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It’s been a calm, drama-free Yankees camp – one made even quieter lately by the absence of captain Aaron Judge and several other World Baseball Classic players.
Overall, “I feel like we’ve had a really strong camp to this point,’’ manager Aaron Boone said earlier this week.
“The focus has been excellent, we expect a lot from each other, and you sense that from the guys.’’
Into the home stretch of spring training, “we have high expectations,’’ said Boone. “And nothing has transpired to change those thoughts.’’
With that, here’s our latest thoughts on how the 2026 Opening Day roster might look, with one change from last week's projections:
Max Fried, LHP
Luis Gil, RHP
Ryan Weathers, LHP
Will Warren, RHP
Cam Schlittler, RHP
Starting on the injured list: RHPs Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, Chase Hampton; LHP Carlos Rodon.
In the conversation: None.
Longshot candidates: None.
Summary: About the only question here is whether the Yankees open with a fifth starter, or not.
Due to scheduled off days in the early-season schedule, Boone could initially go with a four-man rotation, allowing Schlittler a little more time to build up beyond the 70-pitch range.
On Wednesday night, Schlittler tossed 3.2 innings (46 pitches), yielded one run, and registered six strikeouts against the Toronto Blue Jays, continuing to show no ill-effects from a bout with back inflammation earlier in camp.
David Bednar, RHP
Fernando Cruz, RHP
Camilo Doval, RHP
Brent Headrick, LHP
Cade Winquest, RHP
Ryan Yarbrough, LHP
Paul Blackburn, RHP
In the conversation: RHPs Jake Bird, Angel Chivilli, Kervin Castro.
Longshot candidates: RHPs Yerry de los Santos, Osvaldo Brito.
Summary: No changes here, but Winquest's Rule 5 status and his mixed results in spring training make him an interesting subject.
You'd anticipate Winquest making the team (rather than be traded or offered back to the St. Louis Cardinals), but his long-term 2026 status is uncertain.
This week, Boone mentioned that Castro had opened his eyes in camp, and the right-hander continued a solid spring (5 games, 7 IP, 0 earned runs) with another 1.1 scoreless innings Wednesday night.
Austin Wells
In the conversation: J.C. Escarra.
Longshot candidates: None.
*Summary: This is where Ben Rice comes in.
For a time last season, the Yankees had Rice, their regular first baseman against right-handed pitching, as their lone backup catcher.
That could happen again to start the season, partly due to the scheduled off days on the early schedule - allowing Escarra regular at-bats at Triple-A, rather than rare playing time behind Wells.
Plus, this opens another roster spot for a versatile defender/utility player to begin the season.
Ben Rice 1B
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
Ryan McMahon, 3B
Jose Caballero, IF
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B-DH
Amed Rosario, IF
Paul DeJong, IF
Starting on the injured list: Anthony Volpe.
In the conversation: Max Schuemann, Oswaldo Cabrera, Jonathan Ornelas.
Longshot candidates: Braden Shewmake, Zack Short, Seth Brown, Jorbit Vivas.
Summary: Assuming Cabrera - coming back from last year's ankle fracture - is delayed a bit, either DeJong, Ornelas or Schuemann could fill one of the final position player spots.
DeJong and Ornelas are non-roster invitees and Schuemann - an intriguing player for Boone due to his versatility, including an ability to play the outfield - is on the 40-man roster.
But DeJong's nine-year MLB track record, with experience at all four infield spots, might give him the edge in this field.
Aaron Judge
Cody Bellinger
Trent Grisham
Giancarlo Stanton
Randal Grichuk
In the conversation: Jasson Dominguez.
Longshot candidates: Seth Brown, Duke Ellis, Kenedy Corona, Marco Luciano.
Summary: Despite a stellar spring, with four home runs in 21 at-bats, you knew Spencer Jones - without a path to regular playing time - would be optioned to Triple-A.
Dominguez, also enjoying a very good spring training, figures to follow Jones to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing him regular at-bats as a switch-hitter and more reps in left field.
Grichuk's late addition on a minor league contract instantly put him in play as fourth outfield candidate, with a history of mashing lefty pitching, and he's been proving his readiness for Opening Day.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Yankees roster projections for Opening Day 2026
Continue reading...
Overall, “I feel like we’ve had a really strong camp to this point,’’ manager Aaron Boone said earlier this week.
“The focus has been excellent, we expect a lot from each other, and you sense that from the guys.’’
