Blank Slate Season: Boone Sets the Tone in First Spring Conference

“You’re starting new… it’s all a blank slate… getting guys healthy… building our pitchers as smartly as we possibly can… and then… you always worry about the nicks and the injuries that are inevitably going to pop up.”

That’s Boone in February. Not selling a dream. Not promising 110 wins. Just telling you what matters when the cleats first hit the dirt: get through spring with your foundation intact — especially when your foundation includes two of the biggest arms in the sport trying to rejoin the mix.

Rodón and Cole: The Timeline Talk Starts (But Boone Stays Careful)

The “how far along are they?” questions arrived early, as expected. Boone said Carlos Rodón is “pretty far into it” and “not far behind” the start of the season. As for Gerrit Cole, Boone noted he’s already thrown a number of bullpens in California, is scheduled to begin live sessions in a couple of weeks, and could potentially get into game action by the end of spring — with the important caveat: they’ll decide whether they even want to push it that far.

Translation: progress is real, but no one in that building is going to turn a rehab schedule into a PR campaign.

The Bullpen: “There Are Some” Open Spots — And That’s the Point

Boone wasn’t going to give a number for bullpen openings (shocker), but he did confirm there are spots to be won. More importantly, he laid out the Yankees’ 2026 bullpen blueprint in a way that should perk your ears up: the bullpen might be reinforced internally by the rotation.

“If we’re largely healthy… you could bump some guys into that bullpen mix… not only could give you length, but guys that could turn into a leverage situation down there.”

This is the chess board Boone keeps referring to. Spring isn’t just “who makes the team.” It’s who ends up where once the season starts taking bites out of your depth chart. If Rodón and Cole are coming back, and if the rotation holds together, there’s a very real world where the Yankees can convert starters into weapons — the kind that can change games in the sixth, seventh, and eighth without spending like a drunken sailor in free agency.

Boone also addressed the very loud “why didn’t you spend big on relievers?” conversation by acknowledging what everyone saw: big numbers were attached to relievers this winter, and teams have to allocate resources. His confidence comes back to depth — and the reality that bullpens are volatile by nature.

“The bullpen is usually one of the most volatile things… I feel like it has a chance to be a real strength for us.”

Camilo and Bird: Boone’s Bet on a Bounce (and a Build)

Boone spoke positively about Camilo Doval and Bird (Boone’s comments centered on his belief that both can fill meaningful roles). With Doval, Boone emphasized that this is who he’s been — a high-leverage reliever — and said he felt Doval threw the ball well late last year, getting big outs. Boone also pointed to Doval’s best season coming in 2023, when he also pitched in a WBC year, and said the team has had strong communication with him this winter as he prepares for the tournament again.

On Bird, Boone praised the “stuff” and the competitiveness while framing last year’s struggles as a combination of being overused earlier in the season and wear-and-tear. He added he saw Bird throw a bullpen recently and said he looked really good.

This is classic Boone: don’t bury a player in February — build him.

Ryan Weathers: “Chance to Be Really Good”… If He Can Stay On the Field

Boone’s first impressions of Ryan Weathers were blunt and optimistic. He’s excited the Yankees got him. He sees a pitcher with big stuff and the athleticism to match — “moves really well on the mound.” But Boone kept circling back to the one sentence that matters for Weathers’ entire season:

Availability.

“For him it’s about being able to go to the post… he’s struggled with different things that have kept him off the field… the biggest step for him is being healthy and being available.”

If Weathers is healthy, Boone believes the Yankees have “a really good pitcher on our hands.” That’s a big statement — and it’s also a perfectly New York statement. Because here, “chance to be really good” means nothing unless you’re actually taking the ball every fifth day.

Giancarlo Stanton: No Limitations — But Boone Will Still “Slow Play” Spring

Boone said Giancarlo Stanton should be good to go and that he does not expect limitations. He noted he typically “slow plays” Stanton into spring games, meaning fans may not see him in that first week — but that’s more routine than red flag.

Asked whether Stanton is a “full player,” including the outfield, Boone again said there are no limitations. He did, however, hint at the practical approach: keep Stanton available so the Yankees can “pop him out there” when they have to — with the amount of outfield work ultimately shaped by the roster and the season’s inevitable curveballs.

Boone also sounded genuinely excited about what Stanton could be if he strings together a healthy year, referencing how productive he’s been when available and praising Stanton as a thoughtful, analytic hitter who adjusts.

“I’m not going to be surprised if he goes out and has a really magical year for us… the big thing with G is keeping him healthy.”

“Magical year” is Boone-speak for: don’t be shocked if the baseball world remembers exactly what this guy is capable of.

Goldschmidt Is Back — And Boone Basically Told You the Plan

Boone lit up talking about Paul Goldschmidt. He called him “one of the best people” he’s managed and said Goldschmidt was huge in the clubhouse and on the field, specifically pointing to his impact against left-handed pitching. Boone framed Goldschmidt’s return as roster balance — especially with a lineup that features multiple left-handed hitters.

