Yankees' free agents: The likelihood these 10 players return to the Bronx next season

There are significant changes year-to-year on pretty much every big-league roster, the Yankees included, but that especially could be true for them next season. The Yankees have 10 players slated to become free agents once this year’s World Series ends. A look at that list of 10 and how likely, or unlikely, it is for those players to be back:

DAVID BEDNAR, RHP

The Yankees over the years haven’t bestowed big money on relievers (the most recent exceptions came in 2019 with Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton). But with no obvious closer besides Bednar on the roster, the Yankees — even if they want to spend that money elsewhere — may feel compelled to make him another exception because he has shown he has the makeup to handle what comes with closing in New York. They could extend him the qualifying offer.

Chances he returns: likely

PAUL BLACKBURN, RHP

Blackburn came to the Yankees as a failed starter, but after a nondescript eight relief outings in 2025, he blossomed into one of the league’s elite relievers this season. His refined changeup turned him into a ground-ball machine who posted a 1.69 ERA in 62 outings. The Yankees would love to have him back, but the large number of teams that annually chase top relievers will make Blackburn a sought-after target whose price ultimately may prove to be too high for the Yankees, who have a bevy of needs.

Chances he returns: unlikely

JAZZ CHISHOLM JR., 2B

The dynamic Chisholm dazzles with both his considerable talent and head-scratching on-field brain locks in equal measure. The free-spirited infielder is liked overall by his teammates, but some of his antics (see ‘’Detroit, lollipop’’) didn’t play well in the clubhouse. Nor did his public pouting when he was not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the 2025 Wild Card Series against the Red Sox. It can’t be said there’s no chance the Yankees will offer Chisholm the $23.15 million qualifying offer, but it’s highly unlikely. The simple reason is that they fear that Chisholm — whose reputation will keep him from landing the kind of big-money, multiyear contract he’ll be seeking — will take it.

Chances he returns: no chance

MICHAEL FULMER, RHP

The Angels designated Fulmer for assignment in August, continuing a steady fall for the righthander from his 2016 days as American League Rookie of the Year with the Tigers. The Yankees, with their bullpen in tatters, signed Fulmer, a first-round pick of the Mets in 2011, as a free agent after he cleared waivers. He was fine in 12 outings — striking out 14 in 10 innings — and could return in 2027, but only as a fallback.

Chances he returns: unlikely

PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT, 1B

Even in his age 39 season, Goldschmidt did what he’s done during the entirety of a career that might land him in Cooperstown after retirement — crush lefty pitching. Though with the Yankees for only two seasons, there was no one more respected by his teammates in that time. From that perspective alone, there is an argument to be made to bring back Goldschmidt, who said after the Yankees’ loss to the Rays that he would like to keep playing. But from a baseball, roster-crunch perspective, that argument is harder to make.

Chances he returns: unlikely

TRENT GRISHAM, CF

After surprising many — including more than a few in the organization — by taking the qualifying offer last offseason, Grisham struggled on both sides of the ball in 2026 and quickly extinguished the memories of his career-best 34-homer season of 2025. It is unclear if promising rookie Spencer Jones is ready to assume everyday centerfield duties for the Yankees in 2027, but it can be said with near certainty that the position won’t be manned by Grisham.

Chances he returns: unlikely.

TIM HILL, LHP

After he had one of the best seasons of his career in 2025 — a 3.09 ERA in 70 appearances — the sport seemed to figure out the soft-tossing sidearmer this season, and Hill’s ERA ballooned to 4.60 by season’s end. The Yankees left him off their postseason roster in both rounds, all but signaling that he will be pitching for another club in ’27.

Chances he returns: unlikely

AMED ROSARIO, 3B

Few players on the Yankees, or anywhere in the sport for that matter, pull for their teammates harder than Rosario does, but that probably won’t be enough for the Yankees to bring him back. He was re-signed before this season to continue doing what he’d done the vast majority of his career — hit lefthanders — but ended up doing that hardly at all.

Chances he returns: unlikely

JOHN SCHREIBER, RHP

The Yankees, who during the last decade repeatedly have struck gold in the area of reliever reclamation projects, might have done the same with Schreiber. He was cut loose by the Royals (of all teams) in late August and soon was scooped up by the Yankees. Schreiber’s 1.64 ERA in 11 games earned him spots on both postseason rosters, but unless he returns on the cheap, he probably won’t be on the roster in 2027.

Chances he returns: unlikely

RYAN YARBROUGH, LHP

The rubber-armed Yarbrough is one of those under-the-radar players who can be invaluable to a team without commanding much in the way of headlines. The lefthander, capable of starting and relieving, is remarkable in this day and age, if for no other reason than he’s pitched nine seasons in the big leagues without an arm injury of any kind. Yarbrough cost the Yankees only $2.5 million last season and is unlikely to command a big deal as a free agent. It’s not a stretch to think he could be back in ’27.

Chances he returns: likely

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.