New York Yankees news: Rumors swirl around Winter Meetings

North Jersey | Pete Caldera: MLB’s Winter Meetings are coming up, usually the biggest time for business in the baseball offseason. The Yankees seem to want to stay around the $300 million payroll level while still having holes in the roster to fix, and also have very real questions around their top level prospects. Spencer Jones could end up one of the saviors of the 2026 season even as he hasn’t had the smoothest development time in the minors, and critically would be making the league minimum alongside players like Ben Rice.

MLB.com | David Adler: One of those gaps, and one area where Jones might be called upon, is the outfield. Trent Grisham re-upp’d for another year by accepting the qualifying offer, but Cody Bellinger, arguably the team’s second-best player last year, is still a free agent. The club seems at least somewhat interested in bringing back the former MVP, but there are other options available to fill that spot on the roster. Kyle Tucker might be too expensive for the team’s current tastes, however, and Belli would certainly come in under Tucker’s contract.

MLB.com | Brian Murphy: It’s time for Hall of Fame discourse, with the Contemporary Era committee set to announce Sunday whether any of the players eligible on their list will be inducted. Sixteen committee members will evaluate the cases of 16 possible Hall of Famers, and while it’s impossible for me to conceive of a Hall of Fame that doesn’t include Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, former Yankee legend Don Mattingly is also up for consideration. After his journey this year with the Blue Jays, it might be Mattingly’s time in the spotlight next summer in Cooperstown.