It took many of the offseason, however the Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees lastly reunited earlier this week. Latest strikes across the league meant either side had been working out of choices — the Yankees had fewer alternate options to enhance the lineup and Bellinger had fewer potential touchdown spots — which helped push issues alongside as spring coaching approaches.

Bellinger obtained a frontloaded five-year, $162.5 million contract that can pay him $85 million the primary two years (earlier than an decide out) and $77.5 million over the ultimate three years. It is the largest transfer in what has been an in any other case quiet offseason for New York. They traded 4 prospects for lefty Ryan Weathers, introduced Trent Grisham again on the qualifying provide, made their first Rule 5 Draft choose in over a decade (Cade Winquest), re-signed some function gamers (most notably Amed Rosario), and that is actually it.

The Yankees workforce that studies to spring coaching in three weeks will look lots just like the workforce that received 94 video games and had the AL’s greatest run differential final season, but additionally acquired trounced by the Toronto Blue Jays within the ALDS. Operating again the identical workforce (plus Weathers) isn’t essentially a foul factor, although it does make for a boring and albeit uninspired offseason. 

Re-signing Bellinger will virtually actually go down as the largest transfer the Yankees make this offseason, although it should not be the final. There are nonetheless different upgrades that may be made and selections that should be made as properly. With Bellinger again within the fold, right here now are three issues GM Brian Cashman & Co. should accomplish within the coming weeks.

1. Work out what to do with Domínguez

Bellinger’s return means erstwhile prime prospect Jasson Domínguez is a participant with out an apparent function. The Yankees will transfer ahead with Bellinger in left, Grisham in middle, and Aaron Choose in proper. Giancarlo Stanton is locked in at DH and Ben Rice, who broke out with 26 homers and a 131 OPS+ final 12 months, is locked in at first base. The lineup is full in the intervening time.

The Yankees have just a few choices with Domínguez. Maybe the obvious one is commerce him. It would not make sense to make use of a proficient soon-to-be 23-year-old as a seldom-used bench man. See which groups have an interest, choose the deal that makes essentially the most sense, and pull the set off. Frankly, that may be greatest for Domínguez. He must play often at this level in his profession.

Retaining Domínguez can also be completely affordable too. Stanton performed 77 video games final 12 months and has been on the injured listing 5 instances within the final 4 years. He has additionally had a continual challenge in each elbows because the center of 2024. It requires common upkeep and occasional break day. When Stanton goes down, Domínguez can step into the lineup. Good and simple.

For a lot of final 12 months the Yankees rotated three gamers (Bellinger, Domínguez, Grisham) by way of two spots (left and middle fields), they usually can do this once more. Is it perfect for Domínguez’s improvement? No, probably not. Is it higher than buying and selling him only for the sake of creating a commerce? Yeah, in all probability. Too many on a regular basis caliber gamers is an effective factor.

I feel the reply right here is hearken to gives for Domínguez. Cashman would not be doing his job if he did not at the least see what’s on the market, particularly with slugging prospect Spencer Jones knocking on the door in Triple-A. Hearken to gives, but when nothing is sensible, do not drive it, and take Domínguez into the season. At-bats will open up. They all the time do. 

2. Herald a reliever (or two)

New York’s bullpen ranked twenty third in ERA, twenty first in WAR, and twentieth in win likelihood final season. It was an unreliable unit, and three of their prime 4 in reduction appearances (Mark Leiter Jr., Luke Weaver, Devin Williams) left as free brokers. Their solely bullpen strikes this offseason are Winquest and re-signing two swingmen (Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough).

Supervisor Aaron Boone’s bullpen at present seems like this:

One spring coaching harm and Yarbrough’s within the rotation. Buying and selling for Bednar and Doval ultimately summer season’s deadline allowed the Yankees to keep away from swimming within the deepest free agent waters for bullpen assist this winter, although there is a clear want for an additional excessive leverage reliever or two. Somebody to reduce the reliance on Cruz and Doval within the late innings.

