Bringing back free agent Cody Bellinger is a top winter priority for the New York Yankees, who also want to sign another starting pitcher, bullpen help and a backup catcher.
Acquired before the 2025 season, Bellinger hit 29 home runs with 98 RBIs for the Yankees, seeing time in all three outfield positions as well as first base. The 30-year-old opted out of his $25 million deal for next season to become a free agent for the third time in four years.
‘We’re very interested in bringing [Bellinger] back,’ Yankees GM Brian Cashman said. “He’s going to have a lot of choices because he can do a lot of different things. He was a terrific addition for us last year … We’d be better served if we could retain him. But if not, we’ll have to look at alternative ways to fill it and see where that takes us.’
With late-inning relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver hitting the free agent market, bolstering the bullpen is another major goal for the Yankees before spring training. Trade deadline acquisitions David Bednar and Camilo Doval are penciled into the back end of New York’s bullpen as the offseason gets underway.
‘Hopefully we’ll have a pretty clear definition of what’s going on’ by the time MLB’s winter meetings begin in early December, Cashman said at the GM meetings.
What will Yankees’ payroll be in 2026?
At $293 million, the Yankees had MLB’s third-highest opening day payroll in 2025, according to the league’s present-day calculations.
Cashman said at the GM meetings that he hasn’t received a specific budget from owner Hal Steinbrenner.
“We are always fluid with our payroll situation,’ Cashman said of the team’s financial flexibility this winter. “Payroll is usually not an issue that we have had to deal much with.’
Will Trent Grisham accept Yankees’ qualifying offer?
The Yankees extended a one-year, $22.05 million qualifying offer to outfielder Trent Grisham, who had a career-best season, hitting 34 home runs with 74 RBIs in 143 games.
Grisham was one of 13 MLB players to receive the offer and has until 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 18 to accept or decline.
“(Grisham) had a hell of a year for us,’ said Cashman. “We’d be happy if he accepted.’
Even if the 29-year-old Grisham turns it down and becomes a free agent, Cashman said the Yankees plan to pursue him on the open market.
“We’ll be talking to both Grisham and Bellinger, regardless,’ the Yankees GM told reporters.
