It’s believed the New York Yankees are running back their 2025 roster, especially on offense, but according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post that may not be the case.
Sherman reported the Yankees are still in the market for a right-handed power bat to complement their lefty-heavy lineup.
The Yankees are believed to be interested in veteran Randal Grichuk and wanted to bring back Austin Slater before he signed a minor-league contract with the Detroit Tigers two weeks ago.
The Yankees are Interested in Signing a Right-Handed Outfield Bat
The Yankees want a balanced lineup, yet at the moment they lean left.
Aside from Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Volpe, the rest of New York’s everyday players bat from the left side.
Sure, New York brought back lefty-masher Paul Goldschmidt to spell Ben Rice at first base, and Jose Caballero and Amed Rosario can be righty-hitting utility players, but Rice, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Trent Grisham, Ryan McMahon and both catchers bat from the left side.
Slater could still be an option, since he has a minimum of six years of service time, which means he is out of minor-league options. If the Tigers decide not to keep him on their opening day roster, Slater can decline a minor-league invitation and become a free agent.
The Yankees are also reportedly interested in Chicago Cubs outfielder Chas McCormick. McCormick, formerly of the Houston Astros who like Slater is out of options, signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs on Jan. 22.
McCormick has less power than Slater and Grichuk but crushed the Yankees in their 2022 ALCS meeting against the Astros by clubbing two of his three career postseason home runs. Sherman noted that, like Slater, McCormick has an opt out that he can enforce March 21.
Still, if the Slater and McCormick remain with their teams, Grichuk could be a favorable option. The 34-year-old journeyman, best known for his four-season tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals, spent 2025 split between the Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Grichuk slashed .228/.273/.401 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 293 plate appearances. Still, he is just one year removed from slashing .291/.348/.528 with an OPS+ of 140 for the D-backs in 2024.
More Players May Become Available For the Yankees After Spring Training
Sherman noted the Yankees’ interest in Grichuk has not yet produced a deal, and it’s possible one may not come until the tail end of spring training.
The Yankees have been known to fill holes via trades or free-agent signings late in the spring, since teams are more prone to making deals after their roster competitions are decided.
In 2022, they acquired catcher Jose Trevino from the Texas Rangers on April 2, less than a week before the regular season started. He became an All-Star that season who helped them win 99 games and the American League East.
So it’s likely general manager Brian Cashman is biding his time and assessing the market rather than jumping to sign or acquire a right-handed bat just because he feels the Yankees need one.
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