Yankees Expected to Lose Key Bullpen Arm During Free Agency

Following his breakout 2026 campaign with the Yankees, Paul Blackburn is about to get paid. The right-handed pitcher officially became a free agent on Thursday, leaving a potentially massive hole in New York’s bullpen. Blackburn was one of 144 players to enter free agency this week, joining nine other Yankees on the open market via the MLB Player’s Association. According to a recent piece from Yankees on SI, New York isn’t expected to bring back Blackburn this offseason. Yankees Predicted to Lose Paul Blackburn It’s no exaggeration to say that Blackburn has revived his career in the Bronx.