03-24-2024 MLB Preview - Flipbook - Page 19
MLB ’24 AL EAST PREVIEW NEW YORK YANKEES
Sunday, March 24, 2024 19
2023: 82-80, fourth place | Manager: Aaron Boone (seventh season) | Opening Day: March 28 at Houston
OVERVIEW
ONE TO WATCH
OF Juan Soto (.275,
35, 109, .930 OPS,
MLB-leading 132
walks for San Diego)
TOP HITTERS
OF Aaron Judge (.267, 37 HRs, 75 RBIs, 1.019 OPS in 106 games),
3B DJ LeMahieu (career-low .243, 15, 44), 1B Anthony Rizzo (.244,
12, 41 in 99 games), 2B Gleyber Torres (.273, 25, 68), SS Anthony
Volpe (.209, 21, 60).
PROJECTED ROTATION
RH Marcus Stroman (10-9, 3.95 ERA with Cubs), RH Gerrit Cole
(15-4, 2.63, 222 Ks, 209 IP, AL Cy Young Award), LH Carlos Rodón
(3-8, 6.85 in 14 starts), LH Nestor Cortes (5-2, 4.97 in 12 starts),
RH Clarke Schmidt (9-9, 4.64).
KEY RELIEVERS
RH Clay Holmes (4-4, 2.86 ERA, 24/29 saves), RH Ron Marinaccio
(4-5, 3.99), RH Luke Weaver (3-6, 6.40 for Reds, Mariners and
Yankees), RH Jonathan Loáisiga (0-2, 3.06), LH Victor González
(3-3, 4.01 for Dodgers), RH Ian Hamilton (3-2, 2.64).
OUTLOOK
After failing to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the
Yankees rebuilt their batting order to get more left-handed. Their
chief acquisition was Soto, a three-time All-Star going into his last
season before free agency. Verdugo and Grisham also add lefty
bats, and Grisham brings two-time Gold Glove defense in center.
Torres, like Soto, heads into his last season of club control. New
York hit .229 last year, including a major league-low .220 after
Judge injured his right big toe when he crashed into the
right-field fence at Dodger Stadium last June 3. Rizzo
batted .174 with 10 RBIs in 47 games after a May 28
concussion. LeMahieu struggled following a broken sesamoid bone in his right big toe that led
to ligament damage in his second toe in 2022.
He hit .220 in the first half last year but .273
in the second. Rookie center fielder Jasson
Domínguez, who hit four homers in his first
eight games last year, is expected back
this summer after Tommy John surgery
on Sept. 20. Rotation depth already was
questionable before Cole was shut
down in spring training with a sore
elbow. He is expected to miss some
time, at least early in the season.
— Associated Press
JULIO AGUILAR/
GETTY
HE’S HERE
OF Juan Soto, RHP Marcus Stroman (left), OF Trent Grisham, OF Alex Verdugo, LHP Caleb Ferguson, RHP Cody Poteet.
HE’S OUTTA HERE
OF/INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, RHP Luis Severino, LHP Wandy Peralta, RHP Michael King, RHP Frankie Montas, C Kyle Higashioka,
RHP Jhony Brito.
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