The Yankees are back in Tampa, Fla., for spring training as they enter yet another year of being a World Series favorite thanks to their powerful lineup and solid pitching staff backing them up.

But like every team, question marks remain entering spring training -- ones the team hopes to figure out by Opening Day.

With that in mind, let's break down the five biggest things to watch throughout spring training as GM Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and the rest of the team watch the competition that will lead to the best 26 men wearing pinstripes April 1:

The Battle for the Fifth Rotation Spot

It's one of the only battles in camp, but it will be a big one with many pitchers vying for the last spot in the rotation. Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon (we'll get to them later on) are the new faces who presumably solidify the rotation behind Gerrit Cole. Jordan Montgomery is also the only lefty of the bunch and one would figure he pitches in the third or fourth slot when Boone configures the rotation on paper.

That leaves the likes of Domingo German, Deivi Garcia, Clarke Schmidt, Michael King and others to battle it out. German should get the upper hand since he proved in 2019 that he is more than capable of rounding out the rotation. However, he hasn't pitched in a game since that season due to a domestic violence suspension by MLB.

Garcia can give him a run for his money, though. His confidence on the mound was apparent in his first starts in the bigs, and he may be looking to build off it as well. Also, last spring training, Garcia was featured a good amount, so it won't be his first run in the park getting starts and feeling out those battles.

This will be a big storyline throughout the next month or so, as each outing from these pitchers will tell who has the edge over the others at the end of the day.

Has Gary Sanchez found his swing again?

From the group of starting position players, Sanchez will be the most intriguing to keep an eye on. There's no sugarcoating how bad he was in 2020, and even Sanchez won't defend it. He knows he's capable of better seasons and he's shown so in the past.

He played in the Dominican Winter League to continue facing live pitching and work on his swing. Sanchez performed decently down there, and while it was continued reps against solid competition, the Yankees were also hoping that his confidence at the dish would build up again, too.

Kyle Higashioka won't make it easy on Sanchez in Tampa, but Cashman already noted that it's basically Sanchez's job to lose once again. If he isn't striking out left and right with no results in the exhibition games, he should be starting behind the plate on most nights.

How do Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon look?

The Yankees are banking on Kluber and Taillon to return to their normal selves following some injury issues for both of them.

Kluber is coming off shoulder surgery and needed to impress at a showcase earlier this offseason to show teams he can still get things done on the bump -- he clearly did with multiple teams, not just the Yankees, putting in offers.

Taillon just had his second Tommy John surgery and broke down his mechanics to make sure he's using more of his legs to alleviate the pressure on his arm.

Kluber and Taillon are the expected No. 2 and 3 behind Cole, so there will be a keen eye on their development and readiness throughout the spring.

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