Yankees Spring Training Profiles (Part 1)

By James Vlietstra

February 14, 2026

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The Yankees are opening spring training desperate for a deep run into the playoffs.  They are coming off back to back 94 win seasons and have a streak of 33 consecutive seasons over .500.  However, they have not won a World Series since 2009.  They have only won one in the past 26 years, their worst stretch since the franchise began in 1903.

Because of the World Baseball Classic tournament, the Yankees will have more players in camp than they typically would.  As the players have begun reporting to camp, let's take a look at who is in camp and what we should expect from them this year.  From my best count, there's roughly six dozen players in camp.  So I am going to present them to you alphabetically, 12 at a time.

Michael Arias...He is a 24 year old RHRP.  He was acquired last offseason and the hard thrower spent time on the Yankees top 30 prospect list.  This Non Roster Invitee (NRI) threw 29.2 innings for the Yankees farm system last year, mostly at Somerset.  He has averaged 11.2 strikeouts per 9, unfortunately, he has also averaged 6.5 walks per 9.  Until he can get his walks under control, he will likely pitch for either Somerset or Scranton this year.  He could stay in camp longer than normal as there's a lot of pitchers going to be with their national Teams.

Brendan Beck...He is a 27 year old RHSP and also a NRI.  The Yankees took him in the second round of the 2021 draft and it was expected that he could be a fast mover.  Injuries derailed that.  From 2022-24 he was only healthy long enough to throw 34 innings.  Last year was his breakout.  Between Somerset and Scranton, he threw 131.1 innings and struck out 3.4 per every walk. He is currently listed as the team's number 11 prospect by MLB Pipeline.  The Yankees surprisingly left him exposed to the Rule 5 draft, but he was not selected.  He will be playing for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic (WBC).  I believe that he could step right in and be a serviceable starting pitcher at the Major League level.  Last year, the Yankees used nine different pitchers to start at least six games.  Beck is in position to be one of those nine this year.  He will still have six years of control once he's put on the 40-man roster.

David Bednar...The 31 year old RHRP is on the 40-man roster.  He settled in as the Yankees closer last year after his trade from the Pirates.  Overall, he had 27 saves, an ERA of 2.30, a WHIP of 1.037, and a K/BB rate of 4.53 over 62.2 innings.  This spring he will be on Team USA trying to win Gold on a very stacked team.  The Yankees will be counting on him to once again handle the duties as closer.  He will be a key component to them going deep in the playoffs,  Bednar is making $9M this season and could be in line for a huge payday if he can help them win a World Series as their closer.  He could easily demand something in the 4/$60M range.

Cody Bellinger...He is a 30 year old OF/1B on the 40-man roster.  The Yankees traded for Bellinger last offseason and he fit in perfectly.  He played at least 40 games in all three outfield positions and even filled in a handful of games at 1B.  He proved invaluable as he put together his second season of 5.0+ WAR.  The Yankees re-signed him to a five year contract worth $162M.  Between his signing bonus and salary, he is being paid $52.5M this year.  They are expecting him to match or even exceed his production from last year.  For the Yankees to hope to make a championship push, Bellinger will be an important part of this team.

Oswaldo Bido...30 Year old RHRP on the 40. The Yankees recently picked him up off of waivers from the Angels.  The swingman doesn't have any options left.  He is arbitration eligible for the first time after this season.  Last year, for the Athletics, he appeared in 26 games, starting 10 and finishing 7.  I would have to say that I would be very surprised if a player they picked up on waivers with no options lasted with them all year.  They have very little equity invested in him so he's likely one of the first players gone when a roster spot is needed.

Jake Bird...30 Year old RHRP on the 40.  Acquired from the Rockies at the trade deadline last summer, Bird quickly disappointed and was sent to the minors.  He's making just under $1M and has one more option year. Depending on how much time he spends in the minors, he has at least three years of control. The Yankees are hoping that he rebounds and helps solidify a bullpen that could use some help.

