What’s the New York Yankees’ biggest weakness heading into hot stove months?

Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are one of the more polarizing teams in major league baseball, considering their ability to hit home runs in dangerous numbers and plaster points on the board on any given day.

The Yankees routinely reached double-digit points last year in 2020, thanks to their home run hitting abilities. First baseman Luke Voit smashed 22 homers, a career-high and league-high in half the amount of appearances compared to 2019.

However, despite their power offensively, the Yankees were still unable to reach the World Series. They have now gone over a decade without reaching the big ending, and they must do what it takes to get there before they have to pay Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres.

What is the New York Yankees’ biggest weakness?

Oddly, despite securing Gerrit Cole on a massive nine-year deal, the starting pitching rotation remains a question mark. The Yankees let three starters hit free agency this year, including Masahiro Tanaka, JA Happ, and James Paxton. Nonetheless, injuries took their toll on the unit and severely limited the Yankees’ ability to remain consistent in the rotation.

Cole managed to get the job done on his side of things, pitching two playoff games and allowing six total runs, while the Yankees plastered 21 runs on the board. However, in the two non-Cole starts against Tampa, the Yankees allowed 16 total runs, with the offense just barely squeezing out a 10-9 victory over Cleveland in the Wild-Card round.

Happ, youngster Deivi Garcia, and relief pitchers Adam Ottavino and Jonathan Loaisiga failed miserably in their attempt to overcome a strong Tampa team. It continues to show that the Yankees’ starting rotation does not go deep enough into games to help the bullpen close them out. Fatigue set in early as a relief options were utilize far too frequently during the postseason.

Moving forward, general manager Brian Cashman must find a way to solidify a number two behind Cole and help his bullpen improve. Ottavino was disastrous and couldn’t be relied on, despite being one of the better relief options in the MLB.

Projected the starting rotation:

1.) Gerrit Cole

2.) Masahiro Tanaka

3.) Domingo German

4.) Jordan Montgomery

5.) Deivi Garcia

Fill-in once healthy: Luis Severino

There is one major factor to remember about the 2020 season, they were vastly unprepared due to the change in schedule, and they were also without Severino and German. Getting both of those pitchers back should be extremely beneficial for the Bombers, and the experience given to García should be helpful as well.

My major concern is that both Severino and German will be rusty and can’t be relied on. The former is coming off his second Tommy John surgery, and German is still a question due to a domestic violence dispute that ownership still hasn’t moved on from. Justifiably.

I believe the Yankees should go out and sign a strong number two, and while I have Masahiro Tanaka slotted it in behind Cole, there is reason to believe going in another direction with a younger option is a better move.

Tanaka was paid $23 million in 2020, so I estimate he won’t accept much less after a solid 2020 performance. The problem is he is inconsistent at times and struggled in the postseason.

If the New York Yankees feel confident that both Severino and German will return to full form, their starting rotation should be solidified and better than this past season. It is a big “IF,” though.