The baseball season starts Thursday. After a long and chaotic winter, teams are getting ready for a 162-game grind with hopes of winning the World Series in October. One of the favorites in the American League in 2023 is the New York Yankees. After an offseason where they re-signed their stars — specifically Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo — and acquired elite pitching with the Carlos Rodon signing, they look to make that big leap.
Last year, the Yankees reached the American League Championship Series. It was a reminder that they are among the elite teams in baseball. That said, they were swept by the Houston Astros in the series, a reminder of how far they still need to go to win the World Series. So, how does this roster shape up? Is this the year the Yankees finally win the pennant and, more importantly, the World Series for the first time in 14 years?
Yankees Roster: Power & Depth
The roster is headlined by the stars. Judge won the American League MVP last year with a historic season, slashing .311/.425/.686 and notably hitting an AL-record 62 home runs. Along with Judge, the lineup has Giancarlo Stanton and Rizzo leading the way to provide both power and plate discipline. On the mound, Gerrit Cole is the reliable starter that often carries the rotation while Nestor Cortes has emerged as a dominant pitcher as well.
The five or six best players on the Yankees are arguably better than any team’s top players. The question is the depth of the roster, which will make or break their season. Last year, the Yankees struggled in August and September as the injuries piled up and tested the back half of the lineup. It allowed the Astros, the most complete team in baseball, to surpass them and secure the best record in the American League.
Depth Is Already Being Tested
The New York Yankees enter the 2023 season with question marks at specific positions which will determine how far they can go. Who is playing center field? The answer was Harrison Bader but he will miss time to injury. So, the pressure immediately shifts to Aaron Hicks, who has struggled at the plate but is a reliable fielder. Then there are questions about the infield. Will Josh Donaldson be the starting third baseman after slashing .222/.308/.374 last year? Will Gleyber Torres be a part of the everyday lineup? The good news is that Anthony Volpe, the top prospect, has already earned a spot on the roster. He will play shortstop and will bring with him the expectation and pressure of becoming the next Derek Jeter.
“I’m just so excited to go out there.”
Anthony Volpe tells @BryanHoch what it was like to find out he’d made the Yankees MLB roster. pic.twitter.com/sabQaAUZxn— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 27, 2023
The everyday lineup is already having its depth tested and to not be outdone, the rotation is dealing with a similar issue. Cortes battled injuries in spring training while Rodon had soreness in his forearm. Frankie Montas meanwhile had surgery in the offseason and is unlikely to pitch this year. So, the depth starters, specifically Doming German and Luis Severino, will already be asked to step up. The rotation is a good one but one that will be tested, especially early on in the season.
Optimal Yankees Lineup
- Harrison Bader – Center Fielder
- Aaron Judge – Right Field
- Anthony Rizzo – First Baseman
- Giancarlo Stanton – Designated Hitter
- Josh Donaldson – Third Baseman
- Jose Trivino – Catcher
- DJ LeMahieu – Second Baseman
- Oswaldo Cabrera – Left Fielder
- Anthony Volpe – Shortstop
Optimal Yankees Rotation & Bullpen
- Gerrit Cole
- Carlos Rodon
- Nestor Cortes
- Luis Severino
- Domingo German
- Clay Holmes – Closer
- Jonathan Loaisiga – Reliever
- Ron Marinaccio – Reliever
- Wandy Peralta – Reliever
- Michael King – Reliever
Expectations for the 2023 Yankees
The Yankees are playing 2023 with a World Series or bust mentality. Their roster reflects a team that is built to compete with no glaring weaknesses. Yes, there are positions with question marks and the rotation is concerning to start the year. However, those are minute details and issues that are minimal compared to other teams.
The Yankees will be one of the top teams in the division by the All-Star Break, possibly leading the division by a few games. They won’t be aggressive at the trade deadline but they will be buyers. They will look for another bat to round out a top-heavy lineup and another pitcher to add depth to the rotation. The American League East Division will be a tough one but the Yankees look to lead the group and possibly finish the season with the best record in the league.
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