The New York Yankees are getting ready for the Opening Day of the new season. It will be a season of redemption for the NY side. At least, that’s what they will be looking for. And what better way to redeem themselves than winning the World Series? It has been a long time since they won the “Big Dance.” The last time they won it was back in 2009. Moreover, the Bronx Bombers have not yet made it to the “Big Dance” since 2009. Hence, the fans are fuming and desperate to be world champions again. But the question of redemption comes in because of the blunder that happened last year. The Yankees have not been able to make the postseason for the first time since 2016.
They finished the season with an awful 82-80 record. It was embarrassing for them because they barely managed to maintain the streak of winning seasons. Hence, it was high time to make significant changes. And the Yankees did exactly that. The offseason was very satisfactory for the Bronx Bombers. Now, what can they do in 2024? Fans want them to win the World Series, as they are quite rightly contenders again. But who is the player the Yankees will need the most to stay healthy and perform well in 2024?
MLB Insider Picks The Most Important Player In The 2024 Yankees Roster
Many key players sustained severe injuries last year and missed many games. If that repeats this year, they will let another chance pass. But the current roster makes the fans believe that the Yankees can do it this year. They have Juan Soto as a new member of the rotation. Moreover, when Soto pairs up with Aaron Judge, they form a deadly combination. Then, the offensive lineup looks really good this year. However, an MLB insider believes it is neither Judge nor Soto without whom the NY side will be lost. Instead, MLB.com’s Will Leitch says the most important player for the Yankees is Gerrit Cole.
Cole won the American League Cy Young award last year. As per Leitch, nobody can replace Cole because of his quality and the number of innings. But the previous year saw the NY side struggling when Aaron Judge missed 35 games on the trot over a couple of months. Nobody can deny the importance of the Yankees captain. But Cole is arguably the best hurler in baseball. Moreover, he can pitch every five games. If Cole’s healthy, he can play for 140 games every season. That’s why it is hard to match Cole’s value. He guarantees the NY side a win every five games.
Cole’s The Most Dependable Pitcher In The Rotation
The Yankees are going into the 2024 regular season with a shaky starting pitching lineup. Last year, Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes disappointed the fans with poor performances due to injuries. But this year, the fans won’t accept any such excuses. They want to win the World Series.
They have the three best players in the sport: Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Gerrit Cole. On any given day, any of them can win matches single-handedly. But Cole is the Yankees’ biggest strength in the pitching department. Without him, the Yankees will find it hard to control the opponent’s offense. These top three players must stay healthy to see things through this year.
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