A look at the Yankees’ 2024 performance: Lessons from World Series loss to the Dodgers and 2025 outlook
Losing 4-1 in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers may not have been the season ending that the New York Yankees had envisioned. That being said, it was an impressive season and run for the club as this was the first time that the historic franchise has reached the title matchup for the first time since 2009.
Just when it looked like the Yankees were gaining enough momentum to perhaps climb their way back from a 3-1 World Series deficit, a number of mental lapses ended their season. While there will undoubtedly be a sour taste left in the mouths of fans and players, reaching the World Series is an accomplishment on its own.
One area that the Yankees need to improve on next season is their defensive effectiveness. Costly World Series errors from the likes of Aaron Judge and Anthony Volpe, as well as the first base lapse between Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rizzo, have been well documented at this point. However, defensive woes are something that plagued the team all season long.
New York was one of the worst defensive teams this season, ranking 25th in fielding percentage while also finishing with the seventh-most errors in the league. New York was charged with 93 errors in the regular season, something that the club may need to work on heading into the 2025 season.
That being said, this World Series run is something that may benefit nearly everyone on the roster. Getting experience in such pressure-packed games could help the players grow heading into 2025.
The New York Yankees head into one of their most important offseasons to date
The New York Yankees will be one of the top World Series contenders next season, give the talent on the roster. That being said, it could be a busy offseason for GM Brian Cashman and the rest of the front office.
The top priority for the club will be re-signing outfielder Juan Soto, who will be looking to secure one of the richest contracts in MLB history. If New York is able to bring him back into the fold, they will be one of the World Series favorites in 2025.
It's not just the contract extension of Juan Soto that the team will need to address, there have been question marks surrounding some of the defensive alignments and who is playing what position.
With veterans such as Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres hitting the open market, the Yankees front office could look to shore up their infield defense, which could be a game-changer in 2025.