The Yankees’ problems right now go well beyond a cold offense. The deeper issue is that the roster is fraying at the edges, and the mistakes keep piling up.
Anthony Volpe has come back to earth after his early hot streak, Austin Wells has been, by the numbers, the worst hitter in baseball by a wide margin, and those two spots are a big part of why the lineup keeps turning in empty nights. Injuries are one thing the Yankees can’t control. The sloppiness, though, is another story entirely, and it keeps showing up in ways that are hard to ignore.
There’s been a bad throw here, an infield bobble there, and too many plays that look half-speed or unfocused. That showed up again in the last two losses to the Twins, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. getting picked off at first base after looking unready for the throw was the capper on a rough weekend.
What makes it sting even more is that Aaron Judge already said the quiet part out loud. He’s been watching from the bench, and before the Yankees’ 6-2 extra-inning loss to the Detroit Tigers, he was direct about what he sees.
"It's not great -- just a little lack of focus," Judge said, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. "We've just got to dial it in.
Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I think guys have just got to remember that every single day they show up here.
We're here to win a World Series, so that's your motivation."
That last part matters: motivation. The Yankees haven’t looked like a team with enough of it, and Adam Ottavino, on the Peacock broadcast, pointed that out when the game started slipping away.
"Collectively as a whole, we're just trying to do too much," Judge continued. "Everyone is trying to be the one guy that will hit the grand slam with nobody on. It's like, 'Hey, just take your approach, take your at-bat.'"
Earlier in the season, the Yankees seemed more willing to lean into their best options. Volpe was kept in the minors after his rehab was done, and Ryan McMahon was even benched for Amed Rosario at one point. That wasn’t the only reason they were winning early, but it was part of the formula.
That’s why the simplest answer now might also be the right one: go back to playing the best defenders and the cleanest options available. If they don’t, the losses will keep coming, and a four-game gap in the AL East can turn into something much harder to close.
One move they can make right away is putting José Caballero at shortstop. It won’t fix the run production, but it could help cut down the sloppiness. The Yankees’ one win since Judge spoke came with Caballero there and Volpe on the bench.
Catcher is another spot where they can at least try to steady things. Alí Sánchez may not be the answer, but he could help until the deadline picture gets clearer. Even with an 85 wRC+, his defense is strong enough, and that offense would be a massive upgrade over what Wells has given them.
The bullpen could use a shakeup too, and optioning Doval is one possibility. He’s making history for the wrong reasons, and a journeyman like Yovanny Cruz might be a better short-term bet. Even a small upgrade would be something, especially with Wells, where the standard has become almost comically low.
Then there’s the deadline, where bigger changes could be on the table. Jazz Chisholm could be moved, and the Yankees may have to consider it.
There are 12 teams within five games of a wild-card spot, plus six already in position, so there should be no shortage of clubs looking for help. A team with an infield hole could see Chisholm as the fix.
Chisholm at his best is one of the better second basemen in baseball, but it feels increasingly possible that the Yankees already saw his best version last year. If that’s the case, the alternatives could include the young George Lombard Jr. or a trade for veteran Luis Arraez, who has improved by leaps and bounds defensively.
None of it works, though, if the Yankees stay stubborn. With all the injuries they’re dealing with, their biggest enemy may still be themselves.
Judge has already handed them the blueprint. The question is whether anyone is listening.
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