The New York Yankees have already defined the group with which they will try to eliminate the Tampa Bay Rays in the divisional series of the American League.
The club officially announced its 26-player ALDS roster and made only one change from the team that swept the Boston Red Sox round in the Wild Card round: left-hander Ryan Weathers was added, while Amed Rosario was left out.
Giancarlo Stanton remains active and will remain primarily available as a powerful alternative from the bench, while Aaron Judge was not included due to the right calf injury that still limits his return.
Ryan Weathers enters to reinforce the bullpen
The addition of Ryan Weathers represents one of Aaron Boone's most interesting decisions for a series for the best of five games.
The left-hander hasn't pitched in a major league game since the end of August due to a strain on the left forearm flexor, but he advanced favorably in recent weeks and completed live batting sessions before receiving authorization to return.
During one such practice at Yankee Stadium, Weathers reached 96 miles per hour as he pitted batsmen like Stanton, Jose Caballero and Trent Grisham.
His role in this round will not necessarily be that of a traditional opener. The Yankees can use it to cover various tickets from the bullpen, face specific sectors of the Tampa Bay lineup, or respond if one of the starters leaves ahead of schedule.
Amed Rosario is out against Tampa Bay
The player sacrificed to open space was Amed Rosario.
Rosario was part of the roster in front of Boston, but the construction of the divisional series presents different needs for New York.
The Yankees opted to add another arm to the pitching corps and increase the flexibility of the bullpen, an understandable decision in a series that can extend up to five games.
Rosario's departure also shows how the postseason roster can be modified depending on the characteristics of the rival and the way Aaron Boone intends to handle each game.
Giancarlo Stanton is still available as a weapon from the bank
Giancarlo Stanton will continue to be part of the roster after accompanying the team during the Wild Card series.
The veteran hasn't played a major league game since the end of April due to calf problems, but has continued to hit and work during his rehabilitation.
Before the start of the ALDS, Stanton said that he is ready for any function that the team needs.
Boone, however, has made it clear that he currently does not consider Stanton as an option to play regularly as a designated hitter or defend the gardens.
Its main value will be in certain turns as a pop-up hitter, where a single connection can change the development of a match.
An opportunity for Stanton to change his season
The presence of Stanton has an additional component.
His 2026 season was practically lost due to injuries, but October offers a completely different opportunity.
Stanton has extensive postseason experience and has shown during his career that he can produce in high-pressure scenarios.
In a divisional series, a single turn with base runners can justify their place within the roster.
The Yankees do not need Stanton to accumulate four or five appearances per game. They need you to be prepared for a specific time when your power can make a difference.
The Yankees will wear four starters
The roster structure also confirms the depth of rotation.
Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Cam Schlittler appear as the four openers available to face Tampa Bay.
Cole will have the ball in Game 1, while the Yankees have enough alternatives to rearrange the rest of the series depending on the results and the break.
That depth was one of the great advantages of quickly eliminating Boston. New York did not have to use Cole in a third Wild Card game and was able to prepare the pitching corps specifically for Tampa Bay.
Seven relievers for a different series
The bullpen will consist of David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Brent Headrick, John Schreiber, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers and Ryan Yarbrough.
The presence of Warren, Yarbrough and now Weathers offers Boone several alternatives capable of covering more than one entry.
That can be especially important if a starter is going through problems early or if a match reaches extra tickets.
Bednar will continue to be one of the main options to close meetings, while Blackburn and Schreiber can occupy important functions in the intermediate and final entries.
Ben Rice continues as a fundamental piece
There are no big surprises among position players.
Ben Rice remains within the infielder group and will continue to be one of the central figures of an offensive that will have to reproduce without Judge.
Rice comes from having a huge impact against Boston and comes to this series after a season in which he established himself as one of the best hitters in New York.
The captain's absence puts more responsibility on Rice, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., George Lombard Jr., Luis García Jr. and the rest of a lineup that scored 18 runs during the Wild Card.
Judge is left out again
Aaron Judge does not appear on this roster either.
The captain did his best to return after suffering a moderate strain in the right calf soleus, but the Yankees determined that he was not yet recovered enough to face the demands of a divisional series.
That means New York will have to face Tampa Bay without its main offensive figure throughout the round.
If the team manages to advance to the American League Championship Series, they will be able to present a different roster again and Judge would have another chance to be evaluated.
The official Yankees roster for ALDS
Openers: Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Cam Schlittler.
Reliefs: David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Brent Headrick, John Schreiber, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers and Ryan Yarbrough.
Receivers: Austin Wells and Ali Sanchez.
Infielders: José Caballero, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis García Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, George Lombard Jr., Ryan McMahon, Ben Rice and Anthony Volpe.
Gardeners: Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Spencer Jones and Heliot Ramos.
Designated Batter: Giancarlo Stanton.
The Yankees build the roster thinking about how to win three games
The change from Rosario to Weathers may seem small, but it reflects the difference between a Wild Card series and a divisional series.
Against Boston, New York needed to survive an extremely short series and could carry a greater number of position players.
Now he has to prepare for the possibility of playing five games and carefully administering a rotation and a bullpen for several days.
Adding to Weathers offers more depth from the mound without overlying an offensive that worked very well in the previous round.
Stanton will continue to wait for his chance.
Weathers brings a new arm.
Rosario is out.
And Judge will have to watch again as the Yankees try to get the three wins that separate them from the Championship Series.