4 overlooked trades Yankees can still make to contend in 2026

It's starting to feel like the New York Yankees really aren't going to do much in free agency. Maybe we see Cody Bellinger return, or maybe we find out that the budget that Brian Cashman swears doesn't exist actually does.

One way or another, it seems like the Yankees don't have much of an appetite for splashes, be it in free agency or in the trade market. If that's the case, the options start getting slim — especially on the free agent side.

However, if the team is willing to get a little creative and look at second-tier options on the trade block, they could still find value that can serve as an upgrade in 2026.

4 under-the-radar trades the Yankees can make to better position themselves to compete in 2026

Trade for Houston Astros outfielder Jake Meyers

Jake Meyers has been a player that the Houston Astros have been dangling on the trade block for some time now, and recent moves they've made — including trading top outfield prospect Jacob Melton in the Mike Burrows deal — might lead you to think that they'll hang onto the veteran center fielder. However, speaking with reporters shortly before Christmas, Astros general manager Dana Brown didn't quite rule out shipping Meyers away.

On the topic of a Meyers trade, Brown said, "...it’s a really good deal, we may consider it. But right now, Meyers is going to be a guy for us that’s going to play center field and it looks like he’s the frontline guy as of today.” Houston also has Jesus Sanchez, Cam Smith, Zach Cole, Yordan Alvarez, and potentially Jose Altuve in the outfield mix. There have also been rumblings that they'll try to get their No. 1 overall prospect, SS/2B Brice Matthews, some run in the outfield.

Meyers would give the Yankees a right-handed bat and a defensive whiz in the outfield, both of which they could use. If you believe in his 2025 breakout, when he slashed .292/.354/.373 with a solid 17.6% strikeout rate and a career-best 90.1% zone contact rate, then you start getting poor man's Cody Bellinger vibes. Houston has an abysmal farm system and just dealt their top pitching prospect, Anderson Brito, alongside Melton in the Burrows trade. Perhaps the Yankees could offer up one of their many highly-regarded pitching prospects to get a deal done.

Trade for Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer

As things currently stand, Ryan Yarbrough will open the season as the Yankees' fifth starter with Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole on the mend. Yarbrough is fine, but the combination of those two vets being out, Will Warren's consistent inconsistency, and Luis Gil coming off a troubling 2025 and owning a checkered injury history of his own, the Yankees are just one mishap away from Paul Blackburn becoming a rotation fixture.

While most have set their sights on a (perceived) high-end option like Japanese import Tatsuya Imai, that ship has sailed after he signed with the Astros. Another potential top-of-the-rotation starter would certainly be nice, but it's not a necessity.

Instead, what the Yankees need is a reliable and durable innings-eater who can take the ball and give them a chance to win every fifth day. Cincinnati Reds starter Brady Singer fits that bill and has long been rumored to be available.

Singer posted a 4.03 ERA and a 3.98 FIP in 2025 while logging 169 2/3 innings in 2025. He strikes out hitters at approximately a league-average rate and doesn't issue more free passes than an average starter. He's about consistency over flash. That's what the Yankees need. He'll make around $12 million in arbitration, which is somewhat rich for the Reds' blood. Unlike some other starters dealt this offseason, he's a free agent after 2026, keeping his price tag from reaching the astronomical levels we saw with the Mike Burrows and Shane Baz trades.

Trade for Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle

Ryan Mountcastle was considered a potential change-of-scenery candidate long before the Baltimore Orioles made him redundant by signing Pete Alonso. Once a fearsome hitter (Mountcastle blasted 33 homers in 2021), the 2015 first-round pick has been on a steady decline since, bottoming out in 2025 with a .250/.286/.367 line.

Despite the challenges, there are reasons to believe Mountcastle can still produce entering his age-29 season. He posted a 75th percentile hard hit rate and a 74th percentile barrel rate, while producing an above-average 90.7 miles per hour average exit velocity. He also frequently hit the ball at angles that typically produce good results — 37.5% launch angle sweet spot percentage (80th percentile).

He'd give the Yankees a right-handed first base option to spell Ben Rice and/or hold down the position when Rice is working behind the plate, and, like Singer, would only be a one-year rental. Baltimore has other options that can back up Alonso at first base, and could use the roster space to find an upgrade to their utility man options. He shouldn't cost much, but if he can tap into his power again, he could make a sizable impact.

Trade for Colorado Rockies reliever Victor Vodnik

The Yankees and the Colorado Rockies have been very chummy recently, and while the returns from the last couple of deals the two clubs have made haven't been spectacular, the Yankees might not have many other options when it comes to finding a trade partner willing to deal them a reliever.

If you're still reeling from Jake Bird, you might understandably be shy regarding Victor Vodnik. Truth be told, Vodnik is kind of all over the map. His 98.7 miles per hour average fastball velo is something the Yankees don't have a lot of, but his 22.8% strikeout rate isn't reflective of a hurler with that kind of high-octane heater. Vodnik also walks too many batters, posting a 12.1% walk rate in 2025.

However, he also gets a lot of ground balls, 54.3% in 2025 and 54.9% for his career. He pieced the varied strengths and weaknesses together for a 3.02 ERA last season. The other pros are that he's still only 26 years old and has options remaining, the latter of which isn't common among Yankees relievers. There's a chance a savvy team could coax even more out of him, given his tools. At the end of the day, he shouldn't cost a ton, and he comes with the "years of team control" that Cashman covets dearly.

The Yankees could use another arm in the bullpen mix, and they missed out on nearly every free-agent target worth his salt, so a trade for Vodnik might be their only shot at a potential upgrade.