After concluding the appalling 2023 MLB season early, the Yankee clubhouse is already on its way home. But the New York Yankees front office has a major task up their sleeves before the off-season kicks off. As one would imagine, major changes are expected once the team dissects areas of concern while looking for solutions simultaneously. Roster changes would certainly be a priority. But at the same time, there seems to be a communication gap between the hierarchy, which needs to be reviewed. Thus, here are three such changes that should top the Yanks off-season to-do list!
Fixing The Outfield
Aaron Judge, the captain, is the only fixated outfielder for the New York Yankees in 2024. While he would love to remain in his preferred right-field position, the captain is expected to split his time at the center, too. It’s due to the hole that exists in the center as well as the left field. After Harrison Bader was waived, prospect Jasson Dominguez took his place. But his UCL tear injury ruled him out for the first half of the 2024 season, which put the Yanks in a fix. Having said that, Everson Pereira and Estevan Florial remain the top in-house options available. After all, the Bombers must utilize the youth movement’s learnings in 2024. However, if the team wishes to seek outside help, Cody Bellinger and Juan Soto are top picks. Shohei Ohtani still seems a little far-fetched option even to consider.
Revamp Starting Pitching Rotation
Gerrit Cole, the ace pitcher of the New York Yankees, felt all alone on one end as the rest of the rotation failed to step up. Injuries and unprecedented circumstances led to the loss of almost the entire rotation. Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino, Domingo German, and Nestor Cortes missed significant games. That is unacceptable and something that the Yanks must look to change first. Cole needs a strong support unit. As far as 2024 is concerned, only Cole and Rodon’s spots are guaranteed for now. Severino should be considered out already. Nestor Cortes is a strong and reliable option. But can he stay healthy? It remains the burning question. Additionally, Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto is reportedly in talks with Brian Cashman, which is a good sign.
Fix The Communication Gap
The New York Yankees need to bring everyone on the same page. At this point, every other personnel is singing a whole different tune altogether. The team remains divided on the right usage of analytics. While Aaron Judge raised doubts about the integration process, the front office still has faith. The communication gap is widely visible. From the player to the scouting team to the people in analytics, none remains in harmony, which caused a huge mess for the Yanks this year. This needs to change on an immediate basis. The coming crucial meeting in Tampa on Wednesday should table these issues first before contemplating much larger issues. Overall, the next couple of weeks will set the course of the Bombers 2024 season campaign and will indicate how much the fans can expect of the coming season.