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TAMPA, Fla. - Already, there's some intrigue regarding the makeup of the Yankees' opening 2026 active roster.
Could utility man Oswaldo Cabrera, coming off last year's fractured ankle, begin the season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, along with currently blocked outfielder Jasson Dominguez?
And how will the Yankees decide on the last handful of relievers bidding for inclusion?
Less than five weeks away from Opening Day, here's our updated guess at the Yankees' 26-man roster when spring training ends:
Max Fried, LHP
Luis Gil, RHP
Cam Schlittler, RHP
Ryan Weathers, LHP
Will Warren, RHP
Starting on the injured list: RHPs Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, Chase Hampton; LHP Carlos Rodon.
In the conversation: LHP Ryan Yarbrough; RHP Paul Blackburn.
Longshot candidates: RHPs Elmer Rodriguez, Carlos Lagrange, Brendan Beck, Adam Kloffenstein, Drake Fellows.
Summary: This dynamic changes once Rodon (around May), Cole (around June) and Schmidt (August-September) arrive, with the likes of Weathers and Warren potentially moving to the bullpen.
Yarbrough and Blackburn provide injury insurance, while Rodriguez and Lagrange have been the talk of camp, with the potential to impact the roster (in any role) at some point this season.
David Bednar, RHP
Fernando Cruz, RHP
Camilo Doval, RHP
Tim Hill, LHP
Brent Headrick, LHP
Cade Winquest, RHP
Ryan Yarbrough, LHP
Paul Blackburn, RHP
In the conversation: RHPs Jake Bird, Angel Chivilli, Osvaldo Brito, Yerry de los Santos.
Longshot candidates: RHPs Rafael Montero, Kervin Castro, Yovanny Cruz, Harrison Cohen.
Summary: The veterans Yarbrough ($2.5 million) and Blackburn ($2 million) have guaranteed contracts, and either could be a trade candidate barring any staff injury issues in camp.
Bird, Chivilli, de los Santos and Castro each have a minor league option remaining. The veteran Montero is having visa issues and wasn’t yet in camp as of Thursday morning.
Austin Wells
J.C. Escarra
In the conversation: Ali Sanchez, Payton Henry.
Longshot candidates: Miguel Palma, Abrahan Gutierrez.
Summary: Projected regular first baseman Ben Rice is keeping a hand in catching duties this spring, though it's unclear how that will play out during the regular season.
Rice made 26 starts behind the plate last year. Meanwhile, the Yankees will keep monitoring the market for a right-handed hitting catcher.
Ben Rice
Paul Goldschmidt
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Jose Caballero
Ryan McMahon
Amed Rosario
Max Schuemann
Starting on the injured list: Anthony Volpe.
In the conversation: Oswaldo Cabrera, Paul DeJong, Zack Short, Braden Shewmake.
Longshot candidates: Seth Brown, Jonathan Ornelas, Jorbit Vivas, Marco Luciano, Ernesto Martinez Jr., George Lombard Jr.
Summary: Coming back from last year’s gruesome ankle fracture, Cabrera is being slow played as the exhibition games begin, making him at least questionable for Opening Day.
Per manager Aaron Boone, third baseman McMahon should get a few Grapefruit League innings at shortstop, feeling "he can absolutely handle it'' if the situation arises.
The versatile Schuemann, 28, is on the 40-man roster and has big-league experience at shortstop with the Athletics since 2024, and Boone also sang Shewmake's praises defensively.
Aaron Judge
Cody Bellinger
Trent Grisham
Giancarlo Stanton
In the conversation: Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones.
Long shot candidates: Seth Brown, Duke Ellis, Kennedy Corona, Marco Luciano, Ernesto Martinez, Jr.
Summary: GM Brian Cashman's recent comments about the benefits of Dominguez playing daily have underlined the possibility that the switch-hitter could begin 2026 at Triple-A.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Updated Yankees projected roster and Opening Day lineup for 2026
Continue reading...
