The Yankees have kicked off their offseason by sending some unmistakable signals about how they intend to build toward 2026. Between strategic re-signings, arbitration choices, and a headline-grabbing qualifying-offer acceptance, the picture forming in the Bronx is one of controlled aggression: invest where it matters, protect against worst-case scenarios, and avoid repeating last offseason’s mistakes.
This article outlines where things stand as the December Winter Meetings approach.
Hal Steinbrenner’s Comments Set the Tone
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner offered rare clarity on the organization’s offseason priorities and financial posture during a Zoom call with reporters—one where questions about payroll, luxury-tax tiers, and big-ticket spending came fast. His message: the Yankees plan to be aggressive, but not careless.
Steinbrenner stressed that every move this winter will be needs-based and strategic, not performative.
“We’re looking at every area of need, and we will determine which needs are most significant and which aren’t,” he said.
“We still need another outfielder; we have options. We need to improve the bullpen, for sure. I really love our starting rotation next year..”
In other words, the Yankees aren’t shutting the door on major spending—but they’re going to spend only in places where they see true competitive necessity.
And that context becomes crucial when you view the biggest offseason move the Yankees have made to date.
No Hard Payroll Cap—But Also No “Blank Check”
Steinbrenner reiterated that he does not have a fixed payroll target for 2026, despite last season’s payroll soaring to roughly $319 million. He also challenged the narrative that the Yankees’ enormous revenue streams automatically translate into limitless spending capacity.
When a reporter suggested that revenue approaching $700 million must mean the team is turning a hefty profit, Steinbrenner pushed back sharply:
“That’s not a fair statement or an accurate statement… Everybody wants to talk about revenues. They need to talk about our expenses, including the $100 million expense to the City of New York that we have to pay every February 1… So it all starts to add up in a hurry.”
This was a rare glimpse into the financial reality he believes fans and media often overlook: the Yankees operate with the biggest wallet in baseball, yes—but also the biggest bill.
Steinbrenner went out of his way to highlight how much the organization invests in the less glamorous parts of team building:
• Player development
• Scouting
• Performance science
• Analytics + infrastructure
• Training, medical, and sports science systems
“Nobody spends more money, I don’t believe, on player development, scouting, performance science. These all start to add up.”
This illustrates a philosophical evolution: the Yankees no longer want to rely solely on star spending. They want a deeper, more sustainable roster foundation—and they’re willing to pour resources into areas that don’t always show up on payroll trackers.
The Bottom Line on Steinbrenner’s Message
Everything Steinbrenner said funnels back to one central principle: The Yankees will spend this offseason—but only on areas they view as essential.
Not optional. Not cosmetic. Essential.
And that leads directly into the most surprising move of the early winter. Because if Hal Steinbrenner says the Yankees will only spend big on significant needs why on earth would they pay Trent Grisham $22 million?
The Trent Grisham Decision: A Highly Capable Player… But $22 Million Says Something Bigger
No early move has sparked more debate than the Yankees tendering Trent Grisham a $22.025 million qualifying offer—a staggering jump from his $5 million salary in 2025.
He had a strong rebound season (.235/.348/.464, 34 HR, .812 OPS), and he showed he can handle everyday center-field duties. But the Yankees have repeatedly portrayed him as a fourth outfielder. So why pay him like a starter? And why now?
Here’s where Steinbrenner’s comments connect perfectly:
If the Yankees are only spending big on true needs, then outfield stability is clearly one of those needs. And the only way that makes sense is if the Yankees are preparing for the very real possibility that: Cody Bellinger may not be coming back. The front office lived through the Juan Soto saga last winter—building an entire outfield around a superstar who was never guaranteed to stay. When he left, they were caught exposed. They’re not letting that happen again. Grisham’s $22 million is not a luxury purchase. It’s insurance.
Insurance for:
- A Bellinger deal that may not materialize
- The need to avoid another Soto-style scramble
- Preserving leverage in negotiations
- Protecting 2/3 of the outfield alignment before the market moves
- Maintaining left-handed, center-field–capable depth
The Yankees could have let Grisham walk. They could have declined the QO and shopped for cheaper depth. But they didn’t. And when you view that decision through the lens of Steinbrenner’s “we only spend on needs” philosophy, the message becomes unmistakable: Rebuilding the outfield is a top-tier necessity—because Bellinger is far from a guarantee. It isn’t an overpay just to overpay. It’s an overpay to avoid being vulnerable again. And that’s exactly the kind of spending Hal Steinbrenner said they would be willing to do.
Yankees Re-Sign Ryan Yarbrough
New York also brought back left-hander Ryan Yarbrough on a modest one-year deal—not flashy, but quietly important. Yarbrough provides the flexibility to swing between the bullpen and back-end rotation innings, giving the Yankees much-needed stability as they prepare younger arms for bigger roles.
Non-Tender Wave Reshapes the Bullpen
In a decisive roster makeover, the Yankees non-tendered five relievers:
- Mark Leiter Jr.
- Ian Hamilton
- Scott Effross
- Jake Cousins
- Michael Arias
This is a clear signal: the bullpen will look very different in 2026. The Yankees are cutting ties with inconsistent contributors to free up space for new acquisitions and internal promotions.
Tenders, Core Players & Arbitration Moves
The Yankees tendered contracts to the following arbitration-eligible players:
- David Bednar
- Jake Bird
- José Caballero
- Jazz Chisholm Jr.
- Fernando Cruz
- Luis Gil
- Anthony Volpe
Additionally, Clarke Schmidt and Oswaldo Cabrera avoided arbitration by agreeing to one-year deals. Each remains a meaningful piece of the 2026 plan—Schmidt as rotation depth, Cabrera as the ultimate Swiss Army knife.
Still in the Hunt: Cody Bellinger
The Yankees’ front office has remained steadfast that Cody Bellinger remains a top priority.
Bellinger’s 2025 line—.272 with 29 HR and 98 RBI—is exactly the kind of left-handed production the Yankees envision behind Aaron Judge in a deep, balanced lineup.
Despite the projected $182+ million contract, Brian Cashman stated the Yankees are very interested in bringing [Bellinger] back. “He’s going to have a lot of choices … We’d be better served if we could retain him.”
What It All Means
When you zoom out, all of these moves point to a consistent—and frankly overdue—organizational philosophy:
- The Yankees aren’t operating from fear anymore.
The Soto situation stung badly. This time, they’re protecting themselves before making the big swing.
- Grisham is a strategic safety net, not the centerpiece.
His $22 million salary says more about the Yankees’ desire to maintain leverage than about his projected role.
- Payroll flexibility matters, but so does avoiding chaos.
Steinbrenner’s comments show the team will spend, but only where it pushes the team meaningfully forward.
- Bellinger is still the plan.
Signing Grisham keeps the Yankees safe—but landing Bellinger pushes them into true contention territory.
- The bullpen reset and depth signings signal a broader overhaul.
New York is building a roster that can absorb injuries, settle into defined roles, and prevent last year’s late-season unraveling.
