Not too much has changed with the Yankees’ roster since their 2025 season ended with the ALDS, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be some competition in camp this spring.
With pitchers and catchers officially reporting to George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday, there’s a great deal of intrigue (and concern) surrounding the bullpen. There could also be a battle for the end of the bench.
And of course, there will be a few new faces and some talented prospects to keep an eye on in camp. With that in mind, here are a few names to know and position groups to watch before Opening Day.
THE BULLPEN
David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz and Tim Hill are projected locks for the bullpen. Ryan Yarbrough will be in there too if an injury doesn’t force the swingman to the rotation.
Then what?
The Yankees essentially acquired a bunch of lottery tickets for their bullpen this offseason after losing Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, among others. Now they’re hoping to hit on a few members of a group that includes, but is not limited to, Paul Blackburn, Jake Bird, Cade Winquest, Brent Headrick, Angel Chivilli and Yerry De los Santos.
One would think that Blackburn has the inside track for a spot, as he signed a one-year, $2 million over the offseason. However, turning him into the next Weaver will be easier said than done, though the Yankees got off to a nice start by tweaking his arsenal after he was designated for assignment by the Mets last season.
The club is also high on Bird, who made a poor first impression and was demoted to Triple-A after being acquired from and overworked by the Rockies last summer. The same goes for Headrick; an unprompted Aaron Boone said he expects a lot from the lefty during the Winter Meetings.
Winquest, meanwhile, is a Rule 5 Draft pick, so he has to make and remain on the Yankees’ active roster or be exposed to waivers. Chivilli, meanwhile, has tantalizing stuff but presents as a project after posting a 7.06 ERA for Colorado last season.
RYAN WEATHERS
Weathers, acquired from the Marlins, was the most significant external addition to the Yankees’ roster this offseason. He currently looks like a backend starter, though he has the stuff to reach a higher ceiling. That includes a high-90s fastball and three pitches (a changeup, sweeper and slider) that yielded whiff rates over 33% last season.
Over the winter, the southpaw added that he expects to use a two-seam fastball more against left-handed hitters in 2026.
Only 26, Weathers’ biggest issue has been staying healthy. Flexor and lat strains limited him to just eight starts in 2025, and there was also an index finger strain in 2024. Weathers has only totaled 186.1 big league innings since 2022 after throwing 94.2 frames as a rookie for the Padres in 2021
JASSON DOMÍNGUEZ
Domínguez is in a state of purgatory, as Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham are returning to an outfield that also includes Aaron Judge. That means The Martian currently projects as a fourth outfielder at best.
He’s not a perfect fit for that role, as the switch-hitter is weaker from the right side of the plate and only plays a substandard left field. Those factors contributed to the Yankees’ search for a right-handed bench bat this offseason.
Only 23, Domínguez has plenty of time to improve. Regular playing time would certainly help with that, but Domínguez’s clearest path to consistent major league at-bats will require an injury to one of the aforementioned outfielders or Giancarlo Stanton.
THE BENCH
Brian Cashman previously said that he didn’t want to demote Domínguez to Triple-A under similar circumstances last season. Could the Yankees change their tune now that Paul Goldschmidt is returning and crowding their bench?
As things stand, the veteran first baseman will be joined on the bench by catcher J.C Escarra and utilityman Amed Rosario. Goldschmidt and Rosario are both right-handed hitters.
That leaves one spot for Domínguez and utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera. Both switch-hit, but are better from the left side, and have minor league options. Cabrera, coming off an ankle fracture, offers far more versatility: he’s positioned as the Yankees’ backup shortstop with José Caballero expected to start for the injured Anthony Volpe, and he can also play the outfield.
Domínguez’s bat offers more off the bench, but again, he only plays left and could use regular playing time.
Caballero and Rosario can play the outfield, too. The latter also has experience at short, though he’s not an ideal option there anymore.
PROSPECTS TO WATCH
Among the prospects expected in big league camp who could impact the major league club in 2026 are pitchers Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange. Both would log some more innings in the minors in the Yankees’ perfect world, but don’t be surprised if they end up in the Bronx at some point this season.
Spencer Jones will also look to show that he can sustain his power and cut down on his swing and miss concerns. But like Domínguez, there’s no clear path to playing time for him right now. Odds are he’ll start the season back at Triple-A.
Other young Yankees to watch in camp include pitchers Chase Hampton, Ben Hess, Brendan Beck, Eric Reyzelman and Harrison Cohen. Top prospect George Lombard Jr. is also expected back in major league camp, though Brian Cashman previously threw cold water on the idea of him debuting in 2026.
