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The New York Yankees have emerged from a relatively quiet offseason faced with the task of competing in a loaded American League East division. In 2021, four Al East teams won 90 or more games, with the Yankees finishing in a tie for second in the division alongside the Boston Red Sox. New York watched as the Toronto Blue Jays retooled an already strong roster and the Red Sox leapfrogged them for shortstop Trevor Story. However, New York didn't come out of the offseason empty-handed, as general manager Brian Cashman executed a trade to bring in third baseman Josh Donaldson, shortstop Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, and catcher Ben Rortvedt. While New York figures to be one of the better teams in the AL, there are still question marks heading into the 2022 MLB season. Has Gerrit Cole moved on from the second-half issues that plagued him? What's wrong with Gleyber Torres? Can Aaron Judge stay healthy for a full season again? These are just a few of the big questions facing the Yankees as they look to add to their World Series trophy total in 2022. That said, these are the four biggest questions facing the Yankees heading into the 2022 MLB season.
4 Biggest Questions Facing Yankees In 2022 MLB Season
4. Will Luis Severino find his old form?
The Yankees declined to add to the rotation this offseason, despite some quality names available via free agency and the trade market. Perhaps New York was counting on a return to form for Luis Severino. Severino, 28, made his long-awaited return at the end of last season after missing two years due to Tommy John surgery, as well as a rehab-induced injury. After authoring back-to-back All-Star seasons in 2018 and 2019, the hard-throwing righty has tossed just 18 innings since that point. Severino was electrifying in those two campaigns, averaging a 3.18 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 225 strikeouts in 192 innings pitched. He looked the part of an ace, with a fastball touching triple digits and an imposing mound presence. Then things fell apart. The Yankees rotation would feature an elite one-two punch with Gerrit Cole and Severino if the latter can bounce back. Will he return to form?
3. Can Gleyber Torres be the player he was in past years?
Gleyber Torres has been a puzzling player these last couple of seasons. Torres clobbered 62 homers in his first two years in the majors, looking like the next best young middle infielder. Since that point, just 12 balls have left the yard off of his bat. The 25-year-old has dealt with a couple of bouts with COVID-19, which certainly could have affected his production. However, many of the underlying numbers didn't suggest a huge change in Torres' approach, which left many even more puzzled. The Yankees seem to believe that the Venezuela native's game was affected by his inability to play the shortstop position. Now back at second base, the Yankees are hoping for better production from Torres, who has been working closely with the club's hitting coaches. Torres is confident he is “back to where he was.” Will he be the player he was in past years?
2. Can Aaron Judge stay healthy for a full season again?
Aaron Judge's health seems to be a conversation that starts up ever year in the Bronx once the calendar turns to March and April. Since arriving on the scene in 2017, Judge has played 148 games or more just twice. In those two seasons, the talented slugger finished in the top-five in the American League MVP voting. It's obvious. Judge is one of the very best players in the MLB- when he's available. He even seemed to make strides as a hitter last season, shaving his strikeout rate to a career-low 25 percent while posting the highest batting average of his career. Judge seemed to evolve into a better hitter while maintaining his power stroke at the dish. There's reason to believe that 2022 could be his best season yet. But can he stay healthy for a full season again?
1. Are Gerrit Cole's second-half struggles behind him?
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole looked like arguably the best pitcher in the MLB in the first half of the 2022 season, pitching to a 9-4 record with a 2.68 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 114 innings pitched. Then, the MLB decided to crack down on pitcher's sticky substances, a scandal that Cole was believed to be involved in. The ace right-hander sputtered in the second half, posting a 4.14 ERA and an uncharacteristic 1.27 WHIP in 67 1/3 innings pitched. To make matters worse, the Yankees handed the ball to their $324 million ace in the Wild Card game against the Red Sox- and he collapsed in the tough defeat. There's reason to believe that the second-half struggles were a fluke, as Cole did have some strong starts and actually struck out more batters per nine innings in the latter half of the year. The Yankees will need Cole to be their undisputed ace, the pitcher he was in the first half. Are his second-half struggles behind him?
