The Yankees’ Biggest Priority This Offseason

The Yankees’ infield, for want of a better phrase, was a complete mess this season.

After the addition of Luis Garcia Jr. at the trade deadline, the Yankees were carrying three first basemen on the active roster. Garcia would play first against righties, while Paul Goldschmidt would get the bulk of the reps against left-handed pitching. Ben Rice was all but relegated to a full-time DH role. It became a logjam and a daily headache for Aaron Boone, who was tasked with finding ways to get all three options regular at-bats.

On the other side of the infield at third base, it was an utter train wreck. Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario operated as the primary platoon throughout the year, and both were dreadful. They combined for -0.1 WAR on the season. For context, that is lower than the 0.1 WAR posted by Ji Hwan Bae, who had precisely four plate appearances this year. To put it bluntly, the Yankees’ third-base tandem was below replacement level, meaning they hurt the team more than they helped it.

Shortstop was a tumultuous position, but not nearly to the extent of third base. Jose Caballero started the season hot in the absence of Anthony Volpe before eventually cooling off in the summer. After a period of mixing and matching Caballero and Volpe, the Yankees eventually opted to call up the young George Lombard Jr., who has since become the everyday starter. While the road has been bumpy for the 21-year-old at times, he showcased incredible talent and gave both the fans and the organization plenty of hope for the future. It was a rocky journey, but the Yankees ultimately found their shortstop of the future.

Lombard’s middle-infield partner for the future is far less certain. Jazz Chisholm drew heavy criticism all year long, following up his tremendous 2025 campaign with what was arguably the worst offensive season of his career. He still managed to hit 19 home runs and steal 41 bases while playing good defense, but he was by no means the same player he was last year. Anthony Volpe eventually formed a platoon with Jazz at the end of the regular season and into the postseason, performing well in his new utility role.

Lastly, there is the catching position. Plain and simple, it was a failure in roster construction. Austin Wells, despite a much-improved second half, endured a horrid offensive season . The Yankees seemed all but certain to add a right-handed-hitting catcher at the trade deadline, but Brian Cashman ultimately balked and opted to stick with Wells and career journeyman Ali Sanchez as the two backstops. Simply put, that is not championship-caliber roster construction.

What Targets Should the Yankees Pursue This Winter?

Goldschmidt, Rosario, and Jazz are free agents. It is incredibly unlikely that any of them will return in pinstripes, so it is time for the Yankees to restructure and rebuild the infield. Brandon Lowe is an interesting free agent to keep an eye on, as he has long been touted as a good fit in pinstripes.

However, given this year’s relatively weak free-agent crop, Cashman should also explore the trade market. The Astros will be an interesting team to monitor, as they have historically avoided extensions and will listen to offers for players entering their walk years. Jeremy Pena and Isaac Paredes are both entering the final years of their contracts, and both would be great fits in the Bronx. Right-handed bats who blend contact with power would be welcome additions to a lefty-heavy ball club with far too much swing-and-miss.

Other options include Xavier Edwards and Otto Lopez of the Marlins, two more contact-oriented bats who would complement the Yankees’ lineup.

As for a catcher, the solution is much simpler. The Yankees made it no secret that they wanted Ryan Jeffers at the trade deadline, and he is now an unrestricted free agent. Pay him the money, and the Yankees have their everyday backstop. Should Cashman somehow fail to obtain him, Tyler Stephenson is another good right-handed-hitting catcher who is also a free agent.

End of My Yankees Rant

The jigsaw puzzle the Yankees tried to assemble on the infield this year ended up becoming a discombobulated mess that simply didn’t work. However, they do have some good infield pieces.

With Goldschmidt either retiring or going elsewhere, Luis Garcia will be the everyday first baseman, and Ben Rice will stick at DH. What that means for Giancarlo Stanton is a discussion for another time. George Lombard Jr. is a foundational piece for the future, and while he is likely to stick at shortstop, he is capable of playing third base. Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero should be reliable utility options for Aaron Boone, but everything else remains a question mark.

With a plethora of options in the outfield, adding quality infielders who can provide consistent contact and defense should be Brian Cashman’s first step toward ensuring this championship drought drags on no longer.