I cannot remember a Yankees team with such a Boom-or-Bust quotient as the New York Yankees going into this season, but the American League East is full of teams this year with a similar feel.
The 2024 Yankees were flying high with World Series expectations until the MRI, and X-Ray machines fired up with a line of prominent Yankees shuffling through during March. Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu, Anthony Rizzo all popped up on the injury radar, with Cole and LeMahieu not being ready for Opening Day.
How will the Yankees fair this year? I thought the Yankees would cruise control to 94 wins, now maybe the Yankees can sputter, shake and shudder to 88 wins because of an improved lineup from last year’s model, but it takes a positive outlook to find the reasons.
Juan Soto is here to form a terrific one-two combo with Aaron Judge, and fingers crossed, Giancarlo Stanton may make a steady run this year to supplement the big bats of Soto and Judge. Soto is a big difference for the team this year. But, there is another change from last year not being talked about enough. The big subtraction of Aaron Hicks and addition of Alex Verdugo.
Alex Verdugo is going to be a huge factor for the Yankees playing passionate baseball, gutting out aches and pains, and generally causing excitement in left-field.
Let’s go around the bases…
Catcher-Austin Wells is showing improved defense, and a much better bat than Jose Trevino, and Ben Rortvedt. A 20-home run, 75-RBI season, hitting .265 would not be shocking from Wells this year. Jose Trevino or Ben Rortvedt will not be left standing for the Yankees by the Trade Deadline. Either injury or trade is going to subtract one of the two, with Trevino holding the most trade value. Wells and Rortvedt make a good young combination with low salary implications.
1B-Anthony Rizzo said he feels like he has his “Superpowers” back this year after a lost 2023 season. If Rizzo remains healthy, he could feast in this lineup. Look for Rizzo to have a nice bounce-back year. All-Star?
2B-Gleyber Torres is in a walk year and will want to play as often as possible to showcase himself for a new contract. I expect a fast start, and a possible trade at the deadline since Brian Cashman has not shown much interest in bringing him back. I like Torres, but he will not be a Yankee past 2024.
SS-Anthony Volpe is going to be one of the top-5 Yankees shortstops of all-time if he can remain with the Yankees for 10 years or more. Yes, he hit .209. But he also hit 21 home runs, drove in 60 runs, stole 24 bases, and 23 doubles AS A ROOKIE. Anthony Volpe is only the third rookie shortstop to have more than 20 home runs. 20 stolen bases joining Nomar Garciaparra, and Bobby Witt Jr. Volpe also became the first Yankee rookie to win a Gold Glove. No hate here. 2024 All-Star.
3B-DJ LeMahieu is not going to be a positive for the Yankees this year, maybe never again. His versatility keeps him on the team as a hyper-inflated Swiss Army knife. Even before his foot bruise, his bat looked slow.
RF-Juan Soto is locking right field for this year, and I hope beyond. A 10-year/500M contract is what it will take to keep him a Yankee. 2024 All-Star and top-5 MVP tally.
CF-Aaron Judge will receive the majority of starts in center field. Judge is surprisingly smooth defensively and has been wrongly overlooked for a Gold Glove. Trent Grisham, seen as a throw-in to the Soto trade is a valuable commodity. Grisham is a premier defensive center fielder with two Gold Gloves. Grisham has surprising power capable, draws walks, but strikes out too much (150 K’s or more the last two seasons). I love doubles, and Grisham hit 31 of them last year for the Padres. Between Judge and Grisham, it could be 60 home runs out of center field this year. Judge will hit 40HR/110 RBI/.290 in 130 games and a top-5 MVP total.
LF-Alex Verdugo will be everything Aaron Hicks was not to the Yankees. A shot in the arm, and a joy to watch. 25HR/100RBI/.300 All-Star season and top-15 MVP total.
Players to root for this year in the Yankees outfield.
Jasson Dominguez should be back as early as July and be one of the most exciting rookies in baseball.
Spencer Jones won the 2024 James P. Dawson Award as the outstanding rookie at Yankees Spring Training. He will start the year at Double-A, but he could get a look at the big-league level this season. It is imperative the Yankees can get Dominguez and Jones ready to step into the Yankees full-time in 2025 as Soto and Verdugo are both going into Free Agency. An outfield of Dominguez, Judge, and Jones would be fun to watch if they aren’t able to sway Soto to stay, or Verdugo flames out and moves on.
DH-Giancarlo Stanton looks younger, bat faster, and shockingly almost nimble on the base baths. Anything Stanton does is just putting the Yankees over the top and nearing 90 wins. Crazy Prediction…35HR/100RBI. Maybe even some repetitions at 1B.
Bold Predictions-Astros finally spit the bit, the O’s regress, the Blue Jays combust, leaving the Yankees an opportunity to take the A.L. East Crown and the ALCS. Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Marcus Stroman will shut down teams in the playoffs. The Yankee bats finally play like the 1990’s Yankee dynasty teams dis in the playoffs going deep into at-bats, moving the runners, and execute situational baseball to make the World Series.
Yankees against the Dodgers. The Yankees reverse the 1981 World Series debacle and beat L.A. in 6 games.
Hey, what could go wrong?
