Yankees' Fall from World Series Champions to Playoff Absence: An Examination
Yankees Struggle in 2025 as Defense, Baserunning, and Bullpen Issues Persist
The New York Yankees' 2025 season has been marred by persistent issues in defense, baserunning, and bullpen performance, casting a shadow over their championship aspirations.
Defensively, the team has struggled with errors and sloppy fielding, despite efforts to bolster their roster with players known for their defensive skills[1][2][3]. The recurring problem has been a drain on the effectiveness of their talented hitters.
On the baserunning front, the Yankees have faced criticism for poor fundamentals, including missed cutoff men, poor base running decisions, and lost marginal battles[2][4]. This "sloppiness" has been a persistent issue over multiple seasons, suggesting a systemic problem beyond just player execution.
The bullpen has been another area of concern for the Yankees. Manager Aaron Boone's handling of the bullpen has been called into question, with poor usage of relievers and an inability to manage high-leverage situations effectively[1][2][3][4]. Key injuries to starters like Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt have compounded the pitching issues, and the team has struggled to replace those arms effectively.
In an attempt to address these issues, the Yankees have brought in relievers such as David Bednar, Jake Bird, and Camillo Doval to shore up late-inning depth[6]. However, the bullpen remains a weak spot, with a poor ERA and FIP, ranking 22nd and 23rd respectively in baseball[1].
The Yankees' current performance puts them at risk of missing the postseason in 2025. Since mid-June 2025, they have struggled with a record of 18-29[5]. The Cleveland Guardians and Texas Rangers are hot on their heels, with the Guardians just a game and a half behind and the Rangers a half game behind[7][8].
Despite these challenges, it's important to remember that the Yankees made it to the 2024 World Series[9]. The addition of players like Ryan McMahon, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, and Devin Williams in the offseason was aimed at strengthening the team[10][11]. The Yankees also signed Max Fried to join the starting rotation[12].
As the season progresses, the Yankees will need to address these issues and find solutions to turn their season around. The postseason is still a possibility, but another week or two of poor performance may change Fangraphs' prediction that the Yankees are more likely to reach the postseason than the Rangers or Guardians[4].
- ESPN
- MLB.com
- CBS Sports
- Fangraphs
- MLB.com
- MLB Trade Rumors
- Cleveland.com
- Dallas Morning News
- ESPN
- MLB.com
- MLB.com
- MLB.com
The repeated errors and sloppy fielding exhibited by the Yankees in 2025 have undermined their defensive prowess, despite recent attempts to improve their roster[1][2][3]. Despite their depleted bullpen, the MLB has not been kind to the Yankees, with their relief pitchers struggling to perform effectively[1].
