New York Yankees News

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Jasson Domínguez • LF • Yankees

Jasson Dominguez's Stock Falling in Spring Training

New York Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez has been sliding in fantasy baseball drafts with uncertainty about his position and playing time in the Yankees' lineup. Dominguez is ranked as the No. 76 outfielder in the RotoBaller rankings, and his ADP is getting close to lining up with that ranking after dropping throughout the spring. Dominguez has been doing his part on the field, with a big spring training so far. He is hitting .296 in his first nine Grapefruit League games with a home run, seven RBI, a stolen base, and improved outfield defense. He could end up being a great value if he claims an everyday role after his stock drops, but he's still going a little early compared to other options around his same ranking. The biggest concern with Dominguez is the squeeze for outfield playing time in the Bronx.

2 days ago

Elmer Rodríguez • SP • Yankees

Yankees Reassign Elmer Rodriguez to Minor-League Camp

The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they reassigned right-handed pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez and outfielder Spencer Jones to minor-league camp. Rodriguez, who is the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but he could be one of the top arms considered if the Yankees have any openings in their rotation down the road. The 22-year-old allowed two runs with five strikeouts and one walk in his two Grapefruit League starts over six innings. The former Boston Red Sox farmhand broke out in three minor-league stops in 2025, posting a 2.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 176:57 K: BB in 150 innings over 27 outings (26 starts). Rodriguez features a sinker, sweeper, and curveball and is already one of the best young ground-ball pitchers with improving control. He's a name to monitor in deeper single-year formats in 2026.

2 days ago

Spencer Jones • CF • Yankees

Yankees Send Spencer Jones to Minor-League Camp

The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they sent outfield prospect Spencer Jones and right-hander Elmer Rodriguez to minor-league camp. Despite looking good at the plate in Grapefruit League games -- Jones went 6-for-18 with three home runs and three stolen bases in spring training -- the 24-year-old left-handed slugger will begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Even with Jasson Dominguez potentially starting the year in the minors, too, there isn't room for Jones on the big-league roster just yet. Making contact more consistently continues to be the focus for Jones, who struck out 36.6% of the time at Triple-A in 2025. He hit .274/.362/.571 with a .932 OPS, 35 home runs, 80 RBI, 102 runs scored, and 29 steals in 116 games at Triple-A and Double-A Somerset last year. Jones' plus-plus power and plus speed will eventually play at the major-league level, but he could be a serious drain on your batting average if he doesn't clean up his plate discipline and make more contact.

2 days ago

Clarke Schmidt • SP • Yankees

Clarke Schmidt Ditching New Sweeper Grip

New York Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (elbow) thinks that grip changes last year led to his elbow issues that required Tommy John surgery, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. "I think the No. 1 thing that played a factor was mid-season grip changes," Schmidt said. "You make grip changes, and you start to really put different stress on different areas of your forearm and stuff like that." The 30-year-old started throwing a new sweeper on May 6 last year, and it required him to "grip it really hard" and "torque it." A month late, he was having trouble recovering between starts and battled through right-forearm soreness. Schmidt was limited to 14 starts in 2025. He plans on sticking with his old sweeper grip and will "definitely" ditch the newer one. This spring, Schmidt is focusing on his rehab. Fantasy managers are unlikely to have him available until the end of the summer, limiting his fantasy appeal in 2026.

6 days ago

Cade Smith • RP • Guardians |

Cade Smith • SP • Yankees

Cade Smith Emerging as an Elite Source of Saves

Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith has emerged as an elite source of saves in 2026, now sitting as the fourth-highest ranked reliever for the upcoming 2026 fantasy season at RotoBaller, just ahead of Andres Munoz, who registered 38 saves for Seattle a season ago. The right-hander has had a phenomenal first two seasons in the big leagues, amassing 103 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings as a reliever in 2024 with a 1.91 ERA and 0.90 WHIP, then followed it up with 104 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings with a 2.93 ERA (1.95 FIP) and 1.00 WHIP in 2025 while racking up 16 saves for the Guardians, 13 of which came after August 5 on the heels of the suspension of former closer Emmanuel Clase. Stepping in as the full-time closer in 2026, the 6-foot-5 Smith brings a 96.4 average fastball velocity with a 95th percentile whiff rate and 97th percentile strikeout rate to the role, on a team that won 88 games in '25 and should compete for a division crown once again. He won't be cheap on draft day, but with no indications of a slowdown on the horizon, the 26-year-old is rightfully not only one of the top relievers for fantasy, but he's also one of the top pitchers for fantasy regardless of role (starter or reliever).

