Former Yankees who remain unsigned with 2025 spring training approaching

As New York Yankees fans sit around waiting for Hal Steinbrenner to give the green light on even minor expenditures, it's important to know that there are a lot of players still unsigned as spring training nears in a couple of weeks.

This has proven to be a high-profile problem in MLB, especially last offseason when Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery went unsigned until the start of the regular season. We're not sure how this keeps happening, but it's bad for business.

There aren't any former Yankees out there who are of that upper echelon caliber, but plenty remain in free agency for the taking. Fans would only accept, tops, two of these players returning for the 2025 season.

Former Yankees infielders still in free agency before Opening Day 2025

Ji Man Choi

We had him, let him go to the Rays, and then he became Gerrit Cole's kryptonite. If he signs with an AL East team, just bake in 3-4 homers off Cole for 2025.

Anthony Rizzo

Rizzo's unfortunate end to his Yankees tenure has clearly affected his market. Last we heard, the Miami Marlins were reportedly interested in signing him, but New York shut the door here after signing Paul Goldschmidt. Rizzo collected around $60 million from the Yankees and was really only able to deliver for one season out of his 3.5.

Brandon Drury

He was in the Bronx for a hot minute in 2018 after being traded from the Diamondbacks, but a concussion absolutely robbed him of adequate production. He somehow won a Silver Slugger in 2022, but fell off a cliff with the Angels in 2024.

Former Yankees outfielders still in free agency before Opening Day 2025

Alex Verdugo

Don't remind us. Verdugo was somehow one of the worst hitters in all of baseball for his lone season with the Yankees. He will not be returning under any circumstances, as rumors of landing with the Pirates have mostly surrounded him.

Joey Gallo

Do NOT remind us. Thanks.

Aaron Hicks

See above. We'll probably never see him in professional baseball again.

Ben Gamel

The Yankees drafted Gamel in 2010, then traded him to the Mariners for two minor-league pitchers back in 2016. He's since bounced around the league, failing to find a regular home.

Harrison Bader

The famous trade that ruined the entire 2022 season. The Yankees traded a perfectly healthy and competent Jordan Montgomery to the St. Louis Cardinals for ... an injured Harrison Bader, who was in a walking boot at the time. Brian Cashman destroyed the Yankees' pitching depth and chemistry. While Bader was the team's hero in the 2022 ALDS, he nosedived in 2023 and was placed on waivers that August. An absolutely ridiculous fall from grace ... before he rebounded with the Mets in 2024, of course.

Matt Carpenter

Yankees fans will never forget Matt Carpenter's run in 2022, where he accumulated a 2.3 WAR in just 47 games before he fouled a ball off his foot and suffered a fracture before New York's season spiraled out of control. His last 135 games with the Padres and Cardinals have netted a -0.4 WAR.

Former Yankees pitchers still in free agency before Opening Day 2025

Andrew Heaney

Another galaxy brain acquisition from Cashman to address a dead pitching staff. Heaney was an abolsute nightmare after coming over at the trade deadline during the 2021 season. He finished with a 7.32 ERA, 6.93 FIP and 1.35 WHIP in 12 games before going on to rebound with the Dodgers and receive a big payday from the Texas Rangers (with whom he won a World Series).

Lance Lynn

Lynn was another trade acquisition, acquired in the middle of the 2018 season as the Yankees had high hopes after their 2017 ALCS run. But Lynn was misused as a reliever, and he got shelled in the infamous 16-1 loss to the Red Sox in the ALDS. He found success elsewhere rather quickly, too.

Domingo Germán

Somehow, Domingo Germán was a Yankee from 2017-2023. Somehow, Domingo Germán threw a perfect game in 2023. His tenure is most remembered by a domestic violence incident that got him suspended in addition to an alcohol-fueled fit of rage that sealed his fate in the Bronx. Should've been let go in 2019.

David Robertson

Houdini! Robertson is one of the most beloved Yankees pitchers in the modern era, and every fan would welcome a reunion, even if he's entering his age-40 season. He's still got the magic after logging a 3.00 ERA and 2.65 FIP in 68 games with the Rangers last year.

Tommy Kahnle

Kahnle is one of the clubhouse darlings of the Aaron Judge era. He arrived in 2017 to help fuel the playoff run and then departed after 2020, when he underwent Tommy John surgery. He returned for 2023 and 2024, but managed to price himself out of New York with his recent performance. It's unclear why another contender hasn't pounced yet.

Tim Hill

WHY ISN'T TIM HILL RE-SIGNED YET? ANYBODY KNOW???

Keynan Middleton

Middleton will forever be remembered as the exclamation point on the Yankees' wasteful 2023 campaign. Instead of supplementing a talented roster that badly needed the help, Cashman stood pat, acquired only Middleton, and then proceeded to watch the Yankees go 82-80, which was their worst season in 30 years. Middleton left for the St. Louis Cardinals, but hasn't pitched since 2023 due to injuries.

Joely Rodriguez

Rodriguez spent half of 2021 in New York after coming over in a trade with the Rangers. He then defected for the Mets and Red Sox, but has failed to come close to replicating that solid 21-game stretch with the Bombers.

Lou Trivino

Trivino recently threw for teams after missing two full seasons due to elbow troubles. The Yankees were present at his most recent workout, but we're not sure why. Acquired in the Frankie Montas trade back in 2022, Trivino proved to be a reliable reliever, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy, and the Yankees spent far too much money on him to do nothing. Attempting to run this back would be a nightmare.