The New York Yankees have a lot of work to do this winter, and Brian Cashman made one thing clear — this team isn’t standing still. Building around Aaron Judge remains the foundation of the plan, but it’s the supporting cast that will determine how far this roster can really go.
With Cody Bellinger’s future uncertain, the Yankees’ offensive depth looks shaky. They need another bat, ideally a left-handed one that can balance out a lineup heavy on right-handed power. That’s where Kyle Schwarber’s name inevitably comes into the conversation — a player who seems built for Yankee Stadium’s short right porch and the energy of the Bronx.
Kyle Schwarber would change the Yankees’ lineup
Schwarber has been one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball over the past few years, crushing 187 homers in the last four seasons. As ESPN put it, “The Phillies need him more than he needs them, according to insiders. How do you replace 187 home runs over the past four years? You don’t. He could also balance out the Yankees’ lineup if Cody Bellinger walks. Can you imagine his home run totals with the short porch at Yankee Stadium?”
That statement alone captures why Schwarber’s name keeps floating around in Yankees circles. The fit is obvious from an offensive perspective. In 2025, he hit .240/.365/.563 with 56 home runs and 132 RBIs for Philadelphia — numbers that would’ve made him the Yankees’ best run producer outside of Aaron Judge by a mile. His approach isn’t about contact or average, it’s about chaos and power.
The Yankees’ offense, at times, feels too measured — too reliant on Judge’s heroics. Schwarber would bring a different kind of danger, the kind that forces opposing pitchers to think twice before challenging anyone in the heart of the order.
But where does he fit?
The problem is defense, or really, the lack of it. Schwarber is a designated hitter at this stage in his career, and the Yankees already have Giancarlo Stanton clogging that role. Adding Schwarber would force some uncomfortable roster gymnastics, unless the team finally decides to move off Stanton’s contract, which still runs through 2027.
It’s hard to justify paying two players north of $20 million per year just to rotate through DH duties. That reality makes a pursuit of Schwarber feel unlikely unless the Yankees find a way to offload Stanton or significantly reduce his playing time.
The financial question looms large
Schwarber’s next deal could fall in the $30–35 million range annually, and that’s a tough sell for a player who brings almost no defensive value. A shorter deal — perhaps three or four years — could make sense, but even then, the Yankees have to ask themselves if they’re maximizing value when that money could go toward pitching or a true two-way outfielder.
The right idea, wrong time?
The irony is that Schwarber feels like a perfect Yankee — just not for this version of the roster. In another timeline, where Stanton’s deal didn’t exist and the Yankees had more flexibility, this would be a match made in baseball heaven. The short porch would turn Schwarber’s fly balls into nightly fireworks.
But reality often gets in the way of dreams in free agency, and unless something changes dramatically, the Yankees might have to admire Schwarber’s power from afar. Still, you can’t help but wonder — if Bellinger walks and the offense sputters again, will Cashman take the risk anyway?