NEW YORK - There's less than two months before Yankees pitchers and catchers report to Tampa, Fla., and there's more roster construction ahead.
"If somebody's in the market as a trade or free agent for first (base) that's above average, rest assured we're ... having conversations about it,'' Brian Cashman said this week.
The Yankees GM also included third base, the outfield and the bullpen as areas he's exploring.
Since the Dec. 8 bombshell, when Juan Soto decided to take his irreplaceable offense across town to the Mets, the Yanks have acquired front-line starter Max Fried, All-Star closer Devin Williams and a lefty-hitting former MVP in Cody Bellinger.
A few predictions about what might be next on the Yanks' agenda:
It's a one-year guarantee, hoping a seven-time All-Star has one more productive season at age 37.
In the market for a right-handed hitting corner infielder, the Yankees have considered free agent first basemen Christian Walker and Pete Alonso, and the Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Diaz is a trade candidate.
Walker, 34, would be a particularly good fit given his offensive production and three recent Gold Glove Awards.
But Walker's price is going up, and the cost in additional draft compensation and international bonus money following Fried's signing is a Yankee concern.
Goldschmidt had a down year in 2024 but posted a .799 OPS in the second half (62 games) following a .664 mark in the first half (92 games) with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The guess is the Yanks gravitate toward a short-term solution here, signing the five-time Silver Slugger and four-time Gold Glove Award winner who won an MVP in 2022 and is a tremendous clubhouse presence.
There is currently no lefty presence in the Yankees' bullpen, with the free agent departures of Tim Hill and Tim Mayza.
Maybe it's not a top priority, but the Yanks will address this area eventually, and there's logic in seeking a reunion with Hill, who excelled in the Bronx after being discarded by the awful Chicago White Sox.
After posting a 5.87 ERA in 27 games with the White Sox, Hill became a trusted part of Yankees manager Aaron Boone's bullpen with a 2.05 ERA in 35 games and a 69-percent groundball rate.
Hill turns 35 in February, so he might be available for a one-year deal with perhaps a vesting option for 2026.
Since the days of Aroldis Chapman, the Yankees' bullpen model has been to find cost-effective relievers and not spend extravagantly.
Trading for Williams, an elite closer in his free agent walk year, was an excellent move. But there's a need for another setup man or two, and Hill fits the bill.
Already, the Yankees have moved some of their excess starters.
Nestor Cortes went to the Milwaukee Brewers in the Williams deal, and Cody Poteet went to the Chicago Cubs in the Bellinger trade.
This week, Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said "there's a potential option'' to go with a six-man rotation, but either way there is still rotation depth to use in trades.
In the current rotation, Stroman is outside the five-man window, and the Yanks could benefit from the financial flexibility of shedding his $18 million contact for 2025.
Stroman's $18 million option for 2026 triggers if he reaches 140 innings in 2025, and that's probably not something the Yanks are eager to see.
The right-hander pitched effectively in the first half (7-4, 3.51 ERA) but his shaky second half (3-5, 5.98) took him out of consideration for a postseason role.
Guessing the Yanks move on from Stroman, 33, possibly agreeing to pay down some of his 2026 salary should that option trigger.
Pitchers (13)
Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Luis Gil, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, Devin Williams, Tim Hill, Luke Weaver, Ian Hamilton, Mark Leiter Jr., Jake Cousins, Scott Effross, Yerry De Los Santos.
Infielders (6)
Paul Goldschmidt, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Oswaldo Cabrera, Anthony Volpe, DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza.
Outfielders/DH (5)
Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, Jasson Dominguez, Trent Grisham.