The Yankees' 2025 season ended Wednesday night when the Blue Jays won Game 4 of a best-of-three Division Series
NEW YORK — After emotional speeches by manager Aaron Boone, captain Aaron Judge and others, the media was let into the Yankees clubhouse, where the tears were drying from players’ faces and hugs lingered
With a 5-2 Division Series Game 4 win at Yankee Stadium, the Blue Jays are off to the ALCS and the Yankees are heading into an offseason that probably will lead to a lot of roster changes.
The Yankees know what’s coming.
“This is the last time this group is going to be in the same room together,” catcher Austin Wells said. “Anytime you have such great veterans that you feel are a big part of the team and you don’t know where they’re going to be next year, it’s tough.
“There are some big heartbeats on this team that might not be here, so that’s a tough pill to swallow.”
The Yankees could have 11 free agents, counting Bellinger’s player option for 2026 that surely won’t be vested, plus club options for relievers Tim Hill and Jonathan Loaisaga.
Who’s returning?
Who’s gone for sure?
Who might be coming back?
Here are early predictions for the eight Yankees’ free agents and three others who could be joining them:
CODY BELLINGER, OF
Age: 30 (July 13, 2026).
Contract status: $25M player option or free agency with $5M buyout.
2025 salary: $27.5M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $30.45M.
2025 stats: Yankees, .272 average, 588 AB, 89 runs, 160 hits, 29 HR, 98 RBI, 13 SB, 57 BB, 90 K, .813 OPS, 152 games.
The latest: This is Bellinger’s shot at getting a lot of years for a lot of dollars, and he’s going to chase the biggest offers because his agent is Scott Boras. He’ll get it, too, because he’s coming off a standout season. Bellinger loved his one year with the Yankees, and they loved having him. They loved that he hit for power and average. They loved his excellent outfield play at all three spots, plus first base. They loved his makeup. Unfortunately, this doesn’t look to be a fit beyond 2025. The Yankees think No. 2 prospect Spencer Jones, a 6-foot-7, left-handed Aaron Judge clone, is major-league ready (or close to it) after spending a half-season in Triple-A. With Jasson Dominguez, Jones and Judge their projected outfield for 2026, the Yankees won’t be paying $30M-plus for at least five or six years of Bellinger.
Prediction: Player option not vested,signs with Mets as free agent.
PAUL BLACKBURN, RHP
Age: 31 (32 on Dec. 4, 2025).
Contract status: Free agent.
2025 salary: $4.05M.
2025 stats: Mets & Yankees, 0-3. 6.23 ERA, 15 games, 4 starts, 39 IP, 47 hits, 29 runs, 27 ER, 6 HR, 12 BB, 34 K.
The latest: The bearded sinkerballer was a surprise addition to the Yankees’ postseason roster over lefty Ryan Yarborough and Mark Leiter Jr. His stats for both New York teams this season were poor, but he pitched to a 1.50 ERA over his last seven Yankees outings after allowing seven runs in 3 1/3 innings in his Aug. 23 debut. Blackburn was bombed again in his one playoff appearance, but the Yankees still like his arm
Prediction: Signs with Giants.
PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT, 1B
Age: 38 (39 on Sept. 10, 2026).
Contract status: Free agent.
2025 salary: $12.5M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $7.18M.
2025 stats: Yankees, .274 average, 489 AB, 76 runs, 134 hits, 10 HR, 45 RBI, 5 SB, 36 BB, 100 K, .731 OPS, 145 games.
The latest: The seven-time All-Star and former MVP enjoyed his first and probably only Yankees season. He loved playing with Judge and enjoyed mentoring Ben Rice at first base. As the year went on, Goldschmidt looked his age more and more, while Rice was getting most of the starts against right-handed pitching. Goldschmidt was one of the best in the majors in hitting left-handed pitching, but even there, he tailed off late in the year. He started only 12 of the Yankees’ final 25 regular-season games, then just two of seven playoff games. He wants to play next season, but probably will hunt for a spot where he could get at least semi-regular starts. That won’t happen with the Yankees, who are committed to Rice at first when he’s not getting occasional starts at catcher.
Prediction: Signs with Diamondbacks.
TRENT GRISHAM, CF
Age: 28 (29 on Nov. 1, 2025).
Contract status: Free agent.
2025 salary: $5M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $12.05M.
2025 stats: Yankees, .235 average, 494 AB, 87 runs, 116 hits, 34 HR, 74 RBI, 3 SB, 82 BB, 137 K, .811 OPS, 143 games.
The latest: After batting below .200 for three years in a row, Grisham had a career season at the right time in 2025, his walk year. For much of the year, Grisham hit a bunch of homers batting leadoff. The Yankees rave about his center field play, but defensive metrics are not fans. His minus-2 rating in Baseball Savant’s Outs Above Average analytics ranked 36th among 41 qualifying center fielders. The Yankees probably will look into bringing back Grisham for a year, but Spotrac projected a four-year deal for $47.5M. The Yankees don’t want to lose Grisham, but he’s a center fielder and they think they’ll soon be set there with Jones.
Prediction: Signs with Rangers.
TIM HILL, LHP
Age: 35 (36 on Feb. 10, 2026).
Contract status: $3M club option or free agency with $350,000 buyout.
2025 salary: $2.85M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $4.25M.
2025 stats: Yankees, 4-4. 3.09 ERA, 70 games, 67 IP, 58 hits, 27 runs, 23 ER, 8 HR, 16 BB, 37 K.
