MLB Trade Rumors: 3 New York Yankees Who Won't Be Back in 2026

Another major playoff disappointment for the New York Yankees, who were sent home in four games by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS. What's next for the Yanks? 

Clearly, they'll try to spend their way to more success this offseason, but with the influx of some new names, several old ones will be leaving the Bronx. 

Let's have a look at three Yankees who won't be back in Pinstripes in 2026.

Devin Williams, RP

The former All-Star closer had a disastrous season for the Yankees, posting a 9.00 ERA through April, and losing his closer role temporarily. He got it back in June when he went on a great run with a 0.93 ERA and six saves in as many chances. But in July, his ERA ballooned up over 5.00 again, and after giving up runs in four of his last six games of the month, he lost the closer's role again, this time for good. 

The Yankees invested in David Bednar at the trade deadline as their new closer in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is under club control through 2026, while Camilo Doval, another reliever with closing experience they acquired, is under team control for three more years. All of that makes it highly unlikely New York will make a big investment in Williams after how volatile his performance was this year. 

Yankees traded for Bednar & Doval, making Williams and Weaver obsolete for 2026

Luke Weaver, RP

Sticking with the bullpen, Weaver finished the 2024 season and came into this year as a feel-good story of mid-career resurgence. But his season spiralled out of control in July with a 7.15 ERA, then after a brief correction in August, he fell completely off a cliff in September and into the playoffs. A 9.64 ERA in September was followed by a playoff disaster in which he made three appearances but recorded just one out and gave up five runs. Again, the back end of the bullpen is in good hand with Bednar and Doval, so it's buh-bye Luke. 

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B

It was a nice start to the season in his first year in the Bronx for Goldy. He was a stopgap solution at first base coming into 2025. He was batting .338 through the end of May with an .889 OPS with 28 RBIs. But from June onwards, the 38-year-old saw an extreme downturn in fortunes, as his average plummeted and he saw ever-decreasing playing time. He drove in just 17 runs over the final four months of the season.

With the arrival of Ben Rice as a legit power threat at first base, the Yankees will not offer Goldschmidt a new contract in free agency. 

The biggest question of all might be whether manager Aaron Boone will be back, and we'll undoubtedly hear more about that situation as we move into the offseason.

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