Building a stacked Franchise save starts well before you choose a team. From the main menu, open Create or Settings, then head into Manage CPU Rosters and Player Movement. That's where the fun begins. If you're planning to add legends, it helps to sort out your budget for MLB 26 stubs before you get too deep into a new save. Start with a club that already has a strong core, such as the Yankees. Judge gives you instant power, while players like Bellinger and Chisholm bring flexibility around the field. Then move available legends onto the roster one at a time. Edgar Martinez, Gary Sheffield, Jim Edmonds, Dave Parker, Luis Gonzalez, and Rafael Palmeiro can turn a good lineup into something ridiculous. Don't just pile up hitters, though. Check positions, bench roles, and the 40-man roster so the squad still works once games start.

Save the roster before Franchise setup

Once the moves are done, save the roster under a name you'll recognise later. It's an easy step to miss, and if you do, Franchise may load the default league instead. When you start a new Franchise file, choose the custom roster at the setup screen. You'll then see the full 30-team selection page with your edited Yankees in place. Before replacing the club, take a quick look at the depth chart. A roster packed with Judge, Max Fried, Orlando Cepeda, and imported Free Agents can get crowded fast. The cleanest approach is simple:
1. Put everyday players in their intended positions.
2. Leave a usable bench with coverage for infield and outfield spots.
3. Set the pitching staff so relievers and starters aren't buried.
4. Save again after any last-minute adjustments.

Replace the club with a custom identity

From the team-selection area, use CPU Roster Control to replace the chosen organisation with a Custom Team. This is the point where the Yankees can become something completely different without losing the loaded roster you built. A Savannah Bananas-inspired club is a natural fit if you want Franchise to feel less corporate and a bit more loose. The real Bananas are known for Banana Ball and their crowd-first style, so don't be afraid to lean into that energy. Pick a name, city, abbreviation, and colours that feel right to you. It doesn't have to be a perfect copy. In fact, a slightly original version usually feels better once you've played a season or two.

Make the uniforms easy to recognise

Use the Logo Vault or Logo Editor to bring in a banana-style graphic for the home shirt. The familiar look works because it's bold: yellow, green accents, dark navy, and a cartoonish baseball feel. In the editor, zoom in and use the grid rather than eyeballing the placement. A logo that's a little too high or too large becomes obvious during batting-camera cutscenes. Keep the road uniform cleaner, maybe with navy as the main colour and yellow trim. That way, the home set still has its own pop without making every game look the same.

Choose a ballpark that matches the mood

The stadium is what sells the whole rebrand. On newer consoles, a created park with close seating, bright colours, and a lively outfield backdrop can capture some of that Grayson Stadium feeling. If Stadium Creator isn't available, a minor league park or an older ballpark does the job nicely. Save the finished team, confirm it's attached to the custom roster, and launch the Franchise. With smart roster planning and a few MLB stubs choices along the way, your Bananas-style super-team can look the part and play like a nightmare for the rest of the league.