Yankees GM Brian Cashman targets bullpen rebuild and multiple roster upgrades after GM Meetings return

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The New York Yankees returned from the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas this week and came away with a clear message: the organization has “plenty of work to do,” according to general manager Brian Cashman. Cashman, who described the week as “an information grab,” said the club is already taking a broad look at the market because rebuilding parts of the 2027 roster has to go beyond a single need area.

Cashman’s most immediate focus is the bullpen, which he identified as the club’s “main priority.” The Yankees won 93 games in 2026 and reached the American League Division Series, but Cashman pointed to the likelihood that multiple late-inning pieces could be departing. He also tied the urgency to specific free-agent status, saying, “Two of the three pitchers going into our eighth and ninth inning are gone; Blackburn and Bednar right now are free agents,” and adding that the Yankees need to “find some stuff so we can feel good and sleep at night.”

The bullpen planning follows a decision to issue a qualifying offer to closer David Bednar, valued at $23.15 million, in an effort to keep him in the ninth inning. The Yankees have also expressed interest in retaining left-hander Tim Hill and would like to extend their relationship with right-hander Paul Blackburn, both of whom are free agents.

As the Yankees evaluate options, Cashman indicated the club is “casting a wide net” by asking around the league as it looks for replacements. The team’s current bullpen foundation includes Brent Headrick, who posted a 2.18 ERA over a Major League-leading 81 appearances, according to Cashman’s comments in the offseason context.

Beyond the late-inning picture, the Yankees described the starting rotation as comparatively secure. Cashman said the rotation is headed by AL Cy Young Award winner Cam Schlittler, and he noted that Max Fried is expected to be recovered from left elbow surgery by spring. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are also described as assured rotation spots for 2027, while Will Warren posted a 3.92 ERA over 32 games (29 starts).

In discussing internal pitching evaluation, Cashman said the Yankees view Ryan Weathers as a starting pitcher, and he pointed to prospects as potential pieces of the pitching plan. Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange were both referenced as prospects the Yankees see in the pipeline, with Lagrange missing his projected 2026 Major League debut in the second half due to a right capsule strain.

On the position-player side, the Yankees are approaching roster construction with an opportunity to change course after a season that tested them because of a “run it back” mindset, tied in the source to concerns about offensive underperformance. Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner is cited as identifying offense as a key factor behind the Yankees’ abbreviated postseason run.

Third base is described as an area where New York is “open-minded” about seeking an upgrade over Ryan McMahon. Mark Feinsand is noted as having confirmed that the Yankees expressed interest in free-agent third baseman Alec Bohm, who could either replace McMahon or be used in a platoon role.

The Yankees’ interest is not limited to MLB players, with the team also viewing Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato as a potentially “appealing available bat.” Sato is described in the source as winning the NPB Triple Crown last season with the Hanshin Tigers by batting .306 with 39 home runs and 106 RBIs, giving New York another established power profile to consider for its lineup overhaul.

Second base represents another uncertainty in New York’s offseason plans. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is described as drawing fielding interest from at least 10 teams, while the Yankees see Anthony Volpe, José Caballero and Luis García Jr. as internal options. Cashman’s market look has included checking in on free agents Brandon Lowe and Luis Arraez, and the Yankees are also said to have long held interest in the Marlins’ Xavier Edwards.

Behind the plate, Cashman said New York would like to add a right-handed-hitting catcher to pair with Austin Wells. The source notes that the club was unsuccessful at the Trade Deadline in attempts to acquire Ryan Jeffers and Tyler Stephenson, leaving the catcher slot as another offseason decision point.

In the outfield, the Yankees’ in-house evaluation includes Spencer Jones, a rookie whose performance in 2026 prompted Cashman to say, “You could dream on a lot of things with that guy.” Cashman cautioned against locking in assumptions beyond the immediate offseason process, adding in the source that November offseason planning does not mean the team has declared anyone as its second baseman, center fielder, first baseman or designated hitter.

The Yankees also outlined coaching changes that follow this year’s managerial shift within the Astros organization. New York retained pitching coach Matt Blake earlier this winter, and the source states that assistants Preston Claiborne and Desi Druschel are also returning in 2027. Brad Ausmus being hired as the Astros’ new manager created a vacancy at bench coach, which then shaped New York’s staff moves.

In the hitting and bench-coaching cycle, James Rowson departed to accept the role of offensive coordinator with the Giants, and Tanner Swanson was named the Mariners’ new bench coach. Aaron Gershenfeld was elevated to replace Swanson, and the source reports that Aaron Bates and Joe Dillon are among the hitting coach candidates, with former Astros manager Joe Espada thought to be in the mix for bench coach.

Cashman framed the broader overhaul through the lens of results rather than expectations. He said the Yankees have to “listen to everything and anything” because they “didn’t win,” and he added that New York was “good, but not great,” reinforcing that the roster and staff decisions in this offseason are aimed at closing the gap between regular-season success and postseason execution.