Jan. 15: Yankees reportedly focused on adding lefty reliever
What will be the Yankees' next move in what has been a busy offseason? According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic (subscription required), the team's biggest priority as of now seems to be adding a left-handed reliever. Kuty reports that New York has discussed pitchers such as Tim Hill, Brooks Raley and Andrew Chafin.
Hill was fantastic as a midseason addition for the Yankees last year. Signed as a free agent on June 20, he posted a 2.05 ERA and a 70.8% ground-ball rate over 44 innings. He is heading into his age-35 season while Raley will be 37 this summer. He likely wouldn't be able to contribute until later in the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. He posted a 2.74 ERA over 108 1/3 innings from 2022-23 with the Rays and Mets. Chafin is an 11-year veteran who has made at least 60 appearances in each of the past seven non-shortened seasons. He owns a 3.42 career ERA over 508 1/3 frames.
The top reliever left on the open market, Tanner Scott, is also left-handed. But with the Yankees' estimated luxury tax payroll at about $303 million, per FanGraphs' Roster Resource -- which is slightly above the highest luxury tax threshold for the 2025 season -- they seem to be looking at more cost-effective arms such as that aforementioned trio. Scott has been most recently linked to the crosstown Mets.
The Yankees could give themselves some financial flexibility by trading starting pitcher Marcus Stroman, who is owed $18.5 million this season and has an $18 million vesting option for 2026. The Yankees have been reportedly shopping Stroman. Even if they do find a match, they could use those savings to address their opening at second base rather than bring in a top-flight reliever.
Jan. 13: Yanks out in Sasaki sweepstakes (source)
The Yankees will not be the team that lands Roki Sasaki, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Monday.
Feinsand reports that the Yankees have been informed that Sasaki will not be signing with them.
SNY's Andy Martino also reported Monday that Sasaki is not expected to land with either New York team -- neither the Yankees nor the Mets.
Sasaki, the prized 23-year-old starting pitcher from Japan, is expected to sign with an MLB team between the start of the international signing period on Jan. 15 and the end of his posting window on Jan. 23.
The Yankees were one of the eight teams that were reported to have met with Sasaki in person.
Jan. 9: Who are Yankees considering to fill infield void?
As the Yankees continue to explore ways to upgrade their infield, they've been recently linked to three-time batting champion Luis Arraez. However, there have been conflicting reports about the timeline of New York's discussions involving the San Diego star.
Jeff Passan reported in an article for ESPN+ (subscription required) on Monday that the Yankees have "continued to discuss" Arraez with San Diego. But SNY's Andy Martino followed up Thursday, writing that the Bronx Bombers "checked in briefly last November with San Diego [but] have not engaged with the Padres on Arraez since."
Gavin Lux was another second-base option the Yankees were reportedly considering, but he's no longer a possibility after the Dodgers traded him to the Reds on Monday.
Beyond Arraez and Lux, the club has checked in on free-agent second basemen Jorge Polanco and Brendan Rodgers, according to separate reports from the New York Post and USA Today.
The Yankees also have been connected to a pair of big-name third basemen: free agent Alex Bregman and trade candidate Nolan Arenado of the Cardinals. However, recent reporting from MLB Network insider Joel Sherman has tempered expectations about the Yankees potentially landing one of those players (see more below).
Jan. 7: Yankees ‘actively’ shopping Stroman (report)
Marcus Stroman appears to be the odd man out in the Yankees’ rotation after the team signed Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract in December, adding the left-hander to a stable of starters that already included Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt and reigning American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, as well as Stroman.
This isn’t the first time this offseason that Stroman’s name has surfaced in trade rumblings. Sources told MLB.com last month that the Yankees approached the Cardinals about a potential trade that would have sent Stroman to St. Louis for third baseman Nolan Arenado but were rebuffed.
Stroman is owed $18.5 million in the final year of a two-year, $37 million deal. The contract also includes an $18 million vesting player option for 2026, contingent on Stroman throwing at least 140 innings in the upcoming season.
Given his age and contract, Stroman could be tough to move unless the Yankees agree to pick up some of the money still owed to him. The right-hander posted a 4.31 ERA over 154 2/3 innings in 2024, including a 5.70 ERA after the calendar flipped to June. It was the second straight year that Stroman faded down the stretch, as he also recorded an 8.29 ERA over his final 11 outings (nine starts) as a member of the Cubs in 2023.
