What’s Next for the Yankees This Offseason
By the end of this week, the 2025 MLB season will be completed. No matter which champion is crowned, it will mark the 16th season of an early exit for the New York Yankees. In the midst of Aaron Judge’s prime, the Yankees should be pedal to the medal this offseason to bring in the best talent and bring a ring back to New York.
Offseason Objectives for the Yankees
Sort Out the Outfield
The Yankees could be losing two outfielders to free agency this offseason – Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham. Bellinger is the most likely of the two for the Yankees to bring back for 2026. He had solid numbers in 2025, and his defensive versatility is something the Yankees like to have. Grisham should seek a starting job for next season, since he is projected to receive a 2 year, $30 million contract.
The Yankees also need to find a spot for both Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones, or find a trade partner for one of them. Domínguez has a higher ceiling given his high contact rate, but his defense and hitting from the right side have not been great so far. The Yankees are hoping that Domínguez will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic this offseason. If he does, the hope is that extra reps help his development. As for Jones, his high power numbers are appealing, but the 34% strikeout rate in the minors is very alarming. Of the two, Jones would probably be the one to be moved this offseason if the team goes that route.
The Yankees need to be aggressive and add a big bat. While Bellinger was great in 2025, the team needs to aim even higher this offseason. The Yankees need to look at, and hopefully sign, Kyle Tucker. Tucker had a down season by his standards, exacerbated by the unfriendliness of Wrigley Field to lefties. In 16 games played at Yankee Stadium, he has four home runs, so his power should play in the Bronx. Tucker would also fit the outfield need for the Yankees, as an average to above-average defender in his career. Tucker is the more elite hitter, and the Yankees should go all out to get him.
Bullpen
2025 Bullpen
The Yankees’ bullpen was horrific in 2025, ranking 23rd in MLB in bullpen ERA. While other numbers, like ranking 12th in strikeouts, looked good, there was one issue that plagued the ‘pen in 2025 – walks. Yankee relievers had a 9.7% walk rate in 2025, according to Fangraphs, ranking as the ninth highest in baseball. Giving away that many free passes is just a recipe for disaster. The ‘pen also lacked firepower, with their average fastball velocity sitting at 94 mph, according to Fangraphs. Velocity is a good tool out of the bullpen to keep hitters off balance.
Options for 2026
The Yankees have about four spots open in their bullpen, with the team expected to pick up lefty Tim Hill’s $5 million club option. New York will likely add a few outside bullpen additions at the top of the market, but they will also hunt for low-cost relievers with high upside that the pitching lab can turn into weapons. The Yankees could also target Devin Williams, who, after a shaky start, was one of their most reliable options out of the bullpen late in the season. Williams will have a market, and the Yankees likely won’t overextend themselves to bring him back.
One intriguing option is Danny Coulombe, a lefty who posted a 2.30 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 43 innings between the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers in 2025. The Yankees did pursue Coulombe before the 2025 season, but they lost him to Minnesota. Another benefit to adding Coulombe, or someone like him, is that he is a lefty, something the Yankees need more of in their bullpen. In 2025, the only lefty reliever who was with the team all season was Tim Hill. Adding at least one more mainstay lefty would make the whole outlook of the Yankees’ bullpen different.
Starting Pitching
Adding to the starting staff should be something on the Yankees’ radar this offseason, but not their top priority. If the Yankees are going to add a big-time starter, it’s more likely to happen through trade. They probably won’t heavily pursue Tarik Skubal beyond doing their due diligence. This is because Skubal will likely still hit free agency after 2026, given he is a Boras client. Instead of giving up collateral for a one-year rental, the Yankees could just go after him next offseason.
One name they could target is Sandy Alcántara from the Miami Marlins. Alcántara had an up-and-down 2025 season coming off Tommy John surgery. However, in the second half, he posted a 3.33 ERA in 83 ⅔ innings pitched. Alcántara is two seasons removed from winning the National League Cy Young Award. He would come with some control, with the 2026 season and a club option for the 2027 season at a low cost for a starter.
The Yankees and Marlins talked right up until the trade deadline in July, but couldn’t agree on a deal. If the Yankees trade for Alcántara this offseason, it wouldn’t be a surprise—and it would immediately strengthen their starting rotation.
With Gerrit Cole not set to return till May or June, at the earliest, the Yankees are going to need a top-end starter to get them through. Not to mention, nobody knows what Cole is going to look like when he does return to the mound.
The moral of the story is the Yankees have work to do this offseason. The Yankees need to go full force in an effort not to waste more of Judge’s prime. It’s time for the Evil Empire’s reign to return.
Detroit Lions missing 3 players from practice, but get a handful of others back
ALLEN PARK -- In the first practice open to reporters after the bye week, the Detroit Lions were missing four players but got a handful of others back.
Those back at practice were safety Daniel Thomas, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, defensive back Avonte Maddox and running back Sione Vaki. Thomas (forearm) and Rodriguez (knee) had their 21-day return windows opened this week on the road to returning to action. Both defenders remain on injured lists and have the next two-plus weeks of practice to get activated.
Vaki has been out for the last month-plus, but the Lions hope to get him ready to go against the Minnesota Vikings this weekend. Maddox has missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury. His return would boost the nickelback and safety depth.
The Lions also saw the return of safety Brian Branch from his suspension on Tuesday. Cornerback Terrion Arnold was back at practice as expected after returning for one session last week. Arnold has missed two games with his re-aggravated shoulder injury.
They were missing All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph (knee), running back Craig Reynolds (hamstring) and pass rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad (undisclosed). Taylor Decker was not initially spotted by reporters during the open window. But the veteran left tackle was at Tuesday’s practice.
Decker is also expected back at practice to end the week, too. The Lions are off on Wednesday, so they plan to work him back into action after more time to rehab and get ready. Decker was back in the starting lineup before the bye week on Monday night after missing two straight games. At this point, he is no stranger to playing despite limited practice reps.
It’s not clear what’s going on with Muhammad. He wasn’t listed with an injury coming out of the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so we’ll know more when the team releases the official practice report later this afternoon.
Joseph didn’t play in the game heading into the bye week as the Lions tried to get him and his injured knee extra time to heal. The safety has been dealing with knee issues dating back to training camp, and his missed game against the Bucs was his lone absence of the campaign. Dan Campbell and Joseph were confident the bye week would do the safety a lot of good. Now, it’s just about getting him back on the practice field to see how he feels before Sunday.
The safety has three interceptions through seven games despite the lingering knee injury. Jim O’Neill, the team’s safeties coach and a defensive assistant, credited Joseph for the dedication he’s shown to work through the issue and try to get it right.
“He’s working coaches’ hours because he’s here early in the morning getting treatment,“ O’Neill said. ”He’s in the meeting rooms after getting treatment. He’s doing everything. I know last week he spent the whole week, you know, taking care of himself and doing some things out on his own.
“Just how he’s attacked it professionally, and how he’s helped some of the young guys that have come in, too ... But when he goes, I haven’t seen a drop. I think he’s been the same Kerby that we’re all used to seeing. I’m sure there are a few plays this year that he would like to have back. You know what I mean? But that’s with everybody.”
Reynolds (hamstring) and cornerback D.J. Reed were spotted working to the side with trainers. Reed still has one game left to serve for his minimum stay on injured reserve before he can return to practice.