7 days ago

Aaron Judge • RF • Yankees

Is Aaron Judge Worth the First Overall Pick?

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is coming off another massive season and is starring this spring training for both the Yankees and Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Last year, the Yankees slugger delivered an impressive .331/.357/.688 slash line with 53 home runs, 137 runs scored, 114 RBI, and 12 steals over 152 contests. He claimed his second straight AL MVP Award and continued to be one of the most reliable players for fantasy baseball at any position. Judge has been consistent and elite over the past few seasons, and playing at Yankee Stadium and hitting in the heart of a strong lineup should set him up for another huge season in 2026. Depending on how your league treats the dual-threat of Shohei Ohtani, Judge can definitely be worth the top pick overall. He is ranked No. 2 overall in the RotoBaller rankings behind Ohtani, but either option is a great way to start fantasy baseball drafts with a reliable anchor for your roster.

7 days ago

Carlos Lagrange • SP • Yankees

Carlos Lagrange Impressing in Spring Training

New York Yankees right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange has looked very comfortable through the early part of spring training and could be in serious contention to begin the season on the MLB roster. The team's No. 2-ranked prospect on MLB.com has appeared in two games so far (one start) and logged 5 2/3 innings with one earned run (two total runs) and a stellar 1.06 WHIP. He has struck out six batters and allowed just two free passes. Last summer, Lagrange spent most of his time at Double-A Somerset, where he logged 78 1/3 innings with a strong 3.22 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 104:50 K:BB. While he possesses immense strikeout upside, his weaker command has limited his production. If Lagrange continues this early success in camp, he could earn a spot on the Opening Day roster with both Carlos Rodon (elbow) and Gerrit Cole (elbow) set to miss the start of the season.

7 days ago

Cam Schlittler • SP • Yankees

Cam Schlittler to Make Grapefruit League Debut on Friday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler (back/lat) will make his spring debut this Friday in a start against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to manager Aaron Boone. The 6-foot-6 hurler had been dealing with left lat/mid-back discomfort earlier in camp and has been working his way back up to game action. It's good news as the former seventh-round draft pick should be ready for Opening Day, although Boone had previously indicated that Schlittler may not be fully stretched out by then, possibly getting to about 70 pitches early on in the year. The 25-year-old had a breakout campaign in 2025, recording a 2.96 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 17.4 percent K-BB% over 14 starts. He's going around pick 128 in Yahoo! leagues, right around his RotoBaller rank of 134, although a slightly diminished ceiling to begin the season may depress his value a bit more.

Mar 4

Cody Bellinger • LF • Yankees

Cody Bellinger Scheduled to Return to Grapefruit League Action on Thursday

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (back), who has been dealing with some back soreness in camp the last few days, took live batting practice on Wednesday and came out of it fine, according to Erik Boland of Newsday. Bellinger is scheduled to return to the Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins. In three spring training games before his back injury, the 30-year-old two-time All-Star and former MVP went 4-for-9 (.444) with an RBI and a run scored. Barring a setback, he should be ready to rock on Opening Day later this month for the Yankees. Bellinger is considered a top-25 fantasy outfielder going into his 10th year in the big leagues after slashing .272/.334/.480 with an .813 OPS, 29 home runs, 98 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 13 steals in 152 regular-season games in 2025 in his first year in the Bronx.

Mar 4

Spencer Jones • CF • Yankees

Spencer Jones Changes his Swing to Resemble Dodgers Superstar

New York Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones is now swinging like Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, according to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. After reviewing last year's film, Jones quickly found that his swing wasn't getting started until it was too late. The 6-foot-7 left-handed slugger "began constructing his swing in a way that attempted to resemble" Ohtani's, especially in the lower half. Jones expects the offseason changes to stick as he attempts to finally break into the big leagues in 2026. The 24-year-old former first-rounder has seen results this spring, hitting .300 (3-for-10) with three homers, four strikeouts, and two walks. Jones has elite power upside, can play all three outfield positions, and also runs the bases well. However, he tends to have a lot of swings and misses. Jones hit 35 homers and drove in 80 runs in 116 games in the minors in 2025, but he also struck out 35.4% of the time. He also had an in-zone contact rate of just 72%.

