While the Yankees got by just fine without Gerrit Cole and Juan Soto, breakthrough seasons from a couple of bats and a dominant closing stretch from rookie starter Cam Schlittler inspired hope New York could get back to the World Series and win three more games than last year.

Instead, the AL will have a new representative in the Fall Classic — and the Yankees will have to start thinking about what steps need to be taken to get back there in 2026.

One dramatic step unlikely to be taken is firing Aaron Boone. A different type of September might have changed the equation when it comes to Boone’s job security, but reports indicate he is likely to return for a ninth season after guiding the Yankees to the World Series in 2024.

Here’s a look ahead at the Yankees’ offseason and what changes might be in store for the 2026 season.

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Yankees free agents 2026

The Yankees aren’t facing the possibility of an MVP-caliber player hitting the open market this offseason, unlike last year, but some key contributors will be free to sign with any team five days after the end of the World Series:

• OF Cody Bellinger*
• OF Trent Grisham
• 1B Paul Goldschmidt
• RP Devin Williams
• RP Luke Weaver
• INF Amed Rosario
• OF Austin Slater
• RP Jonathan Loaisiga**

* – Has $25 million player option for 2026.

** – Has $5 million team option for 2026.

New York will have to address its lineup in some form this winter, whether through re-signing bats or replacing them. Cody Bellinger is likely to decline his $25 million player option in hopes of landing a multi-year deal after a strong season, while Trent Grisham will undoubtedly be looking to take advantage of a breakout 34-home run season by landing a multi-year deal of his own.

Paul Goldschmidt, who signed a one-year deal last December, will be a free agent and doesn’t seem likely to return as the Yankees’ primary first baseman after struggling to sustain an impressive April. That means the Yankees will have to address the first base position again. Could that mean Ben Rice becomes their full-time first baseman in 2026? Rice has also spent time behind the plate in 2025, and Austin Wells hasn’t done much to prove he should be New York’s long-term catcher.

The Yankees aren’t facing any key rotation defections in the offseason, but reliever Devin Williams figures to land elsewhere after a tumultuous first season in the Bronx. Luke Weaver will also hit the open market after struggling to recapture his 2024 success, while the Yankees could decline Jonathan Loaisiga’s $5 million team option after injuries limited him again.

Utility players Austin Slater and Amed Rosario, brought in at the trade deadline, also played on one-year deals and will become free agents.

MORE: How Garrett Crochet dominated Yankees in 2025

Yankees payroll 2025: Who’s returning?

The Yankees have $202.3 million on the books for 2026, though Bellinger’s likely opt-out will lessen that hit. Here are the key contracts returning next season:

All things considered, the Yankees have plenty of talent set to return next season, even if a few of the returning pieces have hefty salaries.

Jazz Chisholm Jr., David Bednar and Camilo Doval will all have their salaries determined by or before the arbitration process in the winter, while players who are considered pre-arbitration will make close to the league minimum because they are still in the early stages of their rookie contracts.

The Yankees are returning six starting pitchers for 2026, which means the rotation likely won’t be something they have to worry much about in the offseason. Not only are Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Luis Gil all under contract for 2026, but Gerrit Cole is on track to return from Tommy John Surgery at some point near the start of the season and Clarke Schmidt could even be ready late in the regular season.

There is no such thing as too many starters, but Brian Cashman has an excellent starting point.

So, who could the Yankees target in the winter? Here are the options.

Yankees offseason targets

The Yankees won’t need to target starting pitchers beyond one or two depth additions. Elsewhere, the 2026 roster is less settled.

Cashman will have to do something about the outfield with both Bellinger and Grisham slated for free agency and Jasson Dominguez struggling. The Yankees figure to have interest in re-signing Bellinger or Grisham, but is it feasible to hand out multi-year deals to both players? Grisham, who has never hit at the level he did in 2025, might be the safer bet to walk as he tries to capitalize on a career year.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, the free agent outfield class is thin unless they are willing to dump a significant amount of money on Kyle Tucker. The top outfield options are Harrison Bader and potentially Luis Robert, but Bader had an successful stint in New York while Robert would just be a reclamation project if the Chicago White Sox decline his option.

The first base market will be one area for the Yankees to take a look, pending their plans for Rice. Pete Alonso and Josh Naylor are strong options on the free agent market. While Alonso might not be the right fit at his price, Naylor was reportedly a trade deadline target of the Yankees this season.

Cashman will also have to evaluate the futures of Volpe and Wells, who both dealt with extended struggles in 2025. The free agent shortstop market is thin outside of Bo Bichette, while J.T. Realmuto is the only surefire starter among the catchers available.

In the bullpen, Bednar and Doval returning partly fills a need, but potential exits of Williams and Weaver open up two spots to fill.

Cashman isn’t afraid to utilize the trade market, so he could look for more creative way to fill some of these holes if players aren’t retained.