Insider's offseason 'plan' for Yankees to remain contender is more of the same

The dust has settled, and the time for dissection is upon us. After a World Series appearance last season, the New York Yankees have been ousted much earlier than anyone had hoped. Heads have to roll, right?

Well, maybe not so fast. At least, if you listen to SNY's insider Andy Martino. In a piece titled, "Here’s how the Yankees can contend for a championship again in 2026," he preaches that consistency is needed, recommending only a couple of small changes at the margins.

But is continuity really the best course? After all, that has what has gotten the Yankees into the conversation instead of having them be the conversation, a la the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Here's a deeper look into Martino's plan and where he is right and where he goes wrong.

SNY's Andy Martino preaches continuity as the path forward for the Yankees, but more is likely needed

The first step Martino laid out is re-signing Cody Bellinger and extending Jazz Chisholm Jr. This is the kind of consistency the Yankees should be focusing on, because it is different than years past. With these two players, the Yankees have gotten significantly better defensively and more athletic in the process. While there were some ups and downs with both of them during their postseason performances, Chisholm Jr. in particular had some moments.

Chisholm Jr. has also been open about his desire to stay in New York long-term, and Martino is right that the club would be wise to keep both of these dynamic players in the fold.

Martino's second point is the most controversial — keep Aaron Boone. "The Yankees manager did a masterful job — that’s right, masterful — in a few key areas this year," Martino wrote, oddly citing only his handling of Devin Williams to support the mastery, and nothing else.

The main reason Boone will likely stay is the two-year contract extension the Yankees gave him following last year's World Series run. That pact runs through 2027 and, not wanting to waste money, the edict coming down from Hal Steinbrenner is likely to let him ride it out. That's a mistake, however, as we've seen the same issues with accountability with the club time and time again. We've also seen Boone being outmaneuvered by other skippers on a regular basis.

Third on the list is rethinking shortstop. As we all just watched Anthony Volpe flail helplessly through the ALDS, it's hard not to agree, though Martino provides no solutions other than an alternate timeline where, in a parallel universe, Oswald Peraza panned out.

The fourth point might be the most ludicrous one yet, which is to add a plus defender to play first base. First base might be a unique position, but it's the least valuable on the field. Prioritizing defense over offense there is certainly a choice. As long as you can get a guy who can excel at scooping the ball out of the dirt, you're golden defensively. For the Yankees, that means leveraging Ben Rice's catching skills to work on reading bounces and getting in position to make those difficult picks.

Speaking of Rice, if we learned anything this year, it's that more Rice is always a good thing. The 26-year-old had a good year, as evidenced by his .358 wOBA, but if you believe the underlying data, he, not Cal Raleigh, should be fighting Aaron Judge for MVP honors, as his .410 xwOBA (and many other metrics) are elite. One of the biggest mistakes the Yankees can make his blocking a pathway to regular playing time for Rice.

Lastly, Martino addresses the pitching staff. He doesn't believe a move is necessary in the rotation thanks to the impending returns of Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt from Tommy John surgery. Remember, though, the Yankees lost three-fifths of their starting rotation in spring training this year, so nothing is a guarantee. Beyond that, who knows how Cole will look and when he'll be ready? Schmidt, on the other hand, might not pitch at all in 2026 due to the timing of his injury. The Yankees also need to address the shakiness that's been Luis Gil since his return from the IL.

Another ace isn't necessary, but another starter who can be relied upon wouldn't be a bad idea.

The bullpen, of course, needs multiple upgrades. As Martino notes, both Luke Weaver and Devin Williams are free agents. Given their 2026 showings, neither should be back. In addition to those two, a couple of lesser moves might be needed, with middle relievers like Mark Leiter Jr. failing, as well as inconsistency from the likes of Camilo Doval. This isn't just adding an arm or two; this is a unit that needs a facelift.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If the Yankees go into next season only making a few moves on the margins, be prepared for yet another early playoff exit.