Yankees News: Another trade with Nationals, Dodgers sign former reliever, YES Network

As of this writing, the New York Yankees are finalizing their Opening Day roster. All of the decisions weren't exactly the most popular, but there's no denying this is the deepest group we've seen in quite some time.

In fact, they had so much depth, they had to trade Jorbit Vivas (in a deal with the Nationals) and then followed that up with another trade. Again, with the Nationals! On Tuesday, shortstop Zack Short was sent to the nation's capital for cash, officially paving the way for backup shortstop Ryan McMahon. Help us all.

Jokes aside, Short was never going to contribute much of anything for the Yankees outside of emergency services, and the Yankees already have that in Oswaldo Cabrera, who is beginning the year in Triple-A.

That's where Short will begin his season as well after the Nationals optioned him to Triple-A Rochester. We will take the cash, thank you.

Former Yankees reliever Jake Cousins signs with Los Angeles Dodgers

And just like that, we got a reminder of the 2024 World Series. Early Wednesday morning, former Yankees reliever Jake Cousins signed a major league contract with the Dodgers.

The Yankees non-tendered Cousins in the offseason after he underwent Tommy John surgery in June, considering they would get next to no usage out of him for the 2025 season. Cousins was one of the culprits who accelerated the Yankees' meltdown in Game 1 of the World Series against the Dodgers. In the bottom of the 10th inning, before Nestor Cortes surrendered the game-losing grand slam, Cousins walked No. 8 hitter Gavin Lux and then surrendered a single to No. 9 hitter Tommy Edman before it all came crashing down.

We're sure the Dodgers will figure out a way to make him a bullpen contributor in September when they're churning through their 47th relief arm of the 2026 season.

YES Network to expand Yankees coverage for 2026 season

The Yankees season begins Wednesday, March 25 at 8 p.m. ET with a game on Netflix against the San Francisco Giants. It is the inaugural game for the 2026 MLB campaign. Exciting times, even though it will not be broadcast by the YES Network — the Yankees' television station.

But once coverage returns to YES on Friday, fans will be greeted with more content. For all weeknight, non-national games, YES will be providing an extra hour of pregame coverage and 30 minutes of postgame coverage. That means you'll be tuning in earlier and throwing your remote at the wall a little bit later.

Either that, or you can probably catch the extended postgame content the next morning on the app. While so many regional sports networks are in flux or cutting costs left and right, the Yankees are offering more to their fans. So don't call them cheap! Not at least until Brian Cashman refuses to add more salary or trade prospects at the deadline to upgrade a possible World Series contender.

For now, we enjoy our time we have during the calm before the storm. The Yankees play baseball today and there's nothing standing in our way with a new season upon us.