The New York Yankees, a team synonymous with baseball excellence, are currently navigating turbulent waters. Their 2025 season has been marred by a series of setbacks—most notably, ace pitcher Gerrit Cole being sidelined for the entire year due to Tommy John surgery. Naturally, Brian Cashman is now under intense scrutiny, with fans and analysts questioning the team’s preparedness and strategic direction.

Fans have been vocal about their frustration online, with one saying, “Stanton Gil Cole Season has not started yet. Same goddamn s— every f—— year.” This shows the growing impatience with the team’s recurring injury woes and perceived lack of depth. In addition, some are calling for team transformation, as proven by a fan’s review: “Fire Cashman. Sell the team.” Sheer dissatisfaction with the current management.

The frustration with Cashman is not just from 2024—the issues run deeper.

Their 82-80 record in 2023 was a disaster, marking their worst season in decades and exposing major flaws in Brian Cashman’s roster construction. Many believe he has relied too much on aging veterans instead of building a sustainable core of young stars. Postseason struggles have also been a recurring theme. Managerial decisions—like moving on from Joe Girardi—haven’t always panned out, and Cashman’s tendency to lock stars into long, costly contracts has only fueled further frustration.

No surprise that fans are fed up.

In light of such issues, analysts suggest that Brian Cashman needs to consider alternative approaches.

One was asked to analyze enhancement beyond the starting pitching market. MLB analyst Paul Hembekides pointed out, “What I would implore Brian Cashman, if he is listening, is to pivot… you have a lineup you can improve as well.” Such an approach involves targeting versatile talents, like, Luis Arraez and Luis Robert. The team can rethink the previous decisions on stars like Nolan Arenado. He further mentioned that the team could analyze more economical options: “Could be you kinda go bargain basement and call the Angels about Luis Rengifo or Taylor Ward or Jorge Soler.”

Seems like any alternative approach might work!

Beyond Brian Cashman

Brian Cashman has certainly earned his share of criticism for the Yankees’ current mess. However, he is not the only one liable. This disaster is a collective failure instead of a one-man show. Injuries, underperformance, and bullpen woes have all played vital roles in the team’s downfall.

The first and most obvious issue is injuries. Gerrit Cole, the team’s elite, has been sidelined with an elbow injury. His unavailability forced the Yankees to rely on an unproven rotation. In addition, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton have always been the team’s largest offensive weapons. Still, they missed a combined 80 games over the past two years. Their absence has been felt deeply—when Judge plays, the Yankees average 4.9 runs per game. However, when he is out, that number came down to just 3.8. With vital elites sidelined, the team’s offense has sputtered, ranking 19th in runs scored per game and 17th in OPS.

But injuries alone aren’t the issue—the players who have stayed on the field simply haven’t done enough. Anthony Rizzo, assumed to be a vital power bat in the middle, has posted a .227 batting average with just 12 home runs across more than 100 games. DJ LeMahieu also struggled mightily, slashing .238/.303/.374—less than his career average. Not to forget Gleyber Torres, a former All-Star. He has been inconsistent, managing just a .249 average with a career-low slugging percentage. When the heart of the lineup fails to produce, the team’s offensive struggles become more glaring.

If poor hitting was not enough, the bullpen—once a power—has now become a vital liability. For instance, Clay Holmes dominated in 2022 but has seen his ERA balloon to over 4.50. In addition, Jonathan Loáisiga has battled injuries and inconsistency. As an outcome, the team’s bullpen ERA stands at 4.22, ranking in the middle of the pack instead of among the league’s elite.

With all such issues compounding, the Yankees’ fights go far beyond roster construction. While Cashman played a role in this mess, the lack of adaptation on the field has made situations worse. The Yankees are at a vital juncture, facing on-field issues and off-field scrutiny. The team’s reaction to such adversities will establish their 2025 season. This will also affect their long-term standing in the MLB. Fans and analysts alike await decisive actions that highlight resilience and a commitment to excellence. How do you think the Yankees need to track such issues?