The New York Yankees are facing difficulties. On June 14, their record was an impressive 50-22, but they’ve since entered the All-Star break at 58-40, losing 18 of their last 26 games.
They missed an opportunity to overtake the Baltimore Orioles and reclaim first place in a recent head-to-head matchup, suffering their most frustrating loss of the season by giving up three runs in the ninth inning due to fielding errors. Their once stellar starting pitching has struggled for a month, revealing a lack of bullpen depth. Key hitters like Alex Verdugo and Anthony Volpe have cooled off, while others, such as D.J. LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres, have yet to find their form.
Currently, the Yankees have five position players and seven pitchers on the injured list, not counting reliever Scott Effross, who was activated from the IL today and sent to the minors. The return and performance of these players will influence their trade deadline decisions.
Alright, Verdugo has me rolling right now. pic.twitter.com/VnmZEthLer
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) July 14, 2024
The most significant player on the IL is designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who strained his hamstring on June 21 and is expected back shortly after the break. His return could lead to a different lineup, potentially reducing Verdugo’s playing time by moving Aaron Judge to left field.
Infielder Jon Berti might return by the end of July. He had a solid season with the Miami Marlins last year but has only had 60 plate appearances for the Yankees in 2024 due to injuries. Eligible to return on July 23, Berti could compete for playing time at second and third base against LeMahieu, Torres, and Oswaldo Cabrera.
J.D. Davis is also expected back soon from an IL stint due to a stomach flu. Acquired from the Oakland A’s on June 23, his future role depends on his defensive positioning. If he can handle third base, he could see more at-bats; otherwise, he’ll be limited to first base and designated hitter roles behind Stanton and rookie first baseman Ben Rice.
In pitching, the rotation of Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Luis Gil, Carlos Rodón, and Marcus Stroman needs to become more consistent. Clarke Schmidt, J.T. Brubaker, and Cody Poteet are all expected back in the second half, likely preventing the team from trading for a starter.
The bullpen expects Nick Burdi back soon, with Ian Hamilton and Lou Trivino following in a few weeks. Despite this, improving relief pitching remains a priority, especially with closer Clay Holmes struggling. Currently, only Michael Tonkin and Luke Weaver are reliable, with the rest of the bullpen being inconsistent.
The Yankees need to enhance their lineup, potentially with returning IL players. While they should consider available infielders and outfielders, their main focus should be on bolstering their pitching depth for the stretch run.
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