A Week That Could Tell A Lot...

by Paul Semendinger

December 7, 2025

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The Winter Meetings begin...

There seem to be two camps of Yankees fans right now regarding the team and its prospects in 2026:

1. 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.

   
   

2. 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...