The 2025 Yankees are shaping up to look quite different from the 2024 AL champions.
The most significant loss from last season is Juan Soto. With an impressive .419 on-base percentage (OBP) and an OPS just under 1.000, Soto’s departure will be a challenge to overcome. Additionally, the Yankees bid farewell to Gleyber Torres. While Torres’ bat was average at best, his 18 fielding errors made him a liability in the infield. Replacing him shouldn’t prove as difficult as replacing Soto.
On the brighter side, the Yankees made some exciting moves during the offseason. They signed Paul Goldschmidt, an All-Star first baseman, to shore up their defense and bring consistency to the lineup. Goldschmidt is an upgrade over Anthony Rizzo, who struggled with a .228 batting average last season. Entering his 15th season, Goldschmidt is nearing 400 career home runs and boasts a .289 career batting average. With seven All-Star selections, five Silver Slugger awards, four Gold Gloves, and an MVP title, Goldschmidt’s veteran presence should provide a much-needed boost both offensively and defensively.
The Yankees also took a chance on Cody Bellinger, whose performance has fluctuated wildly in recent years. After hitting just .165 in 2021 and .201 in 2022, Bellinger bounced back with a stellar .307 batting average in 2023 following his trade to the Cubs and a solid .266 in 2024. The big question is which version of Bellinger will show up in pinstripes. Given Yankee Stadium’s hitter-friendly dimensions, there’s hope that we’ll see shades of the 2019 Bellinger who smashed 47 home runs.
To strengthen their pitching, the Yankees signed Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract. Fried, who spent eight seasons with the Braves, has been one of the most consistent starters in the league. With a stellar 3.07 career ERA, Max Fried has proven to be a dependable starter, and he’s poised to bring steady leadership to the top of the Yankees’ rotation.
The bullpen also received a significant upgrade with the addition of Devin Williams. Over six seasons with the Brewers, Williams posted an exceptional career ERA of 1.83. His presence elevates an already strong bullpen to elite status.
So, can the Yankees rebound after falling short in the World Series? Losing a generational talent like Juan Soto adds to the challenge, but their revamped roster gives fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic. FanDuel has set their over/under win total for the season at 93.5. If I were a betting man, I’d take the over. With their revamped roster, the 2025 Yankees are poised to make another strong run at the championship.