Mar 3

Giancarlo Stanton • DH • Yankees

Giancarlo Stanton Will Make His Spring Training Debut on Tuesday

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) is set to see his first action of Spring Training on Tuesday when the Yankees face off against Panama. He will bat fourth as the designated hitter as he begins his ramp-up to Opening Day. Stanton is still dealing with tennis elbow issues in both arms, but his goal is to be ready for a full season despite the issue. Last season, Stanton didn't play his first game until June 16 due to the problem, but he was effective once he debuted, hitting 24 homers in 77 games with a .273 batting average, .321 ISO, and .395 wOBA. If he plays a full season while managing his injury, he brings good power potential, although his health will definitely be something to monitor leading up to the start of the season.

Mar 3

Spencer Jones • CF • Yankees

Spencer Jones Flashing Elite Power in Spring Games

New York Yankees outfield prospect Spencer Jones has already launched three long balls through the opening week of spring training. Across his first five games, the young slugger has gone 3-for-10 with three home runs, one stolen base, and a 4:2 K:BB. The 24-year-old flashed elite upside in the minor leagues last season and appears poised to contend for his MLB debut later in 2026. He opened the 2025 campaign with Double-A and posted a .274/.389/.594 line with eight doubles, 16 home runs, and 10 stolen bases. He then moved up to Triple-A, where he continued to hit for high power, launching 19 home runs with 15 doubles and 19 stolen bases across a 67-game stint. However, his hefty 36.7% K% at Triple-A raises concerns about his long-term outlook. With the Yankee outfield quite crowded following the re-signing of Cody Bellinger, Jones figures to earn a promotion as an injury replacement later in the season.

Mar 2

Cody Bellinger • LF • Yankees

Cody Bellinger Dealing With Back Injury

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (back) is dealing with a back injury that could sideline him for a few days. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Bellinger's back went out on him. This is a similar issue to what Bellinger dealt with early last season. The Yankees aren't going to take any risks this early into camp. The plan is to give Bellinger a few days off before getting him back in the lineup as early as Tuesday. Bellinger signed a five-year, $162 million deal with the Yankees over the offseason. He's expected to be a key piece in the middle of the order this season. This sounds like a minor issue that should only sideline Bellinger for a couple of days.

Feb 28

Gerrit Cole • SP • Yankees

Gerrit Cole Set to Face Live Hitters Again on Friday

New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (elbow) is set to face live hitters again on Friday. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, the 35-year-old will face Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, and Giancarlo Stanton in the live inning. Cole has progressed quite well during the early stages of camp and is making a strong case to return to the mound early into the 2026 season. Cole was unable to pitch during the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace procedure in March of 2025. However, Cole has looked quite sharp in his previous bullpen session and remains in the mix to return early within the first half. In 2024, Cole logged 95 innings with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. However, in the previous season, Cole took home the AL Cy Young Award after striking out 222 hitters with a 2.63 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. He remains a prime stash option in the opening month as he could hold high-end SP2 upside as soon as he returns.

Feb 27

Ryan Weathers • SP • Yankees

Ryan Weathers Looks Sharp in Spring Debut

New York Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers looked good in his Grapefruit League debut with the Yankees on Wednesday, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings with no walks and five strikeouts against the Washington Nationals, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. In an effort to stay healthy in 2026 after two injury-riddled seasons, the 26-year-old southpaw has a new routine after working at Peak Kinetic Performance in the offseason. He eliminated some lifting patterns in the weight room and implemented more ground-based rolling exercises that focus on his spine. Weathers is hoping the changes he made in the offseason will keep him healthier, and he surely flashed his talent on Wednesday, topping out at a career-high 99.8 mph while averaging a 16-inch vertical break. The rest of his arsenal looked great, too, and he generated 12 whiffs. The former first-rounder has shown flashes, but injuries have held him back. His upside alone makes him worth a late-round dart throw in mixed fantasy leagues.

