Biggest questions the New York Yankees must answer in 2025

Start spreading the news! The 2025 MLB season is finally here! The Yankees kicked things off with a home series against the Brewers on Thursday. Last time the Yankees were in the Bronx, Dodger blue confetti rained down on the field after an embarrassing loss in Game 5 of the World Series. Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" also played in the background, but Yankee fans thankfully will no longer have to listen to that triumphant song after losses.

A disappointing end to a promising season was followed by an offseason full of roster changes and injuries. Talented players like Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, and Devin Williams were brought to the Bronx, but those additions were somewhat offset, to varying degrees, by the departures of Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, and Clay Holmes.

The Yankees already had a new-look roster entering spring training, and the team emerged even different by the time camp ended. Long-term injuries to Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, and Luis Gil left the Yankees scrambling to find in-house replacements for three of their most important players.

Needless to say, a lot has changed since New York won the American League pennant — and not in a good way. With so much uncertainty surrounding the Yankees this season, here are some of the biggest questions they must answer in order to capture that elusive 28th championship.

Can the Yankees' banged-up rotation last the entire season?

One of New York's biggest strengths entering the 2025 season was its rotation. Two-time All-Star Max Fried joined a unit that featured 2022 Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole and 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil. Along with two-time All-Star Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt, who is coming off a career year, the Yankees were primed to have one of the best rotations in the game.

Such a promising unit quickly turned for the worse once Cole underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery. To make matters worse, Gil suffered a lat strain that will keep him out for at least three months, and Schmidt will start the season on IL with a shoulder issue.

With more than half of its starters on the shelf, New York will have a shaky rotation, to say the least. Luckily, the Yankees were able to sign Fried this offseason, helping ease the pain of all these pitching losses.

Having won the 2021 World Series as the No. 1 starter for the Braves, Fried has proven he can be the ace on a championship-level team and should fit nicely in Cole's role. Aside from Fried, New York's rotation is littered with question marks, however.

Rodon has been a disappointment since signing with the Yankees in 2023. Coming off two straight All-Star appearances, Rodon joined the Yankees on a six-year, $162 million deal and has since compiled a 19-17 record with a 4.74 ERA across two seasons.

Another recent signing that hasn't panned out, Marcus Stroman also joined the Yankees after making his second All-Star appearance, but he did not live up to those accolades in 2024. Stroman had a 4.31 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, and his most memorable moment came when he screamed at Gleyber Torres for failing to turn a double play in Toronto.

Stroman was slated to pitch out of the bullpen this season but vehemently refused, saying "I'm a starter" seven times in a 13-second span. Now the Yankees don't have a choice but to put Stroman in the rotation, so it's time for the veteran pitcher to prove he belongs.

Left with limited options on the free-agent market, the Yankees took a flyer on 38-year-old Carlos Carrasco. He earned his way onto the Opening Day roster after compiling a 1.69 ERA in five spring training starts, but he has a 6.18 ERA over the last two seasons, so it's unclear how his strong spring will translate.

On the other side of the age spectrum, the 25-year-old Will Warren also finds himself in the rotation. His 10.32 ERA in five starts last season will make you queasy, but he did have an encouraging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings and put forth an impressive spring.

Aside from when Fried (and maybe Rodón) take the mound, the Yankees will probably need to rely on their strong bullpen most nights to keep them afloat. It's not an ideal situation, but hopefully these temporary starters can keep the ship from sinking until Gil and Schmidt return.