The Yankees are returning almost the entirety of their 2025 squad, something that has seemed inevitable for some time. For those frustrated by the strategy, I offer a warning: it could happen next year too. A huge chunk of the Yankees’ core is under control for years into the future. Nearly every pitcher of note on their staff is either under long-term contract or young and going through their arb/pre-arb years, while the lineup is staffed largely with sluggers on long deals (Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton), or young hitters who won’t hit free agency for years (Ben Rice, Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe).
Leaving aside whether or not next winter could be another Run it Back kind of offseason, the fact remains that only a handful of key contributors to the 2026 season will be eyeing free agency come next year. Those contributors are, in no particular order, Trent Grisham, David Bednar, and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Of those three, which would you most like to see continue donning pinstripes beyond 2026? Each has their merits. Grisham has perhaps the shortest track record of high-quality play, his breakout 2025 sticking out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of his career. But that shorter track record could make him easier to retain, and perhaps on a deal that doesn’t stretch too far into the future.
Chisholm is probably the best of this trio of possible free agents. His case is the most straightforward: he’s a very good player, and he will likely cost the most to keep around. Chisholm brings a dynamic, multi-faceted game, fielding his position well, hitting for power, and running the bases with aplomb. He’s 28-years-old and appears only just now to be peaking. It’s not easy to replace those kinds of players, and it’s also not easy to retain them.
Then there’s the case of Bednar. The burly right-hander was the antidote the Yankees’ ailing bullpen needed last summer, Bednar providing steady excellence in the ninth inning while the options around him all crumbled. The Yankees haven’t made a habit of spending on relievers in recent years, but if Bednar can continue his superlative work, he’d make an argument for them to buck that trend.
So, who do you most want to see stick around? The second baseman who can rake, the fire-breathing closer, or the smooth center fielder? Lay out your case in the comments below.
It will be a little quieter on the site today, with Jeremy continuing our Yankee Birthday series by celebrating Fritz Peterson, a 20-game winner with the Yankees back in 1970, and John making his weekly run through Yankees social media.
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