Ben Rice's 1B Role Complicated by Goldschmidt Signing

Ben Rice is slated to be the Yankees' primary first baseman in 2026, but the recent re-signing of Paul Goldschmidt complicates his role. Goldschmidt is expected to frequently start at first base against left-handed pitchers. While manager Aaron Boone previously anticipated Rice playing often against lefties, he could now shift to catcher or DH in those matchups to maintain near-everyday playing time. Fantasy managers are advised not to significantly downgrade Rice's outlook, as the move may even help him gain catcher eligibility.