(tomkosensky.com)
Past articles:
1/4/26
12/28/25
12/22/25
12/18/25
12/15/25
Rule 5 Analysis
12/11/25
12/9/25
12/5/25
12/2/25
11/28/25
11/25/25
11/18/25
11/15/25
11/7/25
10/30/25
Japanese Free Agents
Rule 5 Primer
1. The Cubs acquire Edward Cabrera
So much for the Yankees’ 6th (Ben Hess) and 16th (Dillon Lewis) ranked prospects being headliners in a potential trade. Looks like Cabrera had a lot more value than that, eh?
The Marlins received Owen Caissie, who may have been the top prospect in the Cubs’ system. According to Pipeline, he slides in at #3 in the Marlins’ system. Additionally, they acquired an intriguing utility prospect in Cristian Hernandez and a long-term lottery ticket in Edgardo De Leon. For the Yankees to strike a similar deal, they likely would have needed to overwhelm the Marlins with their depth.
The Yankees weren’t going to trade George Lombard Jr. in a Cabrera transaction. It’s possible the Marlin valued Caissie for being big-league ready. The Cubs also didn’t have to include any pitching in the trade, suggesting that the Marlins were focused on position prospects. It makes sense, as their pitching staff is still solid even without Cabrera.
Bottom Line:
Supposedly, the Yankees were never close to acquiring Cabrera.
There’s a reasonable debate over whether the Yankees need to pursue pitching.
Personally, I think it would be prudent to add another established arm to the mix. There’s too much early-season uncertainty for my liking. Until I see Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon on a rehab stint, I can’t pencil them in. I don’t expect setbacks, but they often go hand-in-hand with pitchers.
Two pitchers who potentially remain on the market are one-year rental Freddy Peralta and Nationals’ lefty MacKenzie Gore. Gore is under team control through 2027, assuming a season exists.
Neither will be cheap. Peralta is one of the steadiest pitchers in baseball. When people say to look at the back of a baseball card, they are thinking about Peralta. He’s made 30+ starts and struck out 200+ hitters in three straight seasons. While his 2025 ERA (2.70) was considerably lower than the previous two seasons, his FIP suggests the seasons were similar. If his GB% gives you pause, that’s justified. He may give up a few extra longballs in Yankee Stadium. That isn’t a massive deterrent.
Gore was one of the big fish acquired from the Padres for Juan Soto. Over the past two seasons, he owns a 4.03 ERA (3.64 FIP) in 62 starts, covering 326 innings. He has a 25.9% K, 9.1% BB, and 38.2% GB.
They aren’t going to engage with the top-tier free agents remaining. Those pitchers are Zac Gallen, Ranger Suarez, and Framber Valdez. Gallen is coming off a mediocre season, which is likely hurting his market. Pitchers like Jose Quintana and Chris Bassitt don’t move the needle.
2. Cody Bellinger and the Yankees aren’t close to a deal
Apparently, Bellinger wants more years than the Yankees are willing to give. This will likely require a compromise.
I have written so much about Bellinger this winter that I feel as if I am out of material. What more is there to say?
Bottom Line:
The Yankees may be engaging in the pitching market with the intention of dealing surplus elsewhere for an outfielder in the event Bellinger doesn’t sign. Whatever. I am reaching the point where I don’t care, because it is nothing more than negotiating through the media.
3. Michael Kay thinks the upcoming labor negotiations could be impacting spending.
I don’t think this is a revolutionary thought, as I (and many others) have expressed this possibility.
Hal Steinbrenner has one of the biggest voices in the room. He encouraged other owners to approve Steve Cohen’s acquisition of the Mets. He was front and center during the previous labor negotiations.
In other words, if you had an opportunity to talk about the upcoming negotiations with any owner, Steinbrenner should be near the top of your list.
Steinbrenner has talked about not needing $X to win a championship forever. The goalposts for X have changed through the years, with $300 million being his latest cap. Nobody can say for sure that the Yankees will try to stay under any specific number, but it seems probable. It’s why they have done nothing except for small signings this winter. Until the Bellinger situation is resolved, they won’t engage with big-name players. And Bellinger may be the only player he is willing to hand a big contract to.
As a baseball fan, should you be afraid that one of the most influential owners in the sport could be purposely holding back on spending heading into a new CBA negotiation?
Yes.
Bottom Line:
Actions speak louder than words. I don’t always agree with Kay, but I do here.
