Making the 2024 MLB World Series appeared to be a portent of things to come for the New York Yankees, but the loss of Juan Soto to free agency calls the team’s future into question. Will the 2025 lineup provide enough firepower? Does missing out on Soto allow the squad to spend more money, or is it a rosy view?
Whatever happens next, the Yankees’ future will be closely examined after missing out on the most sought-after free agent of the summer. These are the three Yankees players who will receive the most attention in 2025 and beyond. Some of it is fair; some of it will be imposed on them without their consent.
1. Brian Cashman
The primary scapegoat for New York’s inability to retain Juan Soto is Brian Cashman. Yankees fans are demanding Cashman’s removal after he failed to bring the superstar back to the Bronx.
There are two perspectives on this situation. On one hand, Cashman initially acquired Soto, helping the Yankees reach the World Series. Trading for Soto was always a gamble, and some argue he was effectively a rental who delivered elite performance during his brief stint in pinstripes.
On the other hand, many fans blame Cashman for trading for Soto despite knowing he would hit free agency this winter, only to fail in re-signing him. Adding to their frustration, the Yankees fell short of winning the World Series, undercutting any claim that Soto’s acquisition achieved the team’s ultimate objective.
Cashman’s approach to the remainder of the offseason will be closely scrutinized. Will he react by trading for players like Nolan Arenado or Cody Bellinger? Will he prioritize bolstering the pitching rotation with names like Corbin Burnes or Max Fried? Or will he seek to replace Soto’s production with a power bat like Christian Walker?
While Soto’s presence would have made these moves feel like enhancements, without him, they now seem like pressing needs.
2. Hal Steinbrenner
When a baseball team misses out on a free agent like this, the owner is always held accountable, and Hal Steinbrenner is no exception. The Yankees owner isn’t afraid to spend money — that’s evident; the organization also gave Soto a deal for over $700 million — but the money wasn’t enough to keep him. The superstar clearly likes New York, but Steinbrenner couldn’t persuade him to stay with the Yankees.
Steinbrenner has sold major free players to the Yankees in the past, and he will most likely do so again this winter, but Soto is a game changer in his own right. Where do he and Cashman go next?
3. Jasson Dominguez
Is it reasonable to expect a 21-year-old prospect to fill the shoes of one of baseball’s biggest stars? Absolutely not. Yet, that’s the daunting challenge facing Jasson Dominguez, the Yankees’ top prospect, who is likely to take over Soto’s right field spot on Opening Day in 2025. Despite having just 100 MLB plate appearances under his belt, Dominguez is expected to play a significant role in the team’s success next season.
Dominguez has long been the Yankees’ most hyped prospect and is still ranked among the top 20 prospects in all of baseball. In his brief time in the majors, he showed flashes of promise, posting a respectable .310 on-base percentage and hitting six home runs. However, at just 21 years old, he remains an unproven talent heading into 2025—whereas Soto is a perennial 5.0 WAR player with a track record of elite performance.
Another young player who could factor into the Yankees’ plans is Spencer Jones, another top prospect. While he hasn’t generated as much buzz as Dominguez, Jones had a strong 2024 campaign in Double-A, posting a solid .789 OPS. He’s positioned for a midseason call-up and could provide a boost to a Yankees lineup that currently looks like it could use more firepower.
The pressure on both Dominguez and Jones will be immense, especially as the Yankees lean on their young talent to deliver in a lineup that needs more pop to contend.
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