The New York Yankees appear to be nearing the end of their offseason work in free agency, but that does not mean their roster construction is complete, with a raid on the Kansas City Royals still possible.
As the calendar turns toward spring training, trade possibilities remain very much in play-particularly as the organization assesses a pitching staff that may be stretched thin early in the 2026 campaign.
While the signing of Cody Bellinger drew headlines, one of the more impactful yet understated moves of the offseason may have been the trade acquisition of Ryan Weathers.
Coupled with their move to re-sign Paul Blackburn, the Yankees have added useful depth to a rotation facing immediate uncertainty.
Multiple projected starters are expected to open the season on the injured list, placing additional responsibility on younger arms such as Will Warren and Cam Schlittler during the opening months.
That context has fueled speculation about whether New York could pursue another established starter via trade.
One recent proposal has the Yankees emerging as a potential landing spot for Royals left-hander Kris Bubic, a pitcher who has been the subject of league-wide trade chatter this offseason.
Why Kris Bubic fits the Yankees’ needs
In a recent FanSided analysis, writer Zachary Rotman identified New York as a logical destination for Bubic, outlining how the roster dynamics could align for both clubs.
“The New York Yankees re-signed Cody Bellinger, completing their outfield and leaving both Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones without a clear path for playing time,” he wrpte.
“New York would almost certainly love to keep at least one of those outfielders, if not both, but one should be expendable for a starting pitcher”.
The premise is straightforward. The Royals are believed to be seeking additional offensive production, particularly from young, controllable talent.
That need could make Bubic a movable asset, especially given the depth the Royals have been building in their pitching pipeline.
From a performance standpoint, Bubic represents an intriguing target. Although he did not pitch down the stretch of the 2025 season, he was still selected to his first All-Star team, a testament to his dominance earlier in the year.
Across 20 starts and 116.1 innings, Bubic posted a 2.55 ERA with 116 strikeouts, marking his first full season as a starter since 2022 and signaling a return to top-of-the-rotation form.
For the Yankees, that type of production could stabilize a rotation expected to rely heavily on inexperienced pitchers early on.
The impact on young Yankees
Adding Bubic would reduce pressure on Warren and Schlittler, while also providing insurance should injuries linger longer than anticipated.
Of course, the cost is the key variable. There have been rumors throughout the offseason that one of Dominguez or Jones could be moved, but nothing substantive has materialized.
Manager Aaron Boone has publicly stated that Dominguez will receive significant playing time in the outfield, though roster realities can shift quickly once the season begins.
Any deal for Bubic would reflect a familiar Yankees strategy of leveraging positional depth to address pitching needs in pursuit of a championship window.
Whether New York chooses to act may depend on how confident the organization is in its rising stars – and how aggressively the Royals pursue offensive reinforcements.
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