The 2026 New York Yankees enter spring training with a roster built around veteran star power, a few new acquisitions, and a large cluster of pitchers and role players competing for limited spots.
Unlike past seasons, the battles are less about stars and more about marginal gains such as the final outfielder, the last rotation spot, and the final two bullpen arms. These decisions will likely be driven by underlying metrics rather than traditional statistics.
This 4-part series breaks down each competition using FanGraphs and Baseball Savant data.
This one is sneaky important because the Yankees’ roster has multiple “needs” fighting each other:
- A utility glove
- Speed
- Positional flexibility
- Offense
And with a veteran-heavy starting lineup, the final bench spot becomes more about roster elasticity than raw upside.
The candidates
- J.C. Escarra
- Oswaldo Cabrera
- Max Schuemann
Escarra: the roster squeeze
J.C. Escarra’s case is simple: he should hit enough to be useful, but his path is blocked.
With Paul Goldschmidt re-signed and Ben Rice likely occupying the secondary catcher option, Escarra becomes the odd man out. The Yankees simply don’t have the plate appearances available, he is still young and inexperienced with more seasoning needed for consistent MLB playing time.
Unless injuries strike, Escarra’s most likely outcome is an early option to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with a depth call-up later on in the season.
Cabrera: versatility, but the bat is the question
Oswaldo Cabrera remains one of the most useful defensive pieces on the roster. He can play all corner outfield spots, cover second, third, and shortstop and serve as a late-inning defensive replacement. But the bat has lagged behind. His recent offensive production has hovered around or below league average, with inconsistent contact quality and on-base results.
In a tight bench battle, that matters. Teams can’t afford a zero-offense roster spot unless the defense is elite. Still, Cabrera’s versatility is a powerful roster advantage, especially over a long season.
Schuemann: glove, options, and speed
Max Schuemann quietly offers something the roster lacks: true bench speed with defensive flexibility. In 2025, he hit just .197 across 101 games, but his value isn’t tied to the bat. He can play multiple infield spots, cover the outfield in a pinch, provide late-inning speed
More importantly, he carries minor-league options. That matters more than most fans realize. When two players are close, front offices often choose the one they can send down without losing.
The Rice factor
If Rice serves as the backup catcher, then the Yankees gain roster flexibility. But it also means the bench must lean more toward defense, speed, and positional coverage. Not another bat-first player.
The verdict
This battle comes down to roster geometry.
- Escarra: blocked by Goldschmidt and Rice
- Cabrera: defensive Swiss Army knife
- Schuemann: speed, options, and flexibility
Most likely outcome: Oswaldo Cabrera wins the spot, with Schuemann serving as optionable depth.
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