What's left for Yankees to do after flurry of moves?

The Yankees continued their post-Juan Soto spree on Tuesday, acquiring Cody Bellinger in a trade with the Cubs.

New York will ship right-hander Cody Poteet to Chicago, which, according to sources, will also send $5 million to the Yankees to help cover part of Bellinger’s salary.

Since losing Soto to the Mets last week, the Yankees have signed Max Fried (eight years, $218 million) and traded for closer Devin Williams and Bellinger, filling three of the many holes on their roster. Bellinger’s deal also includes a $25 million player option for 2026, though the Cubs will pay $2.5 million toward that salary or his $5 million buyout if he elects to become a free agent.

The long-awaited move gives the Yankees a number of options going forward, as Bellinger can play first base, left or center field.

So what’s next for the Yankees?

While Fried and Williams addressed the team’s biggest pitching needs, New York remains in the market for at least one more bat, either in the outfield or at first base.

By adding Bellinger’s $27.5 million salary in 2025 (of which the Cubs will cover $2.5 million), the Yankees might look at lower-cost alternatives than Christian Walker or Pete Alonso, with other first basemen including Carlos Santana and Paul Goldschmidt among their potential free-agent targets. Cleveland’s Josh Naylor and Texas’ Nathaniel Lowe are also potential trade targets at first base. Ben Rice, who played 50 games for the Yankees in 2024, is an in-house option at the position.

First base isn’t the only significant hole in the Yankees’ infield; Jazz Chisholm Jr. can play either second or third base, but New York must still find someone to play the other spot. The second-base free-agent market is relatively thin this winter, though third base offers a couple of appealing options: Nolan Arenado remains on the trade block in St. Louis, while Alex Bregman is among the best hitters left in free agency.

As for the outfield, the current roster might have all the answers the Yankees need. Bellinger could take over in left field alongside top prospect Jasson Domínguez in center, or if the club determines that Domínguez isn’t ready to assume an everyday job (or is better suited in left), Bellinger can play center. Either scenario will allow Aaron Judge to move back to right field, which is the Yankees’ preference. Trent Grisham also returns next season, giving the Yankees a backup plan in left field if Domínguez isn’t ready and Bellinger is moved to center.

The top two corner outfielders on the market are Teoscar Hernández and Anthony Santander, who are seeking deals of three and five years, respectively. Both players stand to earn more than $20 million per season in their next deals, and while Bellinger’s salary exceeds what either is likely to get, the commitment to the 29-year-old will be shorter in either case.

The Yankees could opt to bring in another outfielder and use Bellinger at first base, with Jurickson Profar and Randal Grichuk among the available free agents and Taylor Ward, Adolis García, Lane Thomas and Mike Yastrzemski among potential trade candidates.