Off-season is upon us, and the New York Yankees need to stay battle-ready for what’s coming next. They have tough decisions to make as the entire organization is expected to undergo a change. But to begin with, the front office needs to address the roster concerns. They have huge gaps to fill while determining the future of struggling veterans at the same time. Meanwhile, here are four such lineup concerns the Yanks must address before heading into the off-season.
1. What To Do With Baby Bombers 2.0?
Baby Bombers 2.0 made their way into the big leagues under unusual circumstances and swayed everyone off their feat. The likes of Jasson Dominguez, Austin Wells, and Everson Pereira showed the potential of becoming the franchise’s future. But heading into the 2024 season, the Yankees have to determine if they want to let the Baby Bombers thrive in the big leagues or send them back to minors to grind. Ideally, the front office should build a team around the homegrown talent. They understand the dynamics of playing in New York, and players like Dominguez and Wells seem equipped already. The young talent will not only bring new energy but also depth to the roster. Overall, Baby Bombers is the way forward for the New York-based team.
2. Off Load Declining Veterans
In 2023, the New York Yankees had five or more 34+ aged players with an accumulated salary of $78.5 million. Eventually, none managed to make a difference this year as the majority of the players wasted time on the injury list. The likes of Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, and Tommy Kahnle are highly susceptibly to injuries and take a ridiculous amount of time to recover. It’s unreasonable for the Yanks to spend huge bucks on depreciating players. Instead, the veteran could be off-loaded to acquire more talent in the offense and pitching rotation. Having said that, it’s easier said than done. Finding suitors for declining players is a daunting task. But for the betterment of the franchise, something has to give.
3. Strengthen Starting Rotation
Gerrit Cole turns up each year to deliver a 33-start season. His ability to stay healthy consistently makes him the best starter in the entire league. But for how long before Cole gives into the pressure of holding the fort alone? This season, the ace had no support whatsoever from any side. Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, and Luis Severino, the supposed anchors of the rotation, were regular visitors to the injury list. This has to change in 2024. The Yankees need someone like Yoshinobu Yamamoto to support Cole during crunch stretches. Jordan Montgomery is also an option, given he is still open for a reunion.
4. Analytics Or Player Instincts?
The end result of over-dependence on analytics was a playoff elimination for the New York Yankees. But will they finally learn a lesson? Analytics is undoubtedly an important aspect of any sport, let alone baseball. However, there has to be a balance. The player’s instincts and assessment should not be suppressed just because it does not align with numerical data. The players who are responsible for yielding results on the field should have a say on the kind of philosophy they want to incur within the clubhouse. Balance and communication will be the key to moving forward in 2024.