About the Off-Season: Some Thoughts

About the Off-Season: Some Thoughts

By Tim Kabel

November 15, 2025

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The transition from the 2025 season to the off-season is fully underway. The off-season started sooner for the Yankees than they or their fans would have liked. This week, the awards for 2025 were announced. Since the Dodgers won the World Series and we know who all the individual award winners are, a bow has officially been placed on 2025. Now, our focus as fans is entirely on the 2026 season and beyond.

Taking a final look at 2025, particularly the awards, brings some satisfaction to Yankees fans. Max Fried finished fourth in the Cy Young award balloting. That does not diminish the season he had. Where would the Yankees have been without him, considering the injuries to Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt, as well as Marcus Stroman being released before completing his two-year contract with the Yankees? The fact that the Yankees will have Max Fried for seven more years is comforting.

Aaron Judge edged out Cal Raleigh to win the MVP award. This is Judge’s third MVP award. That ties him with Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Mickey Mantle for the most MVP awards in Yankees history. What makes this even more amazing is that Judge still has six years left on his contract with the Yankees. It's conceivable he could win at least one more MVP. Even if he doesn't, he ranks among the greatest players ever to wear the pinstripes.

Now that we are fully focusing on 2026 and the future, the rumors are beginning to swarm like bees around spilled soda during the summer. I read one yesterday that quoted a Toronto Blue Jays insider who stated that the Yankees were more likely than the Blue Jays to go after Kyle Tucker and overwhelm him with a contract. I'm not trying to knock Kyle Tucker, but I don't think that would be a good idea. First, Tucker is going to cost a fortune and will tie up the Yankees in a long -term, very expensive contract for years. They don't need to do that. Besides, Tucker is a corner outfielder. That means he would be the leftfielder for the Yankees or would play in rightfield when Judge was either being the DH or taking a day off. I think the Yankees would be better served by bringing Cody Bellinger back because he gives the Yankees much more defensive flexibility.

If Bellinger returns to the Yankees, he could play leftfield, centerfield, or first base, depending on what other moves the Yankees make. He is only about a year and a half older than Tucker and has already proven what he can do in New York. He fits the team well and he will not be as expensive as Tucker. Sometimes people look at free agents and suggest that the Yankees should sign certain players not only to help the Yankees directly, but also to prevent that player from going to a rival. I don't think that's the case with Tucker. He's a very nice player but if he signed with the Blue Jays or Red Sox, I don't think many Yankees fans would lose sleep over it.

Speaking of Bellinger, there were statements made by his agent, Scott Boris and Brian Cashman that seemed to indicate a very strong mutual interest. That is great to hear but it really isn't news. Bellinger has been open about saying how much he enjoyed playing for the Yankees and would like to return. Hopefully it can get done rather quickly, which would allow the Yankees to concentrate on other moves.

 I recently read other articles stating that the Yankees are considered a very likely landing spot for Bo Bichette. Since I advocated signing him weeks ago, that is very welcome news to me. I know some fans practically fainted at this notion because they feel Bichette is not a great defender at shortstop. Some of those people cite Volpe as being a far superior defender. Volpe did win a Gold Glove in 2023. Last year, he tied for the league lead in errors. It's hard to separate how much of that was caused by Volpe’s injury that was basically kept secret, but the reality is that last year that in 2025, Volpe was not a great defender. Also, Bichette more than makes up for whatever questions you might have about his defense with his superb offense. Besides, just because he would be brought in to play shortstop in 2026, that does not mean he would stay there. If George Lombard, Jr. develops and becomes the answer at shortstop, Bichette could easily move to third base or even second base if Jazz Chisholm, Jr. leaves after the 2026 season via free agency. The bottom line is the Yankees should make these rumors come true and get Bichette in here.

Prepare yourselves because you are probably not going to read too many more articles or hear too many more stories on podcasts or the radio about the 2025 season. You will now be bombarded with rumors, suggestions, and opinions regarding the construction of the 2026 roster. My fervent hope is that the Yankees start to make some moves soon so things can begin to take focus. For now, everything will be rumors and speculation.

Let the fun begin.