Paul Blackburn...32 year old RHRP and on the 40.  He re-signed with the Yankees as a free agent for one year at $2M.  Last year, he pitched in and finished eight games for the Yankees after being claimed following being waived by the Mets.  As a Yankee, he struck out four to every one that he walked.  Their financial commitment is minimal to him but I am sure they will give him every opportunity to succeed and try to stick with the team all year, likely as a middle reliever.

Seth Brown... 33 year old OF/1B and NRI.  The Yankees signed him to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.  He has over five years of Major League service time, however, an awful lot of things would have gone wrong for him to get an opportunity with the Yankees.  He is a depth piece in the minors.  He does have an option left.  I could see him having an opt out date in his contract that if he's not on the 40-man roster he can become a free agent.

Jose Caballero...29 year old SS/2B on the 40.  The Yankees traded for the middle infielder at the trade deadline last year.  He played outfield, third, and short after the trade.  He also led the league in stolen bases for the second year in a row.  He is making $2M this year and has three more years of arbitration before becoming a free agent.  He will be representing Panama during the WBC.  He is expected to be the Opening Day shortstop.  As a Yankees last year, he had an OBP of .372.  That'd make him a contender to be the leadoff hitter.  His versatility will make him a key component to the team, especially if he maintains the production from last year's quarter season with the club for an entire season.  He may have a WAR approaching 5.0.

Oswaldo Cabrera...27 year old UTIL on the 40.  Cabrera has played every position except for catcher during his career.  Last year, he had a devastating leg injury which cost him 3/4 of the season.  From what I have heard, he is coming into Spring Training healthy., but I wouldn't be surprised if they took it very slow with him this spring.  Start him on the Injured List (IL) and let him rehab for awhile.  He is only making $1.2M this year and has two more years of arbitration as well as two more options.  So if they don't feel he is 100%, they can leave him in the minors.  His smile is infectious and he is extremely popular in the clubhouse.  I would love to see him get another chance.

Kyle Carr...23 year old LHSP and NRI.  Carr was the team's third round pick in the 2023 draft.  He is listed as the team's number 13 prospect on MLB Pipeline.  He will be Rule 5 eligible after this season.  He spent most of last season dominating at Hudson Valley and then was promoted to Somerset for a few late season starts.  Combined, he had an ERA of 2.64 in 133 innings pitched.  He is only at Spring Training to get some experience with the big league team and its coaches.  He will be one of the first returned to the minor league complex.  The goal for him this year is to do what he did last year at  AA.  He will be a very valuable asset around the trade deadline.

Angel Chivelli...He is a 23 year old RHRP and on the 40.  He is making the league minimum, has three more years of team control, and has one more option left.  That option is huge.  It allows the team to send him to Scranton and call him back several times during the year if needed.  Last year, for the Rockies, he appeared in 43 games.  However, due to poor results, they waived him during the offseason.  The Yankees claimed him and hope that most of his problem in Denver was the ballpark.  Perhaps he doesn't make the opening day roster, but he could spend a large portion of this season on the 26 man roster.

Jazz Chishom, Jr.....28 year old 2B and on the 40.  Last year they experimented with him at 3B which resulted in injuries that limited him to only 130 games.  He still had his best year with a 4.2 WAR and he became the third Yankee to ever join the 30/30 club (Bonds and Soriano).  He agreed to a $10.2M salary in his last year of arbitration before he hits free agency.  He will be playing for Great Britain during the WBC.  If he puts in 150+ games, he will challenge for a 40/40 season and be a key reason for the team's success.  I can see him getting a free agent contract in the neighborhood of six years and almost $200M this offseason.  Will it be with the Yankees?

Harrison Cohen...26 year old RHRP and NRI.  Cohen was an UDFA in 2022.  He has worked his way through the system, splitting time with Somerset and Scranton last year.  He pitched in 49 games with an ERA of 1.76 and WHIP of 1.098.  He was Rule 5 eligible last December, but wasn't selected.  He will be pitching for Israel in the WBC.  He will start the year in Scranton, but there's a good chance that he could see time in the Yankee bullpen this year.

