Article: AL East Preview 2025: New York Yankees

[moonslav59]

18 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

I never count out those *******s in New York till I heard they’ve been eliminated from the playoffs. 

Stick a fork in 'em.

No Soto. No Cole. No Gil. No Torres, Cortes & Holmes. Stanton has two injuries.

There aren't enough players to trade to get to a winning team in 2025.

Toast.

[mvp 78]

"Rays Up! Thank You Yankees!" 

Cursed timeline...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

If they were lying and they really were rebuilding, why didn't they sell at the deadline in '22 when they had the chance? They didn't really sell off at the deadline in '23 either.

Didn't you hear Chaim at Winter Weekend, when the Red Sox "weren't ready to make that bet!" (not buyers, not sellers, not bettors, just worseness as usual).

As for NY, NY, guaranteed some national writer will predict -- for the 25th consecutive time this century -- the pinstripes to win it all. Forget losing Soto, the Yankees can still do it because their rotation is missing Cole, Gil and Schmidt.

At least New York fans will get to see ex-Yanks on the mound for their favorite rivals: Richard Fitts in Boston... and the Opening Day starter for the crosstown Mets, Clay Holmes (that must really suck).

[bkzwhitestrican]

I am here don't worry. 

Stanton injury was predictable so I don't think it hurts as much as the pitching injuries. Losing Cole is a huge blow. The starting pitching was the strength of the team, and now it's pretty mediocre until Gil/Schmidt return. AL East is still winnable but it will probably be tightly contested all season. 

That said, the Sox are still an unknown quantity. They certainly have a lot of potential to win the division and even the AL. Their pitching is pretty beat up too so their depth will be tested. They are also relying on a lot of young players which could go great (if they progress as planned) or bad (if they don't develop as planned). But that's the story with a lot of teams.

[Maxbialystock]

8 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Possibly.  But Cashman and Boone won 38 games more than Bloom/Breslow and Cora in 2022-2024, an average of about 13 a year.

Seriously?  Those were the exact three seasons when John Henry kept cutting payroll, which actually went back to 2019 when he decided Mookie was unaffordable.  

I had a great time last year posting how well the teams with low team salaries were winning, but it was the big salary teams who played in the WS.  

I hate paying Bregman $40M x 3, but apparently that's what it takes even with those talented guys on the farm.  Heck, the farm also gave us Duran, Rafaela, Devers, Wong, Abreu, Casas, Bello, et al.  

I don't see the Yanks finishing below .500, but I like moonslav's point about age.  Plus the losses of Cole and Soto have to hurt.    

[FredLynn]

5 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

On a side note, if the Sox are indeed better this year, it'll be interesting what old friends start showing up again. 

The Red Sox AND the Patriots should be much better this year. The Sox have fortified their rotation and their offense. The only potential issue, besides health of course, is the bullpen. The Patriots have also done well and just signed Stefan Diggs, a premier wideout. Both teams are going to be worth watching again this year.

Don't count the Yankees out. They are like friggin COCKROACHES. They get stepped on and more appear.

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, bkzwhitestrican said:

I am here don't worry. 

Stanton injury was predictable so I don't think it hurts as much as the pitching injuries. Losing Cole is a huge blow. The starting pitching was the strength of the team, and now it's pretty mediocre until Gil/Schmidt return. AL East is still winnable but it will probably be tightly contested all season. 

That said, the Sox are still an unknown quantity. They certainly have a lot of potential to win the division and even the AL. Their pitching is pretty beat up too so their depth will be tested. They are also relying on a lot of young players which could go great (if they progress as planned) or bad (if they don't develop as planned). But that's the story with a lot of teams.

Losing Soto and not having Stanton as a hopeful to take up some of the slack is not good. I realize Torres was not loved by some Yankee fans, but he was a plus, and now he's gone.

I just don't see the talent, this year. If Cole and Gil were healthy, you'd be close to a contender for the playoffs. Now, I don't see it.

(With the whole AL looking underwhelming, there is still hope for almost every team... almost.)

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Maxbialystock said:

Seriously?  Those were the exact three seasons when John Henry kept cutting payroll, which actually went back to 2019 when he decided Mookie was unaffordable.    

