Yankees Offseason

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November 11, 2026

The 2026 season has come and gone, and the offseason has taken center stage in baseball. For the New York Yankees, this means several key areas need to be addressed as the team looks for its first World Series title since 2009.

Add a Right-Handed Hitting Catcher

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Despite a pedestrian start, Austin Wells turned his season around over the final two months of 2026. After the trade deadline, the 25-year-old posted a .785 OPS with seven home runs and 18 RBI. He stayed hot in October, hitting .333 with multiple extra-base hits. However, he shouldn’t be relied upon as the everyday catcher.

Against southpaws, the lefty Wells slashed .122/.192/.244 with a 32.2 percent strikeout rate. Simply put, the Yankees need a right-handed hitting catcher to platoon with Wells. Free agents Carson Kelly and Ryan Jeffers are both enticing options, as the two hit .298 and .267, respectively, against lefties in 2026.

Find a New Third Baseman

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2026 was not kind to Ryan McMahon, as the 31-year-old posted a 78 wRC+ in 124 games. He also regressed with his glove, posting zero outs above average one season after being named a Gold Glove finalist. With subpar offense and deteriorating defense, McMahon’s time in the Bronx looks murky at best.

Unfortunately, the third base market is bleak. Outside of Alec Bohm and Teruaki Sato, nobody’s name in this year’s free agent class jumps off the page. The team could certainly trade for someone, with Isaac Paredes and Brooks Lee being potential suitors. However, they could also shift infielder George Lombard Jr. to the hot corner, since he played the position in the minor leagues. This would open the shortstop position, which has a deeper trade pool with players like Gunnar Henderson and Elly De La Cruz.

Figure Out Second Base

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Like McMahon, Jazz Chisholm Jr. struggled mightily in 2026. His OPS dropped from .813 in 2025 to .711, while his WAR sank from 4.2 to 1.7. The Yankees didn’t extend him a qualifying offer, and the team hasn’t expressed interest in bringing him back. This means the Yankees will have another infield hole to fill, although this time, the options are plentiful.

Luis Garcia Jr., who the Yankees acquired at the trade deadline, has 508 career games under his belt at second base. Likewise, Anthony Volpe fit the position perfectly after moving there in September. However, if the front office wants to pursue an external option, the free agent market has several appealing names. Brandon Lowe posted a career-best 5.3 WAR in 2026, mashing 35 home runs and 96 RBI in the process. Luis Arraez, meanwhile, hit .310 with 12 outs above average at second base.

Address the Bullpen

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In 2026, the Yankees’ bullpen led the league with a 3.13 ERA. However, two of its top contributors are free agents, with David Bednar and Paul Blackburn set to hit the open market. The Yankees extended the qualifying offer to Bednar, and the 32-year-old has until November 17 to accept it. However, Blackburn will have multiple suitors, meaning the Yankees might have a big hole to fill.

With a deep starting rotation and lots of highly regarded pitching prospects, the team could realistically address the bullpen internally. However, if they don’t take that path, free agents like Adrian Morejon, Alex Vesia, and Raisel Iglesias would bolster the Yankees’ relief corps.

Replace Brad Ausmus and James Rowson

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On Tuesday, it was announced that Yankees’ bench coach Brad Ausmus and hitting coach James Rowson would not be returning for 2027. While Ausmus accepted the Houston Astros’ managerial position, James Rowson accepted the San Francisco Giants’ offensive coordinator role, leaving the Yankees with two open spots on their coaching staff. It’s unclear who the team is targeting for the positions, but the roles will certainly be something to monitor as the offseason picks up.