The 2025 season did not end the way the Yankees envisioned.
After making the World Series in 2024, the Yanks were bounced by the Blue Jays in the ALDS. It was a disappointing end for a team that was tied for the most wins in the American League, but New York believes there is unfinished business. That's why GM Brian Cashman is running it back in 2026.
For better or worse, the Yankees are hoping a full season with midseason acquisitions Ryan McMahon, Jose Caballero and David Bednar will help them get back to the World Series. They are also banking on the return of Gerrit Cole, who underwent Tommy John surgery before the 2025 season, to bolster a rotation that was already one of the best in the AL.
However, Cole won't be back by Opening Day and he's not the only one. Anthony Volpe and Carlos Rodon will miss time and start the season on the IL. That leaves a few spots open on the 26-man roster.
So, as Yankees pitchers and catchers report, here is our first 26-man roster prediction for the 2026 season…
Starting Lineup
Trent Grisham: CF
Aaron Judge: RF
Cody Bellinger: LF
Ben Rice: 1B
Giancarlo Stanton: DH
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: 2B
Ryan McMahon: 3B
Jose Caballero: SS
Austin Wells: C
This is the easy part.
The Yankees are running it back, and the everyday starting lineup will look very similar to what it was in the final months of 2025. Barring any injuries, the usual regulars will play, with McMahon and Rice manning the corners.
A year ago, Paul Goldschmidt was the starting first baseman, but Rice's bat is too important to leave on the bench.
With Volpe on the shelf, Caballero will be the starting shortstop for now. The Yanks will see if Caballero can make the position his own before Volpe returns. If Caballero struggles, Volpe will regain the starting job and Caballero will be relegated to the bench.
Rotation
Max Fried: LHP
Cam Schlittler: RHP
Luis Gil: RHP}
Ryan Yarbrough: LHP
Will Warren: RHP
Ryan Weathers: RHP
With Cole, Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt on the IL to start the season, it's likely the Yankees will begin the year with a six-man rotation.
The rationale is two-fold.
It'll limit the number of innings for the youngsters and Fried, who threw a career high 195.1 innings in 2025. It'll also reduce how many starts are needed by Yarbrough or Paul Blackburn before Cole and Rodon return. I'll say Yarbrough will get the nod to make some spot starts, but manager Aaron Boone said in his news conference on the first day of pitchers and catchers that when those starters return, he could slide an arm or two into the bullpen.
The Yankees traded for Weathers, so he seems like a lock to make the initial rotation along with Schlittler, Gil, and Warren, who all showed they can pitch in the big leagues. The six-man rotation will also help Weathers stay healthy after making just eight starts a year ago.
Bullpen
David Bednar: RHP
Camilo Doval: RHP
Jake Bird: RHP
Osvaldo Bido: RHP
Fernando Cruz: RHP
Tim Hill: LHP
Angel Chivilli: RHP
I predict the arms in the bullpen will be asked to do some heavy lifting, at least in the early going. Hopefully, Fried and the rest of the starters give length in March/April to give Bednar, Doval, Cruz and the rest of the high-leverage guys some rest in between outings. But outside of those three, there aren't a lot of locks.
The Yanks picked up Hill's option, so he'll start as the lone lefty in the bullpen. That leaves three more spots to choose from.
Bird was one of the relievers Cashman picked up at last year's trade deadline, and he did not pan out. He made three appearances in pinstripes and allowed six runs across 2.0 innings. He was sent down to Triple-A, where he remained for the duration of the season. But now, the right-hander has a chance to figure things out under the watchful eye of the Yankees trainers and coaches.
I believe he'll do enough to earn a spot, and if he struggles, he still has minor league options.
And for that final spot, Bido is an intriguing option. The Yankees claimed him off waivers from the Athletics after a rough 2025. But Bido had a strong 2024, striking out 63 batters across 63.1 innings and pitching to a 3.41 ERA. Perhaps the Yankees get the 30-year-old back to that point this spring.
And then there's Chivilli, whom the Yanks acquired from the Rockies in January. The hard-throwing righty has not had success in the majors thus far (6.18 ERA across 73 appearances), but he has the stuff to potentially make him a great fit for the bullpen. Perhaps taking Chivilli out of Coors Field and having the Yankees' pitching lab mold him into a competent reliever could revitalize his career in the same way they made Cruz into a household name.
Bench
Amed Rosario: INF
Paul Goldschmidt: 1B
J.C. Escarra: C
Oswaldo Cabrera: UTIL
And here's where things get kind of interesting.
Rosario, Goldschmidt, and Escarra are locks, but the Yankees need a fourth outfielder. I believe Jasson Dominguez will start the season in Triple-A. He has options, and regular at-bats and playing time are what the young switch-hitter needs right now.
That opens up the door for Cabrera. And while most of his time has been spent playing the infield, he has appeared in over 100 games in the outfield, including 92 starts.
Rosario also has experience playing the outfield, but the versatility Cabrera provides, as well as being a switch-hitter, gives him the edge over others like a Spencer Jones. The team is too left-handed as is.