What's left for the Yankees to accomplish in MLB offseason before spring training

Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Devin Williams and Paul Goldschmidt may be enough for one offseason for most fanbases, but then again, the New York Yankees are not most franchises. As the meat and potatoes of the roster come in to view, what exactly can the Yankees do to complete their offseason?

Bullpens have been a Brian Cashman speciality lately, as he has consistently taken other teams' scraps and turned them into viable relief options. Tim Hill, a quick fan favorite, would do wonders to placate a fan base still stinging over the loss of Juan Soto. Hill was brilliant in 44 innings with the Yankees, posting a 2.05 ERA (3.62 FIP) and a paltry 5.2% walk rate. Hill has made under $2 million every season of his career, and at 35, likely will not command a long-term deal. Could two years at a $3 million AAV get it done? If so, Cashman should be on the phone yesterday.

One left-hander in a bullpen currently full of righties will not be enough. For over a week now, multiple reports have linked the Yankees with Andrew Chafin. Outside of a bad 2023, Chafin has been one of the more consistent lefties since 2021. Opponents managed a meager .127 batting average against his slider in 2024, a pitch that posted a +6 Run Value, according to Baseball Savant. Chafin has posted walk rates north of 12% the last two seasons, which, along with his age, will sound legitimate alarms. Still, a career strikeout rate of 25.9% and an above-average slider are enough to generate strong interest. A one or two-year deal around $6.5-$8 million AAV seems logical here.

Yankees could go for big-ticket lefties in bullpen to complete offseason

The big ticket lefty still on the market is Tanner Scott. Scott enjoyed a huge breakout after leaving Baltimore before the 2022 season. Scott has struck out batters at a 30.4% clip in his career, and would bring much needed swing-and-miss to the Yankee bullpen, which they have prioritized this offseason. A three-headed monster of Scott, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams would shorten games significantly.

The issue with Scott will be the money. Spotrac currently puts the Yankees' payroll at $252.2 million, already above the $241 million luxury tax threshold. The Yankees will once again pay the highest penalty rate, and will have their draft pick moved back 10 spots. For a team with championship expectations, and Hal Steinbrenner's deep pockets, neither should be a deterrent. Scott would bring an elite fastball (+17 Run Value) and closing experience to the bullpen.

With the additions of Bellinger and Goldschmidt, there really is only one question mark left in the lineup. Jazz Chisholm was a great addition at the 2024 deadline, putting up a 1.5 bWAR in 46 games in pinstripes. The issue with Chisholm is what position he will be manning. After spending the majority of his career at second base and center field, Chisholm played in 45 games at third base for New York. Third base seemed to be a home for Chisholm, as he posted a +8 Outs Above Average there, and solidified a position of need in the second half. With Gleyber Torres leaving for Detroit, second base is once again an option for Chisholm, too, and might be the one the Yankees prefer.

A report from The Athletic on Monday mentioned that DJ LeMahieu may still be an everyday option in 2025. It's easy to be skeptical about that report, as LeMahieu's health is a serious concern. Beyond that, in his 67 games in 2024, LeMahieu posted a putrid 52 wRC+. The best option amongst free agent infielders is clearly Alex Bregman. The long-time Houston Astro has posted a career 135 wRC+, walking 11.9% of the time, and striking out just 13.4% of his at-bats. In addition, Bregman has been one of the best defensive options at third base. MLB Insider Jon Heyman has splashed some cold water on the Yankee/Bregman connection, noting that the team is looking to LeMahieu to fill that role.

A pair of former Padres should be of interest to Cashman and company. Jurickson Profar enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, slashing .280/.380/.459 and hitting 24 home runs, good for a 4.3 fWAR. The issue here is Profar has not played much infield since 2019, spending most of his time patrolling left field. Profar has also been significantly below-average in the outfield. So ... maybe not the best idea to gamble on a position move. Yankee fans are all too familiar with poor second base defense from Torres' tenure.

Ha-Seong Kim has spent the last four seasons in San Diego, coming over after seven seasons in the KBO. Kim has turned in three straight above-average offensive seasons while providingfar more noteworthy infield defense at second base, shortstop, and third base. The 29-year-old would bring elite plate discipline, great defense, and above-average speed, three skill sets that would improve any version of the 2025 Yankees lineup. The downside is Kim's October shoulder surgery has put his spring training and Opening Day status in question. In this scenario, some combination of LeMahieu/Oswaldo Cabrera/Oswald Peraza would man third base until Kim is healthy. Look for a multi-year deal around $20 million AAV to reel in Kim.

For the Yankees to return to their dynasty ways of the late 1990s, there are still some improvements that must be made. Is losing out on Juan Soto enough of a wake-up call for Steinbrenner and Cashman to spend more money? It is hard for fans to listen to a billion-dollar operation use a luxury tax number as a stopping point when, across town, Steve Cohen has spent like a drunken sailor in pursuit of a championship. Opening up the checkbook a bit more to secure a 28th championship would cement the joint legacies of Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman.