Note: This is a three-part article series.
The starting rotation has shown resilience in the face of staff ace Gerrit Cole’s season-ending injury in Spring Training. This past offseason, the Yankees invested $218 million in Max Fried, and he has pitched brilliantly (9–1, 1.84 ERA) alongside a resurgent Carlos Rodón (8–4, 2.87 ERA). With Fried and Rodón, the Yankees have a pair of elite co-aces at the top of the rotation, however, the depth beyond them is thinner. Clarke Schmidt (4.04 ERA) and rookie Will Warren (5.34 ERA) have been serviceable in the 3rd and 4th spots but are prone to inconsistency. Lefty swingman Ryan Yarbrough (4.17 ERA) was added for depth and has filled in both in long relief and as a fifth starter.
The looming return of Marcus Stroman (out since April 12 with left-knee inflammation) could be significant. If healthy, Stroman would slot in with a veteran presence, though his brief early-season stint (11.57 ERA in 3 starts) was rough. With Cole lost for the season and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil still yet to throw a pitch in 2025, the Yankees’ rotation depth might be just one injury away from trouble. Thus, they should be on the lookout for at least a number three starter before the deadline.
A strong bullpen has long been a hallmark of recent Yankees teams, but in 2025 the relief corps have been inconsistent and underperformed mostly due to command issues. Most notably, Devin Williams, a former All-Star caliber closer that was expected to lock down the 9th inning, has struggled badly to start his Yankees tenure. Williams owns a 6.08 ERA in 23.2 IP, and his outings have been marred by hard contact and untimely walks. While he has 7 saves, his inconsistency led the Yankees to remove him from sole closing duties earlier in the year.
Ian Hamilton, who dazzled early in 2024, has significantly regressed in 2025 due to lack of command (issuing 14 walks in 21.1 innings) leading to an inflated 5.06 ERA. Jonathan Loáisiga, a linchpin of the 2021 bullpen, is back from elbow surgery and has a 4.50 ERA in limited work. The Yankees hope is that Loáisiga’s stuff rounds into form as he gains more innings, given his track record (2.17 ERA in 2021) and late-inning experience. Luke Weaver has continued to be a stabilizing force, recording a team-high 8 saves with an elite 1.05 ERA before a June 1 left hamstring strain halted his season for what looks to be 3-6 more weeks before his return.
The up-and-down nature of the relief corps has translated to some stressful late innings. The team’s 19 saves are offset by several blown leads, forcing manager Aaron Boone to mix and match roles frequently. The overall bullpen WHIP of 1.28 is decent, and Yankees relievers have piled up strikeouts (248 K) at an elite rate, but free passes (94 BB) and home runs allowed (26 HR) have tended to come at inopportune times. In short, the bullpen’s reliability is a question mark, especially in protecting narrow leads. Expect the front office to be active in scanning the relief market by the July 31 deadline, even after having traded for Williams this past winter.
New York’s offensive production is one of, if not the best, in all Major League Baseball even with the underwhelming third base production it has received. Jazz Chisholm Jr. played third base after coming over from Miami in last season’s trade deadline, but the plan in 2025 was to shift him back to his natural second base position (replacing Gleyber Torres). Entering the season with an open competition at the hot corner, the hope was that a combination of DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Oswald Peraza could hold down the fort. Oswaldo Cabrera showed flashes last year and is a capable defender, but he posted an overall .661 OPS in 2024 and started 2025 inconsistently (.631 OPS) before suffering a major season-ending left ankle fracture in Seattle on May 13.
Cabrera’s injury removed a versatile switch-hitter from the mix and further thinned the depth at third. Chisholm Jr., given the void at third, has recently seen time at the hot corner since returning from a lengthy Injured List stint of his own. Peraza, a 23-year-old once considered a top prospect, has been especially disappointing with a .173 average and just a .573 OPS in sporadic playing time. Meanwhile, LeMahieu has bounced back slightly from his dreadful 2024, but at .258 with minimal power, he profiles as a bench player at this stage. He has been mostly a fill-in at second base upon his lengthy IL stint to start the season.
Beyond pitching and third base, the Yankees must consider their overall roster depth both at the MLB level and in the upper minors as they prepare for the second half. The Yankees depth chart reveals both the strengths and the potential fault lines of the roster. The Yankees’ everyday lineup is strong on paper: Aaron Judge is having another MVP-caliber year, newcomer Paul Goldschmidt has slotted in nicely at first base and is crushing left-handed pitching, and offseason signing Cody Bellinger (.790 OPS, 9 HR) has solidified the outfield following Juan Soto’s departure. Anthony Volpe is providing improved production at the plate, a positive direction in his overall development. Ben Rice (12 HR filling in for Giancarlo Stanton as DH) and Trent Grisham (13 HR while playing all three outfield spots) have stepped up this season as well. These contributions have helped weather Stanton’s season-long absence and a slow start by Domínguez (.730 OPS). As the season grinds on, time has proven that depth will always continually be tested.
In the minor leagues, the Yankees have a handful of prospects close to contributing, but most of their top prospects have already graduated (Volpe, Domínguez, Wells) or were traded in recent moves. Jorbit Vivas and Braden Shewmake (a glove-first shortstop) are available at Triple-A Scranton, but neither has a proven bat that would upgrade the MLB infield. The same goes for journeymen Pablo Reyes and Andrew Velazquez who are more stopgaps than solutions. In the outfield, Everson Pereira (who had a cup of coffee in 2024) provides a right-handed bat if needed. In Double-A Somerset, top prospects George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones are progressing though likely not an option until at least 2026. For pitching, beyond Cam Schittler and Eric Reyzelman, the Yankees do not have much in the upper levels of the minors that could upgrade the current roster.
With the Yankees in a win-now mode, relying on prospects is much less appealing than trading for established help. This lack of impact depth increases the urgency for the Yankees to seek external help for weak spots rather than hoping for a savior to emerge from the farm. The Yankees remain a powerhouse team with championship aspirations, but their first half has exposed cracks that need sealing. The July 31 trade deadline is the crucial juncture for addressing those issues.
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