The Yankees’ offseason effectively began on Oct. 8, the day they were eliminated by the Blue Jays in the ALDS. It was yet another far-too-early start to the winter for the franchise with 27 rings — but none since 2009. It was also a regression from 2024, when the Yankees won their first pennant in 15 years before losing the World Series to the Dodgers in five games.
So, there is work to be done even to get the Yanks back to their ’24 level, much less to MLB’s mountaintop. Here are three goals they should hope to achieve during the rest of the offseason.
But a reunion with Bellinger just makes so much sense. He absolutely loved hitting at Yankee Stadium, with 18 homers and a .302/.365/.544 slash line over 337 plate appearances in the Bronx. However, Bellinger’s athleticism and versatility are just as important, if not more so, than his bat for the Yankees.
His ability to play all three outfield positions as well as first base gives the Yanks that much more flexibility. With him back in the fold, New York can keep Aaron Judge in right field and let Bellinger and Grisham handle the duties in center. Without Bellinger, New York may have to use Judge a fair amount in center, a position he spent 105 games at in 2024. But the club would rather not have its 33-year-old franchise player responsible for covering all that grass.
That’s a key reason why Bellinger is a better fit than Kyle Tucker, the offseason’s No. 1 free agent. Yes, the Yankees will kick the tires on Tucker, who is 18 months younger than Bellinger. But he is limited to a corner-outfield spot. Plus, his price tag is likely to be much higher.
2. Add more pitching depth everywhere
3. Figure out what to do with ‘The Martian’
He garnered comparisons to Mike Trout and Mickey Mantle as a teenager. He looked like a can’t-miss star — a switch-hitting slugger with the athleticism to play anywhere in the outfield and steal 30-plus bases. But now heading into 2026, it feels like Jasson Domínguez‘s career in New York is already at a crossroads.
He scuffled to a .236/.300/.318 slash line during the second half of this past season, was relegated to being a bench bat down the stretch and played only one inning during the playoffs. And, for all of the hype surrounding his defensive skills, “The Martian” was one of the worst outfielders in 2025, logging a minus-10 outs above average in left field.
Still just 22 years old, Domínguez obviously possesses gobs of potential. If the team can’t work out a deal for Bellinger or Tucker, or if it believes top outfield prospect Spencer Jones isn’t quite ready, Domínguez might get another shot at extended playing time. But if the Yankees do make another outfield addition, they could do something that would have seemed unfathomable not too long ago and decide to trade Domínguez to upgrade the roster elsewhere.
