The 2023 MLB season exposed all the weaknesses of the New York Yankees’ roster piece by piece. The team was embarrassed in front of the whole league as their flaws were on full display. Even a huge diary won’t be enough to list out the problems that exist in the franchise. Having said that, the fans and the Yanks themselves have remained too focused on the negative side.
Perhaps it’s time for the Yankees to adopt a more optimistic approach and look at the positives they could gain from a lost season like the one that panned out in 2023. While the list of positives is extremely short, here are three such positive takes that will help the Yanks rebuild from scratch next season.
Rookie Anthony Volpe’s Growth
Anthony Volpe entered the 2023 season with a lot of hype and kicked off his rookie campaign on a high. However, the pressure of the major league got the better of him at times as he struggled with fastballs and consistency. Offensively, he posted decent numbers on board. Volpe hit .209 with 21 homers, 60 RBIs, and .666 OPS across 159 games, which is good enough for the rookie. However, he committed 17 errors on the field, which is completely unacceptable. Regardless, the rookie shortstop has plenty of room to grow, and his first-season growth should encourage the Yankees as they consider him the future of the franchise.
Michael King’s Flexibility
Right-handed pitcher Michael King began the season as a reliever after recovering from a grueling elbow injury. Wary of a relapse, the Yankees moved cautiously with him until they fell into a deep rotational crisis. Owing to the lack of rotational depth, King was promoted to the starter role, wherein he produced wonders. Across 104.2 innings, he posted a 2.75 ERA. It’s highly likely that King could be a part of the rotation in 2024. Regardless, even if the Yankees end up securing someone like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, King’s flexibility will allow them to play with the rotation whenever they deem necessary. Overall, Michael King’s newly discovered arm will benefit the Bombers in the long run.
Gerrit Cole’s Resilience
New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made sure to offer the team a chance to win every fifth day. He finished a CY Young award-worthy season with a 15-4 record whilst posting a 2.63 ERA across 33 starts. Cole rose up amid the chaos to ensure that his individual performance did not take a hit. Gerrit Cole, who is in the fourth year of his nine-year mega contract, is showing no signs of stopping. The ace still has multiple prime years left in him, which will elevate the Yanks’ championship-winning chances. Having said that, it’s important for the Bronx Bombers not to let Cole’s prime years go to waste. If Cole senses danger, he could opt out at the end of the 2025 season, which could prove devastating for the New York-based team.