Two high-profile moves Yankees need to make in free agency

One other season, one other disappointment for the New York Yankees, who fell in a four-game ALDS to the Toronto Blue Jays. With the offseason forward, it’s time once more to make robust selections. 

Paul Goldschmidt, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, Trent Grisham, Ryan Yarbrough, Paul Blackburn and Amed Rosario will all be free brokers. Cody Bellinger is expected to opt-out of his contract, and Jonathan Loaisiga has a membership possibility.

With quite a few gamers set to enter free company, normal supervisor Brian Cashman will likely be tasked with deciding which of the Yankees’ potential departures earned one other shot with the workforce and which haven’t. Whereas there’s a case to be made for every of their free agent class headliners, there may be one high-profile participant the Yankees ought to positively search a reunion with and one other they need to nearly definitely let go.

Deliver again: Devin Williams 

It might be controversial, however what number of probabilities does a workforce get to signal an elite nearer at a rock-bottom value? If there may be one factor constant about relievers, it’s inconsistency. Even elite closers corresponding to Edwin Diaz and Josh Hader every had one season with an ERA above 5.00.

In Williams’ case, it was a 4.79 ERA in his solely 12 months as a Yankee. However because the 12 months got here to a detailed, he returned to his typical, air-bending kind. Within the playoffs, Williams pitched 4 scoreless innings in 4 appearances, the primary postseason the place he posted an ERA under 21.60. Plus, his 90 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched this season serves as a reminder that his staggering expertise hasn’t diminished.

Since his common season went poorly, Williams’ value in free company will include a major markdown, making this a raffle with restricted draw back and explosive upside. Given his potential, discounted value and the Yankees’ steady bullpen issues, Williams may not be a nasty guess. Williams will possible pursue a short-term deal (likely with New York) to spice up his worth earlier than testing the market as soon as extra.

Don’t pursue: Trent Grisham 

Grisham wasn’t precisely a high-profile participant till this season, posting a career-year with a .235/.348/.464 slash line and a career-high 34 residence runs, trouncing his earlier profession excessive of 17. His success this season has undoubtedly raised his once-insignificant value.

General, he made a large influence with the Yankees in 2025, however this comes with some sub-optimal stats. Within the common season, Grisham struck out 137 occasions in 494 at-bats, following a career-long sample of posting excessive strikeout charges paired with low batting averages. He made up for it by drawing walks, however within the postseason, his tendency to strike out received the higher of him, garnering 10 in 29 at-bats. Grisham hit a meager .138/.219/.207 with no residence runs within the 2025 playoffs, contributing to the Yankees’ downfall whereas batting from the leadoff spot.

As well as, Grisham noticed a steep decline in his defensive metrics. The 2-time Gold Glover posted -1 outs above average this 12 months, down drastically from his peak of 16 in 2022.

Except for his ghastly playoff efficiency, declining defensive stats and excessive strikeout charges, there may be additionally the prospect Grisham may regress. His common annual slash line is .218/.321/.400 with a 162-game common of twenty-two residence runs. His previous two seasons noticed him publish batting averages within the .190s. Whether or not this 12 months was a flash within the pan or the beginning of a brand new upwards development in his efficiency, Grisham most likely isn’t the danger the Yankees ought to take given his elevated price ticket.