troyrecord
The first major event of what is expected to be a compressed offseason has arrived: Major League Baseball's GM Meetings are taking place this week in Las Vegas. Typically a precursor to December's Winter Meetings, these sessions carry added significance this year due to the specter of a work stoppage hanging over the sport.
Owners, pushing for a salary cap, are widely expected to lock out players—who remain firmly opposed—once the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. on December 1. Whether the 2027 season will be affected remains uncertain, but concerns are palpable.
Consequently, the GM Meetings could see more activity than usual in free agency and trades, as a freeze on major league transactions will take effect once the anticipated lockout begins. With Hal Steinbrenner among the owners advocating for a cap, it is unclear how aggressive general manager Brian Cashman and the Yankees will be before the CBA deadline, especially after another embarrassing ALDS loss.
Some sources outside the organization believe the Yankees will be active before baseball operations shut down, but the club has been quiet so far. During the last lockout, which ran from December 2, 2021, to March 20, 2022, teams committed over $2 billion in free agency before the CBA expired. The Yankees, however, largely stayed on the sidelines during that spending spree and waited until after the lockout to make major moves. Even then, their biggest acquisitions amounted to a disappointing offseason: re-signing Anthony Rizzo was their only significant free-agent transaction, and they made an ill-advised trade for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Ben Rortvedt.
This time, the Yankees have several needs to address, whether before or after a lockout. The bullpen requires the most work, as Brent Headrick is the only healthy reliever who spent the entire 2026 season with the big league club. The Yankees have already moved to retain another piece, extending a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer to closer David Bednar. He can reject that by November 17 and pursue a multi-year deal. The team would also like to keep Paul Blackburn and has some interest in bringing back a few depth pieces.
The infield presents question marks at second base, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. unlikely to return in free agency and Anthony Volpe under contract, and at third base, where Ryan McMahon regressed defensively while offering little at the plate. McMahon is owed $16 million in 2027, the final year of his contract, but it would not be surprising to see the Yankees cut bait. That said, they may want to see the new financial parameters before taking on dead money.
The Yankees could also use help behind the plate and in center field. While they seem comfortable with Austin Wells as their starting catcher, they need a right-handed platoon partner for the left-handed hitter. Meanwhile, some insurance for Spencer Jones in center would be wise after he impressed offensively but did not look comfortable in center as a rookie.
That is a lot of holes. Just how many the Yankees fill before the CBA expires could indicate how Steinbrenner and the owners think labor talks will go—and that does not include the coaching staff. While Aaron Boone, much to the chagrin of fans, will return on an expiring contract and pitching coach Matt Blake has a new deal, the Yankees just lost valued catching director and field coordinator Tanner Swanson to the Mariners, who made him their bench coach. Aaron Gershenfield, the Yankees' run prevention and catching coordinator, makes sense as Swanson's replacement, but other staff positions remain up in the air.
Steinbrenner created some of that uncertainty himself, casting doubt on hitting coach James Rowson's future when he ripped the Yankees offense in a post-ALDS exit Zoom call. But that was weeks ago, and there has been no update on Rowson since, leaving one to wonder if a shakeup will take place at this point. Meanwhile, Brad Ausmus, the Yankees bench coach the last few years, is a candidate for the Astros managerial vacancy.
While organizations can make hires during a lockout, it is important to note that team personnel, including coaches, would be forbidden from communicating with big leaguers throughout a work stoppage. That means any new staffers the Yankees hire would have a limited time to discuss offseason training plans with players.
Key Analysis
The Yankees are navigating a critical offseason under the shadow of a potential lockout, with roster deficiencies and coaching staff uncertainty adding complexity. Their approach before the CBA deadline could reveal much about ownership's expectations for labor negotiations and the team's readiness to compete in 2027.
Originally reported by troyrecord.