Depth chart trim: 6-foot-6 first baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr., 27, elected free agency after hitting .243 with 17 homers in 113 Triple-A games. He never reached the Bronx, and the Yankees lose a lefty bat from the upper minors.
Aaron Judge reportedly had to "sternly" tell Jazz Chisholm Jr. to stop behavior he felt crossed the line during 2026, per NJ.com's Randy Miller. Chisholm, a free agent, kept making headlines anyway. Captain duties, extended edition. 🧢
Yankees reportedly believe their pitching coaches give them an edge in re-signing closer David Bednar, who got a qualifying offer. A splitter grip tweak fueled his 2026, and he has until Nov. 17 to decide. 🔧
Yankees prospect Dax Kilby rebuilt his swing in about a week, going narrower and more open, then became an Arizona Fall League All-Star. Hitting director Jarret DeHart admitted surprise at how fast it clicked. 🔧
A proposed trade idea would send Volpe, Rodriguez, Warren and Hess to the White Sox for Chase Meidroth as a Jazz Chisholm replacement. Chisholm got no qualifying offer, so second base looks open. A hefty price for a $789,100 infielder. 🤔
Yankees see third base and the bullpen as their real needs, not the infield at large. They're comfortable at second with Anthony Volpe and possibly Luis García Jr., who could also be a trade candidate if Giancarlo Stanton can DH.
First baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr., 27, elected free agency from the Yankees organization on November 2, so he can sign with any MLB team. Minor depth shuffle for a Yankees club that's coming off back-to-back ALDS exits and facing a busy offseason.
Yankees released 20-year-old lefty Kevin Centeno on Nov. 3, part of nine Dominican Summer League cuts. He struck out 81 in 55 innings but saw his walk rate climb in year two. Routine roster math: space for the next signing class. ✂️
Yankees could pursue a platoon partner for Austin Wells rather than a replacement, and free agent Carson Kelly, who hit .298/.375/.496 against lefties in 2026, looks like a fit. Wells hit just .148 against lefties in the second half. 🎯
MLB Trade Rumors' Darragh McDonald predicts the Yankees will re-sign Jonathan Loaisiga on a two-year, $13M deal. He posted a 2.42 ERA over 67 innings with Arizona in 2025, and the Yankees could use setup help. Prediction only, nothing official. 🔄
Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger are 2026 Silver Slugger finalists, but the Yankees missed out on the team honor. Rice got 96 games at DH versus 54 at first, so his 2027 role is the open question. 🤔
Offseason roster cleanup: the Yankees released nine Dominican Summer League players, all young international signings who never left the complex level. Outfielder Richard Meran, a $100K signee in 2023, and Eddison Charles, a $300K signee in 2025, headline the list.
A proposed trade idea has the Yankees sending pitching prospects Kyle Carr and Cade Smith to the Athletics for catcher Shea Langeliers. Nothing is reported as agreed, but he'd be a righty partner for Austin Wells. 🔍
Jasson Domínguez slipped again in 2026 (.225/.267/.368, 76 wRC+, 4.5% walk rate), and he was sent down after the Heliot Ramos and Spencer Jones moves. One minor-league option likely keeps him as depth, but the margin for error is gone. 🔍
The Yankees released 20-year-old outfielder Richard Meran on Nov. 3 after four years in the Dominican Summer League. He hit .243/.398/.384 with six homers, never advanced past the island, and the club gave no explanation. 📉
A Luke Weaver reunion is only a trade idea: he's under Pittsburgh's control through 2027, with no reported talks. He posted a 2.69 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings in 2026, and the bullpen could lose Bednar and Blackburn. 🔒
Yankees reportedly have strong interest in re-signing Paul Blackburn, who posted a 1.59 ERA over 62 appearances in 2026. No deal is announced. From 5.28 ERA in 2025 to bullpen weapon: that's worth keeping. 🔒
Ben Rice (DH) and Cody Bellinger (OF) are AL Silver Slugger finalists. Rice hit 41 homers with a .534 slugging mark; Bellinger adds a Gold Glove to his résumé. Winners are revealed November 17, and Yordan Alvarez looms over Rice's category. 🥈
Shelley Duncan, most recently the Yankees' Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager and the 2025 International League Manager of the Year, is reportedly joining the Red Sox's major league coaching staff, with his title still to be determined. 🔄
Ben Rice (DH) and Cody Bellinger (OF) are 2026 AL Silver Slugger finalists. Rice broke out with 41 homers and an .897 OPS, facing Yordan Alvarez. Bellinger, already a Gold Glove winner this offseason, chases his third Silver Slugger. 🏆
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