October disappointment equals pointed winter evaluations and, perhaps, nowhere is that baseball equation truer than the Bronx, USA. The Yankees fell well short of their playoff goals again and now they have much to do before the optimism of spring blooms anew.
So, what are the five biggest questions facing them as they push for a World Series title in Aaron Judge’s prime?
1. Elbow Judge-ment
Anything to do with Judge’s health has outsized implications in Yankeeland, so we must start with the flexor strain in his right elbow.
It briefly put him on the injured list over the summer, though he played in 152 games.
He returned, at first as a designated hitter, and then back to right field. And he was amazing, as usual. His arm strength got better along the way, but there was trepidation about his throwing, too.
So what now?
In the clubhouse after the Yankees were eliminated, Judge was asked about his elbow and he said, “We’ll definitely do some work on it. We’ll do some work on it and get it right.”
Pressed if that meant surgery, Judge replied, “I’m not a doctor. I don’t know.”
Will this become something that significantly impacts Judge’s 2026?
2. Lineup re-up?
The Yankees were the most prolific offense in baseball over the course of 162 games, averaging 5.24 runs and blasting 274 home runs. They had enough variety that they recorded a .405 winning percentage in games they were homer-less, the third-best mark in MLB, though chasing homers is certainly a big part of their approach.
But the Blue Jays’ contact-heavy attack overwhelmed Bronx lightning in the four-game ALDS, outscoring the Yankees, 34-19. Toronto led MLB in hits and had the lowest strikeout percentage. The Yanks were 12th in hits and had the third-most strikeouts. Hmmm.
Hitting home runs is a great way to win in October — over the 2024-25 postseasons, teams outhomering their opponents are 38-12, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs. That’s a .760 winning percentage.
But you have to hit the home runs. That was the Yankees’ great skill and yet they were outhomered in the playoffs, 10-6, while also hitting less and striking out more than their opponents. They must address that discrepancy to cover themselves in the October tournament, when top teams’ top pitchers can suppress their slugging.
Calling all free-agent contact hitters.
3. We need to talk about Anthony
Do the Yanks have a shortstop problem? Maybe.
Anthony Volpe regressed defensively and morphed into a dominant season storyline, whether it was his struggles on offense, playing through a small labrum tear in his left shoulder or the repeated votes of confidence he got from Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman.
Now that the season is over, they have to figure out the position.
Is Volpe, as the bigwigs insist, the solution? He did have an impressive 55 extra-base hits and got himself together defensively later in the season. He’s also under team control for three more years.
But he batted .212 with a .663 OPS and made 19 errors. He was also dreadful against Toronto, going 1-for-15 with 11 strikeouts.
4. Go Back-to-Back with Belli?
Cody Bellinger has a $25-million opt-out and seems destined for free agency after a tremendous first season in pinstripes. He can do it all — hit, base-running, defense — and can play all three outfield positions plus a nifty first base. The Yanks must retain him.
Problem is, all those great qualities should make him a popular target across MLB, maybe the contract gets kooky.
There’s a lot going on in the Yankee outfield — Judge’s elbow and the potential departures of both Bellinger and Trent Grisham, also a free agent.
Does Spencer Jones, the touted prospect who slugged 35 homers in the minors, fit in? What’s Jasson Domínguez’s role?
5. Who’s on first?
Ben Rice emerged in a big way this season, but is he the everyday first baseman going forward?
He certainly hits enough (26 homers, ridiculous hard-hit metrics, 19th-best slugging percentage in MLB). He needs to improve on defense, however.
So the Yankees should bring in a right-handed hitting complement who can provide the glove-work.
Rice can also catch and be a lefty DH, which might open more opportunities at first for a free agent, or even Bellinger, depending on how the outfield evolves.
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