MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco: The Yankees have a pair of qualifying offer decisions to make with Jazz Chisholm Jr. and David Bednar hitting free agency (Paul Blackburn also becomes a free agent but is not a realistic candidate for the QO). According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees are expected to issue the QO to Bednar but not to Jazz, whom he claims they are inclined to let walk in free agency. The value for the QO in 2027 will be $23.15 million, with the Yankees in line to recoup a draft pick after
the fourth round (130-135 overall range) should a player decline the QO. Bednar solidified the closer role that had been on shaky ground the last handful of seasons, while Jazz regressed at the plate and with the glove and had several high profile lapses in concentration during the season. My colleague Josh will delve into these QO decisions in finer detail later today.
Yahoo! Sports | TJ French: After the Yankees got swept out of the ALDS by the Rays, Aaron Judge publicly implored ownership to commit more payroll over the winter toward going all in. The captain was left off the postseason roster after suffering a late season calf strain and likely feels some added urgency entering his age-35 season following another injury-riddled campaign. These comments apparently ruffled the feathers of the Yankees’ higher-ups, who were said to be “taken aback” and “slightly-to-somewhat annoyed.”
That being said, the face of the franchise still enjoys excellent rapport with ownership and members of the front office.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: One of the biggest decisions the Yankees face this winter concerns the future of Giancarlo Stanton. The soon-to-be 37-year-old slugger appeared in just 24 games in 2026 after suffering calf strains in both his legs and has missed over 200 games to injury the last two seasons. He is owed $25 million in 2027 while the club holds a $25 million option for 2028 with a $10 million buyout, the Marlins paying the Yankees $10 million in each of 2027 and 2028.
The Yankees have to decide whether to keep him on the roster for his final guaranteed year or eat the $15 million in dead money that remains like they did with the final $22 million on DJ LeMahieu’s deal in 2025, $27 million on Aaron Hicks’ deal in 2023, and $26 million on Jacoby Ellsbury’s deal in 2019. (Dani wrote about this for us yesterday as well.)
ESPN: Oswaldo Cabrera agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal with the Reds on Thursday, avoiding arbitration. He was claimed off waivers from the Yankees by Cincinnati in September after spending most of the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was never a regular on the big-league roster last season after having his 2025 campaign cut short by a gruesome broken ankle in May of that year. His time with the Yankees will be remembered for his infectious smile and as one of the real genuine good guys to put on the pinstripes in recent memory. So good for him on getting some guaranteed coin from Cincy.
Lastly, congratulations to the Brewers for ousting the two-time defending champion Dodgers in an unceremonious sweep. They won their first pennant since 1982 and will face either the Rays or Guardians in the World Series. LA was bidding for MLB’s first three-peat since the dynasty 1998-2000 Yankees, but they will remain unequaled across the last 50 years of baseball history.
Now, if only we could get these 2020s Yanks to win even one…
