13 Yankees who will be off 40-man roster if Brian Cashman has huge 2026 trade deadline

There has to be a point where the Yankees front office looks at one another and says, "We have to go for it." And we're not sure how this isn't the year based on all of the evidence sitting right in front of us. The 2026 trade deadline is almost here — there's no better time than the present.

If Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are coming back, this season is very much still on. Not to mention, the Yankees were the ones who told us they "ran it back" in 2026 because they believed so much in the 2025 team. So why wouldn't they want to do all they can to fortify their belief?

Not only that, but there's a lockout coming that will disrupt the offseason/start of 2027. And we don't need to keep reiterating that Judge and Gerrit Cole only have a few years left of their primes. With a wide open AL, there's no sense in not going all out for a rematch with the Dodgers or another NL powerhouse.

In order to make that happen, this roster will have to look very different come Aug. 4, and here's a list of players whose 40-man roster spot could be in danger.

These Yankees might be sent packing if 2026 trade deadline is a Brian Cashman masterclass

Jake Bird

Need we say more? He's not working out. The Yankees probably won't DFA him, but perhaps another team will value the team control in a move that helps Cashman create roster space, if it comes to this.

Ali Sanchez

In an ideal world, Austin Wells is the backup and the Yankees acquire a starting-caliber right-handed hitter (Shea Langeliers, Hunter Goodman, etc.) to lengthen their lineup. That makes Sanchez an easy roster casualty.

Yerry De Los Santos

De Los Santos is bullpen filler in a bullpen that's already 1/3 filler. He's all the way at the bottom of the totem pole, so the right-hander occupying a 40-man roster spot feels a bit redundant. Then again, the Yankees could use him to burn innings down the stretch. Just wouldn't be surprising if he's elsewhere in a couple weeks.

Brendan Beck

Beck has been used as a spot starter/long reliever a couple times this year, and will seemingly continue to be treated as such with the Yankees' rotation depth and need for more swing and miss in the bullpen. Another team might have room to give him more of an opportunity given he's performing well at Triple-A and is already 27 years old.

Chase Hampton

There's a chance Hampton (among other pitching prospects) is included in a larger deal to acquire more immediate roster needs. He remains one of the Yankees top prospects even though he's struggling a bit in his first action since Tommy John surgery.

Luis Gil

Gil is currently injured and hasn't pitched since 4/26 after being optioned to the minor leagues. Even before the layoff, the Yankees didn't seem as if they believed in him as they prioritized options they felt were more effective. He won't fetch a ton of value, but another team could be interested in the 2024 Rookie of the Year.

Elmer Rodriguez

Rodriguez should be among the Yankees' most expendable (and solid) trade assets. With a plethora of starting pitching both at the MLB level and in the farm system, Rodriguez is a big-league ready talent that probably makes more sense to trade and capitalize while his value is high.

Amed Rosario

Rosario has unfortunately been a disaster on defense this year and could be among the bench pieces to get squeezed off the roster if the Yankees decide to add another infielder. He only has 18 at-bats this month, so perhaps the writing is on the wall.

Ryan Yarbrough

Paul Blackburn is winning this battle, and it's hard to believe Yarbrough will remain after the deadline given his redundancy on the pitching staff. There is no doubt the Yankees can get some value for Yarby, who has a 3.86 ERA in 39 2/3 innings. Somebody could use him in the back of the rotation or as a long man out of the bullpen — a role that could eventually be taken over by better options in New York.

Spencer Jones

It's unclear if the Yankees truly believe in Jones. They've given him a couple opportunities this year and have received mixed results, but it's clear they missed the boat on capitalizing on his value. At this point, it's clear Jones' strikeout concerns aren't going away. He is what he is. Either the Yankees live with that, trade him for pitching help, or make a prospect swap with another team.

Jasson Dominguez

This is essentially the same situation as Jones, except Dominguez has gotten more run with different concerns. His defense isn't great. He's lost his power. He's a good hitter, without a doubt, but injuries have slowed him and he's not giving the Yankees what they need. Another team that has more patience might be a better fit. He won't be the centerpiece of any deal, but he can be packaged for something meaningful.

Will Warren

Warren is an asset for teams in need of controllable pitching, and he also might be playing himself out of the Yankees' plan. He's already seemingly been squeezed out of the rotation, and his first appearance in relief featured some bumps in the road. Again, not a centerpiece, but somebody who can be part of a larger deal to address greater needs.

Anthony Volpe

Like Rosario, Volpe could get squeezed off the roster if the Yankees live out their infield dreams. Acquire someone like Zach Neto? Volpe should be gone. He's become a backup option to Jose Caballero, and he's just probably better off starting anew elsewhere after all that's transpired since his 2023 rookie season. The Yankees probably won't do it, but something tells us this relationship is nearing the end, whether it's on Aug. 3 or this coming offseason.

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