The Yankees’ offseason has been full of ups and downs.
Juan Soto signed with the Mets, taking a top-tier bat out of New York’s lineup. In addition, injuries to ace Gerrit Cole and several key players this spring have lowered expectations for the upcoming season.
After reaching the World Series last year for the first time since 2009, the Yankees are eager to return and finish what they started. However, with the current roster, that goal seems more challenging.
The Yankees made some changes, bringing in Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt with the money they had planned to use on re-signing Soto. However, many questions remain about this year’s team.
Manager Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman will need to address these concerns, but in the meantime, here are five major storylines to watch as the 2025 season starts.
Gerrit Cole (NFL)Can Max Fried help the Yankees survive without Cole?
We’re starting with a bit of déjà vu.
Last year, there were concerns about whether the Yankees could manage without Cole after the AL Cy Young winner left spring training with elbow soreness. He didn’t return until a few months later.
This year, Cole had Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2025 season. The situation is more urgent, especially with other injuries to Luis Gil (lat) and Clarke Schmidt (shoulder), leaving just Carlos Rodon and Marcus Stroman as returning starters in the rotation.
Last season, Nestor Cortes, Stroman, Rodon, and Gil stepped up and helped the Yankees get off to the best record in baseball by April. This gave the team some breathing room until Cole came back.
The difference this year is that Fried was brought in to be the team’s co-ace, and now he’s stepping into the No. 1 role. He has looked strong this spring and will need to anchor the rotation, which will also feature veteran Carlos Carrasco and prospect Will Warren to start the season.
The big question is whether Fried can stay healthy and keep the team competitive until reinforcements arrive.
How will the lineup perform without Juan Soto?
Judge had another MVP season in 2024 and was the best hitter in baseball. However, it’s impossible to ignore how much the Yankees are missing this year without Soto.
Soto helped by batting in front of Judge, giving the Yankees captain more chances to drive in runs without carrying the offense alone. With Soto gone, Judge will have to do more. Can he match his MVP season? His performance will be key to helping a weakened rotation.
There’s also the question of what production the Yankees will get from newcomers Bellinger and Goldschmidt. Their MVP years are likely behind them, but the Yankees need contributions from both sluggers, especially Goldschmidt.
First base has been a problem for the past two seasons, with Anthony Rizzo’s declining numbers and ongoing health issues. If Goldschmidt, the former NL MVP, can provide consistent offense from first base, it will help the rest of the lineup.
The Yankees also need young players like Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells to continue improving. At the same time, New York will need more from another emerging bat.
Juan Soto (MLB)Can Jasson Dominguez deliver?
There may not be another player on the roster who can have a bigger impact on the Yankees than Dominguez.
That might sound like exaggeration, but look at the expectations for the young outfielder. Dominguez made a big impression in 2023 with his power and speed. However, Tommy John surgery and the signing of Soto delayed his move to the big leagues.
Now that he’s healthy and there’s an open spot in the outfield, 2025 is Dominguez’s chance to prove himself. For the Yankees’ sake, they need him to succeed.
Adding a switch-hitting power bat would strengthen the lineup and take some of the pressure off Judge and the others.
This season is also important for the Yankees’ future. At just 22 years old, New York sees Dominguez as their long-term outfielder. If he doesn’t work out, there will be even more questions.
How will Brian Cashman improve the roster?
Signings and trades happen every season, but with the high expectations for the 2025 Yankees and the growing number of injuries, Cashman will have to get creative to improve the team.
It’s understandable that the experienced Yankees GM will wait to see how the rotation performs without Cole before making a move, but he can’t afford to be too patient—especially with the Orioles and the rising Red Sox in their division.
And there’s the issue of the Yankees not having a regular third baseman.
For now, New York will use a committee at third base, but Cashman didn’t bring in a reliable bat for the position, which could hurt them in the long run. As the season progresses, a trade could become available (like Nolan Arenado), but Cashman can’t wait too long to make changes, especially if the American League East becomes more competitive than last year.
Jasson Dominguez (MLB)Solving the third base puzzle
As mentioned earlier, third base has been a challenge for the Yankees to figure out since the offseason.
The team started camp with four possible choices, but now it looks like it’s down to two. Oswaldo Cabrera is likely to be the Opening Day third baseman as the Yankees rotate through different infielders.
DJ LeMahieu was expected to be part of that mix, but an injury he suffered this spring will probably put him on the injured list to start the season. This leaves either Pablo Reyes or former top prospect Oswald Peraza as potential backups for Cabrera.
Peraza hasn’t shown much in his brief time in the majors, and without any minor league options left, this might be his last chance to prove himself.
However, this is a short-term fix. What will the Yankees do for a long-term solution this season?
It’s hard to see the Yankees sticking with LeMahieu, Cabrera, and Peraza for the whole year. Will Cashman make a trade? Or will a midseason call-up, like young Jorbit Vivas, solve the problem?
