The New York Yankees had an outstanding season in 2024. They made the World Series by beating the Cleveland Guardians and the Kansas City Royals. They lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the World Series. Not winning the World Series against the hated Dodgers was an unsuccessful ending for the New York Yankees to an otherwise solid year.
They spent the money earmarked for Juan Soto on a starter, a closer, and a first baseman. The New York Yankees also made trades to bolster their roster. The New York Yankees won 94 games last season. How many games will they win in 2025?
New York Yankees Starting Rotation
The Yankees doubled down on run prevention after losing the Soto sweepstakes. In addition to Gerrit Cole, whom they hope will be healthy in 2025, they added former Atlanta Brave Max Fried. The New York Yankees have strength in the starting rotation if those two are healthy.
They feature Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, and reigning American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil in a starting rotation that figures to be one of the best in baseball. A sixth potential starter in Marcus Stroman, but the big free agent acquisition from last season may be the odd man out of the rotation this year. There is talk of moving him to the bullpen, but a defiant Stroman does not like that idea.
New York Yankee Key Bullpen Pieces
Speaking of the Yankee bullpen, that will be a strength whether Stroman joins it or is traded. The New York Yankees traded starter Nestor Cortes to the Milwaukee Brewers for Closer Devin Williams. Williams may be the best closer in baseball. The move frees last season’s second-half closer, Luke Weaver, to work the eighth inning. Those two give the Yankees a dominant tandem that effectively shortens games to seven innings.
Other arms in the New York Yankees bullpen include flamethrower Fernando Cruz, who arrived from Cincinnati via trade. Ian Hamilton hopes to rebound from an injury-plagued 2024 campaign and Jake Cousins will provide a valuable mid-innings trio. Mar Leiter Jr., who was acquired via trade last season, adds depth.
Yankees Catcher
Austin Wells will be the full-time catcher this season. They traded Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds to get Cruz. Wells finished No. 3 in Major League Baseball in pitch framing, which is a key statistic for catchers. Wells will not play every inning, so trade acquisition Alex Jackson could break camp with the team.
Yankees Infield
The Yankees made another big free agent signing at first base Paul Goldschmidt. He is a shell of his former self but presents the Yankees with an upgrade over the departed Anthony Rizzo. Jazz Chisolm, a dynamic player, will move to his natural second base after admirably playing third base last season. Anthony Volpe is a young, slick-fielding shortstop whose bat lags behind his glove.
One of the few position battles on the team will happen at third base where defensively talented Oswaldo Cabrera will battle it out in Spring Training with DJ LeMahieu. LeMahieu, a former batting champion, was so injured last year he appeared done.
Yankees Outfield
The outfield for the New York Yankees will feature rookie, and top prospect, Jasson “The Martian” Dominguez. He has been compared to Mickey Mantle but must overcome injuries and shaky defense to successfully play left field as the Yankees hope.
The center fielder will be Cody Bellinger. The Yankees were able to fleece the Chicago Cubs to get the slugger whom they hope will bounce back from an average season. In right field will be all-world slugger Aaron Judge. He might be the best hitter in all baseball but will suffer with the loss of Soto.
Yankees Designated Hitter
Giancarlo Stanton is hoping a historic postseason in 2024 will carry over into 2025. The often injured slugger will get the majority of designated hitter at-bats for the Yankees. The Yankees will use the DH spot to spell Judge and Goldschmidt.
Yankees Management
The Yankees have been one of the biggest spenders in baseball, though they repeatedly say they do not want to exceed the highest luxury tax threshold. General Manager Brian Cashman is not on the hot seat as the team played in the World Series last year, but they did not win. Winning is the expectation for the Yankees.
Conclusion
The Yankees have deep enough pitching and good enough hitting to repeat as American League East champions. However, this team is aging. Also, the Yankees would not be favored in a World Series rematch with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
