A Week That Could Tell A Lot...
- Paul Semendinger
- Dec 7, 2025
- 3 min read
by Paul Semendinger
December 7, 2025
***
The Winter Meetings begin...
There seem to be two camps of Yankees fans right now regarding the team and its prospects in 2026:
There are fans who believe the Yankees are basically going to run out a very similar team to the 2025 Yankees. This group is not inspired by the team's public comments of late and the team's apparent lack of involvement in any of the trade talk and free agent signings to date.
There are fans that believe the Yankees are biding their time and will make some necessary trades and/or signings to bolster the squad to compete big time in 2026.
This week is one that could very well tell the story of the 2026 Yankees. At the Winter Meetings, the Yankees could make a splash or two. They could sign a big name. They could make an eye-opening trade.
If they do make a big move, it could indicate the team's desire to play big for 2026. If they do not, it would seem to indicate that the team isn't going to be big players - and that 2026, as far as the players go, will look a lot like 2025. We already know the manager and philosophy seem to be the same as past years.
I am not optimistic about the team's direction for 2026. I don't see the team making a big splash. I could see them bringing back Cody Bellinger. I also do not think he is a difference maker who will move the needle much (at all) in the direction toward a World Championship. It seems to me that the Yankees are pretty content and believe they are set at a host of positions already:
C- Austin Wells
1b- Ben Rice
2b- Jazz Chisholm
3b- Ryan McMahon
ss- Anthony Volpe
lf- Jasson Dominguez (maybe Cody Bellinger)
cf- Trent Grisham
rf- Aaron Judge
dh- Giancarlo Stanton
The starting staff looks like
Max Fried
Gerrit Cole
Carlos Rodon
Luis Gil/Cam Schlittler/Will Warren/Clarke Schmidt
The bullpen seems to have a lot of holes that must be addressed, but could be filled by mid-level pitchers and prospects.
I do not think the Yankees will go big and sign a player like Bo Bichette. I also don't see them trading for another high priced replacement for Volpe. I think they feel Anthony Volpe is still their shortstop. They have excuses for three seasons of less than great performance, but I think they still believe that Volpe will be a very good player.
I am not high on Spencer Jones. He strikes out far too much for my tastes, but I believe the Yankees will give him a chance to make the team. (I do not put much faith in the Yankees' hype of players. We've seen too many of them fail or become decidedly mediocre.)
I am also very concerned about big time pitchers coming back from big time injuries. I know many feel that they'll return and be great. They might. But it is just as likely that they will not be anything close to the top pitchers they used to be. Only time will tell.
If the Yankees' plan for 2026 is to run back the 2025 team with the hopes that Spencer Jones ascends to be a quality player, that the inured pitchers all return and are terrific, and that young players such as Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, and Jasson Dominguez also reach their potential, it could be a long season for the fans.
Remember, this will be a team led by Aaron Boone who has never demonstrated that he is a top manager.
What should become more clear by the end of this week is if the Yankees will be making moves and playing big or if they are more or less content with trying again with the underwhelming 2025 squad.
Stay tuned...
I would love to see the Yankees start to aquire some younger players and begin to hit the reset button, as the championship window is perhaps closing. Cole is 36, the changing of the guard is something that the Yankees need to plan for this offseason. Everybody wants to wn now and I agree with this, which is why I've begun to think that if trading for Corey Seager isn't possible, why not just sign Schwaber and throw Stanton to the wolves by making him play the field regularly, with Dominguez backing him up on a daily basis.
Signing "Schwaba" is a win now ploy, perhaps the most agressive one out there. Meanwhile... Hopefully, the Yankkees could focus in 2027…
Here's a strategy to mull over, today being lovely Sunday and all:
In a surprise move, Cashman signs Kyle Schwarber. The Yankees decide to play Stanton in right field, with Dominguez backing him up. They play Judge in left field for home games.
The thinking is simple, not if but when Stanton gets his next injury, Dominguez takes over as a takes over as a full-timer and Jones get promoted.
With the strategy, the Yankees get far more offensive production than they would get by signing either Tucker or Bellinger and they can let Dominguez get reps until he's really ready to be a full-timer.
Grisham CF
Judge LF
Schwarber DH
Stanton RF
Rice 1B
Chisholm 2B
Caballero/Cabrera SS
Wells…
Again..."good enough is good enough" Let's just make the playoffs. The team is profitable. The Yanks already had their century.
I don't know if I can remember a year in which there were so many question marks for the Yankees, thus:
Who is playing 3rd base? We have a fine glove man who can't hit major league pitching.
Who is the shortstop? We have an underperforming and apparently/inexplicably declining player coming off an injury, so who covers for him while he recovers and do we continue to have Volpe as a starter?
Starting pitchers coming off injuries. Will a 36 year old Gerrit Cole be able to be the power pitcher he once was? Can Carlos Rodon repeat a fine 2025 coming off an injury? What can an injured Clarke Schmidt provide?
What to do with coming major contributor Ben…
I always think several good things will happen and am usually disappointed. They usually make one significant move, but it is not enough. If they dont get Bellinger or Tucker, then they need to go after a position player. Bichette or Seager. I dont know why people are talking Marte. We already have a 2B. Maybe signing the better fielding Japanese player who can play 3B or signing. good 1B and making Rice the C. Something. they need a few good bullpen arms. imai would be nice but i have a lot of confidence in Schlittler and Fried.