4 Things Yankees: Let’s Talk Roster Ahead of Winter Meetings

With the Winter Meetings starting on Sunday, December 7 and run through Wednesday, December 10 in Orlando, Florida, it’s the perfect time to reflect on where the current roster stands.

WHO IS COMING BACK

1. Trent Grisham, CF — accepted one-year $22.025m qualifying offer.
2. Tim Hill, LHP — Yankees picked up his one-year $3m option.
3. Ryan Yarbrough, LHP — signed a one-year $2.5m contract.

Real Take
Retaining Hill and Yarbrough at those prices was an easy decision for Brian Cashman. Hill has been reliable out of the pen, and the versatile Yarbrough will keep Carlos Rodon’s spot in the rotation warm until his early-season return from October elbow surgery.

Meanwhile, I fully supported giving Grisham the qualifying offer. If he had turned it down, the Yankees would’ve received a draft pick. Since he accepted it, the Yankees, depending on how strongly they believe in Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones, have protection in case the bidding for Cody Bellinger and/or Kyle Tucker gets uncomfortable.

WHO IS NOT COMING BACK

1. Devin Williams, RHP — signed a three-year $45m free agent contract with the New York Mets. 

Real Take
Williams got off to a rough start with the Yankees, rebounded, then stumbled again. By the trade deadline, I was ready for him to shave his beard and hand in his pinstripes. But you know what? He impressed me down the stretch. Normally, when you go full Sonny Gray or Joey Gallo, you don’t come back. Williams did.

Now, I would not have given Williams a long-term contract. I would’ve wanted to see if his reliable work as David Bednar’s setup man was repeatable. But I would’ve given him the qualifying offer. I’m not a big fan of letting all-star-caliber players walk out the door with no compensation.

MAY OR MAY NOT BE COMING BACK

1. Cody Bellinger, OF/1B
2. Paul Blackburn, RHP
3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Jonathan Loaisiga, RHP
5. Amed Rosario, UTIL
6. Austin Slater, OF
7. Luke Weaver, RHP

Real Take
Logic dictates that Blackburn, Goldschmidt, Loaisiga, and Slater have played their last home game at Yankee Stadium. That is probably the case for “My Favorite Yankee” Luke Weaver — though I am hoping that Brian Cashman reconsiders.

My projection is that Weaver can secure a two-year, $16m deal. At that price, I would bring him back, put him in the starting rotation until Gerrit Cole returns, and then have him as the bullpen swingman the rest of the way.

It was reported by the New York Post’s Greg Joyce back in July that Cashman tried numerous times to sign Rosario as a free agent before acquiring him in a trade. All indications are,  he is trying to bring him back in 2026. That makes sense as the Yankees are far too left-handed and Rosario would be able to spell Ben Rice at first, Jazz Chisholm at second, and Ryan McMahon at third against lefties.

With the bidding for Tucker expected to reach at least $300m, Bellinger is the Yankees prime offseason target. The versatile, son of a Yankee, had a tremendous first season in the Bronx. He hit for power, cut back on his strikeouts, protected Aaron Judge in the lineup, and played plus defense at four positions.

Reportedly, Bellinger’s suitors include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, and the Philadelphia Phillies. A couple of months back, I thought six years, $150m, would be his max. Now, I think he can approach $200m.

Personally, I think that’s too much for a 30-year-old who has counterbalanced outstanding seasons like 2019, 2023, and 2025 with disappointing seasons like 2020 and 2024, and one disastrous season in 2021.

What would I do? Glad you asked.

I would offer Bellinger a 6-year, $180m contract. If he accepts, fantastic. If not, I’d switch my attention to spending that money on a right-handed bat and bullpen help.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US RIGHT NOW?
As a reminder, we are 111 days away from the season opener in San Francisco on Wednesday, March 25. But to give you an idea of what the Yankees still have left to do, here’s their projected Opening Day roster based on their current 40-man roster.

Opening Day Lineup

1. Trent Grisham, CF (L)
2. Aaron Judge, RF (R)
3. Ben Rice, 1B (L)
4. Austin Wells, C (L)
5. Giancarlo Stanton, DH (R)
6. Jazz Chisholm, 2B (L)
7. Ryan McMahon, 3B (L)
8. Jasson Dominguez, LF (S)
9. Jose Caballero, SS (R)

Reserves

1. JC Escarra, C (L)
2. Oswaldo Cabrera, UTIL (S)
3. Jorbit Vivas, UTIL (L)
4. Spencer Jones, OF (L)

Starting Rotation

1. Max Fried, SP (L)
2. Luis Gil, SP (R)
3. Cam Schlittler, SP (R)
4. Ryan Yarbrough, SP (L)
5. Will Warren, SP (R)

Bullpen

1. David Bednar, RP (R)
2. Camilo Doval, RP (R)
3. Fernando Cruz, RP (R)
4. Tim Hill, RP (L)
5. Jake Bird, RP (R)
6. Brent Headrick, RP (L)
7. Yerry De los Santos, RP (R)
8. Allan Winans, RP (R)

 Injured List

1. Gerrit Cole, SP (R)
2. Carlos Rodon, SP (L)
3. Clarke Schmidt, SP (R)
4. Anthony Volpe, SS (R)

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