The Yankees’ offseason priorities extend beyond filling roster holes. It’s time to address the flaws that keep showing up in October.
The New York Yankees enter another offseason with familiar questions following a disappointing postseason exit.
Despite boasting baseball’s best starting rotation and one of its most effective bullpens in 2026, New York once again fell short in October.
General manager Brian Cashman must preserve those strengths while addressing the weaknesses that continue to hold the Yankees back. That doesn’t necessarily mean acquiring another superstar, but building a more complete roster.
Here are four priorities New York must address this offseason.
1. Rebuild the back end of the bullpen
The Yankees finished 2026 with baseball’s second-best bullpen ERA (3.13), but maintaining that success could prove challenging with six relievers entering free agency.
New York doesn’t just need a closer. It needs a reliable setup man and enough depth to consistently get the ball to the ninth inning.
The logical starting point would be bringing back David Bednar and Paul Blackburn.
Bednar converted 35 of 39 save opportunities with a 2.47 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 76 strikeouts across 69 1/3 innings. Since arriving from Pittsburgh at the 2025 trade deadline, he’s become one of New York’s most dependable late-inning arms.
The Yankees extended Bednar a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer, but the 32-year-old could command a lucrative multiyear contract in free agency.
Blackburn was another bright spot, recording a 1.59 ERA across 85 innings while providing Aaron Boone with a dependable eighth-inning option capable of handling multiple frames. His 3.75 FIP suggests some regression is possible, but his versatility remains valuable.
Even retaining both wouldn’t entirely solve the problem.
Brent Headrick led MLB with 81 appearances, highlighting New York’s reliance on certain arms. With Tim Hill and Ryan Yarbrough also entering free agency, additional left-handed relief and middle-inning depth are essential.
2. Establish stability at second and third base
With Jazz Chisholm Jr. entering free agency and Ryan McMahon struggling offensively, the Yankees face significant questions at both second and third base heading into 2027.
Chisholm contributed 19 home runs and 41 stolen bases in 2026, but his .711 OPS represented a considerable decline from the previous season.
McMahon, meanwhile, hit just .213 with 11 home runs and a .636 OPS. Despite his defensive reputation, that production is difficult to overlook, particularly with $16 million remaining on his contract.
Anthony Volpe could factor into the picture at either position, although his own offensive struggles raise questions about whether shifting him elsewhere would provide much improvement. The 25-year-old posted a .657 OPS across 70 games and spent two stints in Triple-A last season, so he could realistically replace Amed Rosario in a utility-type role.
Rather than simply replacing Chisholm’s power or relying on internal options to improve, New York should prioritize contact hitting, defensive reliability and versatility.
Luis Arraez or Brandon Lowe could provide offensive upgrades, although both would add another left-handed bat to an already lefty-heavy lineup.
Mauricio Dubón or Miami’s switch-hitting Xavier Edwards might offer better balance. Edwards hit .280 with a .360 on-base percentage and 21 stolen bases in 2026, providing the type of contact-oriented offense New York has been missing.
The Yankees don’t need another power hitter in the infield. They need players who can consistently put the ball in play, execute defensively and provide stability at two positions that remain unsettled.
3. Prioritize contact hitting and fundamentally sound baseball
For years, the Yankees have built their offense around power, often at the expense of fundamentals that become increasingly important in October.
There’s nothing wrong with home runs. The problem is becoming so dependent on them that manufacturing runs any other way becomes a challenge.
The Milwaukee Brewers provided the perfect counterexample in 2026.
Milwaukee finished with the second-fewest home runs in baseball, yet won 103 games and captured its first World Series championship.
Their approach was evident in Game 3 of the World Series, when Milwaukee scored eight two-out runs on seven consecutive hits without a home run.
Even former Yankees captain and Hall of Famer Derek Jeter emphasized during FOX’s postseason coverage that Milwaukee wasn’t reinventing the game. He pushed back on labels like “small ball” or “Brewer Ball,” arguing that the Brewers were simply playing baseball.
As I discussed in October Keeps Teaching the Yankees the Same Lesson, Tampa Bay exposed similar deficiencies during the ALDS.
Through two games, the Rays outhit New York 13-5, struck out nine times compared to the Yankees’ 19 and committed zero errors to New York’s four.
The Yankees actually outhomered Tampa Bay 2-1 and still lost both games.
The Dodgers exposed similar defensive and baserunning weaknesses during the 2024 World Series.
The Yankees don’t need to abandon their power, but they do need to stop relying on it to compensate for everything else.
Cleveland’s Steven Kwan would offer contact-oriented offense and Gold Glove-caliber defense.
Washington’s Jacob Young presents another possibility, recording 11 Outs Above Average and 18 stolen bases in 2026. However, his .708 OPS raises questions about whether he’d provide enough offensive improvement, particularly with Spencer Jones still developing.
Ultimately, New York needs an organizational commitment to making contact, advancing runners and executing fundamentally sound baseball.
4. Add a legitimate right-handed catcher behind Austin Wells
Austin Wells remains important to New York’s future, but the Yankees need more production from their backup catcher.
Wells finished 2026 positively, hitting four home runs over his final 10 regular-season games before recording a .761 postseason OPS.
His defensive contributions remain valuable, but New York needs someone capable of sharing the workload without creating a significant offensive drop-off.
Ali Sánchez struggled offensively, finishing with a .577 OPS across 51 games.
Adding a dependable right-handed hitter would give Boone more lineup flexibility while reducing the physical demands on Wells.
Ryan Jeffers would be attractive after hitting .256 with 14 home runs and an .814 OPS for Minnesota, although his production could make him expensive.
Carson Kelly could provide another, potentially more realistic alternative.
The Yankees need to get back to the basics
Beyond addressing their roster needs, the Yankees need to recommit to the fundamentals that have too often been missing from their game.
That means getting on base, making contact, executing situational hitting, running the bases intelligently and playing clean, disciplined baseball. It means understanding when to be aggressive, when to exercise patience and how to manufacture runs without relying on the long ball.
The Yankees don’t lack talent or power. What they’ve lacked is consistent execution, particularly when the stakes are highest.
Building a championship-caliber roster isn’t just about acquiring the biggest names. It’s about assembling a team that can adjust its approach, capitalize on opportunities and execute the little things that ultimately make the difference in October.
Sometimes, the answer isn’t more talent. It’s simply playing better baseball.
