The New York Yankees were warned—add some depth to the roster, get someone new for third baseman, and more. Yet, surprisingly, even after the humiliating loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, they focused more on penny-pinching rather than building depth. The results? Well, they didn’t even have to wait for the season to start, and just before three weeks of Opening Day, they are facing the brunt of their decisions. Players are injured, and every time one is placed on the IL, it’s another hit to their already thin roster.

The biggest gut punch is, of course, Gerrit Cole. The reigning AL Cy Young winner is dealing with an elbow issue. And while the severity of it is still not known, the thought of losing their ace is making fans go into a full-blown panic. But this isn’t the only bad news. Luis Gil is also dealing with an arm issue, along with Giancarlo Stanton, who is sidelined yet again. And the third baseman they hoped to carry them forward is also lost to injury.

Right now, the Yankees’ cost-effective approach is looking like a major miscalculation. And the situation is so dire that even insiders are pointing it out. Kutter Is King on X mentioned, “The Yankees are genuinely one Aaron Judge toe stub away from being the 2024 White Sox.” And if that wasn’t enough to send chills down Yankee fan’s spines, MLB analyst Jared Carrabis backed it up, saying, “Don’t boo him; he’s right.”

Now, let’s put this comparison into some perspective. Chicago wrapped up the season last time with 41-12, and that’s the worst in the modern era. They were so bad that their biggest off-season storyline is how players will get plenty of chances to prove they belong in the big league. That’s simply rock bottom in baseball. So this comparison shows that the New York Yankees are in deep waters.

If Aaron Judge, right now their lone offensive powerhouse, ends up getting injured, things can spiral quickly. This is disheartening for fans because this was supposed to be the Yankees’ redemption year, a revenge tour after last season’s World Series heartbreak with the Dodgers. Instead, they are looking worse than last season, and forget the World Series win in 2025; this roster might not help them even top their division. The major load seems to be on Aaron Judge, and as far as starting rotation goes, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, and Max Fried will have to take control.

The New York Yankees ignoring their obvious roster fix

The lineup of the New York Yankees is a huge question mark now. But despite it all, instead of being proactive, the front office is unwilling to do the thing that can help them—signing J.D. Martinez. The veteran slugger is still a free agent, and now, with Giancarlo Stanton probably out for the entire season, the New York Yankees need his bat. That’s because Stanton himself revealed that both his elbows are in severe condition. So he is not returning anytime soon!

At this point, Martinez is a better bet than Stanton, anyway. With the Dodgers, he had slashed. 271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI in just 113 games previously. And if you go on to compare, Stanton hasn’t matched this in years. Even last season, when Martinez took a step back with the New York Mets, he still outperformed Stanton’s recent game numbers. And most important of all, Martinez stays healthy. And in the past four years, he has played 80 games more than Stanton has played.

Yet, the New York Yankees are reportedly unwilling or just simply refusing to spend on him. But here is the reality—this isn’t a luxury move; it’s a necessity right now. Martinez could be a simple one-year, low-risk signing. Right now, if the Yankees are serious about contending, they need to act soon.

Do you think the Yankees are in danger with their roster now? Let us know your thoughts.