3 Ways the Yankees can Improve in 2025

Is it Possible??

NY - The Yankees look to begin their 2025 campaign after a strong offseason, but can they improve to a better record in the regular season, and maybe even win the World Series?

Short answer: Yes. But what will it take?

Better Fundamentals:

What cost the Yankees in the World Series? There awful defense and base-running blunders. Why is this? Well, Juan Soto and Gleyber Torres sucked at defense and base-running. According to Andy Martino of SNY, the reason that the Yankees (most likely) elected to go to Nestor Cortes and not Tim Hill in Game 1 of the WS, was because Hill is a contact pitcher and the Yankees could not trust that Torres would be able to make a play and that Juan Soto was not fast enough to get to a sinking liner to right or right center. Well, those 2 players are gone. That moves Judge to RF, which is his natural position and the other offseason acquisitions that the Yankees have made (Goldschmidt & Bellinger) help the team get better defensively.

An Easier 9th Inning:

While Luke Weaver was some revelation of a closer from September on, is he really a permanent solution to the 9th inning? Well, the Yankees also say no by making a blockbuster trade for RHP Devin Williams. Below are Airbenders 2024 Stats with the Brewers (Was on the IL for most of the Season):

These stats are really good and this is consistent to what the Brewers got since he came into the league in 2018. Here are some highlights:

This is the kind of lockdown ability the Yankees have needed at the back end of their bullpen.

Starting Pitching in General

The Yankees had the best starting pitching from March till Mid-June and then it collapsed. One thing the Yankees need is consistent solid starting pitching, and with this rotation, I think they have it.

Gerrit Cole will lead this rotation to greatness, if he stays in good health in 2025, with the new lefty Max Fried behind him, that is a powerful 1-2 punch that any team would love to have and the opposition will fear. ROTY winner Luis Gil will be 3rd, dropping Carlos Rodón to #4, who had a solid 2024 campaign and it might take some pressure off him to be lower in the rotation and #5 is young Clarke Schmidt who when healthy, had a fantastic 2024. This is a very good rotation with the potential to be the best in Baseball.

By having better fundamentals, a more steady 9th inning and better starting pitching, with another move for an infielder, it is possible that the Yankees could have a better 2025 campaign than they did in 2024.