Could utility man Oswaldo Cabrera, coming off last year's fractured ankle, begin the season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, along with currently blocked outfielder Jasson Dominguez?
And how will the Yankees decide on the last handful of relievers bidding for inclusion?
Less than five weeks away from Opening Day, here's our updated guess at the Yankees' 26-man roster when spring training ends:
Yankees projected rotation (5)
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Max Fried, LHP
Luis Gil, RHP
Cam Schlittler, RHP
Ryan Weathers, LHP
Will Warren, RHP
Starting on the injured list: RHPs Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, Chase Hampton; LHP Carlos Rodon.
In the conversation: LHP Ryan Yarbrough; RHP Paul Blackburn.
Longshot candidates: RHPs Elmer Rodriguez, Carlos Lagrange, Brendan Beck, Adam Kloffenstein, Drake Fellows.
Summary: This dynamic changes once Rodon (around May), Cole (around June) and Schmidt (August-September) arrive, with the likes of Weathers and Warren potentially moving to the bullpen.
Yarbrough and Blackburn provide injury insurance, while Rodriguez and Lagrange have been the talk of camp, with the potential to impact the roster (in any role) at some point this season.
Yankees projected bullpen (8)
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David Bednar, RHP
Fernando Cruz, RHP
Camilo Doval, RHP
Tim Hill, LHP
Brent Headrick, LHP
Cade Winquest, RHP
Ryan Yarbrough, LHP
Paul Blackburn, RHP
In the conversation: RHPs Jake Bird, Angel Chivilli, Osvaldo Brito, Yerry de los Santos.
Longshot candidates: RHPs Rafael Montero, Kervin Castro, Yovanny Cruz, Harrison Cohen.
Summary: The veterans Yarbrough ($2.5 million) and Blackburn ($2 million) have guaranteed contracts, and either could be a trade candidate barring any staff injury issues in camp.
Bird, Chivilli, de los Santos and Castro each have a minor league option remaining. The veteran Montero is having visa issues and wasn’t yet in camp as of Thursday morning.
Yankees projected catchers (2)
Austin Wells
J.C. Escarra
In the conversation: Ali Sanchez, Payton Henry.
Longshot candidates: Miguel Palma, Abrahan Gutierrez.
Summary: Projected regular first baseman Ben Rice is keeping a hand in catching duties this spring, though it's unclear how that will play out during the regular season.
Rice made 26 starts behind the plate last year. Meanwhile, the Yankees will keep monitoring the market for a right-handed hitting catcher.
Yankees projected infielders (7)
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Ben Rice
Paul Goldschmidt
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Jose Caballero
Ryan McMahon
Amed Rosario
Max Schuemann
Starting on the injured list: Anthony Volpe.
In the conversation: Oswaldo Cabrera, Paul DeJong, Zack Short, Braden Shewmake.
Longshot candidates: Seth Brown, Jonathan Ornelas, Jorbit Vivas, Marco Luciano, Ernesto Martinez Jr., George Lombard Jr.
Summary: Coming back from last year’s gruesome ankle fracture, Cabrera is being slow played as the exhibition games begin, making him at least questionable for Opening Day.
Per manager Aaron Boone, third baseman McMahon should get a few Grapefruit League innings at shortstop, feeling "he can absolutely handle it'' if the situation arises.
The versatile Schuemann, 28, is on the 40-man roster and has big-league experience at shortstop with the Athletics since 2024, and Boone also sang Shewmake's praises defensively.
Yankees potential outfielders (4)
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Aaron Judge
Cody Bellinger
Trent Grisham
Giancarlo Stanton
In the conversation: Jasson Dominguez, Spencer Jones.
Long shot candidates: Seth Brown, Duke Ellis, Kennedy Corona, Marco Luciano, Ernesto Martinez, Jr.
Summary: GM Brian Cashman's recent comments about the benefits of Dominguez playing daily have underlined the possibility that the switch-hitter could begin 2026 at Triple-A.
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: Updated Yankees projected roster and Opening Day lineup for 2026
Continue reading...
