TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 9: Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees works out during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 9, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Pitchers and catchers have reported, and in the Yankees’ case, well, it’s largely the same group of pitchers and catchers that were here last season. Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman have acknowledged that the team is essentially Running it Back, and the players that came to camp on Wednesday expressed their belief that the club they have is good enough to win it all. “We’re running it back because at the halfway point [last season], we thought we built a team that was going to go to the World Series, and we still believe that wholeheartedly,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. “If we play well, it’ll be a good thing,” Paul Goldschmidt said on the subject of running it back. “If we don’t, then it’ll probably be said that’s the reason we didn’t play well”.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: As teams report to camp, inevitably we receive a whole host of surprise injury news as some players arrive at spring training having gotten hurt at some point in the offseason. However, the Yankees appear to be fortunate this time around, as Boone stated yesterday that there were no new injuries to report as camp opened. In fact, we got good injury news coming out of Tampa, as Boone indicated that both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón could appear in Grapefruit League games, indicating that their respective rehabs are going well and both are on track to return fairly early in the regular season.
New York Post | Mark Suleymanov: Among the Yankees’ goals this offseason was to find right-handed bats to counteract their lineup’s lefty lean, and they’ve done that with the re-signings of Amed Rosario and Paul Goldschmidt. They had also been rumored to be considering a reunion with Austin Slater, whom they traded for at last year’s deadline, but the veteran outfielder has returned to the Tigers, Jon Heyman was first to report. Slater has a strong track record against left-handed pitching, but struggled in a very small sample with the Yankees, going 1-for-16 against lefties.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Though it was paced by veteran horses like Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, the Yankee pitching staff received a big boost from young hurlers last year, with Will Warren leading all rookies in innings and strikeouts, and Cam Schlittler bursting onto the scene over the summer and ultimately pitching the Yankees through to the ALDS. To hear them tell it, the Yankees feel there’s more where that came from. “We have some young pups pushing up the ladder,” Brian Cashman recently told reporters, noting his belief that some of the Yankees’ top pitching prospects will again contribute in the near future. The most obvious candidates are Elmer Rodriguez and Carlos Lagrange, power pitchers who flattened Double-A last year, but there’s also reason for optimism for the likes of Angel Chivilli and Cade Winquest, a pair of live arms the Yankees acquired during the winter that they believe could supplement their bullpen in 2026.
FanGraphs | Dan Szymborksi: We’re in the thick of projection season, and today, Szymborski analyzed the players that saw the biggest boosts in their ZiPS projections year-over-year. One name on the list is Ben Rice, whose 1.8 WAR increase is the sixth largest among all players (though for my money, ZiPS’ 2.2 WAR projection still underrates Rice). Also on the list? None other than Aaron Judge, whose 7.7 WAR projection outpaces his previous forecast by 1.6 WAR. Projections can be slow to react to truly singular players like Judge, and though a player his age is liable to decline at any time, even this projection from ZiPS feels light for Judge.
With our Top 100 countdown now more than halfway done and our Prospect Vote carrying 10 players a round, the two lists are just about ready to crash into one another. Yes, friends, this is our final round of Prospect Voting for the season.
It was Caden Connor taking a healthy leap from No. 7 all the way to the top, advancing on his second ballot with 10 of 52 (19%) votes:
This round was one of the tighter battles of all, with just three votes separating the tie at No. 4 and the top spot.
This is Connor’s first appearance in our Prospect Vote. He’s also the first left fielder, and eighth outfielder overall, to advance.
Past No. 36s in the SSS Top Prospect Vote 2025 Voting lasted only 31 rounds 2024 Voting lasted only 34 rounds 2023 Voting lasted only 24 rounds 2022 Voting lasted only 17 rounds 2021 Voting lasted only 35 rounds 2020 James Beard (32%) 2019 Corey Zangari (38%) 2018 Tyler Danish (38%)
Newcomer Colby Shelton finished in seventh, with four votes. The final addition to our ballot this year will be relief pitcher Jack Young.
