The 2023 season has been a rollercoaster for the New York Yankees. Once boasting the best record in the league through mid-June, the team has since faced a severe downturn. Despite this, General Manager Brian Cashman remains optimistic about postseason prospects, with odds comfortably over 90%.
Offensive Struggles
One of the glaring issues is the Yankees' offense. DJ LeMahieu, playing through a lingering foot injury from spring training, has been hovering around a .500 OPS. Ben Rice has stepped in for the injured Anthony Rizzo at first base, but the team ranks 24th among the 30 teams in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) at the third base position.
Gleyber Torres has shown signs of improvement at second base, but Alex Verdugo’s performance against left-handed pitchers has been abysmal this year and for the past three seasons. The Yankees' bullpen, another cornerstone of their traditional strength, has been underwhelming in terms of strikeouts.
Pitching Concerns
The pitching department is facing its own set of challenges. Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman have been stumbling lately, while Luis Gil is entering unfamiliar workload territory. Clarke Schmidt is still several weeks away from returning from a lat strain, posing additional complications.
In the minors, Jasson Domínguez completed his Tommy John surgery rehab only to pull his oblique immediately afterward. Spencer Jones, a highly-rated prospect, has one of the highest strikeout rates in the minors. Chase Hampton and Henry Lalane have been sidelined with injuries for much of 2024, and Will Warren is struggling to keep his ERA below 6.00 in Triple-A. Furthermore, Everson Pereira recently required season-ending elbow surgery.
However, it's not all doom and gloom. Brock Selvidge, a Double-A lefty, has experienced a breakout year. Despite his ugly Triple-A numbers, Will Warren continues to have his share of fans.
Trade Deadline Strategy
This year represents an "all-in" moment for the Yankees, given that it is Juan Soto's only guaranteed year with the team. The front office will likely pursue aggressive trades as the July 30 trade deadline approaches. The Yankees will be buyers, targeting reinforcements to boost their lineup and pitching rotation.
"We're gonna be open-minded to a lot of different things," Brian Cashman stated. "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."
The Marlins and Tigers are potential trade targets, as they are expected to sell at the deadline. This aggressive approach mirrors a previous move when the Yankees acquired Harrison Bader from the Cardinals two years ago, even as Bader was in a walking boot. Brian Cashman and his team’s navigation of the trade deadline may well define the outcome of the Yankees' season.
The Yankees' fans are witnessing a season of both hope and trepidation. With a combination of struggling star players and an optimistic front office, the next few weeks will be critical. As the trade deadline looms, all eyes will be on Cashman and the Yankees' management to see if they can pull off moves that reignite the team's postseason push.