Without big offseason signings, the Yankees are shaping up to be worthy contenders in the 2026 season and stop the Dodgers‘ successful streak. That’s according to an MLB expert who sees the New York team as a franchise that has everything to compete at the highest level.
Although they are still looking for some signings at the end of the market to cover specific areas, the Bronx Bombers could easily start the season with the roster they have. At least that’s how MLB insider Jeff Passan sees it.
I think the Yankees like the team they have right now and think they can win the American League East
Passan also believes that the Yankees have closed their wallets this winter because they are satisfied and confident with the roster they currently have, so they do not need big signings to aspire to the World Series.
Unlike other teams that are desperate to “tie up” last-minute trades, and bearing in mind that the deadline ends on December 22 at 5 pm, the Yankees are taking things easy. If any of the negotiating options they have been working on in recent weeks materializes, perfect. But if it doesn’t happen, it’s no big deal. The franchise is in a position to start the season with what it has.
Yankees vs. Bellinger and Tucker’s demands
Among the candidates the Yankees want for their roster in the next campaign are Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker. These two have been their winter target and are the ones that represent the most investment.
With Tucker, the negotiations were not fruitful due to the amount he is demanding as a free agent, $400 million with a five-year contract. For the organization, this is a very high figure that the player has not wanted to lower.
Bellinger, who is also a free agent, wanted to imitate Tucker’s hiring model and it is not working out for him. Neither New York nor other teams have wanted to sign him because he is asking for $400 million, a number that seems exaggerated to his potential suitors, including the Yankees, a franchise that was willing to pay $180 million for him to return, but he rejected them.
We haven’t achieved anything. We’re just still active, trying to square some things up, but it’s been difficult so far. We don’t like the demands that are coming our way and I guess the rival teams don’t like what I’m trying to get out of them in terms of trades either. Even so, we have some conversations that could possibly lead to something. But clearly, if we already had something concrete, we would have done it
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