Yankees running it back draws lackluster 'C+' offseason grade from ESPN

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Yankees running it back draws lackluster 'C+' offseason grade from ESPN originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees were one of the best teams in Major League Baseball last season. But they lost in the ALDS to the Toronto Blue Jays.

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With relievers Luke Weaver and Devin Williams leaving the Yankees this offseason, the team is mostly back together. The only noteworthy outside addition is Ryan Weathers.

Brian Cashman is running it back with the 2025 Yankees for 2026. And for such an offseason, ESPN's David Schoenfield gave the Yankees a lackluster "C+" grade.

Yankees get 'C+' grade for lackluster offseason

"General manager Brian Cashman elected to bring back the same roster as 2025, other than his two late-inning relievers," Schoenfield writes. "As with the Phillies, it's usually a little bit dangerous to bring back the same roster, but the Yankees clearly project as oneof the best teams in baseball once again..."

While the majority of the roster is returning, with Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Paul Goldschmidt, and Amed Rosario all coming back for the 2026 season, the Yankees are still in a great spot.

After the trade deadline, with Ryan McMahon, Camilo Doval, Jose Caballero, and David Bednar coming to New York, the Yankees went 34-19. That winning rate would give the Yankees over 100 wins if they maintained that over a full season.

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While the beginning of 2026 will be tough, as Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole are sidelined, there's still plenty of reason to be optimistic about the Yankees in 2026.

Yes, the Yankees are running it back with essentially the same roster. But that same roster won 94 games and made it to the ALDS and lost to the eventual World Series runner-ups, the Blue Jays.

This team is good, and there's reason to be optimistic about how the 2026 season will go. If they can weather the storm to begin the season, they could be in a great spot to go on a deep postseason run this October.

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