ESPN gives Yankees a C as GM Brian Cashman faces deadline pressure

ESPN gives Yankees a C as GM Brian Cashman faces deadline pressure originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The New York Yankees head into the All-Star break with a midterm grade no honor student wants to see: a solid C. That’s what ESPN’s David Schoenfield handed them in his midseason assessment/

And honestly, it feels a bit generous.

The Yankees opened the year looking like a juggernaut. The offense was clubbing teams into submission, the rotation was holding strong, and the bullpen looked deep enough to survive a long summer. But over the last few weeks, all of that has frayed.

The Yankees didn’t just stumble. They cratered.

They’ve gone from seven games up in the division to 3 1/2 back. In the AL East, that kind of swing can cost you the season. Or at least home-field advantage.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Schoenfield put it plainly: “Going from seven up to three back in such a short time is a disaster — but not disastrous.” That phrasing may be generous, too. Especially with a rash of injuries popping up and the offense cooling off, just as the rotation lost another piece in Clarke Schmidt.

The last few weeks revealed it’s not just about one weak spot.

This team has more questions than answers. Is DJ LeMahieu still going to be on the team after the break? Who is going to play third base? Can Luke Weaver get back his magic from earlier in the year? And with the way Aaron Judge is being pitched around, who’s going to step up and hit behind him?

As Schoenfield wrote, “The offense wasn’t going to be as good as it was in April, when Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham and Ben Rice were all over the heads.”

Now? That lineup feels a little more ordinary, and a lot more vulnerable.

With Schmidt heading for Tommy John surgery and Gerrit Cole out for the season, the Yankees may need more than a hitter—they need a starter, too. That is, if they still want to act like contenders. They also need a reliever.

Schoenfield’s final takeaway? “The Yankees will have to do some hardcore self-evaluation heading to the trade deadline.” That evaluation needs to happen fast. Because if this team doesn’t start making decisions soon, their second-half grade might be even worse..

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.

ESPN gives Yankees a C as GM Brian Cashman faces deadline pressure

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