About the Off-Season: And So, It Begins

About the Off-Season:  And So, It Begins

By Tim Kabel

November 20, 2025

***

The Yankees have begun the process of building the roster for the 2026 season.

The most recent big news was that Trent Grisham accepted the Yankees’ qualifying offer for a contract for 2026. 

It seems Grisham decided to go for the security of a contract rather than gamble on free agency.  

I'm not displeased. The Yankees can still bring back Cody Bellinger and have him play first. They could always trade Grisham too. If Grisham does stay and revert to his pre-2025 form, he could once again become a back-up outfielder if, for example, Spencer Jones bursts onto the scene. 

My only concern is that if Grisham returns to being the player, he always was before 2025. In that scenario, i fear Aaron Boone will just keep throwing him out there day after day instead of letting one of the young guys play. Boone does not have the ability to adjust or recognize if Grisham is more suited to being the back-up.

The Yankees did something else before the Grisham situation was resolved or the 40-man roster was finalized. They made a free agent signing. It was their first signing of this off-season. Brace yourselves. The player they signed was... Ryan Yarbrough. On the surface, that may seem to be a very underwhelming move. It is not a major move. However, it is an important one. It is also a very smart move.

Bringing Yarbrough back provides the Yankees with stability, flexibility, and insurance. It is a one-year contract reportedly worth $2.5 million. That qualifies as an excellent move. Until he was injured last year, Yarbrough was a solid member of the Yankees’ pitching staff.

The Yankees are expected to be shorthanded at the beginning of the season in the starting rotation as both Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole will be healing from injuries and surgery. Yarbrough could fill a slot in the rotation until either Rodon or Cole returned. After that, he could be the long man in the bullpen or make a spot start if needed. I and others have advocated this since the end of the season.

Signing Yarborough also removes the urgency of trying to get someone as a stopgap measure, such as the Yankees did with Carlos Carrasco last year. They don't need to try to bring in a middle of the road, fifth starter type. Instead, the Yankees could look to bring in someone who could potentially be a key contributor as a starting pitcher. For example, they could sign Tetsuya Imai from Japan. Having Yarbrough on the team would be good to provide some insurance for Imai as he transitions to the Major Leagues.

There is no real downside to the Yankees bringing in Yarbrough on a one-year contract. The pieces are being moved. The 2026 Yankees are taking shape.