Their offseason moves revolved around bringing back essentially the same roster from 2025. Pitchers Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough and infielder Amed Rosario were re-signed. Outfielder Trent Grisham accepted the qualifying offer to return to New York for 2026. The Yankees’ biggest moves to strengthen the roster from the outside were claiming reliever Caleb Ort off waivers from the Astros and trading for pitcher Ryan Weathers, hardly the kind of additions you’d expect from a team with championship aspirations.
The Yankees are running out of options to upgrade their roster. Outfielder Kyle Tucker agreed to a deal with the Dodgers on Thursday night, while infielder Bo Bichette agreed to a deal with the Mets on Friday. The Yankees were linked to both players in free agency. With both players off the market, outfielder Cody Bellinger is the best position player left.
Yankees face competition to retain Cody Bellinger
The Yankees have made it clear that bringing back Bellinger is the biggest priority this season. Bellinger, meanwhile, has been vocal about his desire to return to New York despite terminating his contract. The Yankees aren’t the only team interested in Bellinger, however, with the Mets, Phillies and Giants among the teams linked to the outfielder.
None of these teams need Bellinger as much as the Yankees do. Their lineup, as currently constructed, will rely heavily on Aaron Judge for production. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is a dangerous power hitter when healthy, but has been on the injured list every year since 2018. Bellinger, who produced a .272/.334/.480 batting line with 29 home runs and 25 doubles over his 656 plate appearances, proved he can help protect Judge in the lineup.
The Yankees have reportedly made a significant offer to Bellinger, although the two sides differ on the length of the contract. With no fallback options if Bellinger signs elsewhere, the Yankees may have to step outside their comfort zone to bring him back. Otherwise, Bellinger could end up elsewhere, underscoring what has been a disappointing offseason for the Yankees.
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