Yankees reveal World Series roster vs. Dodgers: Nestor Cortes back, Jon Berti out

LOS ANGELES – The New York Yankees announced their 26-man roster for the World Series against Los Angeles on Friday morning.

In Game 1, Yankees star Gerrit Cole (1-0, 3.31 ERA) will face righty Jack Flaherty (1-2, 7.04 ERA) at 8:08 p.m. ET.

Our 2024 #WorldSeries Roster. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/3WSe77iSRx

– New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 25, 2024

Position players

Gleyber Torres, 2B

Juan Soto, RF

Aaron Judge, CF

Austin Wells, C

Giancarlo Stanton, DH

Jazz Chisholm, 3B

Jasson Dominguez, LF

Anthony Volpe, SS

Jose Trevino, C

Alex Verdugo, LF

Trent Grisham, OF

Oswaldo Cabrera, UTIL

Pitchers

Gerrit Cole, RHP

Carlos Rodon, LHP

Luis Gil, RHP

Clarke Schmidt, RHP

Luke Weaver, RHP

Tommy Kahnle, RHP

Jake Cousins, RHP

Clay Holmes, RHP

Tim Hill, LHP

Tim Mayza, LHP

Marcus Stroman, RHP

Mark Leiter Jr RHP

Nestor Cortes Jr., LHP

Here is our analysis:

Cortes in

Nestor Cortes knows he's potentially risking millions of dollars by playing in the World Series.

“We have weighed the consequences this can lead to,” Cortes, who will be a free agent after the 2025 season, said earlier this week. “But if I have a ring and then a year off from baseball, then so be it.”

Cortes has recovered from a flexor strain in his left elbow, an injury that may precede Tommy John surgery. But in his opinion, playing in a World Series is worth the opportunity. The 29-year-old has passed all the Yankees' tests in terms of how he handled recovery, how he looked in live batting practice on the mound and his skillset has remained the same.

The Yankees will continue to be cautious about how they use Cortes. He isn't expected to provide much length out of the bullpen. His main goal, if a game situation calls for it, will be to take over the Dodgers' top job. Cortes is devastating against lefties and Los Angeles has two of the best players in Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

The bullpen has been a strength for the Yankees throughout the postseason, and adding Cortes only further strengthens the staff.

Berti out

It was a surprise that the Yankees left out utility infielder Jon Berti, with most speculation pointing to fifth outfielder Trent Grisham being the odd man out. Berti started two games at first base for the Yankees and was perhaps the quickest backup in case the team needed a pinch runner.

Because the Dodgers have a right-leaning pitching staff, there likely wasn't room for Berti, who is a career shortstop/second baseman/third baseman and a rookie at first base, a position he played for the first time in a professional baseball game played during the ALDS.

Grisham didn't play at all in the playoffs, but is the Yankees' best defensive outfielder. If Judge were injured, the Yankees would have an immediate replacement in Grisham. Rookie Jasson Domínguez was also a candidate to potentially lose his spot to Cortes, but Domínguez now becomes the team's best pinch-running option and potentially a powerhouse on the left side of the plate pinch-hit.

(Top photo by Nestor Cortes: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)