The New York Yankees didn’t make any splashy moves this offseason outside of re-signing Cody Bellinger and trading for starting pitcher Ryan Weathers. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made small tweaks to the squad that made the playoffs last season.
New York are hoping that, with Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole, and Clarke Schmidt returning at some point during the 2026 MLB season, the Yankees’ pitching will be a major boost, along with the addition of Weathers.
Meanwhile, with Bellinger returning, the key pieces in the Yankees’ lineup remain mostly intact. Amid a quiet offseason, Jazz Chisholm Jr. shared his thoughts on the team as spring training approaches.
“I think it was fine,” Chisholm told SNY. “For me, I thought we made it to the playoffs back-to-back years. Haven’t delivered to the final blow, but I feel like, at the same time, this team is really good, really confident in this team, and we trust each other a lot to go to the playoffs and go win it.”
Moreover, Chisholm offered encouraging words for the 2026 MLB season, as the Yankees look to return to the World Series after losing to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series last year.
“I can’t wait to get out there,” Chisholm added. “2026 is coming up, and I think it’s going to be a big year for the Yankees. So I think us as a team, especially knowing each other as well as we do, this is our third season together, almost half of the team. So I think it’s going to be a good year.”
Cody Bellinger Talks Return to the Yankees
Meanwhile, Chisholm spoke a few days after Bellinger spoke to the media regarding his return to the Bronx. The Yankees outfielder stated his reason for returning to New York after testing the market this offseason.
“I felt right at home last year,” Bellinger said (h/t SNY). “The guys do a great job of building a good culture in that locker room. It’s a very good culture. It’s a winning culture. We all show up to win the game that day. I was just excited to be a part of it.
“For me, I understand the talent that I have on the field. I understand the many different things that I can do on a baseball field, and I enjoy doing that type of stuff. I think I can win a baseball game in a lot of many different ways. That’s what I strive to do. I feel like I do a good job of that. I expect to do a good job of that in the future.”
New York Praised for Keeping Cody Bellinger
After rumors linking Bellinger to the New York Mets and Blue Jays, it’s the Yankees that keep their player, who hit .272 with 160 hits, 29 homers, 98 RBIs, and 89 runs scored in 152 games last season, per StatMuse.
With Bellinger back in the fold, SNY analyst and former MLB general manager Jim Duquette shared his thoughts on the Yankees holding onto their player.
“The Yankees’ pursuit of Cody Bellinger ends up with him signing back with them on a five-year deal,” Duquette said in a video published by SNY on Jan. 21. “Brian Cashman gets their guy. The Yankees and Cashman talked about him as their priority from Day 1, all the way back to the general manager’s meetings, even when he decided to become a free agent. Bellinger was the guy.
“If you look at what he did for New York, his .909 OPS at Yankee Stadium in particular, what he did in terms of protecting Aaron Judge in that lineup, his versatility and athleticism to play multiple positions, not just left field, but center field, right field, first base, a left-handed bat in that lineup. He gives them balance in the lineup as well.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Issues Blunt Message on Yankees’ Offseason