I also agree with him that Trent Grisham was a miscalculation. That said, one can read between the lines. If the Yankees are willing to spend nearly $100M on three outfielders in 2026, what does that say about their youngsters? Most notably, Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones. If Steinbrenner wants to keep the budget in check, the easiest way to do that is by cutting off all free agents after Grisham accepted the offer and allowing a young player to play the other outfield spot.
The fact that it is apparently not their plan tells me all I need to know: They aren’t impressed enough with Dominguez to feel confident that he can hold down left field in 2026.
4. The Yankees sign RHP Adam Kloffenstein and Alexander Cornielle to minor league contracts
I love playing and referencing the Immaculate Grid. Tip: Kloffenstein has some usage in that game. He’s only played for one team, the Cardinals, and has posted an ERA under 3.00 (0.00 in his lone career inning)
A third-round pick in 2018 by the Blue Jays, Kloffenstein was sent to the Cardinals along with Sem Robberse for Jordan Hicks at the 2023 trade deadline. He made his way back to the Blue Jays’ organization last year via free agency and pitched most of the season with their Triple-A squad in Buffalo.
He is a big kid (6’5″) with ground ball tendencies. Despite his size, he doesn’t throw extremely hard, though a move to the bullpen could help.
Cornielle is a 24-year-old signed as an international free agent by the Brewers in 2019. In 110 games (95 starts) in his Brewers’ minor league career, he pitched to a 4.01 ERA in 494.1 innings with 534 strikeouts and 225 walks. Last season, between Double-A and Triple-A, he pitched to a 3.81 ERA in 137 innings with a 22.7% K, 11.9% BB, and 37.7% GB.
Bottom Line:
Both pitchers have been starters in their minor league careers. The Yankees could try them in the bullpen to see if they can unlock something, or use them as Triple-A starting depth.
You can throw them in the mix alongside Bradley Hanner, Drake Fellows, Chase Chaney, Travis MacGregor, and Hancel Rincon as signed pitchers the Yankees will likely take a look at during spring training. Just remember that Cade Winquest, as a Rule 5 selection, has the edge over everyone in the “looking to win a bullpen spot” pool.
5. The Yankees sign outfielders Kenedy Corona and DJ Gladney to minor league contracts
Corona, a 25-year-old Venezuelan, made his MLB debut with the 2025 Astros, going 0-for-2 with a pair of walks. For Triple-A Sugar Land, he hit .220/.308/.326 with seven home runs and 18 stolen bases in 121 games. He has spent time at all three outfield positions.
Gladney, 24, has been placed on the Somerset Patriots’ roster. The Chicago White Sox selected him in the 16th round in 2019 out of high school.
He spent the 2025 campaign in Double-A Birmingham, where he hit .235/.277/.368 with ten home runs and an 8-for-14 stolen base rate in 100 games. Gladney has more utility in his profile, as he has experience at all four corners and center field.
Bottom Line:
According to milb.com, the Scranton roster has two outfielders: Corona and Duke Ellis. If you are wondering about Spencer Jones, he is now on the 40-man roster, so he isn’t included on the Scranton roster during the off-season. Additionally, Mexican League stud Nicholas Torres was assigned to Somerset.
Corona and Gladney provide the organization with depth options. Despite being right-handed bats, they are no threat (or at least shouldn’t be a threat) to make the MLB roster this spring.
6. The Yankees sign Camilo Doval to a $6.1 million contract for 2026
This signing avoids arbitration. The Yankees have him under the control through 2027.
Doval came over from the Giants for a package of four players (Parks Harber (who social media obsesses over. It’s going to be OK, folks.), Jesus Rodriguez (who I have obsessed over at times. It’s going to be OK, Tom), Trystan Vrieling, and Carlos De La Rosa).
With the Yankees, he flashed his talent and the control issues.
He pitched to a 4.82 ERA (4.10 FIP) over 18.2 innings with a 25.3% K, 12.6% BB, and 54.7% GB. The Yankees didn’t use him in the Red Sox series, but he pitched in three games against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on three hits in 3.1 innings.
He is going to be an integral part of the 2026 bullpen.
Bottom Line:
His talent is so mesmerizing that you hope he puts everything together. He gets the strikeouts and the ground balls. Can he cut down that walk rate? That’s the key to his reaching full potential. I should point out that he has put together a solid MLB career despite those elevated walk rates.