Gerrit Cole... 35 year old RHSP and on the 40.  Cole had Tommy John Surgery last March, ending his season before it even began.  Their ace still has three years and $108M left on his contract.  He will start the year on the IL.  It's possible that they even put him on the 60-day IL, which would free up a spot on the 40-man roster, if they don't think he will be ready to go before Memorial Day.  However, the team will be hoping and praying that he returns to his 2023 form and helps lead the team to the World Series.

Carson Coleman...27 year old RHRP and NRI.  He was an UDFA during the abbreviated 2020 draft.  He was taken in the Rule 5 draft by the Rangers in 2024, but injuries prevented him from playing for the second year in a row and he was returned.  Last year, he finally got back on the mound and pitched 17 innings with an ERA of 1.59, WHIP of 0.588, and K/BB rate of 7.5.  He's coming to camp trying to open some eyes.  He will likely start the season in Somerset, but could be in the Yankees bullpen later in the season.

Dylan Coleman...29 year old RHRP and NRI.  Coleman signed a minor league contract in January and was invited to spring training.  Last year, he pitched 14.2 innings for the Orioles two highest affiliates.  Prior to that, he had spent parts of four seasons in the majors.  I expect him to be a depth piece in AAA.  If he pitches surprisingly well, and is promoted, he has another option so they wouldn't necessarily lose him when they are done with him.

Kenedy Corona...26 year old OF and NRI.  He signed a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.  He made his MLB debut last year, appearing in three.  He is a center fielder with two options remaining.  He likely will start the year in AAA, but I expect Spencer Jones to be playing center there.

Alexander Cornielle...24 year old RHSP and NRI.  The Yankees signed him as a minor league free agent after he spent seven years in the Brewers organization.  He has averaged 115 innings pitched the last four years, with a career high 137 last year split between AA and AAA.  He will probably be in Scranton to replace the 134,2 innings that left when Sean Boyle did.

Fernando Cruz... 35 year old RHRP and on the 40.  The Yankees got him in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds last offseason.  He was a solid member of their bullpen last year, making 49 appearances.  He will be pitching for Puerto Rico in the WBC.  This year, he will make $1.45M in his first year of arbitration.  He still has three options remaining and can't become a free agent until 2029 at the earliest.  I am expecting him to be a key member of their bullpen again this season.

Yovanny Cruz...26 year old RHRP and NRI.  The Yankees signed him as a minor league free agent.  Last year, he made 34 appearances for the Red Sox AA affiliate.  A depth piece, stashed in AAA, just in case.

Paul Dejong...32 year old SS and NRI.  A nine-year MLB veteran, Dejong signed a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.  Can almost guarantee that he has dates in his contract that allows him to opt out if he is not on the 40-man roster.  Sometimes that's used as a negotiating tool to get more guaranteed money while staying in AAA.  Early in the season, with Volpe on the IL, he is one injury away from getting the call.  Last year, he missed almost three months after getting hit in the face with a 93 MPH fastball.  For the beginning of the season, he will be a depth piece at AAA until another opportunity presents itself.

Yerry De Los Santos... 28 year old RHRP and on the 40.  He pitched 25 games last year for the Yankees.  He is making the league minimum this year and has five full years of team control.  He also has an option remaining, which gives the team added flexibility.  I expect him to be on the opening day roster and then used as needed between the majors and AAA once certain players get healthy.

Jasson Dominguez...23 year old OF and on the 40.  He is making the league minimum and has two options left.  Overall, his season last year was slightly disappointing.  I personally was disappointed because when Stanton returned from injury, it cut into Dominguez's playing time.  This year, he once again sits behind Judge, Grisham, Bellinger, and Stanton for playing time.  There's lots of people that want to see him traded or sent to AAA to play everyday.  These things always have a way of sorting themselves out.  I expect him to play as much or more than last year.  Regardless, He should be a key part of the team's success, both in this year and in the future.  The better he plays, the more often he should find his way into the lineup.