Fan favorite ex-Yankees slugger reminds fans of simple reality as new year dawns

Don't let it get lost in the holiday shuffle and post-Christmas malaise: Brian Cashman and the Yankees still have a little bit of work to do before all parties report to camp in (checks notes) oh my god, a month and a half, how is that possible?

While the Yankees have adequately replaced Juan Soto (we said "adequately," not spectacularly), they haven't replaced Gleyber Torres at all, unless you consider his departure to be addition by subtraction. Jazz Chisholm did well learning third base on the fly last year, but not well enough that the Yankees shouldn't consider shifting him back to second, a more natural position. Remember, the Dodgers mocked the Yankees' stars as "lazy," after thumping them in the World Series, and made Chisholm's defensive positioning a sticking point. There's plenty of room at third base for an impact bat -- but does such a player exist on the open market?

Regardless, an Oswaldo Cabrera/DJ LeMahieu platoon at any position is not the answer. It's not even that it's a bad answer, and there are better answers out there. It shouldn't even be considered an option on Cashman's multiple choice quiz (D: All of the Currently Rostered Yankees Above).

While the Yankees have done admirable work in fortifying their pitching staff, eyeing relievers, and bringing in Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, former Yankee Rubén Sierra was ready to remind everyone that they're still a bat short of a complete offense.

And no, Jasson Dominguez doesn't count.

Yankees still need another bat, especially after comfortably letting Gleyber Torres walk

The good news? After sending Aaron Judge to center field to account for Soto's presence last year — the only player worth doing that for — the Yankees' captain will return to his natural position in 2025. The outfield of Dominguez, Cody Bellinger, and Judge makes more sense than last year's version. For all of this roster's post-Soto wound licking, there's a lot to like (though, again, there's an offensive gap that may never be plugged).

Still, for as inconsistent as Torres was, both offensively and defensively, he found a groove out of the leadoff spot that the Yankees will have a tough time replicating in time for next season. And they'll have to, even if they've expunged the below-average offense and wonky defense that plagued them at key positions all the way through Game 5 of the Fall Classic last year.