South Side Sox Top-Voted White Sox Prospects for 2026
Alexander Albertus Third Baseman Age 21 2025 high level Arizona Complex League (Rookie) Age relative to high level +0.4 years Overall 2025 stats 8 games ▪️ 0 HR ▪️ 2 RBI ▪️ .333/.520/.444 ▪️ 3-of-3 (100.0%) SB ▪️ 6 BB ▪️ 3 K ▪️ 1.000 FLD%▪️ 0.3 WAR
What can you say further about Albertus? He seems to have great tools but an uncanny ability to stay off of the field (just eight games in a season-plus in the White Sox system). In 2025, he was assigned to Kannapolis but was … wait for it … injured. He lasted just eight games of ACL rehab before hitting the IL-60 again.
Aldrin Batista Right-Handed Starting Pitcher Age 22 2025 SSS Prospect Vote ranking 6 2025 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level -1.2 years Overall 2025 stats 2-0 ▪️ 7 games (2 starts) ▪️ 14 IP ▪️ 5.79 ERA ▪️ 17 K ▪️ 7 BB ▪️ 1.429 WHIP ▪️-1.2 WAR
Batista was our No. 6-voted player in last year’s poll and top righthander — and then disaster struck, as he started the third Dash game of the season on April 6 and then was out more than four months with a stress fracture in his right (pitching) elbow. His return in late August was iffy, with three poor relief appearances of five. But he ended the season with a scoreless (two-inning) “opener” start, which hopefully reverses the curse for 2026.
Ryan Burrowes Second Baseman Age 21 2024 SSS Prospect Vote ranking 23 2025 SSS Prospect Vote ranking N/R 2025 high level Winston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level -2.0 years Overall 2025 stats (Low-A/High-A) 111 games ▪️ 6 HR ▪️ 39 RBI ▪️ .255/.342/.355 ▪️ 47-of-53 (88.7%) SB ▪️ 39 BB ▪️ 110 K ▪️ .976 FLD%▪️ 1.1 WAR
It feels like Burrowes has been around forever, and he’s still only 21 years old (and playing at a level significantly younger than his age). His first taste of High-A ball went pretty well, as his baserunning seems to have no trouble translating at any level. The hit tool is solid, although he continues to struggle with contact — a no-no for a speed-over-power guy.
Reudis Diaz Right-handed relief pitcher Age 20 2025 high level ACL (Rookie) Age relative to high level -2.1 years Overall 2025 stats 1-1 ▪️ 1 SV▪️ 21 games (4 finishes) ▪️ 27 2/3 IP ▪️ 2.28.ERA ▪️ 18 K ▪️ 8 BB ▪️ 1.084 WHIP ▪️1.2 WAR
Who? You’re forgiven for being unfamiliar with an extremely young arm who hasn’t yet gotten out of rookie ball, but our No. 77 prospect a year ago (then a starter, repeating the DSL and killing it) made a successful adjustment Stateside. He’ll return to starting in 2026, likely getting his feet wet in Arizona and getting a promotion to Low-A in the second half of the season.
Ryan Galanie First Baseman Age 25 2025 high level Birmingham (AA) Age relative to high level +1.3 years Overall 2025 stats (High-A/AA) 119 games ▪️ 11 HR ▪️ 94 RBI ▪️ .276/.327/.422 ▪️ 14-of-17 (82.4%) SB ▪️ 35 BB ▪️ 79 K ▪️ .995 FLD%▪️ 1.1 WAR
It’s been a slow but steady climb for this 13th-rounder in 2023. The good news here is, with the caveat that Galanie has always competed older than his level, Galanie has found some footing. While his power/slugging numbers are merely OK, he drove in 94 runs in 2025. He disappeared a bit in the playoffs for Birmingham (just four hits in six games, with five walks as well) but started every game in the march to a second consecutive Southern League title for the Barons.
Jairo Iriarte Right-Handed Relief Pitcher Age 24 2025 SSS Top Prospect Vote Ranking 19 2025 high level Charlotte (AAA) Age relative to high level -4.3 years Overall 2025 stats (Rookie/AAA) 3-3▪️ 1 SV ▪️ 37 games (5 starts, 9 finishes) ▪️ 48 IP ▪️ 7.13 ERA ▪️ 50 K ▪️ 37 BB ▪️ 1.917 WHIP ▪️ -0.8 WAR
The 2025 season was an utter disaster for Iriarte, who went from prospective South Side rotation member to lost in space. The righty, who made his brief debut in the majors in 2024, both lost the plate and misplaced his strikeout power. The Brian Bannister Pitching Lab has its work cut out here, for sure.
