Checking for today's Yankees box score on a frigid January morning usually feels like a fool's errand. There aren't any games. It’s the dead of winter. But in the Bronx, the "box score" isn't kept in runs and hits right now—it’s kept in millions of dollars and contract years. Honestly, the news coming out of 161st Street today, January 17, 2026, is more stressful than a bases-loaded jam in the ninth.
The Yankees aren't on the grass. They're in the boardroom.
The big story? Cody Bellinger. If you were looking for a literal box score today, you won't find one for the major league squad, but the scorecard for the offseason just took a massive hit. After seeing Kyle Tucker head to the Dodgers and Bo Bichette pivot to the Mets in a stunning move, the Yankees are suddenly staring down a market that is thinning out faster than a bleacher crowd in a blowout.
The Offseason Box Score: Bellinger or Bust?
Basically, the Yankees are playing a high-stakes game of chicken with Scott Boras. It's been reported that the Yankees have a five-year, $155 million offer on the table for Bellinger. He wants seven years. You’ve seen this movie before, right? Brian Cashman is sticking to his guns, but the "runs" column on the offseason scoreboard is looking pretty empty.
Bellinger was the glue in 2025. He hit 29 homers. He played 152 games. Most importantly, he gave Aaron Judge the kind of protection that kept pitchers from simply walking the captain every time he stepped to the plate. Without Juan Soto—who is now wearing Mets blue across town—losing Bellinger would be a catastrophic error in the front office box score.
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Where did the competition go?
- The Mets: They just grabbed Bichette. Are they done? Probably not.
- The Blue Jays: They are desperate. They lost Tucker and Bichette in the same week. They might overpay for Bellinger just to save face.
- The Giants: Always lurking in the shadows for a big lefty bat.
The "today's Yankees box score" for the front office shows a lot of "LOB" (Left On Base). They had chances to move earlier, but they’ve waited. Now, they’re the ones under the microscope.
International Signings: The "Real" Today's Yankees Box Score
If you want actual names and numbers for today, you have to look at the international market. The 2026 international signing period just opened, and this is where the Yankees actually "played" this week.
They don't have a lot of money to spend this year—only $5.44 million. Why? Because they signed Max Fried last year and lost a million in pool money as a penalty. Still, they’ve been active. The box score for the new kids looks like this:
Geormayhoni Beltre (SS): The big prize from the Dominican Republic. He signed for a $100,000 bonus.
Abrahan Pichardo (SS): Another middle infielder. The Yankees love their shortstops.
The Catching Trio: Kenneth Melendez, Poly Ojeda, and Cesar Lopez. All from Venezuela.
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It’s a different kind of box score. No RBIs, just "Projected Upside." Melendez is the name to watch. Scouts say he’s got "sneaky pop" for a guy who’s 5-foot-11. It’s not Cody Bellinger hitting a walk-off at the Stadium, but in five years, one of these names might be the reason the Yankees are back in the World Series.
The Pitching Rotation Update
We also have to talk about Ryan Weathers. The Yankees officially traded for him a few days ago, sending four prospects to the Marlins. If you’re looking at the projected 2026 rotation box score, it’s... well, it's a bit of a project.
- Gerrit Cole: The anchor. Obviously.
- Carlos Rodón: We need the 2024 version, not the guy who struggles with the long ball.
- Ryan Weathers: The new southpaw.
- Marcus Stroman: Still there, still grinding.
- The Wildcard: Maybe a kid like Elmer Rodríguez-Cruz?
Losing out on Framber Valdez—who seems headed to the Mets or Orioles—hurts. The Yankees' "ERA" for this offseason is creeping up. They need a win. They need a signing that makes the back page of the Post.
What Fans Get Wrong About the January Box Score
Most people think nothing happens in January. Wrong. This is when the season is actually won. Look at the Mets. They just stole the headlines by pivoting to Bichette after losing Tucker. They are aggressive.
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The Yankees? They’re being "disciplined." Disciplined is a nice word for "not wanting to pay for the seventh year." But in New York, discipline doesn't win rings. If today's Yankees box score doesn't eventually include a re-signed Bellinger or a surprise trade for someone like Freddy Peralta, the Bronx is going to be a very angry place come April.
Actionable Insights for Yankees Fans
If you're tracking the team's progress this winter, here is how you should actually read the "box score" of the offseason:
- Watch the Years, Not the Dollars: The hang-up with Bellinger isn't the annual salary; it’s the length. If the Yankees move to six years, the deal gets done.
- Monitor the Trade Market: Keep an eye on Milwaukee. Freddy Peralta is the "high-leverage" target the Yankees need to bolster a rotation that looks thin behind Cole.
- Don't Ignore the Kids: George Lombard Jr. is the name everyone in Tampa is talking about. He might be the shortstop of the future if Anthony Volpe’s bat doesn't wake up after last year's labrum issues.
The Yankees have the money. They have the need. Now they just need to actually put some numbers on the board.
Check back tomorrow. The box score might finally have a "W" in the transaction column.