Aaron Boone believed the 2025 Yankees could possibly be his finest, but the crew’s season ended the identical manner it did within the supervisor’s earlier seven years on the helm: and not using a championship.
Now a busy offseason awaits, because the crew has a handful of inside free brokers and a number of other exterior targets to pursue. A reworking isn’t required after the Yankees have been eradicated within the ALDS, however some new items needs to be in place come Opening Day if the membership desires to get again to the World Collection.
The Yankees can even wish to undertake some new philosophies whereas reviving some outdated ones. With that in thoughts, listed here are some methods the Yankees needs to be considering as Boone, Brian Cashman and firm brace for winter.
KEEP SWINGING BIG
With the Yankees’ projected payroll for 2026 at present at $263.9 million, per Cot’s Contracts, the crew has loads of monetary room to swing for the fences.
They did that final offseason after shedding the World Collection, providing Juan Soto a $760 million contract earlier than he defected to the Mets. Then they pivoted to Max Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million deal, the biggest assure ever given to a lefty.
This winter, Kyle Tucker would be the prime — and costliest — free agent available on the market. Whereas the outfielder received’t come near Soto’s cash, Tucker is anticipated to signal a deal within the neighborhood of $400 million. That’s rather a lot, and Tucker comes with questions on his defensive match. Nevertheless, he’s an elite hitter who can be well-positioned to succeed Aaron Decide, coming into his age-34 season, because the dominant bat within the pinstripers’ lineup down the street.
The Yankees can afford and will severely pursue Tucker after exploring a commerce for him final offseason.
If Tucker doesn’t pan out once more, Cody Bellinger can be a wonderful — and cheaper — comfort prize after a formidable first season in pinstripes. But when that’s the trail the Yankees find yourself on, they should scour the marketplace for different elite skills.
They aren’t essentially suits for a few of the different prime hitters who will probably hit free company, together with Alex Bregman, Kyle Schwarber, Bo Bichette and Pete Alonso, however the Yankees may use their beginning pitching depth to commerce for a frontline starter like Detroit’s Tarik Skubal or Minnesota’s Joe Ryan. They may additionally pursue a free agent reunion with Michael King and commerce a few of their rotation depth for lineup and/or bullpen assist.
EMBRACE COMPETITION AT SHORTSTOP
Ever since profitable the Yankees’ beginning shortstop job as a rookie popping out of spring coaching in 2023, Anthony Volpe has had an undeserved chokehold on the place.
A part of that’s as a result of there haven’t been many viable challengers all through Volpe’s three-year profession. However it’s additionally as a result of the Yankees have stubbornly stood by the extremely streaky 24-year-old, insisting he has extra to supply regardless of persistently subpar offensive output and a 2025 season that noticed his Gold Glove protection regress.
The Yankees did give tremendous utilityman José Caballero some run at shortstop in September, however that coincided with Volpe’s restoration from a cortisone shot for his partially torn labrum, which he performed by way of for many of the yr (the Yankees insisted the damage didn’t influence his play on both facet of the ball). As soon as Volpe returned from the injection, he acquired the vast majority of the begins at quick. That included each postseason recreation, a stretch that noticed Volpe hit .192 with a .538 OPS, one residence run, two RBI, zero walks and a whopping 16 strikeouts.
Their previous actions say they received’t, however the Yankees must, on the very least, embrace competitors for Volpe. That will simply imply a spring coaching battle with Caballero — Bichette is a horrible defender and there aren’t many different sensible exterior choices — however the crew must cease handing the keys to a participant that hasn’t confirmed he can drive with out crashing.
VELOCITY NEED IN THE BULLPEN
Regardless of some star energy, the Yankees’ bullpen was a large number in 2025, as impending free brokers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver struggled whereas accidents ravaged the group.
The unit additionally lacked warmth, because the pen ranked within the backside half of the league in common fastball velocity and within the backside 5 in fastball utilization. That’s essential as a result of quicker pitches are more durable to hit.
The Yankees tried to rectify this downside with the acquisitions of David Bednar and Camilo Doval on the commerce deadline, and so they noticed some enchancment. However the bullpen nonetheless lacked velocity come playoff time. A handful of free agent relievers may assist the Yankees add some mph to their reduction core subsequent yr, together with, however not restricted to, Ryan Helsley, Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey, Michael Kopech, Gregory Soto, Luis García and Seranthony Domínguez.
The Yankees even have some inside choices who may assist on this regard. Luis Gil involves thoughts, as Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt’s eventual returns from Tommy John surgical procedure will crowd the Yankees’ rotation. There’s additionally top-100 prospect Carlos Lagrange, who possesses a 100-mph fastball.
A LITTLE CONTACT COULD GO A LONG WAY
Whereas the Blue Jays bludgeoned the Yankees within the ALDS, additionally they drove them loopy through the common season by placing the ball in play, fouling off powerful pitches and stringing collectively lengthy at-bats. The death-by-papercut method was one thing Yankees’ pitchers talked about all year long when requested why Toronto’s division-winning lineup was so tough to navigate.
It wouldn’t damage the Yankees to undertake a few of that. That’s to not say they need to cease being the Bronx Bombers — the Yanks had baseball’s finest common season offense in 2025 — however just a little extra contact may go a good distance.
Decide supplied a ton, profitable his first batting title with a .331 common. Bellinger supplied some as effectively, as he has a knack for tailoring his method and swing to the state of affairs. However there’s no assure he’ll be again.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Volpe may use some extra contact of their video games, as their pace can get them on base and into scoring place at greater clips. They shouldn’t sacrifice all of their energy — Chisholm simply had a 30-30 season and Volpe is a greater hitter when pulling the ball within the air — however they’d two of the 20 highest Zone Swing & Miss percentages in baseball final season. Chisholm really had the third highest, whereas Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon had the second-highest.
LEAN INTO PLATOON OPTIONS
One other factor the Yankees seen concerning the Blue Jays was how they leaned into platoons. They famous how the Pink Sox, amongst others, did the identical.
The Yankees gave themselves platoon choices previous to the commerce deadline, buying Amed Rosario and Austin Slater, in addition to Caballero. Paul Goldschmidt additionally transitioned into extra of a platoon function because the season progressed.
Nonetheless, there have been cases during which Boone didn’t lean into the choices at his disposal. That ought to occur extra in 2026, supplied the Yankees preserve these choices.
It wouldn’t be a shock to see them re-sign Rosario, as he had been a goal for years, was a optimistic clubhouse affect and might play third instead of the sunshine and lefty-hitting McMahon when there’s a left-hander on the mound.
Slater can also be a free agent, however he didn’t do a lot to warrant a reunion.
Japan’s Kazuma Okamoto can also be an intriguing match, because the right-handed hitter can play each nook infield positions — the Yankees have the lefty-swinging Ben Rice at first — and handles southpaws effectively.