Javier Mogollón Shortstop Age 20 2025 high level Kannapolis (Low-A) Age relative to high level -1.4 years Overall 2025 stats 51 games ▪️ 5 HR ▪️ 19 RBI ▪️ .220/.347/.387 ▪️ 15-of-21 (71.4%) SB ▪️ 30 BB ▪️ 56 K ▪️ .971 FLD%▪️ 1.0 WAR
An ascending star just one year ago, we have to tap the breaks a bit on Mogollón after a lackluster first full season of minors ball. While still young for his level and managing to keep his head above water in a new league every season of his career, Mogollón’s undeniable hitting in Rookie ball fell off significantly with the Cannon Ballers. However, how much of that was due to battling injury is undetermined, as Mogollón was shelved for what turned out to be the season on July 2.
Yobal Rodriguez Right-Handed Starting Pitcher Age18 2025 high levelDSL White Sox (Rookie) Age relative to high level -1.5 years Overall 2025 stats0-3 ▪️ 13 games (10 starts) ▪️ 30 1/3 IP ▪️2.97 ERA ▪️ 33 K ▪️ 13 BB ▪️ 1.022 WHIP ▪️ 1.2 WAR
Rodriguez is a rare DSL pitcher, not for his relatively light innings load, but as a primary starter — and at just 17 years old (Yobal turns 18 on February 9). Inasmuch as it’s tough to project anyone out of the DSL, especially pitchers, you could hardly have hoped for more from him in his pro debut.
Colby Shelton Shortstop Age 23 2025 high level Kannapolis (Low-A) Age relative to high level +1.6 years Overall 2025 NCAA stats 45 games ▪️ 7 HR ▪️ 35 RBI ▪️ .377/.458/.606 ▪️ 6-of-9 (66.7%) SB ▪️ 21 BB ▪️ 24 K ▪️ 2.7 WAR
Shelton is more of a slugger than a speedster, with the usual caveats about whether he will stick at shortstop. His credentials are impressive, playing full-time in the SEC in all three of his college years (one at Alabama, two with Georgia). Given the crowded field for the White Sox at shortstop, Shelton’s defensive ability will mean very little provided he can keep clubbing.
Jack Young Right-Handed Relief Pitcher Age24 2025 high levelWinston-Salem (High-A) Age relative to high level -0.2 years Overall 2025 stats (Low-A/High-A)3-2 ▪️3 SV ▪️ 36 games (1 start, 11 finishes) ▪️ 53 IP ▪️2.72 ERA ▪️ 53 K ▪️ 28 BB ▪️ 1.170 WHIP ▪️ WAR
Rodriguez is a rare DSL pitcher, not for his relatively light innings load, but as a primary starter — and at just 17 years old (Yobal turns 18 on February 9). Inasmuch as it’s tough to project anyone out of the DSL, especially pitchers, you could hardly have hoped for more from him in his pro debut.
Round 24 of voting was the last of 2023 (we did not do an actual wrap for the voting, but Jordan Sprinkle ended up being our final pick), and the full archive.
Jul 21, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies player Kris Bryant (23) looks on from the dugout in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
In it, he describes a recent conversation with Colorado Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes in which he discusses Bryant’s health status. As Renck puts it, “Officially he is not gone. But the Rockies are finally, mercifully moving on.”
I realize we began dissecting this in The Feed, but there are other nuggets worth pointing out, again, quoting Renck:
“They don’t see the Dodgers as the Death Star. They see them as the North Star. What rebuilding looks like for the Rockies, even if they are starting out with Legos, is following the Dodgers blueprint, not their checkbook.”
“Long before the Dodgers began issuing $100 million contracts, they had their minor league pitchers using data and technology and players playing multiple positions to increase their versatility. The Rockies are applying these principles.”
“I think a deep arsenal is that much more important for us. It is hard on hitters because they have to account for it,” Byrnes said. “That should translate at altitude.”
