{"id":530141,"date":"2026-01-21T02:23:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T02:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/530141\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T02:23:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T02:23:12","slug":"the-yankees-have-some-tough-questions-to-answer-this-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/530141\/","title":{"rendered":"The Yankees Have Some Tough Questions To Answer This Spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Compared to how active they\u2019ve been during the last few winters, this offseason has been unusually quiet for the New York Yankees. Their most newsworthy transaction is arguably extending the qualifying offer to Trent Grisham<\/a>, and the best new player they\u2019ve brought in is starting pitcher<\/a> Ryan Weathers<\/a>, who won\u2019t even crack their loaded rotation. Unlike their fellow AL East teams in Boston and Toronto, it doesn\u2019t look like New York is actively trying to improve their roster. They lost out on Bo Bichette<\/a>, Kyle Tucker<\/a> and Cody Bellinger<\/a>\u2018s fate has yet to be decided, so it is apparent that the front office believes in the team they currently have.<\/p>\n

While the Yankees do have a ton of talent throughout their roster, they have some major weaknesses that will almost certainly keep them from reaching the World Series, or perhaps even the entire postseason. If they aren\u2019t addressed by the time spring rolls around, New York might quickly find their season in trouble. With that said, here are the three biggest questions that the Yankees face come Spring Training.<\/p>\n

1. The Bullpen<\/p>\n

New York achilles heel in 2025 was undoubtedly their bullpen<\/a>. Sure, their offense falling flat was the reason they\u00a0lost, but they would not have been that position had it been for how underwhelming their bullpen performed. Not only was their bullpen ERA the eighth-worst in all of MLB (4.37), but they had the sixth-most walks (237) and the eighth-most home runs allowed (75). Add in the losses of Luke Weaver<\/a>, Devin Williams<\/a> and Jonathan Lo\u00e1isiga<\/a>, and you have a recipe for disaster.<\/p>\n

Thankfully for New York, relievers aren\u2019t usually too hard to come by at this point in the offseason. General manager Brian Cashman has a knack for acquiring elite relievers during the offseason (i.e. Aroldis Chapman<\/a>, & Williams), and he stated this week that the Yankees are switching gears, focusing on the trade market in search of more players rather than free agency. They do have Camilo Doval<\/a> and David Bednar<\/a>, both acquired last season, but the two must find a sense of consistency. In short, if the Yankees want to be competitive next season, they absolutely must find more arms for the back of the bullpen.<\/p>\n

2. What\u2019s The Plan At Shortstop?<\/p>\n

With Anthony Volpe<\/a> out for the start of the season while he recovers from surgery for a torn labrum<\/a>, Jose Caballero<\/a> will presumably fill in at shortstop to begin the year. Caballero, 29, came to New York at the trade deadline last season, and performed very well filling in for Volpe. Still, while Caballero is a good defender, his hitting skills are not starting-shortstop caliber. The problem is, Volpe\u2019s aren\u2019t either.<\/p>\n

While there were rumors in December about a potential Corey Seager trade<\/a>, the Rangers would have to receive an offer they couldn\u2019t refuse. That is on top of the fact that the front office appears to still believe that Volpe is the answer. In other words, New York is banking on the 24 year-old to take a major step forward and to become the \u2018elite\u2019 right-handed they believe he could be at the expense of the team. There\u2019s almost no chance that Volpe isn\u2019t the starter when healthy, but the Yankees would do good to consider changing that.<\/p>\n

3. Where Is The Starpower?<\/p>\n

Odd noun aside, the Yankees do not have a ton of star players in their lineup. Outside of Aaron Judge<\/a>, Ben Rice<\/a> and Jazz Chisholm Jr.<\/a>, the Yankees have no one who scares opposing pitchers. Giancarlo Stanton is great when healthy, but he has not been able to stay on the field for extended periods of time. The Yankees just don\u2019t have depth, relying on the few stars they do have to carry the offense. Though they did hold the title of best offense in the American League, it doesn\u2019t look like that will be the case this season.<\/p>\n

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