The latest: The side-arm-throwing southpaw has had two good seasons in a row with the Yankees. He was their only lefty reliever for the playoffs and did very well in retiring nine of 10 batters and working three scoreless innings in three outings. He was a bargain at his salary the last two years and will be again in 2026.
Prediction: Yankees vest club option.
JONATHAN LOAISIGA, RHP
Age: 30 (31 on Nov. 2, 2025).
Contract status: $5M club option or free agency.
2025 salary: $5M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $4.56M.
2025 stats: Yankees, 0-1, 4.25 ERA, 30 games, 29.2 IP, 34 hits, 15 runs, 14 ER, 7 HR, 10 BB, 25 K.
The latest: It’s still the same, old story for Loaisiga … if he could only stay healthy. He can’t. This year, the Nicaraguan was on the injured list from Opening Day until the middle of May rehabbing his way back from April 2024 UCL surgery and was done for the season by the first week of August with a back issue. In between, Loaisiga did not pitch well consistently. It’s time for the Yankees to cry uncle on this power arm who’s been in the organization for a decade without ever staying healthy for a season.
Prediction: Club option not vested,signs with Mets for one year as free agent.
AMED ROSARIO, INF/OF
Age: 29 (30 on Nov. 20, 2025).
Contract status: Free agent.
2025 salary: $2M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $3.12M.
2025 stats: Nationals & Yankees, .276 average, 181 AB, 20 runs, 50 hits, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 1 SB, 7 BB, 31 K, .745 OPS, 62 games.
The latest: This guy brought a lot of energy and was a good righty-on-lefty bench piece after joining the Yankees in a summer trade. The Yankees tried and failed to sign Rosario as a free agent a couple of times. Now that they have him, they’re hoping he’s not just a two-month rental. If he returns, Rosario could get starts next season at third base and left field against left-handed pitching.
Prediction: Re-signs with Yankees for one year.
AUSTIN SLATER, OF
Age: 32 (Dec. 13, 2025).
Contract status: Free agent.
2025 salary: $1.75M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $2.63M
2025 stats: White Sox & Yankees, .216 average, 148 AB, 22 runs, 32 hits, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 1 SB, 11 BB, 51 K, .642 OPS, 65 games.
The latest: The Yankees acquired Slater at the trade deadline to play left field against left-handed pitching, but he was on the IL less than a week later with a hamstring strain and ended up not helping the club. He was 2-for-25 with two RBI in 14 games, then left off the Yankees’ playoff roster.
Prediction: Signs with Pirates.
LUKE WEAVER, RHP
Age: 32 (Aug. 21, 2026).
Contract status: Free agent.
2025 salary: $2.5M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $9.93M
2025 stats: Yankees, 4-4, 3.62 ERA, 8 saves, 64 games, 64.2 IP, 46 hits, 28 runs, 26 ER, 10 BB, 26 K.
The latest: Weaver’s first two postseason outings this year were atrocious, five runs over no innings, but he’s been the biggest bargain reliever in baseball for two years. He showed that he can be a reliable closer late into ’24 and again for a stretch this season. His year can be split up into two parts, before and after his hamstring strain. He had a 1.05 ERA in 24 outings prior to being shelved June 3, then a 5.31 ERA in 40 games after his June 20 return. Weaver wasn’t right in the second half, and he was tipping pitches in the playoffs, but he’s proved over a long enough sample size that he can pitch in New York.
Prediction: Re-signs with Yankees for three years.
DEVIN WILLIAMS, RHP
Age: 31 (32 on Sept 21, 2025).
Contract status: Free agent.
2025 salary: $8.6M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $5.75M
2025 stats: Yankees, 4-6, 4.79 ERA, 18 saves, 67 games, 62 IP, 45 hits, 37 runs, 33 ER, 5 HR, 25 BB, 90 K.
The latest: This marriage was doomed for divorce right off the bat. Traded by the Brewers last winter after six sensational seasons, Williams showed up from spring training and was mad that he had to cut off his beard. Next thing you know, the Yankees’ 49-year facial hair policy was changed to allow beards. The Yankees did a lot of catering to Williams. He didn’t want to pitch more than one inning in a game, and it didn’t occur until Game 3 of the ALDS. He didn’t want to enter in the middle of an inning, and it didn’t happen until ALDS Game 4. His pitching included a lot of outings that were similar to his dominance for the Brewers, but a few really bad ones shot up his ERA, ones when hitters were laying off his famed Airbender changeup. There’s no chance the Yankees want Williams back, and while he’s saying that he’s willing to return, don’t buy it. Williams prefers to be a closer again and the Yankees’ closer job belongs to David Bednar, a summer trade acquisition. Williams thrived pitching for a small-market team when he was with Milwaukee, so that also could be something he’ll be looking for come winter.
Prediction: Signs with Cardinals for four years.
RYAN YARBROUGH, LHP
Age: 33 (Dec. 31, 2025).
Contract status: Free agent.
2025 salary: $2M.
Spotrac projected 2026 value: $2.18M
2025 stats: Yankees, 3-1, 4.36 ERA, 19 games, 8 starts, 64 IP, 58 hits, 31 runs, 31 ER, 13 HR, 19 BB, 55 K.
The latest: This was a surprise signing right before Opening Day. Yarbrough was brought in to be a long man in the Yankees’ bullpen and provide rotation insurance. He did well in both roles. He’s fun to watch, too, because he throws fastballs that average only 88 mph and four other pitches.
Prediction: Re-signs with Yankees for one year.
Stories by Randy Miller
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Category: General Sports
