TAMPA, Fla — The Yankees pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training. Aaron Boone met the media on Wednesday for the first time this spring and provided updates on multiple fronts.
Injury Updates
While news around the league has surfaced over the past 24 hours that a lot of players have come to camp injured, Boone had nothing new to report on the injury front.
“It doesn’t sound like we’re missing anyone, and frankly, I think probably at 80, 90% of our guys that have been here for a while already anyway, so obviously a big day getting here and getting guys through physicals and stuff,” Boone said. “So you know, so far, looks good.”
The Yankees have suffered a lot of spring training injuries coming into camp in recent seasons, so this is very good news. With other competitors in the AL East losing players by the second, the Yankees going in healthy is imperative.
Boone also provided updates on already injured starters, Gerrit Cole (Tommy John Recovery) and Carlos Rodón (Elbow Recovery).
“I think he’s [Cole] scheduled to begin lives in a couple of weeks. Said Boone. “And then could potentially even get in some game action by the end of spring. We’ll, we’ll see how, how all that shakes out, and if we want to do that or not.”
“He [Rodón] is probably not far behind from the start of the season,” Boone added.
The early indications were for Rodón not to return until May and Cole not till June. Getting Cole back any earlier and effectively would be huge for this Yankees team.
Boone was also asked about Giancarlo Stanton. He added that Stanton has had a good winter. He has not yet reported to camp,
Anthony Volpe is also rehabbing from his shoulder injury. Boone said that Volpe’s range of motion is “outstanding.”
Positional Updates
Boone welcomed back Paul Goldschmidt to the fold. Boone all but confirmed that Goldschmidt’s return will not affect the playing time of Ben Rice.
“I’m thrilled to get him back.” Manager Aaron Boone said. “I mean, just one of the best people I’ve ever had the chance to manage, and he was so, so good in our room, such a good performer on the field.
Obviously, what he was against left-handed pitching last year, and coupled with the moves we made at the deadline last year to have more of a presence against left-handed pitching with all our left-handed hitters. He balances out our roster so much so, as far as playing, we’ll see. I think he’s prepared for anything.”
It also seems that Jose Caballero, not Oswaldo Cabrera, will start at shortstop to begin the season. He was taking some reps at the position.
Cabrera should be fully healthy in spring training, recovering from a severe left ankle fracture and ligament damage sustained in May.
Austin Wells
Boone also spoke about the expectations of some of the guys on their roster. One of those players is Austin Wells.
When he was coming up, Wells was projected to be an offensive threat and a defensive concern. That narrative has flipped.
“I think he’s really established himself as a really good defensive catcher in this league, which I think the thing that kind of caught us all a little off maybe a couple years ago when he emerged, it’s like, oh, the defense is way better than we thought that,” Boone said.
“We thought the offense was going to be the carrying thing. And while he’s done some good things offensively, 20 homers again last year for your catcher. And I think when you take his defensive ability and what he’s done offensively, like you sign up for that for your catcher, that being said, I expect more out of Austin Wells. I think there’s a lot more in the tank. There should be more in the tank. He knows that, so hopefully, you know him and some others, we can find more consistency offensively, because we do still really think that he could be a frontline offensive catcher as well. But we got to keep getting
there.”
This is a ringing indictment of Wells to perform at a higher level in the 2026 season. If Wells can improve, it would be an even bigger boost to the Yankees offense.
Bullpen
The bullpen could be a competition, with some spots certain. We know that
“I think it [The Bullpen] has a chance to be [A Strength].” Said Boone. “And again, I think it’s because of our overall pitching depth that I really like. And so that may mean a reliever or a starter having to collapse, and maybe somebody that, you know, nobody’s writing about at this point that usually, especially in bullpens, seems to always emerge around the league.
The bullpen is usually one of the most volatile things that’s hard to predict. Sometimes, I think we feel good about the talent that we have and who’s going to kind of emerge from that group to grab a meaningful role, coupled with the handful of guys that are back, that are in leveraged spots, that we feel really good about.”
One of the key players in the bullpen, specifically named, was Camilo Doval. Doval came over at the trade deadline. He started off really badly, pitching his way out of high leverage, but improved as time went on.
“You mentioned Camilo, he’s had a really good winter, kind of getting ready for the WBC, and we’ve had really good communication with him throughout the winter,” Boone said. “And one of those players that came over at the deadline that I think being here with us now, and you’re building that relationship, hopefully, is something that serves him and us both well.”
The Yankees could have used another high-end arm in the bullpen, but it seems they will roll with what they have for now.