With the vacation season upon us, baseball executives and brokers might be purchasing in Orlando, Florida subsequent week.
There, the Winter Conferences formally start on Monday, although the Sunshine State ought to begin anticipating arrivals on Sunday. Final yr, the Yankees discovered they misplaced the Juan Soto sweepstakes to the Mets the evening earlier than the conferences formally started.
This yr, the Yankees are as soon as once more attempting to retain a Scott Boras-repped outfielder following a profitable one-year audition within the Bronx. That might be Cody Bellinger.
Nonetheless, the Bombers produce other needs and wishes. With that in thoughts, listed here are just a few questions going through the membership forward of the Winter Conferences.
WILL BELLINGER RETURN?
Brian Cashman hasn’t been shy about his need to retain Bellinger, who thrived with the Yankees this previous season after being acquired from the Cubs. The overall supervisor has stated he would “love” to maintain the 30-year-old, who would slot into left, and that the Yankees can be “better served” if that occurs. Bellinger, in the meantime, stated he was “absolutely” involved in a reunion after the Yankees’ season ended with the ALDS.
Nonetheless, Bellinger is a match for different contenders, and he’s on the lookout for a profitable long-term deal after earlier journeys to free company yielded prove-it and option-heavy contracts. If the Yankees don’t re-sign Bellinger, it’s going to depart them quick an impression bat. Kyle Tucker, a greater and youthful nook outfielder, can be a free agent, however he’ll value greater than Bellinger.
Bellinger’s free company will have an effect on younger Yankees outfielders Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones. If the veteran stays, both neophyte may turn into a commerce chip. If not, Domínguez and Jones may discover themselves in competitors this spring.
COULD ROTATION GET A SIGNIFICANT BOOST?
The Yankees have lots of beginning pitchers. Nonetheless, Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodón will all begin the season on the injured record, and the primary two are coming off Tommy John surgical procedure. In the meantime, Max Fried, Cam Schlittler and Will Warren are all coming off career-high workloads. Swingman Ryan Yarbrough, just lately re-signed, and Luis Gil, make up the remainder of the projected Opening Day rotation, assuming extra accidents don’t happen throughout spring coaching and the early elements of the season.
That’s not a protected assumption. So whereas the Yankees aren’t essentially in dire want of a frontline starter, they’ve quite a lot of causes to pursue one.
Japanese free agent Tatsuya Imai is of curiosity to the Yankees, as is reentry to his dwelling nation’s market. Nonetheless, it stays to be seen simply how dear bidding will get. With Dylan Stop already getting a seven-year, $210 million deal from the Blue Jays, the free agent marketplace for starters is off to an costly begin.
The Yankees might discover a commerce extra palatable; Minnesota’s Joe Ryan and Miami’s Sandy Alcantara are among the many names to regulate.
WHO WILL JOIN BULLPEN?
The Yankees have already got a better in David Bednar, so going after somebody like Edwin Díaz or Robert Suarez wouldn’t be cost-efficient for a workforce that has usually prevented lofty contracts for relievers.
That stated, the Yankees do have some holes of their bullpen with Devin Williams agreeing to a cope with the Mets and Luke Weaver a free agent. Camilo Doval is at present positioned as Bednar’s setup man, and he demonstrated how erratic he may be after being acquired from the Giants final summer season.
The Yankees ought to particularly be on the lookout for velocity and command, two issues they lacked final yr, for his or her bullpen. Kyle Finnegan, Brad Keller and Hunter Harvey are intriguing free agent choices, however don’t be stunned if the Yankees pursue a commerce for aid assist. They may additionally flip to one in every of their younger incumbent starters, resembling Warren or Gil, in the event that they add to the rotation.
HOW MUCH ARE YANKEES WILLING TO SPEND?
The reply to this query will colour all others, however don’t count on the Yankees to announce their payroll plans for 2026. Hal Steinbrenner just lately declined to supply a quantity, however he did say it might be “ideal” for the workforce to be below the $319 million it spent final season. Nonetheless, he instantly acknowledged that that will not occur.
As of Thursday evening, the Yankees’ projected aggressive steadiness tax payroll for 2026 sat at $283.6 million, per Cot’s Contracts, placing them a smidge under the second-highest penalty threshold of $284 million.
The best threshold in 2026 is $304 million. It will likely be powerful for the Yankees to keep away from that and subject a championship caliber workforce given the aforementioned holes – additionally they want to enhance their bench – on their roster.
