Coming into the season, the Yankees looked like a team destined for a return to the World Series. Yes, they lost Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals, but that didn’t slow them down. They signed Max Fried to an eight-year deal, then traded for former MVPs Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, and also acquired elite closer Devin Williams.
The Yankees started hot. Aaron Judge was hitting nearly .400 into June, Fried and Goldschmidt looked like amazing pickups, and while Bellinger started a bit slow, he brought stellar defense. Williams struggled early, but even with that, the Yankees seemed to be cruising toward another AL East crown.
Since June, though, everything has changed.
The Yankees have been struggling in nearly every department: hitting is inconsistent, pitching is shaky, and the defense has been sloppy. Since June 12, they’ve gone just 20-31 one of the worst records in baseball over that span.
Many thought the trade deadline would bring the much-needed spark. And on paper, it did. The Yankees traded for relievers David Bednar (Pirates), Camilo Doval (Giants), and Jake Bird (Rockies) to bolster the bullpen. They also added third baseman Ryan McMahon and outfielder Jose Caballero from the Rockies and Rays, respectively.
However, the blows kept coming. In their first game post-deadline, facing the Marlins, the Yankees had a 9–4 lead entering the seventh inning. Jake Bird gave up a grand slam to Kyle Stowers. Bednar followed and gave up a game-tying homer to Javier Sanoja, then allowed three more hits, giving the Marlins the lead. In the top of the eighth, Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe answered with a game-tying homer. In the ninth, McMahon and Caballero scored to put the Yankees back up by two.
Then came Doval.
He allowed two runners to reach base. What should have been a routine single to the right got under Caballero’s glove, allowing both runners to score and tie the game. A batter later, the Marlins walked it off to win 13–12. The Yankees had led 9–4 heading into the seventh.
That game was a microcosm of their season: starters not going deep—Rodón only lasted 4.2 innings—forcing the bullpen to carry too much load, which ultimately cracked under pressure. The offense showed up, scoring 12 runs and answering back when needed, but the defense once again collapsed at a crucial moment.
It’s also worth noting that Judge was out at the time with an elbow injury. He’s now back, but even for a player of his caliber, one man can’t save this team.
Following the Marlins series, the Yankees dropped two of three to the Rangers, and then again lost two of three this past weekend at home against the Astros. They now sit third in the AL East—6.5 games behind the surging Blue Jays and 2.5 games behind the Red Sox. They’re clinging to the final Wild Card spot, just half a game ahead of the Guardians.
If the season ended today, the Yankees would face the Astros in Houston—a matchup with plenty of history, but potentially a quick exit.
With a little over 40 games left, I believe the Yankees will stay in the playoff picture, but the way they’ve been playing—and the way the Blue Jays have been surging—their shot at winning the AL East is slipping away fast.