There’s more, and you should read the whole column. (I have to wonder if Renck didn’t read my Tuesday Rockpile!)
So I open the floor to the Purple Row Night Owls: What do you make of Byrnes’ comments here not just on Bryant, but also on their approach to pitching and hitting at Coors Field?
Oh, and one other note: Speaking of versatility, check out this Zach Agnos video the Rockies dropped on Instagram today. He’s brought his fielding glove to spring training . . . .
Lawyers for Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz want to sever the cases against him and teammate Emmanuel Clase as federal prosecutors allege they were both involved in a pitching-rigging scheme.
Ortiz’s lawyer, Christos N. Georgalis, asked for a federal judge to break up the cases so they could move forward independently of each other while labelling his client “a victim of Clase’s scheme, rather than a knowing and willing participant,” according to a legal filing unsealed Monday and viewed by The Athletic.
Georgalis pointed to the purported difference in their respective involvement in the alleged pitch-rigging scheme to support his argument.
Luis Ortiz is one of the pitchers accused of fixing pitches during games. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
The filing also cites the potential for a conflict of interest as grounds for severing the case into two, mentioning that Clase’s attorneys spoke with witnesses who claimed the betting scheme did not exist. Now, one of those people is expected to testify differently.
There is also the possibility that Ortiz’s lawyer could serve as a “second prosecutor” and call Clase’s attorney to the stand — which would only occur if the cases were split — in order to defend Ortiz, The Athletic reported.
Federal prosecutors unsealed a 23-page indictment alleging that Clase rigged pitches dating back to May 2023 by throwing them for balls to help bettors’ prop bets hit.
Ortiz is alleged to have joined in June 2025. Both players allegedly got kickbacks.
Prosecutors allege that bettors netted winnings of $460,000.
The two pitchers face charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy.
All-Star reliever Emmanuel Clase was allegedly involved in the scheme. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The original indictment alleged Clase made four suspicious pitches, but prosecutors have been open to the idea that there were more. Ortiz was accused of rigging two pitches.
The recent filing indicated that Georgalis would use as one of the “likely defenses” that Clase gave out Ortiz’s pitching strategy to gamblers without the pitcher’s knowledge.
Clase and Ortiz remain on leave from MLB and will not be allowed to attend Guardians spring training.
Kiner-Falefa, who only started one of the four games in the ALDS for the Blue Jays as they whooped the Yankees, made the revelation Tuesday in his first day as a Red Sox player — following the lead of new teammates Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, who also leaned into the rivalry in their first comments in Boston.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone talks to the media as pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 11, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Yankees beat the Red Sox in three games in the AL wild-card series, but Kiner-Falefa said the Blue Jays, who had a bye to face the winner of that series, had some rooting interest
“We thought it was a better matchup for us the other way [to face the Yankees],” Kiner-Falefa told reporters in Fort Myers, Fla., per The Athletic. “We were watching that [series], and we were watching [Garrett] Crochet just dice up.
“I think we had just lost two out of three [to Boston], and it put us behind the Yankees or tied us with them for the AL East lead [in late September]. We definitely felt [Boston] was a tougher matchup for us. Once we saw the other team, we were a lot happier. It was definitely a topic.”
Former Yankee and Blue Jay Isiah Kiner-Falefa is now a member of the Red Sox. Getty Images
Perhaps that should not be much of a surprise, as the Blue Jays had the Yankees’ number during the regular season, especially at Rogers Centre.
Asked if he was bothered by Kiner-Falefa’s comments, Boone insisted he was not, even if his tone suggested at least a hint of being perturbed.
“Not really, honestly,” Boone said. “You got to play who you play. Whatever.”
Paul Goldschmidt declined to reveal if he had any offers to start at first base with other teams, but said he was happy to be back with the Yankees in what is expected to be a reserve role behind first baseman Ben Rice.
“Honestly, when last year ended, I had such a good time here, I was hoping my time wasn’t done,” said Goldschmidt, who agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal that had not yet been made official as of Wednesday. “I think Benny’s definitely going to be planning to be getting the bulk of the playing time over there. I’m definitely fine with whatever role they need me [in]. Whenever I get an opportunity, I’ll be ready to go.
