New York Yankees Offseason Review
The Yankees are notorious for spending large sums of money on free agents, but they were outbid by the team across town. Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets. It may have been a blessing in disguise for the Yankees. Soto is undeniably a great baseball player, but is he the answer to the Yankees’ problems? He will take any team to a different level, but how much is he worth? Brian Cashman gets a lot of heat from fans and media, but he has done a solid job this offseason after missing out on Soto. Read more New York Yankees offseason review.
The Losses
Juan Soto
Soto was the player to get in free agency, but the Mets offered him more money. The 26-year-old chose to go across town after finishing third in MVP voting last year with the Yankees. Soto batted .288, with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs. He also led the league with 128 runs.
Aaron Judge will miss having Soto on base ahead of him, but Soto was a liability in the field. He has 33 outfield assists since 2018, which ranks 13th during that span, but has a -15 DRS (defensive runs saved), -23 OAA (outs above average), and a -13.8 UZR (ultimate zone rating).
He is a spectacular hitter, but he is not a five-tool player. He hits for average and power and has a solid, accurate arm, but does not steal bases and is not elite in the field.
He only had seven stolen bases last season, but it did not matter as much with Judge hitting behind him. The loss is a big blow to the Yankees, but they need more athleticism. He is worth a lot to any franchise, but he does have some downside. The Yankees ranked 24th in stolen bases and fielding percentage and committed the seventh most errors last season. Soto’s youth, hitting, and availability are hard to replace, but the Yankees have done a solid job thus far.
Gleyber Torres
Gleyber Torres signed a one-year deal with the Tigers after spending his first seven seasons with the Yankees. He batted .265 with a 16.1 WAR during that time. He was also a liability in the field, committing 18 errors last season and 15 the season prior, the most of any second baseman in both seasons. Torres also was tied for the most times thrown out at home plate (6). He makes mental errors too much and does not have the speed to make up for it. His bat will be missed, but the Yankees are much more athletic by letting him walk in free agency.
Clay Holmes
Clay Holmes is undeniably a great pitcher but cracked under pressure. He led the league with 13 blown saves last season and lost his closer job. He signed with the Mets, and they plan to turn him into a starting pitcher. Only time will tell how that works out, but Yankees’ fans are probably glad to see him leave.
The Additions
Cody Bellinger
The Yankees traded RHP Cody Poteet for Cody Bellinger and could be the piece the Yankees needed after losing Soto. The lefty will certainly benefit from the short porch in right field and will allow Aaron Judge to move back to his natural right field position. He also can play first base but will likely spend most of his time in center or left field, depending on where Aaron Boone decides to play Jasson Dominguez.
Bellinger won an MVP in 2019, with 47 home runs and a .305 average, but has fallen off since. He is still a dependable fielder and can play anywhere in the outfield and first base. He adds a layer of athleticism and versatility that the Yankees desperately need. The biggest factor is that Bellinger has wanted to be a Yankee his whole career (his dad played for them) and will give his all for the team.
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Devin Williams
The most important transaction Brian Cashman made was trading for Devin Williams. They gave up Nestor Cortes and an infield prospect, Caleb Durbin, to get the elite closer. He can bolster the bullpen, ranked fifth in bullpen ERA (3.62). He has a career ERA of 1.83 and, more importantly, only 10 blown saves in six seasons. His changeup, the “Airbender”, generated about 50% whiffs during 2024 and could earn him a long-term deal with the club if he performs in 2025.
Max Fried
The Yankees’ rotation was great in 2024, with an ERA of 3.76, which was fifth in the league. Gerrit Cole was dominant but only pitched in 17 games after dealing with an elbow injury. Max Fried will give them more depth in their rotation and an elite arm. He signed an eight-year, $218 million deal as a 30-year-old pitcher. He has a 3.07 ERA in eight seasons with three Gold Gloves and two All-Star appearances.
Fried can go deep into games, with two complete games last season, and generates ground balls at a 58.2% rate. The Yankees’ pitching staff was already one of the best in the league and got even better with Fried and Williams.
Paul Goldschmidt
It is no secret that Paul Goldschmidt’s best days are behind him, but he can still be a valuable asset to any ballclub. He signed a one-year, $12.5 million deal, which makes him a great value asset. Bellinger can play in the outfield where he belongs, with Goldschmidt being an everyday first baseman. He won an MVP in 2022 and has been selected to the All-Star team seven times in his 14-year career. He is a solid glove at first and will not have to carry the load on offense anymore. He hits lefties incredibly well and has a proven track record of staying healthy. He is a fine addition, especially for the price.
