The Yankees’ bizarre, slow offseason is fascinatingly un-Yankees

(Photo by Leah King/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images The New York Yankees are one of the most fascinating teams to watch with Major League Baseball’s return — not because of what they are, but what they refused to become. An uncharacteristically slow offseason from GM Brian Cashman either shows ultimate faith in the foundation the Bronx Bombers have built, or an unbelievable sign of hubris. Which way the needle falls is anyone’s guess.

Check out where the Yankees land on our Opening Day power rankings . “Restraint” isn’t typically a word that fits in the Yankees’ lexicon, especially after a successful season. 2025 was a major victory for New York, even in light of their ALDS loss.

It was supposed to be a lost year, taken away before it began with Gerrit Cole’s Tommy John surgery — and yet, the Yankees managed to rally on the back of successful moves to register the same 94-68 record as the year prior. Signing Max Fried to big money paid off, with the free agent sliding into Cole’s role without missing a beat, posting a 19-5 record and a 4. 4 WAR in his first year in the Bronx.

Similarly, the addition of Paul Goldschmidt, the team’s other major signing, also reaped rewards as the veteran finished third on the team in hits behind Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, proving there was life left in the 37-year-old. Instead of making the distinctly Yankee move of throwing more gasoline on the fire, backing the wheelbarrow up once more, Cashman instead chose to play with house money. He re-upped Bellinger, gave Trent Grisham the qualifying offer, extended Goldschmidt, and more of less called it a day.