TAMPA, Fla. — One by one, members of the New York Yankees trickled into the club’s player development complex the past few weeks, eager to get a head start on spring training workouts. As they walked through the door, it quickly dawned on them that not many of the faces would be new. The team’s roster from last October had hardly changed.

The Yankees are running it back, and despite the unrest it’s caused within a fan base that expects owner Hal Steinbrenner to acquire top talent every year, the players had no problem with it.

“We had four MVPs on the roster already,” second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said Wednesday. “Ain’t much to change.”

“It’s awesome having almost the same team back,” shortstop José Caballero said. “We have some unfinished business.”

“Honestly,” reliever Tim Hill said, “it’s really cool just coming in, and there’s a lot of familiarity.”

TAMPA — Good morning ☀️

Yankees pitchers and catchers officially report to spring training today. pic.twitter.com/34lm99JaP3

— Brendan Kuty 🧟‍♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) February 11, 2026

Pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on Wednesday. Their first official workout will be on Thursday.

Of the 26 players who were on the roster when the Yankees lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in last year’s American League Division Series, 24 are back. Only relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver aren’t returning, as both signed with the New York Mets.

All five free agents the Yankees signed this offseason were with the team last year: outfielder Cody Bellinger, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, infielder Amed Rosario and pitchers Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough. Center fielder Trent Grisham accepted the club’s qualifying offer.

It’s essentially a repeat of a team that finished tied for the AL East lead at 94-68 with the Blue Jays — except with some caveats.

The Yankees expect ace Gerrit Cole to return around June 1 after missing all of last season due to internal brace surgery, a less invasive form of Tommy John surgery. They expect the return of a healthier Carlos Rodón (left elbow surgery) in May and righty Clarke Schmidt (Tommy John surgery) in the second half.

The addition of hard-throwing lefty Ryan Weathers from the Miami Marlins could prove key if he sticks in the rotation, but also if the club shifts him to the bullpen when Cole and Rodón return. The Yankees also believe that designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton will be ready for the start of the season after missing the first 70 games last year with tennis elbow in both elbows.

Yet for many vocal fans on social media, the Yankees’ offseason work didn’t feel like nearly enough, especially after they went on a spending spree in the 2024-2025 offseason, replacing Juan Soto with Max Fried, Bellinger, Williams and Goldschmidt. And especially considering how the Blue Jays, who beat up on the Yankees during the regular season, trounced them in October, winning the ALDS in four games en route to the World Series.

However, manager Aaron Boone said it didn’t feel like a complete reboot of last year’s team.

“Look,” he said, “you’re starting anew, right? There’s nothing you’re taking with you, ultimately, from last year. It’s all a blank slate.”

Added Goldschmidt: “There’s a lot of the same guys. So, yeah, if we play well, (running it back) will be a good thing. If we don’t, it’ll probably be the reason … that we (didn’t) play well.”

While the Yankees maintained their roster, most of the rest of the division retooled. The Baltimore Orioles look tougher with the additions of first baseman Pete Alonso, closer Ryan Helsley, righty Shane Baz and outfielder Taylor Ward. The Blue Jays spent $210 million on righty Dylan Cease and $60 million on Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. The Boston Red Sox brought in Willson Contreras, Ranger Suárez and Sonny Gray, but lost Alex Bregman. The Tampa Bay Rays, though, appear to be in for a rebuilding year.

“I feel like pretty much every year I sit up here and talk about the AL East — and for good reason,” Boone said. “But there’s no question that it’s going to be tough. We think we’re one of those teams that can go out and win it.”

The Yankees feel like they’re on the right track. Last trade deadline, they added seven new players, many of them without much crunch-time experience. Hill said getting everyone back together “really helps, especially with bonding and creating team chemistry.”

“Especially in baseball,” Hill continued, “there’s always so much (roster shuffling) going that when you get a little more familiarity, it really helps. It’s a good environment.”

Chisholm said he believed those recently acquired players would be better adjusted to playing under the pressure of the Bronx than they were last year.

“To go out there,” Chisholm said, “and especially go straight to the playoffs and be put in front of that crowd. … It’s hard. For me, I feel like it’s great we’re running it back. Now, they know the feeling.”

Of course, it helps that they can still rely on right fielder Aaron Judge, whom Chisholm called “the f—ing best player in the league.”

And to Chisholm, it’s not just about running it back. Rather, it’s about running it back with this specific group of players.

“The closeness and love as players and friends in this room — I feel like it’s great to run it back,” he said. “Especially with these guys.”