The New York Yankees are in trouble. On June 14, they were flying high with a 50-22 record, but now, at the All-Star break, they are 58-40, having lost 18 of their last 26 games.
In a recent head-to-head matchup, they had a chance to reclaim first place from the Baltimore Orioles, but instead, they suffered their most frustrating loss of the season by giving up three runs in the ninth inning due to inexplicable fielding errors.
Their starting pitching, which was stellar earlier in the season, has been shaky for the past month, highlighting their lack of depth in the bullpen. Players like Alex Verdugo and Anthony Volpe have cooled off, while others, such as D.J. LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres, have struggled all season.
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. Some of these players might return soon, and their performance will determine the Yankees’ trade deadline strategy.
The most significant player on the Yankees’ IL is designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who strained his hamstring on June 21 and was expected to miss four weeks. This timeline would have him returning shortly after the break.
With Verdugo’s performance declining, Stanton’s return could lead to a different lineup configuration. Instead of benching Trent Grisham and putting Aaron Judge back in center field, the Yankees could sit Verdugo more often and play Judge in left field.
Infielder Jon Berti could also return before the end of July, according to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. After batting .294/.344/.405 with 16 stolen bases in 133 games for the Miami Marlins last year, Berti has barely played for the Yankees due to injuries, with only 60 plate appearances in 2024. A strained calf put him on the 60-day IL, but he’s eligible to return on July 23. Berti plays all over the field and could take playing time away from LeMahieu, Torres, and Oswaldo Cabrera at second and third base.
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J.D. Davis should also return soon from an IL stint due to a stomach flu. He has only had 13 at-bats with the Yankees since being acquired from the Oakland A’s on June 23. His future role with the team depends on his defensive position. Although he held his own as the starting third baseman for the San Francisco Giants last year, his defensive capabilities will determine whether he sees more at-bats at third base or is limited to first base and designated hitter, behind Stanton and rookie first baseman Ben Rice.
On the pitching side, the Yankees’ five-man rotation of Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Luis Gil, Carlos Rodón, and Marcus Stroman appears set—they just need more consistency. Starter Clarke Schmidt and swingmen J.T. Brubaker and Cody Poteet are expected back in the second half, making a trade for a starter unlikely.
In the bullpen, Nick Burdi is expected back soon, with Ian Hamilton and Lou Trivino following in a few weeks. Regardless, adding quality relief pitching is a priority. With closer Clay Holmes struggling lately, the only reliable relievers are Michael Tonkin and Luke Weaver. The rest of the bullpen has been a rotating cast of forgettable characters all year.
The Yankees need to upgrade their lineup, which might be possible with players returning from the IL. They should still consider acquiring infielders and outfielders, but this is not their highest priority. Improving pitching depth is crucial, as getting players healthy alone might not be enough to feel comfortable heading down the stretch.
