Yankees at a Crossroads: Season of Highs, Lows, and Hopes for Redemption
The 2023 season has been nothing short of a rollercoaster for the New York Yankees. Once hailed as one of the best teams in baseball, the Yankees boasted the best record in the league through mid-June. However, a severe downturn since then has left them struggling to recapture their early success. Despite these challenges, General Manager Brian Cashman remains optimistic about the team's postseason prospects, with odds still comfortably over 90%.
Cashman has made it clear that the Yankees will be buyers as the July 30 trade deadline approaches. "We're gonna be open-minded to a lot of different things. I'm not going to point out anything specific, but we definitely have areas to improve upon, and we'll do our best to do so. My deadline plan is to see if we can run into as much that can improve our team as possible," he stated.
Challenges on the Field
Among the Yankees' many challenges, their offense stands out as particularly worrying. Around stars like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, the lineup appears thin. Injuries have further complicated matters, with DJ LeMahieu struggling since returning from a spring-training foot injury and hovering around a .500 OPS. At first base, Ben Rice has been stepping in for the injured Anthony Rizzo, although his performance has not significantly bolstered the team's offense.
Infield concerns extend to third base, where the Yankees collectively rank 24th among the 30 teams in Wins Above Replacement (WAR). Gleyber Torres, however, has shown signs of improvement at second base, offering a glimmer of hope for the infield.
The outfield has its issues too. Alex Verdugo's performance against left-handed pitchers has been abysmal this year and for the last three seasons, compounding the Yankees' offensive woes. Additionally, the bullpen, a traditional strength for the Yankees, has been underwhelming when it comes to strikeouts, adding to the team's troubles.
Pitching Woes
Starting pitching has not escaped the malaise plaguing the team. Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman have both been stumbling as of late, failing to provide the stability the rotation desperately needs. Luis Gil is entering unfamiliar workload territory, adding another layer of uncertainty to the rotation's reliability. Clarke Schmidt is also still several weeks away from returning from a lat strain, further thinning the Yankees' pitching options.
Farm System Analysis
Compounding their Major League issues, the Yankees' farm system has not had the best season either. Jasson Domínguez completed his Tommy John surgery rehab only to immediately pull his oblique, while Spencer Jones boasts one of the highest strikeout rates in the minors. Injuries have also sidelined promising talents like Chase Hampton and Henry Lalane for much of 2024, and Will Warren is struggling to keep his ERA below 6.00 in Triple-A. Additionally, Everson Pereira recently required season-ending elbow surgery.
Despite these setbacks, some prospects have shown promise. Brock Selvidge, a Double-A lefty, has experienced something of a breakout year. Interestingly, Will Warren continues to have fans despite his ugly Triple-A numbers and is seen as a potential plug-and-play fifth starter. Cashman and his staff have also demonstrated a knack for finding enough prospects to make deadline trades, even when the farm system isn't in great shape.
The All-In Strategy
This year represents an "all-in" moment for the Yankees, primarily because it is Juan Soto's only guaranteed year with the team. To capitalize on this window, the front office will likely pull out all the stops to bring in the right pieces before the trade deadline.
Potential trade targets include teams like the Marlins and Tigers, both of which are expected to sell at the deadline. There is historical precedent for aggressive trades, such as acquiring Harrison Bader from the Cardinals when he was in a walking boot two years ago. With a similar mindset, the Yankees are likely to pursue impactful additions to address their glaring weaknesses.
As the season reaches its critical juncture, the Yankees find themselves in a delicate balance between rectifying their current struggles and leveraging their considerable talent to make a deep postseason run. How Brian Cashman and his team navigate this trade deadline may very well define the outcome of their season.