Boone said he believed that all pitchers, catchers and WBC participants reported as scheduled Wednesday, with position players set to join them Sunday.
Former San Francisco Giants player Barry Bonds waves as he arrives at a ceremony honoring Hunter Pence on the team’s Wall of Fame before a baseball game between the Giants...
Bonds would likely “be on site for the pregame and postgame” if the two sides come to a deal, per the report.
Netflix is also reportedly trying to bring in CC Sabathia, who would provide a Yankees tie-in to counter Bonds, who played 15 years with the Giants.
Former San Francisco Giants player Barry Bonds waves as he arrives at a ceremony honoring Hunter Pence on the team’s Wall of Fame before a baseball game between the Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers in San Francisco, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. AP
The Athletic added that it’s likely Elle Duncan, who left ESPN in November to become the new face of Netflix’s sports programming, will be the top presenter for the game.
Beginning this year, Netflix will air a standalone, prime-time game to kick off the season as part of a three-year deal with MLB.
The deal also gives them exclusive rights to the Home Run Derby and the “Field of Dreams” game on Aug. 13 in Dyersville, Iowa, between the Phillies and Twins.
Bonds, whose career ended after the 2007 season, hasn’t had a national broadcasting job since his playing days.
The legendary slugger was most recently in the news in December, when he was once again held out of the Baseball Hall of Fame, falling short of Cooperstown due to ties to steroids.
CC Sabathia is also being eyed by Netflix for its Opening Day game. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Bonds works as a special advisor for the Giants and previously served as the Marlins’ hitting coach during the 2016 season.
Sabathia, who was part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class, has worked in various media ventures since retiring from baseball, including frequent appearances on MLB Network and hosting the “R2C2 Podcast” with Ryan Ruocco.
The Baltimore Orioles finally added a free agent pitcher to their rotation, agreeing to a one-year, $18.5 million contract with right-hander Chris Bassitt, ESPN first reported.
Bassitt, who turns 37 Feb. 22, was a reliable cog in the Toronto Blue Jays’ rotation the past three seasons, posting a 3.89 ERA and pitching at least 170 innings each season.
That reliability was certainly attractive to the Orioles, who will be relying on a trio of starters who underwent elbow surgery over the past three years.
Bassitt will slide somewhere between Kyle Bradish, lefty Trevor Rogers and trade acquisition Shane Baz in the Orioles rotation. Innings eater Dean Kremer moves to the fifth spot.
Bassitt also performed well out of the bullpen in the Blue Jays’ run to Game 7 of the World Series, giving up just one earned run in seven postseason appearances. He also reached the playoffs with Oakland and the New York Mets.
“These past two years have been frustrating and tough mentally,” the right-hander said through his interpreter Wednesday on the reporting date for pitchers and catchers to spring training. “At some point maybe I started to lose confidence. But in this world, you either do it or you don’t, and I’m here to do it.”
Senga entered a free fall in the second half of last season — after returning from a stint on the injured list with a hamstring strain — that culminated with him accepting an assignment to Triple-A Syracuse in September.
Kodai Senga works on a fielding drill during Mets’ spring training practice on Feb. 11, 2026 in Port St. Lucie. Corey Sipkin / New York Post
He finished with a 3.02 ERA overall, a testament to a strong first half in which he often resembled an ace.
It followed a year in which Senga pitched only once in the 2024 regular season due to various ailments.
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Does Senga have to regain the organization’s trust?
“Before showing the organization anything I think I need to prove it to myself that I can go out there and pitch a full season,” Senga said. “And then once I prove it to myself I think then comes the third party, how everybody else sees me, so first I need to be out there for myself.”
The Mets saw the best of Senga in 2023, when he pitched to a 2.98 ERA over 29 starts with 202 strikeouts over 166 ¹/₃ innings.
But he’s started only 23 games since that rookie season.
Freddy Peralta and Nolan McLean have moved ahead of Senga atop the Mets rotation, leaving Senga in a mix that includes Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes and David Peterson.
