What the Yankees Should Target in the 2026-27 Offseason

For the second straight season, the Yankees bowed out in the ALDS after losing to an intradivisional rival. While the Yankees were able to accomplish a lot without Aaron Judge for most of 2026, the reality is that the club must adjust for 2027. Especially when taking into account how many relievers went to free agency.

Biggest needs for Yankees

The Yankees struck gold in July 2025 when the club brought in then-Pirates closer David Bednar via trade. Devin Williams was struggling as the club’s closer, and Bednar, who had his own issues in Pittsburgh before a renaissance, became an ace reliever for well over a year in The Bronx.

Last season, Bednar notched 35 saves with the Yankees, a clean .5 HR/9 that ranked among the top 40 in the Majors among relievers, and a .249 opponents’ wOBA that ranked in the top 30.

Now, Bednar is a free agent, marking the club’s most notable loss from the 2026 season. So, if you want to start anywhere with potential holes for the Yankees heading into the offseason, it would be with a high-leverage reliever.

Aside from losing Bednar, the Yankees also lost Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough, Michael Fulmer, and Paul Blackburn to free agency. Fulmer saw action late in the year, while Blackburn posted a stellar 1.59 ERA out of the ‘pen for the Yankees last season. Hill, generally a top groundball pitcher, had a weird year with a high HR/9 (1.9).

Nonetheless, the Yankees will need bodies for that bullpen.

There’s also the question of what the Yankees will do at catcher and second base. The latter seems to be easier to handle after Jazz Chisholm Jr., who had a down 2026, went to free agency. Anthony Volpe saw time late in the season and the playoffs at second base. Manager Aaron Boone also indicated that first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. may get looks there.

Garcia Jr. spent years as a middle infielder with the Nationals.

As for the catcher position, Austin Wells slashed .186/.292/.322 last season. Finding a tandem partner for Wells would make a lot of sense here, at the least.

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