Good to see you back, Max.

The 2022 season had a budget $26M more than '21, the playoff year. By the end of the season, it was $19M more than '21. Of course, there was so much cut after 2019 and before 2021, that the gains were really just illusionary.

We did cut from '22 to '23 and '23 to ;24, despite all the empty promises.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

21 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Losing Soto and not having Stanton as a hopeful to take up some of the slack is not good. I realize Torres was not loved by some Yankee fans, but he was a plus, and now he's gone.

I just don't see the talent, this year. If Cole and Gil were healthy, you'd be close to a contender for the playoffs. Now, I don't see it.

(With the whole AL looking underwhelming, there is still hope for almost every team... almost.)

Opposing teams will also have more of a fair chance in Yankee Stadium, now that those two thugs in RF are banned from mugging visiting players.

[moonslav59]

Headline, tonight: "Yanks put 8 on IL." (not counting Cole, Gil...)

[Old Red]

I hope the Yankees win 100 games this year. Baltimore too. That makes it more fun. 2021, which seems like ages ago was fun. I heard so many times how the poor, unfortunate Red Sox has to play in the tough AL East, which they have done since Divisions were brought in. When the Red Sox have been good they have been successful, and when they haven’t like the last three years they haven’t. Seems like the AL East is weaker this year, and that is not good IMO. The tougher it is the better it is to me, and more exciting. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

12 minutes ago, Old Red said:

I hope the Yankees win 100 games this year. Baltimore too. That makes it more fun. 2021, which seems like ages ago was fun. I heard so many times how the poor, unfortunate Red Sox has to play in the tough AL East, which they have done since Divisions were brought in. When the Red Sox have been good they have been successful, and when they haven’t like the last three years they haven’t. Seems like the AL East is weaker this year, and that is not good IMO. The tougher it is the better it is to me, and more exciting. 

Jays could seize the day, Rays may have a say, don't say nay, the North American way. They've already changed the song: don we now our Jay apparel...

... but beware the City Connect GREEN Sox. Green: the color of four-leaf clovers, Christmas trees, and the anti-inflammatory food to eat every day for a long life (plus gators, crocs and the serpent in the Garden of Eden).

[Hitch]

You'd think the Yankees will struggle and maybe not even make the playoffs, but I just can't bring myself to expect it. 

[mvp 78]

15 hours ago, bkzwhitestrican said:

I am here don't worry. 

Stanton injury was predictable so I don't think it hurts as much as the pitching injuries. Losing Cole is a huge blow. The starting pitching was the strength of the team, and now it's pretty mediocre until Gil/Schmidt return. AL East is still winnable but it will probably be tightly contested all season. 

That said, the Sox are still an unknown quantity. They certainly have a lot of potential to win the division and even the AL. Their pitching is pretty beat up too so their depth will be tested. They are also relying on a lot of young players which could go great (if they progress as planned) or bad (if they don't develop as planned). But that's the story with a lot of teams.

I was referring to certain nonactive posters. You're the only one who has really stuck around. 

Are you worried about Max Fried's elbow? How high are you on the non-Devin Williams offseason acquisitions? 

[mvp 78]

19 minutes ago, Hitch said:

You'd think the Yankees will struggle and maybe not even make the playoffs, but I just can't bring myself to expect it. 

Again, it's been 30 years since the Yanks have been under .500. Really an amazing stretch when you think about it. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Again, it's been 30 years since the Yanks have been under .500. Really an amazing stretch when you think about it. 

New York never rebuilds, always goes for it, and their fans won't accept less. So the Yankees never lie to them.

[mvp 78]

5 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

New York never rebuilds, always goes for it, and their fans won't accept less. So the Yankees never lie to them.

Hal is going for it, but not quite the way his dad did. At least we can be thankful for that. 

[bkzwhitestrican]

14 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

I was referring to certain nonactive posters. You're the only one who has really stuck around. 

Are you worried about Max Fried's elbow? How high are you on the non-Devin Williams offseason acquisitions? 