Righty David Robertson and lefty Justin Wilson, two former multi-time Yankees, are the most effective relievers sitting in free company. To get an actual needle-mover, somebody they will rely on within the sport’s largest conditions, the Yankees might should enterprise out into the commerce market. Doable targets embrace righty Griffin Jax (Tampa Bay Rays) and lefty JoJo Romero (St. Louis Cardinals).

Bullpens are fickle. You possibly can run it again with the very same group of relievers and get utterly completely different outcomes from one 12 months to the subsequent. FanGraphs projections have New York’s bullpen as twelfth greatest in baseball, which is not dangerous, however it may be improved. It’s the one a part of the roster that, realistically, can nonetheless be upgraded in a significant method between now and Opening Day. 

3. Add a righty bat (or two)

The Yankees had the third most left-handed plate appearances in baseball final season and that is sensible. Yankee Stadium’s brief proper subject porch rewards lefty hitters, they usually’ve constructed their lineup accordingly. With the identical lineup set to return in 2026, the Yankees determine to as soon as once more be among the many league leaders in lefty plate appearances.

It’s potential the Yankees have veered too far to that aspect of that plate although. Right here, in accordance with ZiPS projections, are their greatest right-handed hitters going into 2026:

1. Aaron Choose: 181 OPS+
2. Giancarlo Stanton: 106 OPS+
3. Anthony Volpe: 87 OPS+
4. Amed Rosario: 84 OPS+
5. José Caballero: 82 OPS+

That’s Rosario’s general projection and he has been a lot better in opposition to lefties through the years (.794 OPS vs. LHP since 2021), however nonetheless, that may be a skinny group of righty bats. It is the most effective hitter on the earth, hitter you may’t rely on taking part in a full season, then a bunch of utility infielder sorts. Additionally, Volpe will miss the beginning of the season as he rehabs from shoulder surgical procedure, so yeah.

There are two apparent locations the Yankees can add righty bats: backup catcher and the outfield. Beginning catcher Austin Wells and backup J.C. Escarra are each left-handed hitters. Escarra is a superb pitch-framer and clubhouse vibes man, however pairing Wells with a righty hitting backup makes a lot extra sense from a roster development standpoint. 

Bringing in a righty hitting outfielder would push Domínguez or utility man Oswaldo Cabrera, each of whom are switch-hitters who carry out a lot worse in opposition to lefty pitchers, off the roster. A righty hitting fourth outfielder like, say, Austin Hays (.872 OPS vs. LHP since 2023) might platoon with Grisham and even Rice, with Bellinger taking part in to middle/first base as wanted.

The Yankees solely have to tweak the margins of the roster and it is a lot simpler to do this than it’s to overtake issues. Maybe the largest impediment proper now isn’t the pool of accessible gamers, however cash. Hal Steinbrenner isn’t the sort of huge market proprietor who will proceed to up payroll and spend. The Yankees have a payroll restrict and look like up in opposition to it:

Both Steinbrenner will approve a major payroll enhance for the primary time in three years, or the Yankees are completed including. Or they may commerce a participant making good cash to allow them to reallocate these {dollars} elsewhere. There are solely so some ways to do this. Buying and selling Bednar ($9 million), Doval ($6.1 million), or Jazz Chisholm Jr. ($10.2 million) simply opens one other gap on the roster.

Level is although, the Yankees are in place with their present roster even when their quiet offseason appears designed particularly to enrage the fan base. Add to the bullpen, appropriate the lineup imbalance with some righty bench bats, determine what to do with Domínguez alongside the way in which, and name it an offseason. That is about all that is left to do with spring coaching quick approaching.

“You are all the time making an attempt to enhance your membership and enhance your workforce,” Boone mentioned on the Winter Conferences final month. “However additionally pause and say, ‘Hey, we’re fairly good right here.’ And we have plenty of actually good gamers and plenty of actually good younger core gamers that emerged on completely different ranges final 12 months that we have to proceed to develop of their huge league sort of journey.”