Yankees bring back valuable bench piece and vibes leader on affordable deal

The New York Yankees haven't really challenged themselves much so far this offseason, but to their credit, they do keep ticking no-brainers off their internal checklist.

Ryan Yarbrough as a swingman/early season rotation fill-in? Check. Obvious. Tim Hill's option? Where would the bullpen be without him? Done. Now, the Yankees have brought back Amed Rosario, who'll help complete Ryan McMahon's offensive portfolio, and might even help insure Ben Rice at first base, too.

Rosario's time with the Yankees last summer was unfairly cut short; though he didn't miss quite as much time as fellow import Austin Slater, he did ram shoulder-first into a wall while trying to make a defensive play under duress, and only played in 16 games (hitting .303 in 33 at-bats).

He was alive and well in time for the playoffs, though, and was trusted against left-handed pitching, delivering a crucial RBI single against Connelly Early in the Yankees' Game 3 triumph over the Red Sox. Now, he'll be back at a discounted cost to add intentionality to the bench: $2.5 million for 2026, according to Jon Heyman.

Yankees bring Amed Rosario back, who can crush lefties and cover multiple positions

Rosario is able to cover multiple positions, sure, but he derives most of his value from doing one thing very well: bedeviling left-handed pitchers. He's hit .298 with an .800 career OPS against lefties over the course of his nine-year career, and batted .302 with an .819 OPS against them last season. There's a reason that teams like the Rays and Dodgers have acquired him in recent seasons.

The Yankees have filled small holes with a purpose thus far this offseason. They claimed they wouldn't wait around for Cody Bellinger, and that wasn't inaccurate, but the work has been comprised mostly of tidying so far. Outside of Cade Winquest, the Yankees have yet to add a single MLB piece who wasn't already on the roster last season. That will need to change shortly; the bullpen is drowning, the rotation needs an infusion, and the outfield is incomplete.

For now, Rosario, who wears multiple hats (including firing up the dugout), will be a valuable addition. He's also a "run it back" piece. The Yankees need to find a few electric newcomers, too≥