Yankees: 26-man roster projection for 2021 season

What will the Yankees roster look like in 2021?

Show of hands for those that expected to read a New York Yankees 26-man roster projection for the 2021 season in June? Now imagine being the person writing it.

At this point, the Yankees were expected to be sitting atop the AL East. With Gerrit Cole leading the way on the mound and a strong lineup mashing home run after home run.

Although the 2020 season still remains up in the air, it may soon be time to look ahead to 2021. I and many other baseball fans are still holding out hope for Major League Baseball’s return this summer but with every passing moment, it seems more unlikely.

While there is still a chance that baseball will be back this year it may soon be time to start looking ahead. For the Yankees, their 2021 roster could look quite different.

A group of key contributors including DJ LeMahieu, James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka will hit free agency and with a number of young pitchers on the cusp of the big league roster, New York will have tough decisions to make this winter.

With free agency also comes the trade market. Rumors swirled this offseason surrounding star infielders Francisco Lindor and Nolan Arenado. Could the Yankees swing for the fences make a move to give themselves their best shot yet at a championship?

At the same time, New York could stick with largely the same roster next season with hopes that health will finally be on their side.

In this way too early prediction, the Yankees will make a few notable moves but next year’s roster will be chock-full of familiar faces.

Here’s my best guess at what the Yankees 26-man roster will look like on Opening Day 2021.