For the second consecutive year, the New York Yankees will participate in the playoffs. New York secured their place in the postseason with a narrow 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, finalized with a walk-off.
The journey required a comeback, as the Yankees trailed 2-1 heading into the final half of the ninth inning. A wild pitch during a walk issued to Cody Bellinger evened the score, setting the stage for José Caballero’s game-winning hit.
While playoff qualification is a moment for celebration, it’s not the team’s final destination. After failing to capture the World Series title last year, the Yankees are determined to claim their first championship since 2009.
The team reacted to their World Series defeat by acquiring Cody Bellinger through a trade and securing the signatures of premier pitcher Max Fried and seasoned first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Bellinger, Fried, and Goldschmidt have been pivotal contributors to the team’s accomplishments this season. Bellinger showcased a resurgence after a less successful period with the Chicago Cubs, achieving his highest home run total since 2019. Goldschmidt rediscovered his batting average prowess in New York, proving to be a formidable opponent against left-handed pitchers.
Adding to their strength, outfielder Aaron Judge is once again demonstrating performance at an elite level. Judge’s statistical achievements are reaching unprecedented heights and could position the outfielder as the leading contender for American League MVP at the season’s conclusion. (Share your arguments for Cal Raleigh in the comments.)
And Fried has justified his lucrative contract in his inaugural year with the Yankees, despite facing challenges during the latter part of the season. The left-handed pitcher boasts a 2.92 ERA over a career-high 188 1/3 innings pitched. He is accompanied by Carlos Rodón, who has maintained his health and delivered his most impressive season in New York.
These assets will make the Yankees a formidable force in the AL, although the team might not be the undisputed favorite to advance to the World Series. Despite their achievements, the Yankees witnessed the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays secure a postseason berth ahead of them. While the AL East title remains undecided, the Blue Jays currently hold a one-game advantage as of Wednesday. Should they maintain this lead (Toronto holds the tiebreaker over New York), the Yankees would be relegated to a wild-card series to commence the playoffs.
Despite New York’s recent achievements, there’s a sense of urgency for the team to secure a championship promptly. The Yankees are not the youngest team in the league, with Judge, Goldschmidt, and Giancarlo Stanton all aged 33 or older. While all three players retain the capability of outstanding performances, they are past their prime.
Goldschmidt might depart in the offseason, and Bellinger could also leave, as he is widely expected to decline his player option in pursuit of a long-term contract on the free-agent market.
Both Fried and Rodón have extensive histories of injuries, underscoring the importance for the Yankees to capitalize on healthy seasons from both players in 2025.
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While his leadership has generally been successful, manager Aaron Boone could potentially face job insecurity if the Yankees experience another setback in the playoffs. Boone has been with the club since 2018 and has consistently guided the team to the playoffs in all but one season. Despite his impressive record, the team’s failure to secure a championship under his guidance has been a point of concern, suggesting that a disappointing playoff showing in 2025 could mark the end of Boone’s tenure with the franchise.
However, these concerns pertain to the future Yankees. To win the World Series, the first step is to qualify for the playoffs. Having accomplished this milestone, the Yankees can now concentrate on overcoming last year’s disappointment and concluding the year as champions.
