Yankees pitchers and catchers reported to Tampa on Wednesday, as the team looks to follow up last year’s 94-win season and make a deeper playoff run in 2026.
Manager Aaron Boone met with reporters to kick things off, and players like Paul Goldschmidt also spoke.
Here’s the latest news and notes from around the Yankees facility…
Gerrit Cole could pitch in spring training games
Boone was asked about the status of both Carlos Rodon (left elbow surgery to remove bone spurs and loose bodies) and Cole (Tommy John surgery).
While both appear to be on the right track, Boone somewhat surprisingly said that Cole, who had surgery last March, could potentially pitch in spring training games. But the club will determine that at a later time.
“They’re pretty far into it, especially Carlos,” Boone said. “He’s probably not far behind from the start of the season.
“And then as far as Gerrit, he’s thrown a number of [bullpen sessions] already in California. I think he’s scheduled to begin lives in a couple of weeks, and then could potentially even get into some game action by the end of spring. We’ll see how all of that shakes out and if we want to do that or not, but both have done well.”
Paul Goldschmidt on returning
One of the most recent Yankees roster moves was bringing back Goldschmidt, who returned on a one-year, $4 million deal.
Goldschmidt praised the Yanks for being “an amazing organization,” and admitted that losing to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 ALDS creates some motivation for he and his teammates this season.
“It definitely left a sour taste in our mouth,” he said. “Our goal was to win a championship, win the World Series, and we thought we had the players to do it, and we came up short. It’s always in the back of your mind and you use it as motivation and continue to work in the weight room, on the field, and we’ll use it again this year.”
Goldschmidt was also asked about the notion that the Yankees are “running it back” with basically the same roster as last year, and he explained that teams are always different from year to year, and going out and performing is all that matters.
“It may be similar, but there are definitely going to be different pieces, it’s a different year, it’s all different,” said the veteran first baseman. “I think nothing from last year carries over to this year, either. We’ve got to earn every single win, we’ve got to earn our way into the playoffs, and hopefully we can do that. So I think that’s probably the mindset: get to work, you’ve got to be ready, put in the work in spring training and prepare for the season and go out and play every single game. We have a talented roster, but the game’s not played on paper. There are a lot of other great teams out there, and our job is to go out and play better than them.”
Boone responds to IKF
Red Sox infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa recently ruffled some feathers by saying that the Blue Jays, the team he played for in 2025, were “a lot happier” to see the Yankees in the ALDS, as opposed to the Red Sox, believing that the Yankees were an easier opponent.
Boone was asked on Wednesday if he had any response.
“I guess he was right. A little surprising to hear IKF say that, but whatever, that’s fine,” Boone said.
He was then asked if the comments bothered him at all.
“Not really, honestly,” said Boone. “I mean, you’ve got to play who you play, and whatever.”
Yankees' place in the AL (B)East
The American League East is often one of the most difficult divisions in baseball, and 2026 should be no exception.
While the Yankees were recently projected to edge out the Jays for the division title, Boone believes every team in the division is for real, which should make for a great division race.
“There’s no question that it’s going to be tough,” Boone said. “I feel like the Red Sox, we started to see them come of age last year. The pieces they’ve added, they’ve had some attrition too but I feel like they have a chance to be an outstanding club. Obviously the Blue Jays are the reigning AL champs and they’ve made strides to improve. And then Baltimore is the team that, really in the second half of the season was more in line with who they were in ’23 and ’24, and obviously they’ve had some people come in. So I think they’re going to be a team to reckon with. And the Rays are always tough.
“The division is real. We think we’re one of those teams that can go out and win it. But again, it’s February, and us and them all have a long way to go in building a team capable of winning this division.”