Yankees, Mets Underwhelm Ahead of Spring Training

New York baseball teams face questions about roster decisions and outlook for 2026 season.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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With the start of spring training on the horizon, the New York Yankees and New York Mets are facing skepticism about their rosters and prospects for the upcoming 2026 MLB season. The Yankees are largely keeping their 2025 squad intact despite being dominated by the Toronto Blue Jays, while the Mets have undergone a roster overhaul with new faces.

Why it matters

The Yankees and Mets are two of the most high-profile and valuable franchises in Major League Baseball, so their performance and outlook have major implications for the sport's popularity and revenues, especially in the lucrative New York market. Fans and analysts are questioning whether the teams have done enough to improve and compete for a World Series title in 2026.

The details

The Yankees are returning largely the same roster that was swept by the Blue Jays in the 2025 playoffs, leading to questions about whether the team has the talent and strategy to compete with the American League's elite. The Mets, meanwhile, have made significant changes to their roster, including trading away several star players, which has created uncertainty about how the new-look team will perform.

  • Spring training for the 2026 MLB season is set to begin in mid-February 2026.
  • The Yankees and Mets are scheduled to report to their respective spring training facilities in Florida in late February 2026.

The players

New York Yankees

One of the most successful and valuable franchises in Major League Baseball, the Yankees have won 27 World Series titles but are coming off a disappointing 2025 season.

New York Mets

The Mets are the National League counterpart to the Yankees in the New York market, and they have undergone significant roster changes in the offseason as they look to bounce back from a subpar 2025 campaign.

Brandon London

A sports analyst who is assessing the outlook for the Yankees and Mets ahead of the 2026 MLB season.

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What they’re saying

“The Yankees' decision to roll with a similar roster that got dominated by the Blue Jays in 2025 is really puzzling. They need to make some big moves to compete with the top teams in the American League.”

— Brandon London, Sports Analyst (nypost.com)

The takeaway

The Yankees and Mets face significant questions about their roster construction and ability to compete at the highest level in the 2026 MLB season, underscoring the challenges even the most high-profile franchises can face in building a championship-caliber team.