5 burning questions Yankees must answer with 2026 spring training officially here

With the New York Yankees mostly running it back this offseason, you might think there isn't much we don't already know. The key roster pillars were all here last season, and they're all guys everyone's familiar with. Even most of the depth is the same as it was a year ago. You'd think there wouldn't be a lot of mystery.

And to a degree that's correct. No one will be tuning in wondering if Aaron Judge can repeat his MVP performance, because for the past four seasons he's been far and away the best hitter in the world, and he was pretty darn good before that stretch, too.

But that doesn't mean that there aren't questions; important ones, too. And the answers might define the entire 2026 season ... for better or worse.

5 burning questions the Yankees must answer during spring training

Did they do enough to fix the bullen?

Quietly, the one part of the roster with the most turnover was the bullpen. After ranking 23rd with a 4.37 ERA last season, changes needed to be made. And changes were made, but we're not exactly sure if they'll be impactful enough.

The two most high-profile names, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, are gone. We're not necessarily complaining. Those two were more often the problem than the solution last season. The question becomes: are the replacements any better?

The trade deadline acquisitions will be here for a full season, so while that might not mean much for David Bednar and Camilo Doval, Jake Bird and his hypetrain might as well be a new acquisition. Cade Winquest and Angel Chivilli are a couple of live, but unproven arms. We're going to see if the Detroit Tigers' version of Rafael Montero from a year ago is legit. And there are a number of prospects who could surprise and sneak their way in. We wanted stability, but we got volatility, and now we'll see if the club can catch lightning in a bottle with these intriguing, but questionable pieces.

What to do about Jasson Dominguez?

Jasson Dominguez's future has been a topic of conversation all winter, but the debate ratcheted up several notches once Cody Bellinger signed on the dotted line. The discourse has been so overanalyzed that at this point that we just need to see it on the field.

Some would have had you believe the 23-year-old would have been traded already. Others believe that he's destined for Scranton to work through things in Triple-A. And still, others want to see him get his shot to get at-bats, much like last season, realizing his pedigree, youth, and performance all don't yet warrant writing him off.

New York still hasn't added a right-handed bat to the outfield mix, so if Dominguez can show improvement, maybe he can stick. We'll need to wait and see.

Can Jose Caballero lay the groundwork to Wally Pipp Anthony Volpe?

One of the underdiscussed possibilities that could play out this season is the chance that Anthony Volpe could be phased out of the Yankees' plans. Aaron Boone has given dodgy answers about what the leash will be like on Volpe once he returns from offseason shoulder surgery. Brian Cashman has been a little bit less ardent in his support for the much-maligned youngster.

Jose Caballero will be the starting shortstop for approximately the first two months of the season. A contingent of fans has already been clamoring for more of him and less Volpe. After all, if you're going to have a shortstop that puts up a ~.660 OPS, at least let him be a plus defender with the ability to lead the league in stolen bases.

Caballero slashed .266/.372/.456 in 95 post-deadline plate appearances. Small-sample-size mirage? Probably. But Caballero has put in a ton of work this offseason. His workouts at Driveline have turned heads. What if he's been able to make a real change and we see that on display during spring training? What if that carries through to the regular season? What would happen when Volpe returns?

How do the "young" starters look?

New York will open the season without Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole. In that time, they'll be leaning on the collection of Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Luis Gil, and new acquisition Ryan Weathers. Two out of the four will also be big parts of the rotation once the veteran stars return. But which two? Before we get there, however, we have to ask ourselves: is this rotation doomed from the start? There isn't a lot of certainty behind Max Fried.

Schlittler punctuated his impressive rookie season with a dominant postseason start against the Red Sox and another solid outing against the Blue Jays, but to date his success has rested almost entirely on his blazing fastball. Has he been able to develop his secondaries this offseason to avoid hitting a wall?

Moreover, can Will Warren finally provide some consistency? Maybe find a middle ground between looking ace-like and unpitchable? Will the real Luis Gil please stand up? The 2024 AL Rookie of the Year may have gotten decent results once he returned from injury last season, but the peripherals told a much more horrifying story. How will Ryan Weathers look, and will this impressive stuff we've been hearing about actually culminate into anything substantial?

Does a top prospect break out?

The Yankees don't have much room for their top prospects to steal a roster spot coming out of spring. The one with the best chance is Spencer Jones, who is fighting to become the fourth outfielder and presents zero solution to the right-handed-hitting outfielder conundrum.

But maybe one of these guys can force the issue. Elmer Rodriguez was hot in 2025. Carlos Lagrange has face-melting stuff. Maybe a deep-cut like Ben Hess or Kyle Carr breaks out. Does George Lombard Jr. take a massive leap?

Our money is on a young hurler turning heads. That's where the strength of the system lies. Can one of these talented arms force the issue and challenge the likes of Warren, Gil, and Weathers for a rotation spot? Can one serve as a bullpen force? It's not likely, but it is possible, and we can't wait to find the answer.