Not worried about his elbow. Sure maybe it will explode on the mound, but I won't worry until it happens. Are you worried about Crochet's durability? He's thrown less than 200 innings in the last 3 seasons combined but will be expected to throw 180-200 innings this season. Pre-worrying about injuries ain't my style and sure we could worry about these things, but I'd rather wait and see what happens.

I like Bellinger and think he will fit YS really well. Goldy is meh, but he should be an upgrade over last year's version of Rizzo. Probably the biggest variable on offense will be full seasons of Dominguez/Wells/Rice and if they develop more this year. Losing Soto hurts but I think the Yanks can still have a top 10 offense if things go right (which they usually don't).

[mvp 78]

7 minutes ago, bkzwhitestrican said:

Not worried about his elbow. Sure maybe it will explode on the mound, but I won't worry until it happens. Are you worried about Crochet's durability? He's thrown less than 200 innings in the last 3 seasons combined but will be expected to throw 180-200 innings this season. Pre-worrying about injuries ain't my style and sure we could worry about these things, but I'd rather wait and see what happens.

I like Bellinger and think he will fit YS really well. Goldy is meh, but he should be an upgrade over last year's version of Rizzo. Probably the biggest variable on offense will be full seasons of Dominguez/Wells/Rice and if they develop more this year. Losing Soto hurts but I think the Yanks can still have a top 10 offense if things go right (which they usually don't).

Yes, I'm worried about Crochet's durability. I'm also worried that the Sox will not extend him after trading a lot of prospect capital. If the Sox only halfway go for it the next two years and Crochet leaves, it's a failure on this FO. I'm a worrier.

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Yes, I'm worried about Crochet's durability. I'm also worried that the Sox will not extend him after trading a lot of prospect capital. If the Sox only halfway go for it the next two years and Crochet leaves, it's a failure on this FO. I'm a worrier.

Didn’t Crochet’s people put out there what it would take to extend him before he was dealt? 30-35 starts with at least 175 innings would be a good start to see what he’s got especially come Sept-Oct.

[mvp 78]

26 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Didn’t Crochet’s people put out there what it would take to extend him before he was dealt? 30-35 starts with at least 175 innings would be a good start to see what he’s got especially come Sept-Oct.

If he does that, the price goes up even higher. 

[moonslav59]

I'm expecting maybe 160-175 IP from Crochet in 2025- plus maybe some playoff innings.

[Cameron Tran]

On 3/26/2025 at 8:18 AM, moonslav59 said:

I think this might be the year, the Yanks finish below .500.

They are old and hobbled.

Goldschmidt is 37, LeMahieu 36, Stanton 35 and Judge 33. These are not their bench guys, like Ref is for us. Stanton has two injuries, already.

Carrasco is 38. Cole is 34 and out for the year. Stroman is 34, and they could not dump him off on anyone. Gil is out for most or all of '25. Fried and Rodon are 31 and 32.

I'm thinking they may have more injuries, as the year goes on.

if judge misses time their finished

 

[Bellhorn04]

3 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I'm expecting maybe 160-175 IP from Crochet in 2025- plus maybe some playoff innings.

Sure hope you're right.

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, Cameron Tran said:

if judge misses time their finished

 

Judge is amazing, but i don't think a one man team can win.

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Judge is amazing, but i don't think a one man team can win.

It's enough to keep them in contention during the regular season. He's a 10 bWAR guy. That's the difference between playoffs and below .500. 

[mvp 78]

2024:

Rafaela 544 AB's, 15 walks, 134 hits

Judge 569 AB's, 20 INTENTIONAL walks, 133 walks

More intentional walks than Rafaela had walks. Almost as many walks as Rafaela had hits. 

[Old Red]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

If he does that, the price goes up even higher. 

I wasn’t talking about waiting contract wise, but what would be a good showing of what Crochet can do over a Full year.

[Bellhorn04]

FanGraphs projects the AL East as a 5 way dogfight of 82-86 win teams!  😁 

[moonslav59]

3 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

It's enough to keep them in contention during the regular season. He's a 10 bWAR guy. That's the difference between playoffs and below .500. 

Or last place and just under .500.

BTW, he's topped an 78.7 fWAR twice in his career. He's averaged about an 8.5 over the last 4 years.