Who Won't Be Back

For the 17th time in the last 18 seasons, the Yankees won't be playing in the World Series.  For the second straight year, they were eliminated in the Division Series by a division rival that had thumped them all season, proving that they were only the second-best team in the AL East both years.  Might things have been different if Aaron Judge had been healthy?  Perhaps.  But that's irrelevant.  The bottom line is they had yet another early postseason exit.

Every time a season ends, a postmortem follows.  An assessment of what happened and what areas of improvement need to be addressed heading into next season.  You can rest assured that the Yankees will do both.  And it will lead to several players not returning in 2027 (assuming there is a season).

Last offseason, the Yankees deemed themselves "close" and decided to essentially run it back.  Which is what they did.  They made some minor moves, but didn't make any drastic changes.  I expect the same thing to happen this offseason.  Because a healthy Aaron Judge and some breaks going differently could very well lead to a different outcome.

While they probably will almost run it back again, I still expect the Yankees to make some offseason moves.  Particularly to address the bullpen.  Regardless of how many players return and how many new faces are added, there are definitely a few who won't be back in pinstripes.  Among those who we've likely see play their last game in a Yankees uniform are...

Jazz Chisholm Jr.: This one seems obvious.  Jazz was in the final year of his contract in 2026 and will become a free agent as soon as the World Series is over.  There's virtually no chance he re-signs with the Yankees and everyone knows it.  He was a great addition in 2024, but has worn out his welcome in the Bronx and the team is ready to move on from him.  Especially now that Anthony Volpe has emerged as an option at second base.  Volpe going down to the Minors and learning how to play second essentially sealed Jazz's fate.  

Paul Goldschmidt: It was a bit of a surprise that the future Hall of Famer re-signed with the Yankees prior to this season, but it ended up being a savvy move.  Goldy was supposed to be nothing more than a right-handed bat off the bench, but proved to be a Godsend for a little while there when he was playing every day and was one of the more productive bats in the lineup.  Then they got Luis Garcia Jr. and he went back to his intended role.  It's because Garcia and Ben Rice are both under contract next season that Goldschmidt becomes expendable, which, unfortunately, means his two-year stint in the Bronx is likely over.

Trent Grisham: Grisham accepted a qualifying offer to come back in 2026, which was a bit of a surprise to many.  They were prepared to let him walk and move on with Spencer Jones and/or Jasson Dominguez in center field, but were also perfectly happy to have Grisham back after he was so good in 2025.  He wasn't nearly as good in 2026 and Jones emerged as an everyday player.  He'll likely be the starting center fielder next season, leaving nowhere for Grisham to play.

Tim Hill: Hill used to be one of the most dependable arms in the Yankees bullpen.  That reliably lefty who you could count on seeing virtually every day.  He actually had the second-most appearances on the team this season.  However, Hill was also left off the roster for both rounds of the playoffs despite not having any sort of injury that people were aware of.  That should tell you all you need to know about where he stands.  (With that being said, it also wouldn't be a total surprise if he comes back on another cheap, one-year deal.  It just seems unlikely.)

Amed Rosario: Like Hill, Rosario was left off the roster for the Division Series against Tampa Bay.  He's a player the Yankees long coveted when they finally got him at the 2025 trade deadline, then brought him back on a one-year deal this season.  However, they have an abundance of infielders, so there isn't really any place where Rosario fits, especially with who's already under contract for next year.

Then there are those who aren't definite goners, but it wouldn't be a surprise if they were.  Can I envision them coming back?  Yes.  But I can also see them being traded or, if they have Minor League options, starting the year in Scranton (which might happen anyway since the Minor League CBA doesn't expire until after the 2027 season, so they'd at least get the chance to play somewhere even if the lockout does result in cancelled games)...

Jasson Dominguez: Dominguez was once seen as part of the Yankees' outfield of the future.  His place is nowhere near as secure as it once was.  Spencer Jones has clearly risen above him in the hierarchy, and next year's outfield figures to be Bellinger, Jones and Judge, with Heliot Ramos as the fourth outfielder.  So, that leaves Dominguez as the odd man out.  A young, switch-hitting outfielder will definitely generate plenty of trade interest.  Or, you keep him in the organization as your first option for an outfield call-up.

Anthony Volpe: Going to the Minors and learning how to play second potentially saved Volpe's Yankees career.  If he was still exclusively a shortstop, it's almost certain he would've been traded during the offseason (since he ain't getting the shortstop job back from Lombard).  Instead, he'll probably be penciled in as the Opening Day second baseman.  I do think there's still a possibility he gets traded, though.  So, even though I think he'll likely be back (and probably the starter at second), there's the chance he isn't.

Giancarlo Stanton: Yankees fans have been counting down the days Stanton's contract is no longer weighing the team down.  Well, 2027 is the last guaranteed year of that massive deal (with a club option for 2028 that almost certainly won't be picked up).  Because of his contract, they can't move him.  So, it's either ride it out for that final year, when he'll be essentially a right-handed pinch hitter and occasional DH (provided he's actually healthy) or do what they did with DJ LeMahieu and just buy him out at some point during the season.  As unlikely as that might be, it's still an option.

There will definitely be some changes to the Yankees' roster in 2027.  They may involve the players I mentioned.  They may involve others.  Either way, the team that takes the field on Opening Day in 2027 will look different than the one that got swept by the Rays in the Division Series.  The only question is how different?