Yankees 2026 Offseason Blueprint

By: Noah Kessler

Eighty-one days ago, the New York Yankees watched their rivals from north of the border celebrate on the Yankee Stadium mound. Since then, fans have spent plenty of time wondering what went wrong for the 2025 club. 

Now that the calendar is turning to 2026, it’s time to look forward. If the Yankees hope to secure World Series title No. 28 in 2026, here are four moves they must make this offseason.

1. Re-Sign Cody Bellinger

Last December, the Yankees acquired Cody Bellinger from the Cubs in exchange for Cody Poteat — a move they certainly did not regret. 

Bellinger became the much-needed bat behind Aaron Judge, experiencing a full career resurgence in pinstripes. His 29 home runs and 98 RBIs were his best marks since his 2019 MVP season.

Beyond the offense, Bellinger’s defensive versatility proved invaluable. His ability to play all three outfield positions, along with first base, gave Aaron Boone the flexibility the Yankees lacked in previous years.

This is a no-brainer. The Yankees should not hesitate to bring Bellinger back.

2. Add Tatsuya Imai

With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón expected to miss the first month of the 2026 season, the Yankees have an immediate need at the back end of their rotation. While they could pursue a cheap stopgap, additional injuries are always possible by Opening Day. 

Enter Tatsuya Imai.

The Japanese star remains a mystery to many MLB fans, but recent history shows that Japanese pitchers have been remarkably successful in Major League Baseball. Imai doesn’t need to pitch like an ace (though his 1.92 ERA and 178 strikeouts in NPB last season would certainly help).

The Yankees also haven’t had a Japanese player since Masahiro Tanaka, and that signing worked out exceptionally well. It’s time for the organization to re-establish a presence in the Japanese market.

3. Sign Elias Díaz

The Yankees need a right-handed catcher. Last season, they carried Ben Rice and Austin Wells, but with Rice expected to transition to first base in 2026, Wells becomes the likely starting catcher. 

That leaves a vacancy at the backup spot—and it should be filled by a righty. Elias Díaz, 35, isn’t an elite defensively, but he’s affordable and more than capable of starting once every three or four days. He fits the role without costing the Yankees a ton of money.

4. Add Pete Fairbanks

The bullpen was the Achilles’ heel of the 2025 Yankees, and it only got thinner when they lost two key high-leverage arms, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, to their crosstown rivals. 

Pete Fairbanks—when healthy—has proven to be one of the most dominant relievers in the American League and could help stabilize the late innings.

With David Bednar already locked in as the closer, Fairbanks could slide into a high-leverage setup role alongside Camilo Doval. Adding him would transform the bullpen from a weakness into one of the team’s biggest strengths.

Conclusion

The Yankees don’t need to overhaul their roster—they need to reinforce it. Re-signing Bellinger, stabilizing the rotation with Imai, adding a dependable catcher like Díaz, and fortifying the bullpen with Fairbanks represent practical, impactful moves.

With Aaron Judge anchoring the lineup and a rotation poised to return to full strength by June, these additions could be the difference between another early postseason exit and finally raising banner No. 28 in the Bronx.