As for playing time, Boone laid it out honestly: if everyone is healthy, Goldschmidt could be more of a role player — but still a significant one — and that roles change fast once the season starts taking swings at your depth.

Boone also made sure to give Ben Rice his flowers, saying Rice has earned the next step after logging 550 plate appearances last year, and Boone hopes that number climbs in 2026. He also said it’s possible Rice catches more with Goldschmidt back, and that the Yankees have Rice preparing to be a real option behind the plate.

That’s a layered answer — the kind Boone gives when the chess pieces aren’t locked in yet. But the takeaway is simple: Goldschmidt stabilizes the roster, and Rice’s versatility stays on the table.

Volpe Rehab: Strength Back, Range Back… Hitting Is the Next Step

One of the most important updates of the day came late: Anthony Volpe.

Boone said Volpe is doing well. Strength is back in the weight room. Range of motion is “tremendous.” He’s doing ground-ball work and is fully active in the weight room. The last domino? Hitting.

“He starts his hitting progression sometime in the next week or two… he has not hit yet and that’ll be the last thing he has to do.”

That’s the line to track. When the hitting progression starts, the ramp begins to feel real. Until then, it’s still rehab mode — even if everything else is trending in the right direction.

Cam Schlittler: Boone Still Believes — And He Told You Why

Boone was asked about Cam Schlittler after his 15–16 starts and whether his ceiling is higher than people think. Boone didn’t hesitate: he still believes in the potential, and it comes down to the most important skill a young pitcher can have.

Throw strikes.

Boone raved about Schlittler’s fastball as his best pitch, noting the size, angle, and ability to fill up the zone. He also pointed to how Schlittler’s secondary mix evolved — moving away from the sweeper toward a cutter that became a real weapon, plus a two-seam fastball that mattered down the stretch.

And then Boone added the ingredient you can’t teach: competitiveness. He said he felt it the first time he really met Schlittler late in spring, and that mindset showed up all season.

AL East Reality Check: “Tough”… Every Year for a Reason

Boone didn’t do the “we’re the favorites” routine. He acknowledged what everyone sees: the AL East is a street fight, and several teams made moves on paper to improve. Boone cited the Red Sox continuing to mature, the Blue Jays as the reigning AL champs who have improved, Baltimore resembling its stronger form again, and the Rays being the Rays.

He also addressed the “are the Blue Jays the team to beat?” framing by giving them respect as champs while noting the Yankees weren’t at their best during a tough stretch in Toronto last year. Then he pivoted to the only thing Boone really cares about in February:

Become the best version of yourself by the time it counts.

IKF’s Comment? Boone Shrugged — and Smirked

When asked about Isiah Kiner-Falefa telling Red Sox reporters the Blue Jays hoped to see the Yankees in the playoffs because they thought New York was an easier matchup, Boone’s response was pure Boone — quick, dry, and not overly emotional.

“I guess he was right.”

Then he basically said: doesn’t bother me, you play who you play, whatever. That’s the manager refusing to take the media bait — but also quietly filing the quote away for the clubhouse bulletin board if the moment ever calls for it.

The WBC Factor: This Spring Is Different — and Boone Knows It

Boone acknowledged the extra layer a World Baseball Classic year brings, especially with so many Yankees involved — including the captain — and even two of Boone’s coaches participating. Boone also said the WBC’s popularity feels like it’s growing every cycle, and he expects this one to be especially entertaining.

That’s the balance the Yankees have to manage: the WBC is great for the sport, great for players, and great for global baseball — but it also adds complexity to spring prep. Boone’s closing thought on that front was the only one that matters:

good health.

NYYNEWS Takeaway

This press conference wasn’t Boone promising dominance. It was Boone outlining the reality of how the Yankees get to April looking like a real team — and not a hospital ward with pinstripes.

• The mission: build smart, stay healthy, and stack reps without stacking injuries.
• The bullpen: open spots exist — and the rotation could feed it with real leverage arms.
• The returns: Rodón is ahead, Cole is progressing, and the Yankees are staying cautious.
• The lineup balance: Goldschmidt matters, Rice’s role grows, and Stanton has “no limitations.”
• The division: no freebies, no breathers — earn it the hard way.
• The wild card: WBC spring energy is real… and so is the risk if luck turns.

And the most Boone line of the day? The one that should hit every Yankee fan the same way:

It’s February. Everyone looks good in February.

But Boone isn’t coaching for February. He’s coaching for what this team becomes after the dust settles — after the injuries show up, after the depth gets tested, after the standings start lying to teams that aren’t built to last.

Spring starts now. The slate is clean. And the real work, as always, is surviving long enough to let the talent show itself.