This has been a very underwhelming offseason for the New York Yankees. For the franchise with the highest standard of excellence in MLB, the winter is always a time when they make impactful moves for a title run the upcoming season. Yet the club has made no notable additions over the last couple of months.
Making matters worse for supporters of the team is that there is still a real chance they could soon lose Cody Bellinger. While they are seen as the favorite for his services, he has some big-money suitors on the free agent market. If the NY Yankees did lose Bellinger, let’s look at five players they could target to replace his production at the plate and in the outfield.
Steven Kwan
There have been rumblings off and on that Cleveland Guardians All-Star Steven Kwan could be acquired in a trade. While he wouldn’t fill the power void left by Belinger, he has solid pop, is just as good at getting on base, and brings added speed on the base paths (21 stolen bases in 2025).
However, the biggest impact he can bring is in the outfield. The 28-year-old is the best defensive corner outfielder in the game after earning Gold Glove honors all four years he has been in the league.
Kyle Tucker
The obvious fallback option for the NY Yankees if they lose Bellinger would be Chicago Cubs All-Star Kyle Tucker. Similar to their own outfielder, the four-time All-Star’s market has slowed as teams balk at giving him the sizable amount of years he is looking for.
Whoever lands Bellinger would be out of the running for Tucker. Giving New York a better chance of signing him if they are willing to spend the money. Plus, landing him so the Toronto Blue Jays don’t should be an added motivation.
Byron Buxton
There have been various reports that the Minnesota Twins are undergoing a silent rebuild and are willing to slash payroll for prospects. That means two-time All-Star Byron Buxton could be available. While he is a couple of years older than Bellinger, he brings very similar numbers and a high-level defense in center. Meaning Grisham can be moved to left, and the Yanks could maintain a strong defensive outfield in 2026.
Luis Robert Jr.
A couple of years ago, Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. looked like one of the fastest rising stars in the league. However, injury woes have led to a stunning decline in the last two seasons. Nevertheless, he is still only 28 and brings speed and defense in center. Furthermore, with his value at a low, he could be had without giving up major prospects. He is also only guaranteed $20 million for 2026.
Brendan Donovan
There have been various reports that the St. Louis Cardinals are willing to trade versatile All-Star Brendan Donovan. While he is known more for playing second base, he can also play the outfield and earned a Gold Glove as a utility player in 2025.
He isn’t the power hitter that Bellinger is, but he is an impact player at the dish and offers Aaron Boone a ton of flexibility in how he sets up his lineup. Plus, he is under team control for two seasons and is making just under $6 million in 2026.
