NFL
By Billy Lewis:
Another long winter is in the books, and MLB Opening Day is here! The New York Yankees kick off their 2026 campaign in San Fransico against the Giants. After a disappointing elimination at the hands of the Blue Jays in the ALDS, the Yankees once again set out to try to capture their 28th World Series Championship.
New York Yankees running it back or not?
The biggest move of the Yankees’ offseason was re-signing Cody Bellinger. After a good first season in the Bronx, Bellinger was able to earn a 5-year/ $162.5 mil contract to remain in the Bronx. The contract also features opt-outs after the 2028 season (would shift to 2029 if there is a work stoppage). The Yankees also brought back Trent Grisham, after they offered him a qualifying offer following his career-high 34 home runs in 2025.
Despite the eeriely similar looking lineup to 2025, GM Brian Cashman claims the Yankees are not just running back the same team. Cashman always likes to try to be the smartest guy in the room, but it certainly looks like they’re running back the same team. Although the Yankees tied with the Blue Jays for the most wins in the AL with 94, the Blue Jays won the division, which gave them home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Cashman will point to their 2025 trade deadline acquisitions, gaining some Bronx experience, including their brief playoff run, as one of the reasons this will be a different team. The Yankees passed on the big-name free agents like Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz, even though the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers were able to find a way to sign them.
Reasons for optimism for the New York Yankees
Once we get past the argument of “running it back or not”, the Yankees do still enter 2026 with a good team. Led by perennial MVP candidate Aaron Judge, the Bronx Bombers should live up to their nickname. They’ll also gain some reinforcements to their pitching staff as Gerrit Cole should return from his Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for all of 2025. Cole won’t be the only pitcher to start the year on the IL for the Yankees, as Carlos Rodon will also be sidelined after off-season surgery to remove bone spurs in his elbow.
Max Fried will headline the rotation to start the season, and fans are excited to see Cam Schlitter in a full season after his electric postseason. Though Cole and Rodon will miss the beginning of the season, both should provide boosts to the rotation upon their return.
Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones will both start the season in AAA. Despite making the Opening Day roster in 2025, Dominiguez will start in AAA, looking to improve on his defense and right-handed at-bats. Injuries have a funny way of providing opportunities, so these two young bats may still make a splash in the Bronx this summer.
Potential Lineup
- Trent Grisham CF
- Cody Bellinger LF
- Aaron Judge RF
- Ben Rice 1B
- Giancarlo Stanton DH
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B
- Austin Wells C
- José Caballero SS
- Ryan McMahon 3B
Potential Rotation
- Max Fried
- Cam Schlitter
- Will Warren
- Ryan Weathers
- Luis Gil
Closer- David Bednar
Prediction: 92-70 1st ALWC, loss in ALCS.
Bold Prediction: Ben Rice hits 35 home runs, Dominiguez and Jones are used in a midseason trade for Tarik Skubal.