Feb 26

Giancarlo Stanton • DH • Yankees

Giancarlo Stanton Still Dealing With Elbow Pain, Hopes to Play Full Season

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) is working through significant injuries to both his elbows as he prepares for spring training. He said that even a full offseason of rest has not helped his tennis elbow issues that have plagued both arms since 2024. He said, "I can't open a bottle. I can't open a bag of chips ... a bag of anything. That's the way it is." He is planning to play through the issue, though, and his goal remains to play the full season. The Yankees have taken it slow with Stanton in spring training, but they are hoping that he is ready to go for Opening Day, even though he has not yet made his Grapefruit League debut. Last season, he didn't play his first game until June 16, but he hit 24 homers in 77 games with a .273 batting average, .321 ISO, and .395 wOBA. Even while dealing with the issues, he offers good power potential as long as he stays in the lineup.

Feb 26

Randal Grichuk • RF • Yankees

Randal Grichuk Joins Yankees on Minor-League Deal

Free-agent outfielder Randal Grichuk is signing a minor-league deal that includes a non-roster invitation to major-league spring training on Wednesday night with the New York Yankees, according to Jack Curry of YES Network. Grichuk could see plenty of at-bats against left-handed hitters with a heavy left-handed-hitting outfield. Earning a spot on the Opening Day roster won't be guaranteed to the 34-year-old veteran, though, especially after a rough year in 2025. Grichuk played in 113 combined games with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals in 2025, slashing an ugly .228/.273/.401 with a .674 OPS, nine home runs, 27 RBI, and 35 runs scored in 293 plate appearances. The 12-year veteran and former first-rounder will merely be a cheap source of power as a part-time player in AL-only leagues if he ends up on the Yankees' bench.

Feb 26

Cam Schlittler • SP • Yankees

Cam Schlittler Faces Live Hitters on Wednesday

New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler (back, lat) faced hitters for the first time on Wednesday since being sidelined earlier in camp with left lat/mid-back discomfort, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Schlittler threw 25 pitches in his live batting practice session. Manager Aaron Boone said Schlittler "should be ready for the beginning of the season," but he probably won't be "fully built up in terms of stamina." "I'll take 70 pitches of Cam Schlittler," Boone said. "Especially with some of the off-days you have, even if you're in a piggyback situation for a time or two, sign me up for that." It sounds like the 25-year-old will open the year in the starting rotation, although he'll have a lower fantasy ceiling with an inning limit. The former seventh-rounder impressed in his first 14 MLB starts (73 innings) in his rookie year with an ERA under 3.00 and with 84 K's. Fantasy managers should expect at least a little bit of regression in 2026, but there's a lot to like long-term about Schlittler's profile.

Feb 25

Will Warren • SP • Yankees

Will Warren has Promising Spring Training Debut

New York Yankees right-hander Will Warren got his spring training off to a strong start in Tuesday's Grapefruit League victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Warren picked up the win by allowing an earned run on four hits while walking none and striking out four in 2 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old threw 36 of his 49 pitches for strikes in the outing. In his first full season in the big leagues in the Bronx last year, Warren went 9-8 with a 4.44 ERA (4.07 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP with 171 strikeouts and 65 walks in 33 starts over 162 1/3 innings pitched. He should be a lock to start the year in the Yankees' starting rotation with Gerrit Cole (elbow), Carlos Rodon (elbow), and Clarke Schmidt (elbow) all starting on the injured list. Warren led all MLB rookies in strikeouts. To take the next step, Warren will need to fool hitters more regularly with his secondary pitches and lower his walk rate. Going into his second full season, RotoBaller has him ranked just inside the top 100 overall players.

Feb 25

José Caballero • SS • Yankees

Jose Caballero Bringing More Bat Speed into 2026 Season?

New York Yankees speedy infielder Jose Caballero, who hit a 402-foot home run in the Grapefruit League game on Sunday against the New York Mets, said his goal in the offseason was to "improve his average bat speed to 71 mph this season," according to Brendan Kuty and Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. Caballero also spent time working at Driveline Baseball in Tampa. In 2025, Caballero had an average bat speed of 69.1 mph, according to Baseball Savant. His average exit velocity of 86 mph last year was among the lowest in baseball. At least for the first month of the 2026 season, the 29-year-old from Panama will be the Yankees' everyday shortstop with Anthony Volpe recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Caballero's fantasy value will receive a bump early on, mainly because of his speed, but if he can add some more power, it'll be a plus. He has never hit more than nine homers in his three MLB seasons.

Feb 23

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