ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 14: The New York logo is displayed on a hat during the MLB game between the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves on August 14, 2023 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The New York Yankees are reportedly holding firm in negotiations with a star player and, depending on how those talks progress, they seem content to walk away without a significant addition this winter.
As the team continues its standoff with former Most Valuable Player Award winner Cody Bellinger, it has seen other star free agents like Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette land elsewhere. Now Bellinger could be the Yankees’ final chance at a significant addition before next season starts.
“As for Bellinger, it’s believed the Yankees’ last offer to Bellinger — five years for around $160 million — may be their best and final,” Randy Miller reported for NJ.com. “The former NL MVP is seeking seven years for about $266 million, or around $38 million per year.”
Yankees Accruing Lesser Veterans As Cody Bellinger Talks Stall
If the Yankees decide Bellinger’s ask is too much and he’s able to find a better deal elsewhere, the team might be content to return next season without any significant veteran additions to the roster. And that might have been the thinking when the Yankees signed utility slugger Seth Brown to a minor league contract, as he could potentially serve a similar defensive role as Bellinger did last season.
“With or without Bellinger, Brown will go into Yankees spring training as a long shot to break camp with the Yankees,” Miller added.
And that thinking might have also come into play for the starting rotation as well, as the Yankees have now signed veteran pitcher Dylan Coleman, according to the New York Daily News’ Gary Phillips.
New York Yankees’ New Pitcher Was Cut By Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles
Coleman made his major-league debut with the Kansas City Royals in 2021 and he logged his best campaign with the Royals the following year, as he maintained a 2.78 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 68 innings.
In 2023, the Royals traded Coleman to the Houston Astros and he was subsequently designated for assignment and then released. Last winter, he signed a minor league deal with the Yankees’ division rival Baltimore Orioles and he logged a 4.91 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A last season.
But the Orioles released Coleman in the middle of the season as he looked to make more progress toward a big-league comeback.
“The righty had a solid season with KC in 2022, posting a 2.78 ERA over 68 G with a 31.2 Whiff% and a fastball that averaged 97.6 mph,” Phillips posted on X, formerly Twitter. “However, he’s only pitched in 24 MLB games since then, the last coming in 2024 with HOU, and only totaled 11 G in the minors last year.”
Now it seems the Yankees see something in the major-league veteran as they are willing to take a chance on him after a pretty harsh year with their rival.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/01/20/yankees-add-4-year-veteran-after-harsh-cut-by-rival/