Mets starter Kodai Senga throws during a team workout on Feb. 11, 2026 in Port St. Lucie. Corey Sipkin / New York Post
As an indicator of how much his stock has fallen, the Mets this offseason entertained trade proposals for Senga, who still has $30 million remaining on his contract over the next two years.
Senga communicated to club officials that he wanted to remain with the Mets.
“I control only what I can control,” Senga said. “At that point I hadn’t gotten traded yet so I just wanted to do whatever I could in the moment and be back out there for the Mets and play hard.”
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 01: Chris Bassitt #40 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during Game Seven of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Saturday, November 1, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Orioles completely struck out when it came to the top end of the free agent starting pitching market this year. With camp opening up, they made a move to try to shore up the back end with an established veteran, bringing recent Blue Jay Chris Bassitt in on a one-year contract worth a reported $18.5 million. ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the news of the deal on Wednesday night.
Bassitt brings some unexciting dependability into the picture. The 37-year-old has pitched in 11 big league seasons and in his most recent campaign with the Jays, he pitched 32 games, plus another seven in the postseason. He has started at least 30 games in each of the past four seasons.
In 2025, Bassitt had a 3.96 ERA in the regular season with peripherals to roughly match that. On the off chance that he can turn back the clock a little bit, he might be able to descend into more the mid-3 ERA range like he had in his mid-30s. That’s cope talking, because this guy had a 1.327 WHIP in the past season and I just don’t see that the Orioles needed to fit another guy like that into the mix. You’ve got Dean Kremer around already to post a slightly better WHIP but slightly worse ERA.
Adding Bassitt also apparently gives the Orioles six people lined up for their starting rotation. This will resolve between now and Opening Day in some way that I can’t currently foresee. But if all of Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, Eflin, and Kremer are healthy, Bassitt is bumping somebody out and it’s hard to imagine Kremer losing his spot.
One possibility is that this gives the Orioles some freedom to bring along Eflin a little more slowly after he works his way back into shape following last year’s back surgery. That’s the injury that was apparently causing him to pitch poorly. When Mike Elias updated the injury situation on his roster earlier on Wednesday, he didn’t indicate anything was amiss with Eflin, and perhaps nothing is amiss. Still, Eflin’s Opening Day readiness hinges on the most optimistic surgery recovery timeline and if they don’t have to push it, why do it?
Perhaps Bassitt himself will come along slowly. He pitched his final game of the 2025 season on November 1, the last game of the World Series. That’s more than a month less of rest than anybody who wasn’t in the postseason got. Presumably, Elias will talk a little more about his plan once this signing becomes official.
This is not the exciting starting pitching addition that any Orioles fan wanted when the offseason began. It is the starting pitching addition that we are getting as spring training opens.
TAMPA — Some first days of spring training can double as meet and greets.
But Wednesday at Steinbrenner Field might as well have been a big family reunion — and that’s even with most of the position players still across the street at the player development complex before they report this weekend.
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“We’re running it back, because at the halfway point [last season], we thought we built a team that was going to go to the World Series and we still believe that wholeheartedly,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said Wednesday as pitchers, catchers and WBC participants reported to camp.
“So for me, I don’t see a problem with running it back with four MVPs on your team.”
Some might argue that the problem is that those MVPs — Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Paul Goldschmidt — will play this season at the ages of 34, 30, 36 and 38, respectively.
And while Judge has won the MVP in three of the past four seasons, the only other MVP to come this decade from that group was Goldschmidt’s in 2022.
Paul Goldschmidt arriving to camp this morning as pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Feb. 11, 2026 at Steinbrenner Field. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
That said, the Yankees are banking on more than just that quartet to fuel another strong season that ends with a chance to play for a championship in October.
They are returning 24 of the 26 players who were on their ALDS roster last year when they got their lunch handed to them by the Blue Jays, who later came within inches of winning the World Series.
“If we play well, it’ll be a good thing,” Goldschmidt said of running it back. “If we don’t, it’ll probably be the reason that it’s said we don’t play well. For me, the expectations of this organization, whatever players are here, are to win a championship. That needs to be the mindset.
