Overview
- Cody Bellinger finalized a five-year, $162.5 million deal to stay with the Yankees and said he will skip the World Baseball Classic to focus on preparing for 2026.
- New York’s approach is centered on returning health and internal growth, with Aaron Boone defending the plan and FanGraphs’ ZiPS projecting 87 wins after 94 last season.
- The Dodgers fortified an already elite roster by adding Kyle Tucker and closer Edwin Díaz, and USA TODAY’s first 2026 power rankings slot them No. 1.
- MLB.com identifies right-hander River Ryan as a potential Dodgers rotation depth piece after Tommy John rehab, with the 27-year-old reporting 98–100 mph velocity in recent sessions.
- Prospect evaluations shape expectations, with an MLB.com analyst tagging Yankees lefty Henry Lalane as a potential Top 100 riser and CBS Sports listing six Dodgers and four Yankees in its Top 100.