The Yankees enter the offseason looking for more offense after an early playoff exit, with decisions at third base, catcher and second base among the ways they could reshape their lineup.
In an MLB report, Bryan Hoch outlined the options after managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner identified the offense as a central problem in the club's American League Division Series loss to Tampa Bay. The possibilities include free agents, trades and changes in how existing players are used; they are not announced acquisitions.
Power did not solve the lineup's problems
New York tied for ninth in the majors with 739 runs and ranked 11th with a .720 OPS. Its 223 home runs trailed only Houston's 226, but the offense struggled after Aaron Judge suffered a right rib fracture in late May.
Ben Rice hit 41 home runs in a breakout season and was the only Yankee to reach 20. Judge was limited to 66 games, leaving the team to consider how more time at designated hitter could keep his bat available.
Third base and catcher offer possible changes
Hoch identified Japanese third baseman Teruaki Sato as a potential target. The 27-year-old Hanshin Tigers slugger hit .306 with 39 home runs and 106 RBIs while winning Nippon Professional Baseball's MVP award and Triple Crown.
Ryan McMahon has one year and $16 million remaining on his contract. He hit .213 with 11 home runs last season after New York acquired him from Colorado before the 2025 trade deadline.
At catcher, Austin Wells hit .186 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs while dealing with cervical headaches. He received strong reviews for his work with the pitching staff and went 5-for-15 with two doubles and four RBIs in the playoffs.
The Yankees previously sought a right-handed catcher to pair with Wells, showing interest in Ryan Jeffers and Tyler Stephenson before staying with Ali Sanchez as the backup. Both potential targets are now free agents, though Minnesota made Jeffers a qualifying offer.
Rice is another option behind the plate. He did not catch in a game last season after making 26 starts there in 2025; manager Aaron Boone said the club believed catching affected him physically during spring training.
Second base and center field remain unsettled
Jazz Chisholm Jr. did not receive a qualifying offer after hitting .231 with 19 homers, 55 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. Hoch wrote that a departure appears likely, leaving New York to weigh Anthony Volpe's September improvement and his two playoff starts at second base.
José Caballero can play the position, though the Yankees prefer his versatility in a reserve role. Boone said the club is considering having Luis Garcia Jr. work at second, though he posted minus-17 defensive runs saved there with Washington in 2025. Luis Arraez and Brandon Lowe are free-agent possibilities, and New York has previously been linked to Miami's Xavier Edwards.
Cody Bellinger and Judge occupy the corner outfield spots. With Trent Grisham not expected back, rookie Spencer Jones could get an opportunity in center. Scouts see 30-homer potential, though strikeouts remain a concern.
Other possibilities include moving Bellinger to center or seeking a defender such as Washington's Jacob Young in a trade. Jasson Domínguez has struggled to secure consistent playing time and could be a trade candidate, Hoch wrote.
Designated hitter and coaching decisions are still ahead
General manager Brian Cashman has described the designated hitter role as unsettled. Rice handled much of that work last season, while Judge could need more turns there and Giancarlo Stanton remains under contract for another year.
Steinbrenner also said the organization would examine its coaching. Boone praised the culture created by hitting coach James Rowson, but the Yankees have not announced whether Rowson or assistants Casey Dykes and Jake Hirst will return in 2027.
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