Into the home stretch of spring training, “we have high expectations,’’ said Boone. “And nothing has transpired to change those thoughts.’’
With that, here’s our latest thoughts on how the 2026 Opening Day roster might look, with one change from last week's projections:
Yankees’ projected rotation (5)
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Max Fried, LHP
Luis Gil, RHP
Ryan Weathers, LHP
Will Warren, RHP
Cam Schlittler, RHP
Starting on the injured list: RHPs Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, Chase Hampton; LHP Carlos Rodon.
In the conversation: None.
Longshot candidates: None.
Summary: About the only question here is whether the Yankees open with a fifth starter, or not.
Due to scheduled off days in the early-season schedule, Boone could initially go with a four-man rotation, allowing Schlittler a little more time to build up beyond the 70-pitch range.
On Wednesday night, Schlittler tossed 3.2 innings (46 pitches), yielded one run, and registered six strikeouts against the Toronto Blue Jays, continuing to show no ill-effects from a bout with back inflammation earlier in camp.
Yankees’ projected bullpen (8)
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David Bednar, RHP
Fernando Cruz, RHP
Camilo Doval, RHP
Brent Headrick, LHP
Cade Winquest, RHP
Ryan Yarbrough, LHP
Paul Blackburn, RHP
In the conversation: RHPs Jake Bird, Angel Chivilli, Kervin Castro.
Longshot candidates: RHPs Yerry de los Santos, Osvaldo Brito.
Summary: No changes here, but Winquest's Rule 5 status and his mixed results in spring training make him an interesting subject.
You'd anticipate Winquest making the team (rather than be traded or offered back to the St. Louis Cardinals), but his long-term 2026 status is uncertain.
This week, Boone mentioned that Castro had opened his eyes in camp, and the right-hander continued a solid spring (5 games, 7 IP, 0 earned runs) with another 1.1 scoreless innings Wednesday night.
Yankees’ projected catchers (1)*
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Austin Wells
In the conversation: J.C. Escarra.
Longshot candidates: None.
*Summary: This is where Ben Rice comes in.
For a time last season, the Yankees had Rice, their regular first baseman against right-handed pitching, as their lone backup catcher.
That could happen again to start the season, partly due to the scheduled off days on the early schedule - allowing Escarra regular at-bats at Triple-A, rather than rare playing time behind Wells.
Plus, this opens another roster spot for a versatile defender/utility player to begin the season.
Yankees’ projected infielders (7)
Ben Rice 1B
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
Ryan McMahon, 3B
Jose Caballero, IF
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B-DH
Amed Rosario, IF
Paul DeJong, IF
Starting on the injured list: Anthony Volpe.
In the conversation: Max Schuemann, Oswaldo Cabrera, Jonathan Ornelas.
Longshot candidates: Braden Shewmake, Zack Short, Seth Brown, Jorbit Vivas.
Summary: Assuming Cabrera - coming back from last year's ankle fracture - is delayed a bit, either DeJong, Ornelas or Schuemann could fill one of the final position player spots.
DeJong and Ornelas are non-roster invitees and Schuemann - an intriguing player for Boone due to his versatility, including an ability to play the outfield - is on the 40-man roster.
But DeJong's nine-year MLB track record, with experience at all four infield spots, might give him the edge in this field.
Yankees’ projected outfielders (5)
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Aaron Judge
Cody Bellinger
Trent Grisham
Giancarlo Stanton
Randal Grichuk
In the conversation: Jasson Dominguez.
Longshot candidates: Seth Brown, Duke Ellis, Kenedy Corona, Marco Luciano.
Summary: Despite a stellar spring, with four home runs in 21 at-bats, you knew Spencer Jones - without a path to regular playing time - would be optioned to Triple-A.
Dominguez, also enjoying a very good spring training, figures to follow Jones to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing him regular at-bats as a switch-hitter and more reps in left field.
Grichuk's late addition on a minor league contract instantly put him in play as fourth outfield candidate, with a history of mashing lefty pitching, and he's been proving his readiness for Opening Day.
Yankees' projected Opening Day lineup
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- Trent Grisham, CF
- Aaron Judge, RF
- Cody Bellinger, LF
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
- Ben Rice, 1B
- Jose Caballero, SS
- Austin Wells, C
- Ryan McMahon, 3B
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Yankees roster projections for Opening Day 2026
Continue reading...
