The Yankees begin their quest to repeat as American League champions on Thursday, but the squad looking to accomplish that feat for the first time since 2001 will look a lot different than last year’s group.
Juan Soto is gone. Max Fried replaces the injured Gerrit Cole as the ace of the staff. Devin Williams is the new closer, and there will be new starters at both corner infield spots, and two outfield spots. Can a remade roster in the wake of Soto’s departure get back to the Fall Classic?
For these Yankees to get back to the World Series, some questions about this roster will need to be answered. So, let’s look at five key factors that will determine the Bombers’ 2025 season.
Anthony Volpe’s offense taking a step forward
Volpe’s bat has been in question for over two years now, as he struggled at the plate for much of his rookie season, and after a blazing start to his 2024 campaign, he finished the year with an OPS that was actually lower than his rookie year (.657 compared to .666). Volpe was hitting .373 with a 1.006 OPS through the first 16 games of last season, but it didn’t last. He was much better in October, as he hit .286 with an .814 OPS in his first taste of the playoffs (and even his outs were loud), but the question still remains: is Volpe the future star that led the Yanks to keep away from top free-agent shortstops like Corey Seager?
With Soto gone, the Yanks badly need Volpe to start showing that level of play at the plate.
Giancarlo Stanton’s elbows healing
Forget about the complaints regarding Stanton’s health and availability for a moment. The bottom line is, the oft-injured slugger has been absolute money for the Yanks in October, and if his “severe” case of tennis elbows winds up needing surgery and costs him the season, it will be a devastating blow to the lineup.
Stanton has been the team’s anchor in the playoffs for years now, a career .994 OPS in October after a monster tear in 2024 that saw him slug .709 with seven home runs. Until Aaron Judge proves he can carry over his historic regular season production into October, the Yanks desperately need Stanton in the lineup when the games matter most.
Jasson Dominguez proving 2023 was a sign of what’s to come
You could hardly draw up a better introduction than what Dominguez did with the Yankees two seasons ago, posting a .980 OPS with four home runs in eight games. Injuries cost him much of last season, and now, the Yanks need their top-ranked prospect to be a significant offensive upgrade over Alex Verdugo to help replace some of the production that Soto brought with him to Queens.
Dominguez looked solid at the plate in spring training, and while there will be questions about his defense in left field, it’s his bat that the Yankees need to work out.
Carlos Rodon answers the call
Cole is out for the year, Luis Gil is gone for at least three months, and Clarke Schmidt is still banged up. Suddenly, the team’s vaunted starting rotation is in shambles. That means the Yankees need their $162 million man to build off of last year and show his worth.
It’s easy to forget since fans were so furious about his disastrous debut season in pinstripes, but Rodon was solid in 2024, pitching to a 3.96 ERA while making 32 starts. The Yanks will need that workload again, and for Rodon to be a steady presence while the rotation is suddenly loaded with uncertainty. Rodon getting closer to his 2021-22 form would help New York keep its rotation as a strength, which many thought it would be before injuries piled up.
Hal Steinbrenner’s willingness to get uncomfortable
The odds are high that a glaring need for the Yankees will pop up by the trade deadline, and ownership’s level of commitment to the 2025 team will be put to the test. That’s when the never-ending discussion of ownership and luxury taxes will come back to the surface.
To be clear, Steinbrenner has shown a willingness to be a big spender. After all, the likes of Judge, Stanton, Cole, Rodon, and Fried are on the roster. But what happens in the summer when a big bat or arm is available, and more salary will need to be taken on? Will the Yanks back away like with Justin Verlander in 2017, or will they go all in and capitalize on another year where the American League has no real leader?
That could very well determine the fate of the 2025 Yankees.