If you were worried about cataloguing every single dollar the New York Yankees were planning to spend this offseason, while one particular deal remained secretive, worry no more!

As it turns out, the Yankees have shipped out an estimated $3.62 million worth of Jose Trevino’s final year of arbitration, instead taking responsibility for a $5 million lump sum due to reliever Jonathan Loaisiga. Johnny Lasagna, once a featured member of the ‘pen, is (stop me if you’ve heard this before) returning from injury. He’s expected back in late April or May, depending on the smoothness of his rehab from an internal brace procedure, which knocked him out three outings into the 2024 campaign (otherwise known as his walk year).

There’s a chance that the Yankees end up benefitting here. As long as they don’t build their bullpen around having Loaisiga in the seventh or eighth inning, and instead consider him to be a luxury item, it’s a great addition of a familiar face. Devin Williams (and Fernando Cruz, to a certain extent) definitely help with thickening out the depth chart.

Of course, the price matters, too. Jon Heyman finally dropped the full contract details on Tuesday afternoon, and they’re more than reasonable (especially given the rumors that preceded his return to the Yankees).

Yankees’ contract details for Jonathan Loaisiga revealed

Per sources, the Yankees were battling it out with the Mets for Loaisiga’s services prior to the Winter Meetings, and (likely) unfounded internet rumors claimed that Steve Cohen was close to agreeing on a three-year, $27 million deal with the right-hander.

Obviously, if that were true, Loaisiga would’ve opted for the financial security over the familiarity of the clubhouse in the Bronx. Ultimately, he signed for $5 million in 2025 ($4.5 million salary, $500,000 signing bonus), with a club option attached for $5 million additional in 2026. There are also innings-based incentives Loaisiga can attain next year; if he stays healthy, he’ll reap the rewards.

Like many of his bullpen mates from the 2024 roster, strikeouts have never been Loaisiga’s primary goal; his 100 MPH cheddar induces a surprising amount of contact, though much of it’s soft. Though he won’t have a full year in front of it to prove himself, here’s to hoping Loaisiga can justify the Yankees’ modest investment in front of the team’s new-look defense.