A year after Juan Soto shined during his only season with the Yankees, the team topped the AL East. However, they made adjustments following his departure to the Mets, where he now finds himself feeling low after a challenging subway series in the Bronx. He seems to be struggling to explain his lack of effort on fly balls.
General Manager Brian Cashman isn’t shy about expressing his satisfaction with how the team has performed in the early part of the season. “I’m really happy with the way this group is coming together,” he remarked while attending the financial services firm BTIG’s annual charity day for Covenant House.
“They really bring it every day. We still have a long season ahead of us,” he added, echoing a sentiment that there’s always room for improvement.
Early signs indicate the Yankees made a significant pivot, notably after Soto left. They turned down a massive $765 million deal, only to sign left-handed pitcher Max Fried for $218 million over eight years and a one-year deal worth $12.5 million for Paul Goldschmidt.
So far, Fried could be the standout pitcher in the league, boasting a 1.29 ERA after his first ten starts. Goldschmidt, at 37, is hitting as effectively as he did in his prime, and it seems Bellinger has also regained his rhythm after a rocky start.
Cashman commented on the newcomers’ success by saying, “You assess what we have and what we need, trying to find the right opportunities. They’ve delivered as we hoped.” Yet, the work is ongoing.
With Memorial Day nearing — a typical time for teams to evaluate their standings — Cashman acknowledged there’s still work to be done with the new roster. “If opportunities arise to improve, we’ll pursue those,” he remarked.
With Oswald Cabrera nursing a broken ankle, there was a question about whether the Yankees needed additional help at third base. “It’s tough for us to make changes at this stage,” Cashman noted.
For now, they have Oswald Peraza and Yoruvit Viva sharing third base duties, with Peraza slated to start for the series opener against the Rangers.
Initially, Devin Williams’ trade from Milwaukee didn’t go smoothly for the bullpen, but he seems to be settling into the setup role well.
This offense leans significantly on Aaron Judge, who is in the middle of yet another impressive season. “That’s Aaron, just Aaron,” Cashman said, perhaps a little in awe of the star’s abilities.
However, Cashman isn’t overly focused on claiming the top spot in May. “Other teams are battling hard day in and day out,” he remarked, stressing the unpredictability of the season. “Like every team, we’re experiencing our ups and downs. We’re far from the finish line.”
