The New York Yankees are out of the playoffs early once again, 16th straight season without a World Series trophy. Spending money certainly has not been the issue. The front office has tried everything and even landed players like Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Max Fried in pitching and sluggers like Juan Soto and Paul Goldschmidt, but they fell short. And after another season without a title, a new name is generating buzz in New York to break the curse.

Munetaka Murakami.  The rumors of the Yankees’ interest in the Japanese slugger were growing stronger. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand recently named the Bombers as a serious contender for the slugger. “Nikkan Sports reported this week that the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, and Mariners are among the teams that could make a big push for Murakami, who hit 22 home runs with 47 RBIs and a 1.043 OPS in 56 games during an injury-shortened 2025 campaign, flashing the type of power he showed in his 56-homer season,” Feinsand wrote.

But does the move actually make any sense for the team?

According to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, the answer is a resounding “no.” On Reddit, a fan asked if the Yankees would chase a Japanese player. Kirschner stated, “I know Murakami is a popular target for fans. I don’t see that happening.” He explained very simply. “Ben Rice is the first baseman next season. Giancarlo Stanton is the DH. There’s no spot for him.” It’s a clear case of a roster logjam.

It’s hard to argue with. Ben Rice had a fantastic breakout season in 2025. Rice had 26 home runs in limited appearances and became a valuable plus cost-controlled player for the future. At the same time, Giancarlo Stanton is locked into the designated hitter role. After a strong 2025 since returning from the injury, his contract makes him essentially untradeable.

Murakami, who can only play first base and DH, simply has nowhere to play in that roster.  So, spending over $150 million on a player who doesn’t fit in the lineup and doesn’t even get enough chances will be a massive mistake.

But Kirschner did identify another Japanese slugger who makes perfect sense. “Depending on how his market develops, Kazuma Okamoto of the Yomiuri Giants makes sense,” Kirschner wrote. Kirschner highlighted, “He hits lefties well, which the Yankees will need with Rice and McMahon being weak in that area. He can play first and third base. He has power and good contact rates.” In that case, Kazuma Okamoto can be a good platoon partner.

While the debate over international stars looks great, the Yankees have many other fires to put out this winter..

Beyond Japan, the Yankees’ offseason to-do list

First, the Bronx Bombers must prioritize signing an outfielder until they figure out what to do with Spencer Joners. Cody Bellinger was great, but Kyle Tucker should be their main target. Tucker is a bigger offensive threat and is only 28 years old who consistently ranking among the league’s best in quality of contact. With Aaron Judge aging, the team needs another elite bat to carry the load for years to come.

Next, the team must address the black hole at shortstop, where they can no longer simply hand the job to Anthony Volpe. After three years of poor offensive production, and as the free-agent market is thin, the team should have Volpe and José Caballero battle for the starting role in the coming days. Volpe is not good enough to have a guaranteed spot.

The pitching staff also needs adjustments. The Yankees should seriously consider moving Luis Gil to the bullpen to work on his command. It was a major issue since his rookie season. They can also use some of the arms like Gil, Will Warren, and Clarke Schmidt to build a package to bring a pitcher like Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, who is available in this season’s free agency.

Finally, the team also has a decision on the future of outfielder Trent Grisham. He had a surprise season with 34 home runs, but his declining speed is a concern. The Yankees can offer him a one-year qualifying offer worth around his present market value $22 million, which will be a low-risk move that keeps his bat in the lineup and protects the team from a bad long-term deal.

So, the path forward requires more than just a big checkbook, and it will demand smart roster construction. Whether they land Okamoto, Murakami, or make other key moves, the goal is clear. The Yankees need a complete team to break their curse. Will they finally get it right? Only time will tell.