The New York Yankees are entering the 2024 season with several improvements in tow. Adding Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo to a team that desperately needed lefty-hitting outfielders should provide substantial offense results. However, the Yankees have a number of quality players looking to help fuel a World Series run this upcoming campaign. Let’s take a look at the team’s top 10 players heading into the regular season.
1) Aaron Judge
It is no secret that Aaron Judge is the team’s best player and one of the most lethal offensive weapons in baseball. Coming off a season that was disrupted due to a toe injury, Judge is still the same player who won the 2022 MVP award and set an MLB record 62 home runs. He will be looking to capitalize on a clean bill of health this upcoming season and put together a dominant 2024.
2) Gerrit Cole
Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole is coming off an AL Cy Young award in 2023 and will be looking to run it back this upcoming year. Cole is one of the league’s best and most durable starting pitchers, and he leads a starting rotation that projects to have a top-10 ERA in 2024.
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3) Juan Soto
The Yankees made it a priority to require Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres this off-season. Soto is one of the league’s best offensive players at 25 years old and is heading into the final year of arbitration. The expectation is the Bombers will try to extend Soto after this season, but they will enjoy his offensive production in the meantime.
4) Carlos Rodon
Carlos Rodon is coming off his worst professional campaign in 2023, dealing with multiple injuries. Fortunately, his velocity is looking sharp early in spring training, and he’s trending in the right direction. The Yankees know Rodon can be one of the best pitchers in baseball when at 100%, and his efficiency in 2024 should help fuel a World Series run.
5) Gleyber Torres
Gleyber Torres is another player heading into the final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent in 2025. Torres is coming off a strong offensive season last year and will be looking to put together a more balanced performance. He’s had his issues running the bases and defensively, but there’s no question he can be one of the better players on the Yankees when in rhythm.
6) DJ LeMahieu
DJ LeMahieu is coming off a season where he struggled during the first half but put together tremendous numbers after the All-Star break. DJ recently indicated that the team has never had better depth since joining the Yankees several years ago, and his versatility in the infield will prove to be valuable once again.
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7) Alex Verdugo
The Yankees also added Alex Verdugo this off-season to help support the outfield. Verdugo is expected to feature in left field, providing a lefty bat offensively. He had a below-average offensive season in 2023, but he’s historically been above-average and should capitalize on the short right porch in Yankee Stadium.
8) Anthony Rizzo
There’s an argument that Rizzo could be ranked ahead of Verdugo, but given he’s coming off concussion symptoms, it is fair to take his projections with a grain of salt. Rizzo is a solid defensive first baseman and is capable of hitting 30+ homers per season. As a patient contact hitter, Rizzo should be an impact piece for the Yankees in 2024.
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9) Nestor Cortes
Nestor Cortes is also coming off an injury-riddled 2023, similar to Rodon. However, his velocity looked good in his first spring training appearance, and his shoulder issue seems to be behind him. Cortes was an All-Star in 2022, and the Yankees are hoping to get that version of him once again.
10) Anthony Volpe
There are a few players who could’ve secured the No. 10 spot on the list, but Anthony Volpe breaks through because of his projections. Volpe stole over 20 bases as a rookie and hit over 20 home runs, suggesting he has good power and tremendous speed on the base paths. His upside is palpable, and the expectation is that he takes a big step forward with his batting average and on-base percentage. After all, he did win a Gold Glove as a rookie.
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