The New York Yankees are heading into the 2025-26 offseason with more than just a few loose ends to tie up. With key arms on the shelf and uncertainty up the middle, the front office has work to do if the team wants to hit the ground running come April.
Let’s start with the rotation - or what’s left of it. Gerrit Cole is recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent at the start of the 2025 season.
He’s eyeing a return somewhere between late May and June, which is about as optimistic as you can be with that timeline. Carlos Rodón, meanwhile, had surgery to clear out loose bodies and a bone spur in his elbow.
His return is expected a bit sooner, possibly in April or May.
That leaves the Yankees with a rotation that’s currently more question mark than exclamation point. They’ll almost certainly need to bring in at least one - if not two - starting pitchers to bridge the gap until their aces are back.
And even then, there’s no guarantee either Cole or Rodón will be back at full strength right away. This is about building depth and stability, not just patchwork.
But the rotation isn’t the only area that needs attention. The infield - specifically shortstop - is another concern.
Anthony Volpe, who had shoulder labrum surgery in October, won’t be ready to start the season. The early estimate puts his return sometime in May, but again, shoulder injuries are tricky, and the Yankees can’t afford to be caught flat-footed.
Even before the surgery, there were already some internal concerns about Volpe’s performance. Now, with him sidelined, the Yankees need a reliable stopgap - someone who can hold down the fort defensively and ideally bring some versatility to the roster.
Enter Willi Castro.
Castro isn’t a headline-grabber, but he’s exactly the type of player who can quietly make a big impact. He’s a true Swiss Army knife - capable of playing all three outfield positions and three infield spots, including shortstop and second base. That kind of flexibility gives manager Aaron Boone a lot more room to maneuver with his lineups, especially in a season that could require some creative roster management early on.
Defensively, Castro brings real value. He’s not just a guy who can play multiple positions - he plays them well. That’s a big deal for a team that could be juggling injuries and trying to find the right mix on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, he’s not going to carry the lineup, but he doesn’t need to. The Yankees have enough firepower when healthy. What they need are glue guys - players who can step in, hold their own, and keep things steady until reinforcements arrive.
The Yankees are reportedly among the teams interested in Castro’s services, with the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners also in the mix. That tracks - teams value versatility more than ever, and Castro’s ability to plug multiple holes makes him a valuable commodity.
There’s also the question of Cody Bellinger. Will he be back in pinstripes in 2026?
That’s still up in the air. If he doesn’t return, that’s another hole to fill - potentially in center field or at first base, depending on how the Yankees want to deploy their roster.
Bottom line: the Yankees are in a bit of a holding pattern right now, waiting on key players to get healthy. But that doesn’t mean they can afford to stand still.
The front office needs to be proactive in finding reliable, versatile depth - and Willi Castro fits that mold. He’s not a flashy signing, but he might be exactly what the Yankees need to weather the early storm.