3 upcoming Yankees free agents who have been good but don't need to be re-signed

Despite an up-and-down season, the New York Yankees are still in position to make the playoffs and go on a run. What’s more, New York boasts a rock-solid core of both prime-aged and young players that should make this a contending franchise for the foreseeable future. The Yankees have legit homegrown talent on their staff and in their lineup that keeps improving, and 2026 should be another year of contention with guys like Ben Rice continuing to rise.

The Yankees do have some free agent decisions to make this winter, though, and a few of them won’t be easy. Moving on from unproductive players isn't complicated, but New York's front office will have to exercise savvy as it discerns which of its productive guys to part with. Here are three upcoming free agents who have been good for the Yankees, but don’t need to be re-signed.

3 Yankees who don’t need to be re-signed, despite their admirable production

Trent Grisham/Cody Bellinger

One must stay, one must go! We know that Bellinger technically has a player option for 2026, but most pundits — The Athletic’s Jim Bowden included — believe that Belli will opt out. An extension for him makes sense. Bellinger has experienced somewhat of a career revival since donning a Yankees uniform, and excellent stints from earlier phases of his career suggest that his elite talent can and will rear its head now and then as he advances deeper into his 30s. Bellinger has had his down years, of course, but whenever an MVP-caliber player lands with a club and situation he’s ultra-comfortable with, the resulting production usually has a pretty high floor.

This all seems to make Grisham the more likely goner of the two outfielders. Based on the career year that Grisham’s having (30 homers, .837 OPS entering Saturday), someone else will be bringing out the Brink’s truck for him this winter. He’s two years younger than Bellinger, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he ends up going on a perennial All-Star stretch over the next few years, which makes moving on from Grisham a tad risky in a sense. It’s also possible that 2025 ends up being an outlier year for Grisham, and he regresses to the mean a bit moving forward.

If you have to choose one, Bellinger’s career suggests he’s more of a sure thing for the next five years. Grisham has been really good, but he doesn’t need to be re-signed, especially if Belli is on board.

Paul Goldschmidt

Goldy has exceeded expectations this season, but at what point will his age (37) start cutting into his capabilities, especially against left-handed pitching? If the Yankees can bring him back on a cheaper-than-cheap deal, they should obviously consider doing so. But there’s also Rice to think about. Rice needs to be playing every day. Unless New York is planning on moving Austin Wells and making Rice their starting catcher, Rice makes sense as the everyday first baseman in 2026 and beyond. That makes Goldschmidt someone you certainly don’t “need” to bring back as a handcuff.

Amed Rosario

Rosario has only played 10 games for the Yankees, but he’s gone 7-for-18 in those games, providing immediate value at the plate. Utility players like Rosario are always nice to have, but he shouldn’t be viewed as a necessity for New York to re-sign, especially with guys like George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones knocking on the door for infield and outfield playing time, respectively. The Yankees need to take more care to build a deep bench from Opening Day next year instead of midstream, but paying for Rosario isn't a necessity, especially if he's going to be used this sparingly.