MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco: The Yankees have a pair of qualifying offer decisions with Jazz Chisholm Jr. and David Bednar to hit free agency (Paul Blackburn also becomes a free agent, but is not a real QO candidate). According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees are expected to issue a QO to Bednar, but not to the Jazz, who he claims are inclined to walk in free agency. The value for QO in 2027 will be $23.15 million, with the Yankees in line to pick up a draft pick after the fourth round (130-135 overall range) should the player decline QO. Bednar solidified a tight end that had been on shaky ground for the last few seasons, as the Jazz stepped back at the plate and with the ball and had several high-profile lapses in the retention season. My colleague Josh will provide more detail on these QO decisions later today.
Yahoo! Sports | TJ French: After the Yankees were swept out of the ALDS by the radio, Aaron Judge publicly implored ownership to commit more money into the winter versus everyone else. The captain left the postseason roster after a late-season calf strain and likely feels some added urgency entering his age-35 season following another disappointing campaign. These comments seem to ruffle the feathers of the Yankees’ higher-ups, who were said to be “disturbed” and “afraid-to-be-bothered.”
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That being said, the face of the franchise still has a good relationship with the owner and the members before the job.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: One of the Yankees’ biggest decisions this winter is facing Giancarlo Stanton’s future. The soon-to-be 37-year-old slugger appeared in just 24 games in 2026 after suffering calf strains in both legs, and has missed over 200 games in the last two seasons due to injury. He is due $25 million in 2027 while the stock holds a $25 million option for 2028 with a $10 million buyout, paying the Marlins to the Yankees $10 million in each of 2027 and 2028.
The Yankees have to decide whether to keep him on their number for the final certain year or $15 million dead in the money that is left as they did with the final $22 million in the DJ LeMahieu deal in 2025, $27 million in the Aaron Hicks deal in 2023, and $26 million in Jacoby Ellsbury in 2019. (Dani wrote about this for us yesterday).
ESPN: Oswaldo Cabrera agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal with the Reds on Thursday, declining an offer. He was claimed on waivers by the Cincinnati Yankees in September after spending most of his time at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was never a regular in the footy-league squad last season after his 2025 campaign was cut short with a horrific broken ankle in May of that year. His time with the Yankees will be remembered for his infectious smile and as one of the most genuine good guys to wear pinstripes in recent memory. So he’s got some good money from Cincy.
Finally, congratulations to Brewer for knocking off the second-time defending champion Dodgers in a clean sweep. They won their first pennant since 1982 and will face either the Rays or the Rangers in the World Series. LA commanded MLB’s first three-peat with the 1998-2000 Yankees dynasty, but they will remain unequaled throughout the last 50 years of baseball history.
Now, if only we could get these 2020s Yanks to win at least one…