Dax Kilby, the Yankees' 19-year-old top prospect, overhauled his swing in about a week before the Arizona Fall League. The ground-ball-heavy approach is now producing extra-base hits for Salt River, earning him a Fall Stars Game spot. Power ceiling: under review. ⚾
Eleven Yankees minor leaguers elected free agency, including Justin Topa and Jarred Kelenic. The names worth tracking are pitcher Alexander Cornielle and outfielder Luis Durango, who could return for 2027 and have breakout potential. 🔍
Happy birthday, James Paxton. 🎂 The Yankees sent Justus Sheffield to Seattle for him, and he anchored the 2019 rotation with a nine-strikeout ALCS gem. Now retired, he pitched for Canada in the 2026 WBC and is finishing his degree.
Catcher Abrahan Gutierrez, 27, elected free agency on Nov. 2, leaving the Yankees organization. Added via the Rule 5 Triple-A phase in December 2025, he never appeared in an MLB game for New York. Depth chart housekeeping, not a headline mover. 🧹
Possible Yankees center field target Jacob Young is reportedly signing an extension to stay with the Nationals, which closes that trade avenue. Young had been floated as a Trent Grisham replacement if the outfield turns over. 🚧
Offense is the Yankees' winter project after an ALDS exit to the Rays. Hal Steinbrenner called the lineup a "big disappointment." It tied for ninth in runs (739) with an .720 OPS, and Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato is floated as a third base option. 🎯
Coby Mayo is being floated as a Yankees third base option after reports the Orioles are open to trade talks, but there's no offer or agreement. He hit 24 homers with a .297 OBP in 2026, so the power comes with defensive and on-base questions. 🤔
Fernando Cruz earns a B- in Yankees report cards: 3.13 ERA over 61 games, but a partial UCL tear ended his year in August. With a Nov. 20 tender deadline looming, his elbow makes him a buy-low question mark. 🔍
David Bednar's future is the Yankees' big bullpen question: they can tender a $23.15M qualifying offer, with a Nov. 17 decision deadline, and are also exploring a longer deal. The CBA expires Dec. 1. He went 35-for-39 in saves with a 2.47 ERA in 2026. 🔒
Jazz Chisholm Jr. hits free agency after the Yankees skipped a qualifying offer. His 2026: .231, 98 wRC+, but 15 OAA, 41 steals and 3.5 fWAR. The bat slipped, the glove and legs didn't, though a costly ALDS error and a benching hang over his market. ⚾
Paul Goldschmidt, 39, is a free agent after hitting .252 with 18 HR in a Yankees platoon role. He wants to play in 2027, but if no team calls, retirement would leave him just shy of $180M in career earnings (about $179.7M). 💰
Yankees could get a second look at Corey Seager, as Texas reportedly may shop him amid payroll limits. The sides discussed him before 2026 without a deal, and nothing is active now. Seager has five years left on his $325M contract. 🔍
Luis Gil's non-tender decision looms Nov. 20. After a 7.12 FIP in 27.1 MLB innings, shoulder trouble and no minor league options, the Yankees could trade him or try him in the bullpen at a projected $2.3M. Rookie of the Year shine fades. ⏳
A league source reportedly believes the Yankees could move Ryan McMahon, but likely only by paying down some of the $16 million owed for 2027. After a .635 OPS and 0 Outs Above Average in 2026, third base looks like the spot to upgrade. 🔧
Austin Slater, the outfielder the Yankees got from the White Sox for Gage Ziehl in July 2025, has elected free agency. He hit .120 (3-for-25) in 14 games in pinstripes, and this season he spent most of the year at Triple-A Durham. Bench depth, not delivered. 📉
Yankees are running it back with Aaron Boone (10th season) and Brian Cashman (30th as GM) after a 93-win year and an ALDS sweep by Tampa Bay. Michael Kay says managers are really middle managers, which stings when the front office stays put. 🎯
Nov. 20 is the non-tender deadline, and the Yankees have nine arbitration-eligible players to sort out, including Anthony Volpe and Luis Gil. Some tenders are no-brainers, others are trickier, and a few could be settled by trades first. 🔍
Quiet offseason Friday for the Yankees: Luis Gil's roster fringe status gets a second look, Fernando Cruz gets a report card, and James Paxton's career is revisited. Ben Rice's Silver Slugger odds are in the mailbag, with a lockout looming in December. ⏳
Yankees history includes a few umpires fans won't forget: one ejected a pitcher from a rivalry game, another tossed Aaron Boone over a disputed strike zone, and a third was involved in a confrontation before a scary injury. Now those five are turning against MLB. ⚾
Two Yankees are Silver Slugger finalists: Ben Rice (DH, 41 homers, 149 wRC+) chases his first award against AL MVP candidate Yordan Álvarez, while Cody Bellinger is up for his third in the outfield. 🏆
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