Jazz Chisholm is all smiles during a workout as pitchers and catchers report to Yankees’ spring training. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Camp hasn’t even started yet, but everyone knows what the Yankees are about. Everyone knows the expectations the fan base has, ownership, front office, the players — this is an organization where it’s championship or bust every year. That’s not going to change whether it’s a similar group to last year or a completely new group.
“We got to prepare, we got to put in the work and that’s the No. 1 thing. What we did last year, even though it is a similar group, doesn’t matter. None of those wins carry over, none of those losses. So we’ll start from scratch and try to build a team that is going to play very well and hopefully win a championship.”
Of course, the team that walks into Steinbrenner Field this week is much different from the one that was here this time last year.
That one had Marcus Stroman and Carlos Carrasco about to make a combined 15 starts for it, Gerrit Cole about to make none, Cam Schlittler headed for Double-A, Stanton dealing with double elbow issues and Ben Rice still largely unproven as a middle-of-the-order threat.
It did not have the group of trade deadline additions — Ryan McMahon, José Caballero, Amed Rosario, David Bednar, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird — who are now back with their feet underneath them and more ingrained in the organization.
It also had what looked like a more established bullpen, even if it did not always lead to better results.
But Goldschmidt’s comments about a fresh start echoed those of Aaron Boone, who will likely repeat some version of that message when he addresses the whole team ahead of its first full-squad workout Monday.
“You’re starting anew, so there’s nothing you’re taking with you ultimately from last year,” Boone said. “It’s all a blank slate.”
As it turns out, the 37-year-old’s “unretirement” was merely an administrative move so he could participate in this year’s World Baseball Classic for Team Canada.
Aumont is not pursuing an MLB comeback with the Blue Jays. MLB Photos via Getty Images
Since Aumont voluntarily retired after spending the 2020 campaign in the Blue Jays organization, he needed to be activated from that list and released to be eligible for the WBC, according to The Athletic.
The 2026 WBC will mark the Gatineau, Quebec, native’s fourth time in the tournament after appearing in 2009, 2013 and 2023.
And while his fastball still hit 92 mph during the 2023 tournament, Aumont – who totaled three innings over two appearances – insisted at the time he was not pursuing a comeback.
“After this, I want to keep it where I can still throw a baseball a little bit and then if I get another call [for the national team], it won’t be as big of a mountain to climb to get back to it,” Aumont told SportsNet in March 2023.
“So I definitely want to keep throwing. I don’t feel interested in going anywhere else than that. But I think I have enough in the tank to come back here and help out somehow and bring some experience.”
Aumont became a full-time farmer after he retired from baseball. Phillipe Aumont/Instagram
Taken 11th overall by the Mariners in the 2007 Draft, the highly-touted prospect was later dealt to the Phillies as part of a blockbuster trade that brought Cliff Lee to Seattle.
The 6-foot-7, 265-pound right-hander appeared in parts of four seasons with the Phillies, tallying a career 6.80 ERA in 46 appearances.
Aumont bounced around baseball after the 2015 season, including stints with the Blue Jays, Tigers and White Sox organizations.
In 2020, Aumont joined Toronto on a minor league deal – his second stint with the organization.
However, after COVID wiped out the entire minor league season, he hung up his spikes to focus on crop production instead of run prevention.
“There’s a meaning to it. I want to touch nature. I want to learn about animals, and growing vegetables and fruit crops,” Aumont said during an interview with CBC’s “Ottawa Morning” about his decision to leave the game. “Just the endless possibilities for me on a farm are priceless.
“Baseball has been great. Baseball allowed me to do a lot of things in life, and I’m very thankful. But when the pandemic hit you saw what it caused in our cities. I just felt a need to start something, to just go back to nature and get away from negative stuff.”
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole #45, throwing on a back field as pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training today, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida.
TAMPA — At a time when managers around Florida and Arizona are delivering bad news in the form of new injuries at the start of camp, no news was good news from Aaron Boone and the Yankees on Wednesday.
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As pitchers, catchers and World Baseball Classic participants reported to spring training and underwent physicals at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Boone indicated that they had a healthy bunch — aside from the four players who they already disclosed would begin the season on the injured list: Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt and Anthony Volpe.
There is still a long way to go before now and Opening Day, but the Yankees at least seem to be starting off on the right foot, which is not always the case.
