The Yankees checked off their biggest offseason priority last month by locking in Cody Bellinger on a five-year, $162.5 million deal. That move solidified the outfield and gave the lineup a left-handed anchor with pop and postseason experience.
But aside from Bellinger’s return, it’s been a quiet winter in the Bronx. And with spring training just around the corner, the Yankees still have holes to patch-especially on the mound.
Two key bullpen arms, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, are gone. That leaves a noticeable void in high-leverage situations, and the front office knows it.
The Yankees are now actively working the market, not just for bullpen help, but also for right-handed power bats and additional rotation depth. It’s a multi-pronged search with urgency behind it.
Among the names being considered for the bullpen: veteran left-handers Danny Coulombe and Jalen Beeks. Both bring experience and recent production, and both could slot into middle or late-inning roles depending on how the rest of the bullpen shakes out.
Coulombe was a steady presence for the Twins last season, even if his stint with the Rangers after the trade deadline didn’t quite match that level of dominance. Across 55 appearances between the two teams, he posted a 2.30 ERA and contributed 1.4 bWAR-numbers that speak to his ability to keep runs off the board and miss bats when it counts.
Beeks, meanwhile, quietly put together a solid campaign with the Diamondbacks, appearing in 61 games and posting a 3.77 ERA with 0.9 bWAR. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable, and in a bullpen that’s suddenly thinner, that kind of consistency matters.
The Yankees are also keeping tabs on the position player side, particularly right-handed bats. With Bellinger back in the fold, the outfield picture is mostly set-but that doesn’t mean there aren’t questions about depth or lineup balance. And speaking of outfield depth, the club’s top prospect from recent years, Jasson Domínguez, looks likely to start the season in Triple-A.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, Domínguez is expected to open the year with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It’s not a total shock-Domínguez showed flashes last season in his first full year with the Yankees but didn’t quite put it all together.
In 123 games, he slashed .257/.331/.388 with 10 home runs, 23 stolen bases, and a 101 OPS+. That’s league-average production at the plate, but the defensive miscues in the outfield stood out, and the Yankees seem to want him to refine his game before handing him a full-time role in the Bronx.
So while the Bellinger signing was a big swing-and a successful one-the Yankees still have work to do before pitchers and catchers report. They’re hunting for bullpen reinforcements, exploring the market for right-handed hitters, and keeping an eye on their internal development pipeline. The roster isn’t finished, but the blueprint is coming into focus.