominguez should be available in trade (Spencer Jones could be 4th outfielder along with Cabrera and Rosario taking a few reps) also escarra could be available series replacing him add in a minor league and you can really improve this team. It would require the yankees to add around 35 to 45 million total with To do all this except is they add Imai although im not sure if his posting is toward salary cap
Aolid move but for a team that didn’t win the league or WS last yesr I’d like to see tbe roster improved to feel better about this season.
Happy days are here again!
The skies above are clear again,
Let us sing a song of cheer again,
Happy days are here again!
A very solid move by the Yanks.
My only question about the versatility that is on the roster.. now… Does the Manager have what it takes to… utilize that versatility.
Casey, Houk, Billy, Girardi and Torre aren’t walking through that door to take advantage.
Regretfully… We Shall See…
The Yankees continuing to bring in former Mets.
He’s a perfect fit there. Signing made a ton of sense all off season and Yankees fans should be happy with it.
BIG DEAL !!!!
Our offseason is now complete. Of course, Andrew Heaney is now available, I hear.
Damn Yankees.
I could see if all this Yanks hate came because all the top guys that the Yanks should want were gone by they’re not. Most of the top OF, SP, 3B or SS options are still on the board and I would label SS and 3b as positions where they might look to improve if the asking price comes down in guys like Bregman or Bichette. We didn’t need expensive closers because we have two closers with 30 save seasons on their resumes. I doubt any of the guys signed would take am or to be a mid innings guy and I don’t think the top guys would be worth paying 110% tax penalty for. SP like Dylan Cease were extremely over priced imo. I wanted Mike King and I’m not sure why that didn’t happen? We can’t assume that every team MUST choose the Yankees and don’t have their own preferences. I wanted Murakami but he’s more of a luxury than a need since we have Rice at 1b. Let’s see what happens with Beli, Imai and Okamato.
Since 2020 this guy has been on 8 teams. 2020-2025 = 8 teams. Passed around like a….
I like it for the NYY. Nothing special, but a versatile backup at a good salary.
I think it would be best if the yankees don’t make any hasty moves and view next year as a rubber season. Just wait for 2028, that will be the winning season.
lol riiiiight. if they actually had this thought theyd be minor sellers and retool the farm and get money off the books. theyre likely somehow believe they have a WS winning team as it stands
Absolute bargain considering what the Mariners paid for Refsnyder.