NEW YORK — Aaron Judge just had one of the greatest seasons in the Yankees history. He won the batting title. He won his third MVP. He led the majors in average, on-base percentage and slugging.
And the Yankees have done almost nothing to help him.
Eight weeks into the offseason, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has added exactly one outside player to the 40-man roster. That player is Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest. He had also made a few depth moves. These moves are unlikely to matter.
Meanwhile, every other team in the AL East has upgraded. The Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal. The Orioles landed Pete Alonso for five years and $155 million. The Red Sox traded for Willson Contreras. Even the penny-pinching Rays added Cedric Mullins and Steven Matz.
The Yankees? They re-signed their own depth players. That is all.
The captain’s MVP season goes unrewarded
Judge hit .331 in 2025. He slugged 53 home runs. He posted a 1.144 OPS that led all of baseball. He became the first player since Miguel Cabrera in 2012 to lead the majors in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
He is 33 years old. His prime years are ticking away.
NYY Underground captured the frustration building among the fan base.
“I specifically picked a picture of Aaron Judge, put a little help me sign on there because Lord have mercy,” they said. “Are we just wasting years of Aaron Judge? It’s unbelievable to me. Where’s the urgency in this club? There is none.”
The criticism has merit. Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million contract in December 2022. He has delivered three MVP-caliber seasons. The Yankees have not won a World Series since 2009.
The division arms race leaves Yankees behind
The AL East has been busy. Very busy. Just not in the Bronx.
Toronto brought back Shane Bieber on his player option. They signed Cease, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers. The reigning American League champions are not standing pat.
Baltimore made the splash of the winter by signing Alonso away from the Mets. They added closer Ryan Helsley, outfielder Taylor Ward and starter Shane Baz via trade.
Boston landed Contreras from St. Louis. They also acquired Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo to shore up the rotation.
The Yankees have re-signed Trent Grisham on the $22.025 million qualifying offer. They brought back Tim Hill for $3 million. Amed Rosario returned on a $2.5 million deal. Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn signed minor league contracts.
Good depth moves. Not the bold swing fans wanted.
Boone offers nothing-burgers on the big questions
Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke at a holiday food and toy drive on December 19. His answers did not inspire confidence.
Asked about a potential meeting with Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai, Boone offered a shrug.
“I don’t know,” Boone said.
The Yankees have not met with Imai. They have not scheduled a meeting. Boone does not know if they will. The deadline is January 2.
When asked what it was like watching rivals upgrade while his team stayed quiet, Boone defended the roster.
“The one thing is, I know we have a really good team right now,” the Yankees skipper said. “We have a lot of really good players on our roster. It’s probably not finished. There’ll be tweaks, I’m sure, up until spring training. So whatever happens, our expectation is that we’re going to be really good, and that’ll be our focus.”
Tweaks. That word does not inspire confidence for a team chasing its first championship in 16 years.
The Bellinger pursuit drags on without resolution
Cody Bellinger remains the Yankees‘ top priority. Cashman has said so repeatedly. The team wants him back after he hit .272 with 29 home runs and a .813 OPS in 2025.
Bellinger posted a 4.9 fWAR, his best since winning NL MVP in 2019. He played elite defense in center field. He brought switch-hitting balance to a left-handed heavy lineup.
But agent Scott Boras represents Bellinger. The asking price is high. Reports suggest he wants an eight-year deal. ESPN projects something closer to five years and $170 million.
YES Network insider Jack Curry reported that no team has come close to meeting Bellinger’s demands. The market is at a standstill.
The Yankees are betting patience brings the price down. That strategy carries risk. Kyle Tucker’s eventual deal will set the market for elite outfielders. If Bellinger’s asking price stays high, the Yankees may be left with backup options.
The bullpen and rotation holes remain unfilled
The Yankees lost Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to the Mets. Both were key bullpen pieces. The team has not replaced them with impact arms.
The Yankees bullpen finished 21st in fWAR, 22nd in walk percentage, 23rd in ERA and 24th in fastball velocity in 2025. David Bednar is a nice addition at closer. Camilo Doval and Fernando Cruz have nasty stuff but erratic command.
After that? The depth is thin. Winquest is a Rule 5 flyer. Blackburn projects for 0.1 fWAR. The Yankees need at least one more established high-leverage arm.
“We’ll probably add something along the way to that to fortify it even more,” Boone said at the Winter Meetings. “But the bullpen is always one of those things that comes together organically and normally has been a strength for us. That’s my expectation again.”
The Yankees rotation has its own problems. Gerrit Cole will miss Opening Day as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Carlos Rodon had elbow surgery in October. Clarke Schmidt may miss the entire season.
Max Fried is the only guaranteed healthy starter. Cam Schlittler impressed as a rookie. Will Warren will compete for a spot. That is not enough depth for a 162-game season.
The window is closing on a generational talent
Judge turns 34 in April. He is under contract through 2031. But peak production does not last forever, even for the best players in the game.
The Yankees tied Toronto for the AL’s best record at 94-68 in 2025. They lost to the Blue Jays in the ALDS. Strong individual seasons from Judge and Max Fried could not mask the collapse in June and July that cost them the division.
NYY Underground summed up the frustration.
“Honestly, at this point in the offseason, I think every shot directed towards the Yankees is called for,” they said. “They’ve done nothing. They’ve done absolutely nothing.”
The offseason is not over. Bellinger could still return. A trade for a starter remains possible. Imai has until January 2 to sign.
But the Yankees silence is deafening. And the best player in baseball is watching his prime years tick away while his team makes tweaks around the edges.
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