The Yankees are bringing back a talented roster in 2026-but one with a glaring weakness they didn’t fully address this offseason. The offense?
Still potent. The starting rotation?
Deeper and more promising. But the bullpen?
That’s where things get dicey.
Last season, New York’s relief corps was a liability. Despite strong performances from the lineup and rotation, the bullpen simply couldn’t hold leads or stop the bleeding when it mattered most. And while the departures of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver might not sound like big losses on paper, the real concern is what didn’t happen: the Yankees didn’t bring in a single proven, external bullpen piece to stabilize the back end.
Sure, there’s hope that internal options like Cade Winquest or Brent Headrick can step up. Both have intriguing upside, and in a perfect world, one or both could emerge as key contributors. But relying solely on in-house development to fix a bullpen that ranked among the league’s worst is a risky bet-especially for a team with championship aspirations.
That’s why some fans were clamoring for the Yankees to take a flier on Anthony Banda after the Dodgers designated the left-hander for assignment. Banda, who had a brief stint in pinstripes back in 2022, posted a 3.08 ERA in 2024 and a 3.18 ERA in 2025. The peripherals (like a 4.52 FIP last year) suggest some regression could be coming, but at the very least, he’s been effective on the surface and would’ve been a low-cost depth play worth exploring.
Instead, it was the Minnesota Twins who pounced, acquiring Banda from the Dodgers in exchange for international bonus pool money. It’s a classic Twins move-take a low-risk shot on a guy with decent recent production, hope he holds up, and maybe flip him at the deadline if things break right.
So, should Yankees fans be upset they missed out on Banda? Not exactly.
He’s not the type of bullpen arm who dramatically changes the outlook of a contender. But at the same time, when your bullpen is in the shape New York’s is, every marginal upgrade matters.
Banda wouldn’t have solved the problem, but he could’ve helped patch a hole.
The bigger issue is the lack of urgency when it comes to addressing the relief corps as a whole. There are still options out there-both on the trade market and in free agency-but the clock is ticking.
JoJo Romero is a name that should be circled in red. The left-hander has been solid for the Cardinals, and while he’s still under team control, the Yankees should be working the phones with St.
Louis GM Chaim Bloom. If there’s a deal to be made before the deadline, New York should be aggressive about making it now rather than waiting for the market to heat up.
Another potential trade target? Miami’s Anthony Bender.
It’s still a bit of a head-scratcher that the Yankees didn’t try to include him in the Ryan Weathers deal, especially considering the price they paid. Bender’s got the stuff and experience to be a late-inning weapon, and Miami could be open to dealing him if the right offer comes along.
On the free agent side, there are still a few intriguing names floating around. Michael Kopech offers tantalizing upside with his elite velocity and strikeout stuff, but his injury history makes him a gamble.
Danny Coulombe is a dependable lefty with a track record of consistency-though at age 36, there’s always the risk of a sudden decline. And then there’s Justin Wilson, a familiar face who quietly put together a solid bounce-back season in Boston.
He could be a sneaky good pickup if the Yankees move quickly.
But they’ll need to act fast. Boston, still on the hunt for left-handed bullpen help after missing out on Banda, is reportedly eyeing both Coulombe and Wilson. If the Yankees want to avoid getting left behind again, now’s the time to strike.
At the end of the day, the Yankees might feel comfortable with their current group. But comfort doesn’t win championships-depth and reliability do.
And right now, this bullpen is still a few arms short of being postseason-ready. Whether it’s via trade or free agency, the front office has work to do.
Because if the plan is to wait until July to fix the bullpen, they better hope the rest of the roster can carry the load until then.