One of the Yankees’ top winter priorities is simple enough: bring David Bednar back. After an uneven opening to 2026, the 32-year-old right-hander settled in and finished strong, posting a 1.46 ERA and 2.33 FIP over his final 44 games. He converted 35 of 39 save chances, struck out 76 batters and gave up only four home runs across 64 appearances and 69.1 innings.
But keeping Bednar is only part of the job. New York’s bullpen was stretched thin because the club lacked dependable depth, and that left Bednar, Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick carrying too much of the late-inning load. Bednar handled it well down the stretch, but the Yankees would be wise to build a stronger safety net behind him.
The free-agent market offers some real options, and if the Yankees are serious about reinforcing the relief corps, these four names make sense.
Adrian Morejon stands out as the kind of power arm this bullpen does not have enough of. The 27-year-old lefty brings a triple-digit sinker and a sharp changeup, a combination that lets him attack lefties with the sinker and righties with the change.
He misses bats, forces weak contact and can turn innings into easy outs with ground balls. That mix gives him value in multiple spots, whether the Yankees need a strikeout or a double play.
Morejon has only eight career saves, so the best fit would be as Bednar’s setup man. Still, if Bednar departs, the Yankees could try to sell Morejon on closing in New York.
Andrés Muñoz is another big arm the Yankees should have on the radar, though his availability is not guaranteed. Seattle has club options on him for both 2027 and 2028, with the 2027 option set at $9 million, but the Mariners could choose to move on after a down year. If he hits the market, New York should be in.
Muñoz pairs a triple-digit fastball with a nasty slider, and even with control that can wander, he brings the swing-and-miss the Yankees need. His 2026 line was rough - a 4.24 ERA and nine home runs allowed - but just one season earlier he posted a 1.73 ERA and allowed only two homers in 64 games. The underlying numbers from 2026 also point toward a rebound, and a healthy version of Muñoz would give the Yankees the kind of back-end arm they covet.
The left-handed side of the bullpen needs help too. Outside of Brent Headrick, the Yankees had Tim Hill and Ryan Yarbrough as their other lefties, and both are free agents. Hill’s struggles this season make his return unlikely.
JoJo Romero is a logical replacement. The Yankees had interest in him last winter and again at the trade deadline, and he’s now in the World Series with the Brewers, giving the club a fresh chance to evaluate him up close. The 30-year-old was effective after the deadline move to Milwaukee, putting up a 3.38 ERA in 13.1 innings, slightly higher than the 3.35 ERA he logged with the Cardinals.
Romero has been even better in October. He’s allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out nine in 5.1 innings.
That lone run came on a homer in the Brewers’ only postseason loss so far. Since then, he has strung together two scoreless outings against the Dodgers, allowing just one baserunner and fanning five.
He may not have the flashiest profile, but Romero would be a clear upgrade over Hill and Yarbrough, and he’d lighten the pressure on Headrick by letting him focus more on setup or fireman work instead of having to do both.
Jonathan Loáisiga would also make sense as a reunion, even if the idea sounds modest at first glance. The Yankees did not let him go because of poor performance; health was the issue. In 2026, the 31-year-old finally stayed on the field with the Diamondbacks and delivered a 2.42 ERA, 2.88 FIP and 1.03 WHIP in a career-high 67 games.
He is not a big strikeout arm despite the velocity on his sinker, but he keeps walks down and limits damage in the air. His walk rate was 5.0%, and he gave up only three home runs in 2026. The Yankees already know what his best version can look like, and if the injuries are truly behind him, he could again be a useful fireman in the Bronx.
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Steinbrenner said he spoke privately with Judge, while also backing the clubs approach to the captains injury situation during the postseason. The message was less about a public back-and-forth than a reminder that, in Steinbrenners view, the Yankees expect players to work hard and follow the rules the team has in place, even as the pressure to build a true championship roster keeps growing. [Read more 🡒]