“As far as I know, I think we’re in a good spot,” Boone said.
Rodón, who had a bone spur shaved down and loose bodies removed from his left elbow in October, is “probably not far behind from the start of the season,” Boone said, which would seem to keep a late April return in play.
Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole throwing on a back field as pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 11 Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Cole, meanwhile, threw “a number” of bullpen sessions back home before arriving at camp, about 11 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The former AL Cy Young winner is scheduled to begin facing hitters “in a couple weeks” and could even get into Grapefruit League games before camp ends, Boone said.
The Yankees will not rush Cole, but the possibility of pitching in exhibition games by the end of spring is a positive sign for Cole’s rehab as he tries to return by May or June.
As for Volpe, who underwent left shoulder surgery in October for a torn labrum, the shortstop is scheduled to begin his hitting progression within the next two weeks, which is the last step to begin ramping up.
“He is doing well,” Boone said. “Strength is all there in the weight room and stuff like that. He’s got all that back. That’s the thing that took a little while. His range of motion is tremendous.”
Feb 10, 2026; North Port, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider (99) and teammates workout during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Well, nobody went on the 60-Day IL today so I’d consider that a success! The night is still young so I’m definitely knocking on wood here but hopefully we’re past the bad injury luck for the time being. That clubhouse needs it and the fanbase needs it as well. Phew.
Anyways, here’s a random clip. The floor is now yours.
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 03: New York Yankees pitcher Jonathan Loaisiga (43) delivers a pitch during a MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees on April 3, 2024, at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This is the final batch of right-handed pitchers. I’d not be surprised if one or more of these ended up in our Opening Day bullpen, and there is a non-zero chance every one we talk about here, sees some MLB action over the course of the 2026 campaign…
Jonathan Loaisiga (43)
With eight years of major-league experience, and a 120 ERA+ across almost 250 innings of MLB work, Loaisiga is a very credible option for the Arizona ‘pen. All of that time came with the Yankees – he was their longest-tenured pitcher at the end of last season – peaking in a stellar 2023 campaign where has worth 3.3 bWAR, entirely in relief. Last year was a bit of a struggle, with a mediocre 4.25 ERA across 30 appearances in pinstripes, and an ugly 5.83 FIP. It’s possible he was still recovering from elbow surgery – an internal brace, rather than traditional Tommy John – which ended his 2024 season after just three games. He also had back and flexor problems, so staying healthy is going to be key.
Alfred Morillo (78)
Not to be confused with right-handed relief pitcher Juan Morillo, who is already on the 40-man roster, Morillo is also Dominican rather than Venezuelan. He has been part of the Arizona farm system for four years, splitting 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A. Morillo does need to get the walks down – 20 over just 29 innings for Reno, and control has been an issue through his minor-league career. But he only turned 24 in November, so time is on his side. In September, Preston called him “most likely a shuttle-riding mid-inning option, but there is a small chance of greater upside.”
Taylor Rashi (54)
It was a bit of a surprise when Rashi was non-tendered in November, especially considering he was pre-arbitration, so was still set to earn league minimum this season. After all, he had looked good in his MLB debut, striking out 22 batters over 16.1 innings to give him a 1.91 FIP, while notching a pair of saves (above). Across a bigger sample size with Reno (67.1 IP), he also had a 3.48 ERA – the best of any Aces pitcher with 30+ innings last year. But a couple of weeks later, he re-signed with the Diamondbacks, so no harm done. It did take him until almost the end of August to reach the majors last year, but if he can reproduce his 2025 form, he should see Phoenix considerably sooner.
Landon Sims (87)
Our first-round pick (#34 overall) in 2022, Sims spent all of last season in Double-A Amarillo, where his 3.63 ERA was very credible given the environment. Of particular note, he allowed only two home-runs to the 233 batters he faced. It has been a process for Sims, since Tommy John surgery a couple of months before the draft, meant his pro debut was delayed until mid-2023. The initial results were short of impressive, but they have improved as Landon’s strength has returned. However, Fangraphs were unimpressed, calling him “a relief-only prospect now, and a bit of a fringy one… it’s a low-ceiling, low-leverage profile.”
