The Yankees have already lost one rumored offseason fit before the market really got rolling.
Jacob Young, a name New York had been linked to as a possible right-handed complement for Spencer Jones, is off the board after agreeing to a four-year, $23 million extension with the Nationals. The deal also includes an $8 million option for a fifth season, according to a source familiar with the agreement.
That matters because the Yankees’ long-term picture in center field is still taking shape. Jones is viewed as the leading candidate to handle the everyday job there in 2027, and Trent Grisham is expected to leave in free agency. Even with Jones in the pipeline, New York had been looking at ways to add either competition or a platoon partner.
Young fit the profile. Earlier this offseason, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported that the Yankees had shown past interest in the Washington center fielder, who brings defense and speed to the table. But after Friday’s extension, the Yankees will have to move on to other options.
Young has been Washington’s primary center fielder for the last three seasons. In 2026, he hit .252/.318/.390 with 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a .707 OPS in 140 games. Over his first four seasons, he averaged 29 stolen bases per year, and his glove has been a major selling point, with 46 outs above average over the last few years.
Now the Yankees are back to sorting through the alternatives for a fourth outfielder. Free agent Myles Straw is one possible name to watch.
Another internal route would be Jasson Dominguez, though his defensive progress has not taken the step the Yankees were hoping for. He also posted a .635 OPS in 57 games.
In Other News...
Yankees Could Lose A Key Free Agent To Toronto Next
The Blue Jays are already being linked to another infield upgrade this offseason, a sign they are not content to sit still after a disappointing year. One name that keeps surfacing is Jazz Chisholm Jr., whose mix of power and versatility would fit neatly into a Toronto roster looking for more impact around the diamond.
For the Yankees, the wrinkle is obvious: Chisholm is expected to test free agency and is increasingly viewed as a player unlikely to return to the Bronx. If Toronto does make a run, it could come with Ernie Clement sliding into more of a utility role, which would clear room for a move that would sting New York while giving its division rival a familiar kind of athletic, versatile boost. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Just Lost A Key Behind The Scenes Edge
Tanner Swanson is moving on after becoming one of the more respected behind-the-scenes voices in the Yankees organization, leaving his post as the clubs catching instructor to join the Mariners as bench coach. For a team that has leaned heavily on defensive structure and preparation, his role carried real weight even if it rarely drew much public attention.
Swansons exit leaves a noticeable gap in the Yankees coaching staff, especially in an area where detail work and game planning matter every day. The move also underscores how much of a contenders edge can come from the people working out of the spotlight, and how quickly that edge can shift when one of those pieces is gone. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Already Be Headed For A Ryan McMahon Reset
Ryan McMahons first months in pinstripes have not gone the way the Yankees hoped when they brought him in, and the fit has already started to look shaky on both sides of the ball. The club added him with the expectation that he could stabilize third base, but his struggles offensively and defensively have left the Yankees weighing how long they can afford to keep waiting for the turnaround.
Now there is already chatter that the next move could come as soon as the offseason, with a league source suggesting New York may explore trading McMahon and even eating part of the salary to make a deal easier. If that route becomes realistic, it would also open the door for the Yankees to look elsewhere at third, with Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero among the internal names in the mix as the organization considers its next step. [Read more 🡒]