The Yankees’ 2025 Roster Experiment

Devastating Headlines, Fresh Starts

As the 2025 MLB season approaches, the New York Yankees find themselves at an interesting point in their wonderful franchise history; navigating the challenges of significant roster changes. The (somewhat expected) departure of star outfielder Juan Soto and the devastating season-long loss of ace pitcher Gerrit Cole due to Tommy John surgery have reshaped the team’s overall look as a whole. However, strategic offseason acquisitions aim to keep the Yankees competitive in the fiercely contested American League East.

The Yankees’ ace has played a crucial role in the team’s pitching rotation competitive (and could have played an even larger role if Aaron Judge kept his eye on the ball), so his absence leaves a substantial gap at the top of the Yankees’ rotation. But to soften the blow, the Yankees secured left-hander Max Fried over this past offseason on an eight-year, $218 million contract. Fried, known for his consistency and ability to get ground balls (59.2 GB%), is expected to fill the hole in the rotation, as well as be another left handed starter, after the departure of Nestor Cortes.

To complement Fried, the Yankees are looking towards their young talent. Right-hander Will Warren has emerged as a promising option. Despite a challenging debut in 2024, Warren has impressed during spring training, showcasing a refined pitch mix that includes a four-seam fastball, sweeper, sinker, changeup, and cutter. Between Warren’s positive numbers and Clarke Schmidt possibly joining Luis Gil on the injured list, it is possible that the 25-year-old will find his way into the starting rotation at the beginning of the season.

Bullpen Reinforcements

To the delight of Yankee fans, the bullpen has been strongly reinforced by the acquisition of Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers. Williams, known for his devastating changeup that makes every batter (except for Pete Alonso) look silly, is expected to handle closing duties, providing stability in the late innings.

The Yankees also re-signed left-hander Tim Hill to a one-year, $2.85 million contract with a club option for 2026. Hill’s mid-season arrival in 2024 saw him post a career-low 2.05 ERA over 35 appearances, making him a reliable option against left-handed batters.

No Soto?

The lineup’s structure has changed, thanks in large part to Juan Soto’s decision to sign with the Mets and win 82 games after rejecting an extremely reasonable and fair offer from the Yankees. To compensate, the Yankees signed first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year, $12.5 million deal. Despite a dip in performance last season, Goldschmidt’s veteran presence and defensive ability are expected to stabilize the infield.

Outfielder Cody Bellinger, acquired from the Chicago Cubs, brings a left-handed power bat to the lineup. Bellinger’s positional flexibility allows him to play both outfield and first base, which provides some choice for Aaron Boone.

However, Bellinger also makes the lineup more left-handed, which has raised concerns. Giancarlo Stanton’s annual start-of-the-season injury, combined with DJ Lemahieu’s calf strain, worsen this imbalance, prompting the Yankees to consider using INF Oswald Peraza as part of the solution to this problem.

Defense and Depth

This past January, the Yankees resigned Jazz Chisholm Jr. to a one-year, $5.85 million contract, to return to his natural position at second base. His range and agility are expected to enhance the infield defense. Anthony Volpe, entering his third season as the starting shortstop, aims to build on his 2023 Gold Glove performance and further live up to the expectations placed on him while in the Yankees’ farm system. Although his offensive numbers did dip in some categories from 2023 to 2024, his impressive range and baserunning value are what keep fans optimistic for what the future holds for the Yankees’ starboy.

What’s the Plan?

While the loss of Gerrit Cole presents a significant hurdle, the acquisition of Max Fried and the emergence of pitchers like Will Warren offer hope for a competitive rotation. In terms of the offense, it will be interesting to see how the offseason acquisitions will fill the hole created by the departure of Juan Soto. But being in the competitive AL East, Yankees’ fans can only hope that Aaron Boone can correctly piece together the different parts of this team, and keep it a contender. With injuries already piling up for the team, the ability to fit in young talent into the lineup will be key for success.