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ORLANDO, Fla. — The Yankees came, they saw, they left.

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And while the rest of the division may not have conquered quite yet, the Yankees’ competition is only getting better.

There is still time, of course — two months until pitchers and catchers report — for the Yankees to improve their roster heading into 2026, particularly with their top target, Cody Bellinger, still on the board.

But the Winter Meetings wrapped up on Wednesday without the Yankees having anything tangible to show for it, still early in an offseason in which their biggest foes in the AL East have each made impact moves.

A few hours before the Orioles and Pete Alonso agreed to a five-year, $155 million deal, general manager Brian Cashman had described the market as moving at a “glacial speed.”

“I haven’t accomplished anything,” Cashman said Wednesday morning. “We’re just staying engaged, trying to match up with some things, but it’s been tough so far. Don’t like the asks coming our way and I guess the opposing teams, what I’m trying to pull from them on the trade stuff, they’re not liking currently. But we do have some conversations that possibly could lead somewhere. But clearly if we had something, we would have done it.”

This marks the first time since 2018 — not including 2020 and 2021, when the event was canceled by COVID and a lockout — that the Yankees left the Winter Meetings empty-handed.

While the Yankees last month brought back Trent Grisham on the qualifying offer, Tim Hill on a club option and re-signed Ryan Yarbrough, the rest of the division has been aggressive in getting better this offseason.

Before making a big splash for Alonso, the Orioles had signed closer Ryan Helsley and acquired outfielder Taylor Ward, and still appear to be hunting a front-line starter.


  Brian Cashman and the Yankees are leaving the winter meetings without any additions. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Brian Cashman and the Yankees are leaving the winter meetings without any additions. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The defending division champs, the Blue Jays, have added pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce and are players for Kyle Tucker or Bellinger, if not re-signing Bo Bichette.

The Red Sox have bolstered their rotation with Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo and are expected to add a big bat. Even the Rays have signed outfielder Cedric Mullins and lefty Steven Matz.

The Yankees’ priority is bringing back Bellinger, whose price may have gone up Wednesday with Alonso signing, not to mention the Mets possibly becoming even more of a desperate suitor for the outfielder/first baseman.


  Cody Bellinger remains the Yankees top target AP Cody Bellinger remains the Yankees top target AP

But the Yankees, who already have a projected payroll of roughly $283 million, are believed to have a limit on just how much they would spend to retain the left-handed hitter.

And outside of him, they may be more inclined to address some of their needs via the trade market.

“We’re an aggressive franchise, but while being aggressive, we already have some very large commitments,” Cashman said. “The more of those you have, the more impact it affects you in other areas. So everything’s tied together. Our ownership has obviously demonstrated year in and year out how massively committed they are. But at the same time, that’s not an open blank checkbook either. So you try to navigate it the best you possibly can and you blend the veteran with the young, up-and-coming players and come out with a strong product.”

In part because of their internal left field options like Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones, the Yankees appear willing to wait on Bellinger instead of overspending just to lock him up now.

And Cashman indicated that they are in a position to make moves while waiting on Bellinger — unlike last winter, when their offseason was held up waiting on a decision by Juan Soto.

“I think we’re opportunistic,” said Cashman, who indicated he was not particularly close on any kind of deals. “We like our players, that is a fact. But there’s players outside of our current control system that we also like and may very well like more and better because there’s a lot more certainty there, which comes at a cost, whether it’s a trade acquisition or free-agent dollars. So it’s my job to play on that stuff and try to figure that out.

“If we come to an area that, ‘This makes a lot of sense,’ then we’re ready to pounce and change the equation. But if not, we like what we have, too, at the same time. Jasson Domínguez is on his journey and Spencer Jones is just beginning his journey. Those are two names.

“But I got no idea how this is going to play out.”

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