The American League East, already a tricky division from which three golf equipment reached the postseason final 12 months, has gotten higher even with the departures of Bo Bichette (Blue Jays to Mets) and Alex Bregman (Pink Sox to Cubs) in free company.
Whereas it may appear as if the Yanks face a more durable highway to reclaiming the AL East after the Jays gained it final 12 months, that is nonetheless a membership that gained 94 video games final season and reached the World Collection two years in the past.
Listed here are 5 keys to the Bronx Bombers recapturing the division crown in 2026:
Aaron Decide is the guts and soul of this membership, and what the Yanks don’t wish to see is what occurred in the course of the 2023 season.
Previous to Decide’s harm, New York’s lineup ranked fourth within the Majors with 94 house runs and ninth within the Majors with 283 runs scored. Whereas Decide was out, the Yankees have been tied for seventeenth in homers (51) and ranked twenty eighth in runs scored (169).
2. Kids in rotation must shine whereas Cole and Rodón are out
Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers will likely be counted upon to hold the load behind ace Max Fried to open the 2026 marketing campaign, they usually’ll have to be good to ensure that New York to get off to a powerful begin earlier than Cole and Rodón are again.
Schlittler, who turns 25 subsequent month, was glorious in 14 regular-season begins final 12 months after making his MLB debut on July 9, posting a 2.96 ERA with a 27.6% strikeout price.
Nevertheless it was within the AL Wild Card Collection in opposition to the archrival Pink Sox that the right-hander shined the brightest, tossing eight scoreless frames throughout a historic efficiency in Recreation 3, strolling none and hanging out 12.
Warren, 26, had a 4.44 ERA over 33 begins in 2025, although he had some stretches over which he appeared good, together with a nine-start span from April 12-Could 25 wherein he pitched to a 3.67 ERA. He additionally had among the best fastballs within the recreation final season, with a four-seam run worth of +11 (93rd percentile amongst certified pitchers, in keeping with Statcast).
The Yankees not too long ago acquired Weathers in a commerce with the Marlins. The 26-year-old left-hander and son of former MLB pitcher David Weathers was a first-round choose by the Padres again in 2018. Accidents have restricted him throughout his five-year Main League profession thus far — he hasn’t made greater than 18 begins in a season (with San Diego in 2021).
Weathers stands to be a breakout candidate, nevertheless, given his repertoire and potential. With a fastball that averages 97 mph, a pointy sweeper and an upper-80s changeup that produce whiff charges of round 40%, our David Adler factors out that his closest comps based mostly on pitch kind, pace and motion are none apart from Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet and Jesús Luzardo.
If the Yankees are to climate the problem of being with out two of their prime starters to open the season, Weathers might want to start reaching his super potential.
3. One other huge season from the brand new Grisham
Trent Grisham was a revelation in pinstripes final season, belting a career-high 34 homers — greater than double his earlier excessive for a season — whereas producing an .811 OPS.
Getting into the 2025 marketing campaign, Grisham was identified primarily for his glove in heart subject after successful a pair of Gold Glove Awards with the Padres. However his huge 12 months on the plate was a boon for the Bronx Bombers, and after he accepted the Yankees’ one-year qualifying provide, they hope they’ll see extra of the identical in ’26.
If he continues the pattern he has established of pulling extra balls within the air, which led to his house run surge final 12 months, this new model of Grisham may very well be right here to remain. His tendency to hit the ball within the air, and now extra to the pull aspect than ever, coupled with the quick right-field porch at Yankee Stadium, means 2025 won’t have been a fluke.
If Grisham proves that, it might go a good distance towards New York reclaiming AL East supremacy.
4. A bounceback from Volpe
Anthony Volpe hit 21 house runs and gained a Gold Glove Award at shortstop in 2023, resulting in the notion that the Yankees may need their shortstop of the longer term. However he hit simply .209 in that rookie marketing campaign and in three Main League seasons, he has a .662 OPS.
Final 12 months, Volpe suffered a left shoulder harm whereas diving for a ball in early Could, and he struggled from there by way of the top of the season. Previous to the harm, he had a .786 OPS. After, he posted a .628 OPS.
The Yankees nonetheless imagine Volpe, who is anticipated to be able to return someday round early Could, is their beginning shortstop over the long run. They’ll want a bounce-back efficiency from him in 2026.
5. Huge bullpen names must dwell as much as their billing
It didn’t prove the best way the Yanks hoped it might. Bednar, a two-time All-Star, was good, posting a 2.19 ERA with 10 saves down the stretch as New York’s nearer.
Issues acquired off to a rocky begin for the right-hander, who surrendered two runs and blew the save in opposition to the Marlins on Aug. 1 in Miami. However from there, Bednar yielded simply 4 runs over 23 innings (1.57 ERA) the remainder of the best way earlier than giving up one run and hanging out 9 over six innings within the playoffs.
Doval and Hen, nevertheless, struggled. The previous had a 4.82 ERA over 22 appearances and the latter gave up seven runs (six earned) over three appearances with the Yanks earlier than being despatched all the way down to Triple-A, by no means to seem within the Majors once more in 2025.
The Yankees haven’t made any important additions to the bullpen this offseason, and have misplaced two distinguished relievers to free company in Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. As issues stand, the trio of Bednar, Doval and Hen must produce significantly better collective outcomes if New York is to compete for a division title in 2026.
