Daily Report – 7/18/25
Yankees
There is no worse feeling for a team than the bitterness of losing a championship. The feeling that every step of the season was worthless. The feeling of falling short on the greatest stage. It is impossible to fall any shorter. For the Yankees, their weaknesses brought them down in last year’s World Series, and they had to watch the Dodgers eliminate a 5-0 deficit in Game 5 and celebrate at Yankee Stadium.
That’s why this season is so important. The redemption tour. The chance for revenge. This is when a team reaches the ultimate crossroads between success and failure. Failure can appear in many forms, but at no point is the road to a championship clearer than right after losing one.
Where do the Yankees stand? They are good, but not good enough. With the first half of the season behind them, the Yankees hold a 53-43 record, which ranks two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League East lead. The competition in the American League this season has been more difficult than initially anticipated, with competitors emerging in Detroit (59-38), Houston (56-40), Boston (53-45), and Seattle (51-45).
The Yankees must win their division to have a successful October. This Yankees team was built to be a defensive-minded version of their 2024 selves. Instead, they have thrived offensively while their defense looks a lot like it did last season. The Yankees’ 151 home runs lead the league, and their +111-run differential ranks second. However, the lineup has several holes, particularly at third base, and the offense struggles at situational hitting. For example, after an 11-0 rout over the Chicago Cubs last Friday, the Yankees scored a combined three runs in the next two games against dominant southpaw starters.
Part of the problem is Anthony Volpe, whose focus on hitting home runs has resulted in a slash line of .214/.287/.384. Additionally, the defensive identity the Yankees tried to develop has been all but reliable. After parting ways with DJ LeMahieu last week, the Yankees moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base and gave Oswald Peraza the starting job at third. Now, Chisholm continues to make poor plays at second base while Volpe’s down year at the plate has affected his defense, and despite his skills at the hot corner, Oswald Peraza holds a .149 batting average.
“I feel like we have the makings of a good defensive club,” said Aaron Boone after Sunday’s loss. “The makings” are only part of the journey. Now, Brian Cashman is forced to trade for a third baseman at the deadline, and while the market offers many intriguing options, the cost could be enormous.
The Yankees are grateful for what Max Fried has provided to their starting rotation, especially after losing Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgery in the spring. The Yankees have also found much-needed rotation consistency from Carlos Rodón, and rookie Will Warren has exceeded expectations in the bottom of the rotation. However, Max Fried sustained a blister in Saturday’s loss to the Chicago Cubs, and the severity of the injury is yet to be determined. Also, now that Clarke Schmidt’s season is finished, Brian Cashman needs to focus heavily on acquiring a right-handed starting pitcher at the deadline.
As for the bullpen, things aren’t going well. The Yankees relied heavily on Fernando Cruz and Mark Leiter Jr. for most of the season, but since they were placed on the injured list, the bullpen has struggled immensely. While Devin Williams has blossomed in recent weeks, high-leverage arms like Luke Weaver and Tim Hill have lost touch with their dominance. The Yankees hoped Jonathan Loáisiga would return to a high-leverage position after starting his season late due to elbow surgery, but he can’t seem to keep the ball in the park. Therefore, backup arms like JT Brubaker and Geoff Hartlieb have been inning eaters for the Yankees while they have been forced to attempt high-leverage appearances out of guys like Ian Hamilton and Scott Effross. The Yankees’ bullpen holds a 4.08 ERA, which ranks 21st in baseball. That is not good enough to win a championship, so add relief pitching to Cashman’s shopping list.
The 2025 trade deadline might be the most important of Brian Cashman’s 27-year career as the Yankees’ general manager. Cashman recognized the need to prioritize starting pitching over anything else, and if he makes a splash at the deadline, it will be interesting to see which prospects he gives up. I believe the best-case scenario would be a trade with Arizona for third baseman Eugenio Suárez and starting pitcher Zac Gallen. Suárez has expressed openness to a trade to the Bronx, which is a good sign for the Yankees, especially because the pending free agent has 31 home runs and a .889 OPS this season.
The second half of the 2025 season will determine everything about the current mindset of the Yankees’ clubhouse and front office. In other words, how committed the team is to winning a championship. While Brian Cashman’s job feels safe, his reputation never is. He must do whatever it takes to develop the greatest roster in the American League. The Yankees must do whatever it takes to be the best team in the American League.
I repeat the question: Where do the Yankees stand? They are facing scrutiny and adversity. They are inches away from failure. Their faces are pressed against the wall of defeat.
The only way to knock down that wall is to outwit scrutiny, outplay adversity, and achieve redemption.
This weekend, the Yankees (53-43) will play three games in Atlanta against the Braves (42-53), who hosted the All-Star Game this week. RHP Spencer Strider (3-7, 3.94 ERA) will start for the Braves tonight, and the Yankees are yet to name their starters.
Because of the All-Star Break and trade rumors, it is fair to expect Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, and Carlos Rodón, with Fried starting tonight (7:15 PM, YES). The Yankees might delay Fried’s start if his blister hasn’t sufficiently recovered.
Schedule
Friday 7/18:
7:15 PM: NYY at ATL; YES
Saturday 7/9:
7:15 PM: NYY at ATL; YES
8:30 PM: 2025 WNBA All-Star Game – Team Clark vs. Team Collier; ABC
Sunday 7/9:
1:35 PM: NYY at ATL; YES
10:00 PM: 2025 NBA Summer League Championship; ESPN
