This season, the New York Yankees are off to a great start. Despite being one of the best offensive teams in most categories, they have a number of poor hitters. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto continue to dominate, which has significantly lifted the Yankees’ offense and given them a chance to win every game. The Yankees are looking to take on the Minnesota Twins at home in their first game following a sweep of San Francisco’s Giants, including an eighthinning comeback win last weekend.
Three Yankees Who Must Take Charge 1. Gleyber Torres Gleyber Torres is now batting eighth for the Yankees, a sign that management is losing faith in him and that he is rapidly losing favor. This season, in 61 games, Torres is hitting.230/.308/.324, with 16 RBIs, four home runs, a 24.3% strikeout rate, and a 9.6% walk rate.
Torres led the team from the beginning of the season, therefore this turn of events was unanticipated. He needs to pick up steam in a contract year if he wants to lock down a big deal for the upcoming offseason. If he were to resume his typical level of output, the Yankees offense—which currently sits in the top five in most categories—would have a far brighter future. His return would significantly increase the value of the lower part of the order.
Since Torres was the team’s leader from the start of the season, this development was unexpected. If he hopes to secure a significant deal for the next offseason, he must gain momentum in a contract year. The Yankees offense, which is now ranked in the top five in most categories, would have a far brighter future if he were to return to his usual level of production. The lowest portion of the order would be worth a lot more after he returned.
2.) Anthony Rizzo The option in Anthony Rizzo’s contract that would have paid him $20 million for the 2025 season is probably going to be declined by the Yankees next year. With seven home runs and twenty-five RBIs, the 34-year-old’s batting line is just.240/.301/.360, with a 5.7% walk rate and an 18.3% strikeout rate. This year, Rizzo has performed below average at the plate and has had trouble on defense.
Rizzo had symptoms of a concussion that were misdiagnosed for months, and he never fully recovered to produce at the level the Yankees had hoped for before the season began. The Bombers may consider giving a kid like Ben Rice an opportunity to compete if his inconsistent play persists. It is improbable, though, that they will demote Rizzo from his first base starting position, giving him one more season to salvage his Yankees career. He is, after all, Judge’s closest friend in the clubhouse, so that says something.
3.) Stanton Giancarlo Stanton’s balls typically fly a great distance when he makes contact with them, but he has a special talent for hitting pitches in the dirt with his swing. With an on-base percentage below 30% for the third straight season, the 34-year-old is 19% better than the average hitter (119 wRC+). With 14 home runs so far this season, Stanton is on track to reach 42, which is a great bargain for the Bombers. But his walk rate has significantly decreased to 6.6%, the lowest of his career. There is one guy the Yankees will absolutely not deal this summer at the deadline. The ice-cold Yankees infielder is beginning to resurrect. The Yankees may target this “perfect fit.” Corner infielder for the Rockies
Stanton might spark a World Series run, but the Yankees need him to heat up at the perfect moment because he experiences weeks-long cool streaks. Being the team’s regular designated hitter, Stanton is almost a non-factor defensively, so when he’s not hitting, he becomes a liability in the lineup.
Leave a Reply