NEW YORK — The Blue Jays just landed Dylan Cease. The Orioles signed Pete Alonso. The Red Sox traded for Sonny Gray. Even the Rays made moves.
And the Yankees? They’ve added exactly one player from outside the organization to their 40-man roster. His name is Cade Winquest. Most fans have never heard of him.
Six weeks into the offseason, the Bronx Bombers remain eerily quiet. The silence is deafening. And fans want to know why.
Cashman addresses the frustration
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman understands the anxiety. He feels it too. But he isn’t panicking.
“It’s that time of year. You hope you run into some things,” Cashman said at the Winter Meetings last week. “Last year, I know we were able to get a lot of things done from the Winter Meetings and beyond. I don’t think there’s as deep a need as there was last year, but there’s things I’m obviously trying to do.”
The Yankees finished the 2025 regular season with a 94-68 record. They posted the best run differential in the American League. Then the Toronto Blue Jays eliminated them in four games during the ALDS.
That loss still stings. It fuels the urgency from Yankees fans demanding action. Yet Cashman remains patient.
AL East rivals aren’t waiting around
The division has transformed while the Yankees watched from the sidelines. Toronto added Cease, Cody Ponce, and Tyler Rogers. Baltimore brought in Alonso, Ryan Helsley, and Taylor Ward. Tampa Bay imported Steven Matz and Cedric Mullins. Boston traded for Gray and Johan Oviedo.
Four of five AL East teams made significant upgrades. The Yankees made a Rule 5 Draft pick. The contrast couldn’t be starker.
“Every now and then I’ll daydream with a little bit of comfort knowing that it seems like, ‘All right, this market seems to be glacial speed,'” Cashman said at the Winter Meetings, per The Athletic.
Yankees keeping their own players
The Yankees haven’t been completely idle. They just haven’t grabbed headlines. Since the World Series ended, they’ve brought back four of their own free agents.
Center fielder Trent Grisham accepted the $22.025 million qualifying offer. He slugged 34 home runs last season. Getting him back on a one-year deal matters in a weak outfield market.
“I kind of thought 50-50 going into it when we made the offer,” Cashman said about Grisham accepting.
The Yankees also retained Tim Hill on a $3 million club option. They re-signed Amed Rosario and Ryan Yarbrough on modest deals. Not flashy moves. But important depth.
Trade deadline shopping a factor
One reason the Yankees feel less pressure this winter is because they did heavy lifting in July. They made eight trades in five days leading up to the deadline.
David Bednar arrived from Pittsburgh to close games. Camilo Doval came from San Francisco as a setup option. Ryan McMahon filled the third base void. Jose Caballero provides versatility while Anthony Volpe recovers from shoulder surgery.
These aren’t rentals. Bednar and Doval have multiple years of control remaining. McMahon is signed through 2027. The Yankees checked several boxes before the offseason even began.
Top targets remain available
Here’s the key detail that explains the Yankees’ patience. Every player they want is still unsigned. Nobody has come off the board.
Cody Bellinger remains the Yankees’ top priority. He hit .272 with 29 homers and a .813 OPS in the Bronx last season. His versatility and left-handed swing fit Yankee Stadium perfectly. Reports have consistently linked the two sides.
Japanese pitching sensation Tatsuya Imai has a posting window open until January 2. Michael King remains unsigned. Kyle Tucker lurks as an alternative outfield option.
“There’s not a lot of the inventory that I’m interested in coming off the board yet,” Cashman said. “That means it’s tough to get. So my experiences, I would assume, are the same experiences in other camps, but you keep working at it.”
Yankees history of January deals
Patience isn’t new for this franchise. The Yankees often wait until after New Year’s to make their biggest moves. It drives fans crazy. But it works.
In 2019, they reshaped their roster in two weeks after New Year’s. They re-signed Zack Britton on January 11. They added DJ LeMahieu on January 14. They signed Adam Ottavino on January 24. Cashman has shown a willingness to let the market develop.
Roster needs remain clear
The Yankees know what they need. Left field requires attention. Either Bellinger returns or they find a platoon partner for Jasson Dominguez. The rotation also demands reinforcements.
Three veteran starters will begin 2026 on the injured list. Gerrit Cole continues recovering from Tommy John surgery. Carlos Rodon recently resumed his throwing program after elbow surgery. Clarke Schmidt won’t return until the second half at the earliest.
“We are covered in most all areas that you need to be covered,” Cashman said. “Our division is the toughest division in baseball. It typically is the beast of the East. We know our work is cut out for us. We also know we have a really strong roster of quality, talented players, but the job is to try to add to it.”
The clock is ticking on Aaron Judge’s prime. The Yankees captain led the majors with 54 home runs in 2025. He’s won two MVP awards. The window to win a championship is now. Cashman insists the Yankees are ready to strike. The question is whether waiting too long will cost them.
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