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The New York Yankees are already getting early recognition heading into 2026—but not without some doubt. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Yankees are listed with the second-best odds to win next year’s World Series at +750, trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers at +370, who are chasing an unprecedented three-peat.

On paper, the Yankees are the top American League contender. But as every Bronx fan knows, “on paper” has rarely been enough in recent years.

Dodgers Still the Team to Beat

The Dodgers’ dominance has become the story of modern baseball. Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Will Smith, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Blake Snell give Los Angeles one of the deepest and most balanced rosters in the sport. They’ve won back-to-back titles and are now attempting something no team has achieved since the Yankees themselves pulled off a three-peat from 1998 to 2000.

DraftKings clearly believes the Dodgers are still the team to beat, and it’s hard to argue otherwise. Their core remains intact, their player development system continues to churn out talent, and their front office rarely misses on big moves.

That leaves the Yankees trying to play catch-up—not just to L.A., but to the version of themselves they used to be.

Yankees’ Offseason Brings More Questions Than Answers

The Yankees’ +750 odds suggest confidence from bettors, but inside the organization, there are legitimate question marks. They’ve reached the postseason in back-to-back years but haven’t advanced past the Division Series since their 2024 loss to the Dodgers in the World Series.

Aaron Judge remains the face of the franchise and a legitimate MVP favorite after leading MLB in batting average (.331) and OPS (1.144). Gerrit Cole’s expected return from Tommy John surgery gives New York an ace again, but depth beyond him is shaky.

The outfield is also in flux, with Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham both hitting free agency. The Yankees could look internally for answers, but the lineup already showed its limitations against top-tier pitching during the playoffs.

There’s also uncertainty around how general manager Brian Cashman plans to address roster holes after a mixed track record in recent offseasons. Missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto and dealing with uneven production from big contracts like Bellinger’s have added pressure to finally build a roster that complements Judge rather than relies solely on him.

Being second in preseason odds means little if the Yankees can’t capitalize. They’ve had top-five odds nearly every season over the past decade but haven’t delivered a championship since 2009. For a franchise measured solely by rings, moral victories and betting lines don’t carry much weight.

Until then, the Dodgers sit on the throne—and the Yankees, for all their history and hype, are still chasing ghosts.

If there’s a reason for optimism, it’s the Yankees’ growing youth movement. The front office has preached patience with its prospects, but 2026 might be the season where the next generation must carry more of the load. For all the uncertainty surrounding veteran contracts and free-agent pursuits, internal growth could be the Yankees’ most important upgrade.

Alvin Garcia Born in Puerto Rico, Alvin Garcia is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on MLB. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, covering mostly MLB. More about Alvin Garcia

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