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After the stress in recent offseasons of having to worry about the future of superstars such as Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, the New York Yankees are set for a more calm offseason in the world of impending free agents. This doesn’t mean a lack of work to be done, as quite
a few players are scheduled to hit the open market. It just makes for a different kind of winter; the Yankees will likely be looking to bring back or bring in some number of players at a variety of positions, rather than making a Judge or a Soto their Plans A, B, and C entering the offseason.
Looking ahead, we asked the public about whose return would qualify as the most surprising.
With each of these players, there are layers to unpack, and as no move is made in a vacuum, you must also keep the big picture in mind. With all things considered, it makes sense to see Paul Goldschmidt at the top of the list.
Goldschmid’s overall production was rather mediocre in 2025, but there’s a real chance that with more selective playing time, he could put up better numbers (he posted .981 OPS against lefties this season). The problem is that with Ben Rice’s breakout campaign and Giancarlo Stanton clogging up DH at-bats, there’s little to no room for the Yankees to make a significant financial commitment to a 1B/DH-only lefty masher. Being able to use Rice as a catcher occasionally gives this team some flexibility, but it’s probably not the kind you want to use to justify a larger role for Goldy.
For how great he might’ve looked in certain spots to indicate that elite reliever we know is still there, Devin Williams ended the year with a near-5.00 ERA. Even if management believes he can turn it around quickly, someone else may offer him too much money on a prove-it deal for the Yankees to ponder matching that offer. And he’s not taking any discount to return to the Bronx.
Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger sort of go hand-in-hand as the Yankees once again look to sort out their outfield. They might not have the looming question of Soto, but as of right now, it’s unclear who’ll be Judge’s companions in the outfield. Bellinger couldn’t have raised his stock any higher with an outstanding 4.9 fWAR season, and you can be sure that if the Yankees are able to bring him back, which should be the priority, Grisham is long gone. Grisham had a great year in his own right, but to pay him and Bellinger would be a surprise. When it comes to Grisham, there is a much larger question about this production sticking or not. Perhaps the most intriguing situation is how we would feel with Grisham back if Bellinger doesn’t return. Would that be enough? Gut reaction says no, but if Grisham can maintain his 2025 numbers, the story could be different.
Lastly, there is Luke Weaver, a man who made himself into a near mythical figure with his otherworldly efforts during the 2024 postseason. However, the further we get removed from that campaign, the more we need to ask ourselves if it was just a one-year-wonder type of deal. There is probably a portion of the fan base that would appreciate a clean break now, but the more important counterpoint is that he could be a relatively low-cost upside signing.
