The Bronx faithful express particular concern about a specific aspect of the team. As pitchers and catchers have reported and position players have joined them in camp, the Grapefruit League season has commenced with numerous exhibition games. Tomorrow marks the start of March, and soon after, Opening Day will arrive. While the anticipation of meaningful baseball permeates the air, there remains an opportunity to reflect on the Yankees’ offseason.
There’s a noticeable overlap between the current Yankees camp attendees and the squad that concluded the disappointing 2023 season at 82-80. Key figures like Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole continue to lead the team, and many other regulars from the previous year remain firmly entrenched, whether due to financial commitments or long-term strategies. Nevertheless, significant roster changes have occurred, particularly in the outfield. Given the underwhelming offensive performance last year, the Yankees acquired standout Juan Soto, along with expected contributors Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham. Additionally, former rival Marcus Stroman has joined the starting rotation as a free agent, while new bullpen arms Caleb Ferguson and Victor González arrived via trades with the Dodgers.
However, acquiring these players meant sacrificing some depth. Up-and-comer Michael King now plies his trade in San Diego, alongside longtime reserve catcher Kyle Higashioka and 2023 rookies Randy Vásquez and Jhony Brito. Veteran reliever Wandy Peralta departed as a free agent, joining the Padres, while former All-Star Luis Severino signed with the Mets. This brief summary of departures merely scratches the surface; a closer look at Photo Day reveals further changes.
Overall, a solid B grade seems fitting. Adding a game-changer like Soto represents a significant step towards redeeming the offseason following lackluster batting performances. Stroman’s presence also bolsters the rotation, as he has consistently delivered solid innings since 2019. However, concerns persist, especially regarding the starting pitching staff, which has several uncertainties. Last year’s high-profile addition, Carlos Rodón, disappointed both in terms of health and performance. Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt also failed to impress, while King’s departure underscores the importance of the Soto deal. The absence of pitchers like Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, who remain available, exacerbates these concerns.
Given these uncertainties, it’s understandable why starting pitching is a significant worry heading into Opening Day. Whether Yankees fans accurately assessed the offseason or not is open to debate, but considering the lingering concerns, a B grade seems reasonable.