A Luis Gil trade and more bold predictions for the 2026 Yankees' season

You know what would’ve qualified as a bold prediction? Anticipating the Yankees would enjoy one of their most stress-free, undramatic, healthy and humdrum camps in recent history, to say the least. Spring training sites are the forever headquarters of baseball optimism, but the happenings around Steinbrenner Field – to date – mostly raised expectations for 2026.

So, let’s take a few wild swings about the pinstriped season ahead. Spencer Jones gets the call Young outfielders Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones will begin the season at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. But the lefty-slugger Jones gets the first call-up, and winds up with more MLB plate appearances than the switch-hitting Dominguez, despite his big-league experience.

If there’s an injury situation or a performance drop-off by Trent Grisham, you can see the fleet, 6-foot-7 Jones making his major league debut and getting starts in center field. Dominguez is still just 23, two years younger than Jones, but the Yankees no longer view him as a center field option. Should Jones start hot at Triple-A, with an outfield need in the Bronx, maybe the Yanks keep Dominguez at Scranton to work on his left field defense and right-handed swing.

Luis Gil is traded by the deadline Already, it’s starting to look as if Gil will be one of the first starters bounced from the rotation once the injury-rehabbing veterans return. That could be as early as late April, when lefty Carlos Rodon (elbow surgery) is due back. Or it could be around June 1, when ace Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery) is expected to return, or if one of those electric young prospects forces his way to the majors.