NEW YORK – Five weeks away from the start of spring training, the Yankees still have some roster items to address.
Borrowing from the old Abbott & Costello routine, “I Don’t Know’’ is currently at third base, while the bullpen requires a lefty, and the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes is about to get serious.
After importing Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Devin Williams and Paul Goldschmidt, is the heavy lifting done on the trade and free agent fronts, or could there be yet another bold move before camp begins?
For now, here is the Yankees’ January to-do list:
Adding another infielder
If the Yankees do nothing else, they’ll enter camp with DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza as the primary options at third base.
Any outside upgrade here should require a plus-defender and a recent report linking the Yankees to trade interest in the Padres’ Luis Arraez does not address that area (nor would Gavin Lux, who was traded Monday from the Dodgers to the Reds).
One-time Yankees infielder Andrew Velazquez recently agreed to return on a minor league deal, improving the club’s defensive versatility, but depth isn’t the issue here.
Defensively, the Yankees are better served by switching Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base and finding at least a temporary option at third base.
The money/length of Nolan Arenado’s Cardinals contract and free agent Alex Bregman’s price (and the cost of additional draft compensation) doesn’t mesh with the Yankees’ current plan.
So, things could be on pause here until a better trade scenario comes along.
Exploring lefty relievers
Since Clay Holmes’ free agent departure (Mets), GM Brian Cashman has added an All-Star closer in Williams, re-signed Jonathan Loaisiga and traded for Fernando Cruz.
What’s missing is any left-handed presence in the Yankees’ bullpen, and that might be addressed via free agency.
Salvaged from the wreckage of the 2024 White Sox, veteran lefty Tim Hill posted a 2.05 ERA in 35 appearances for the Yankees and a one-year reunion makes sense.
Both Hill and lefty Tim Mayza finished the year as Yankees and moved into free agency.
Another veteran lefty, Andrew Chafin has been linked to Yanks’ interest, but they’ve had previous opportunities to sign him and passed.
An interesting free agent lefty option, Danny Coulombe, 35, was a reliable presence in the Orioles’ bullpen over the last two seasons, with a 2.56 ERA (156 ERA-plus) and 0.951 WHIP in 94 appearances.
Moving Marcus Stroman
Whether or not the Yankees win the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes (to be decided by Jan. 23), they already have Marcus Stroman as No. 6 on the rotation’s depth chart.
Having another club absorb most of Stroman’s $18 million contract (with an incentive-based 2026 option) would provide more flexibility in the trade market for an infielder.
And it could keep the Yankees from exceeding the final luxury tax threshold – additional incentive to move on from a starter who is currently outside the five-man window.
Trade activity could heat up once Sasaki and free agent Jack Flaherty come off the board.
Sorting through backup catchers
Cashman traded Jose Trevino (Reds) and Carlos Narvaez (Red Sox) this winter, but the Yanks still have three catchers on their 40-man roster behind Austin Wells.
But the leading candidate is right-handed hitting Alex Jackson, 29, a former first-round draft pick (Mariners) and Rays’ catcher with 124 games of experience across five MLB seasons.
Jackson arrived in the Trevino trade, and he’s above lefty-hitting J.C. Escarra (who made it to Triple-A in 2024) on the current depth chart.
One potential trade option is Diego Cartaya, 23, a once well-regarded prospect recently designated for assignment by the talent-rich Dodgers.
Would the Yankees also carry lefty-hitting Ben Rice as a backup first baseman and catcher?
