4 offseason decisions the Yankees are paying for right now

Not Finding a Way to Get Rid of Josh Donaldson

When Josh Donaldson homers in 2023, the Yankees are 0-6. When he's awful, the Yankees lose anyway. When he's away from the team for an extended period of time, the Yankees couldn't look better.

But there was no way the Yankees were admitting defeat on one of the worst trades in recent franchise history. Come on, you know them better than that by now.

What if they decided to get ahead of one horrific scenario, though? Just one. Jettisoning Donaldson in the offseason when he wasn't viewed this unfavorably (the way he is in late June) was definitely a possibility. Maybe the Yankees needed to attach a prospect to him in a trade. Maybe they would've had to pay down some of his salary. Whatever it would've taken, it would've been worth it.

They knew they had DJ LeMahieu stuck here for the next four seasons, and he's just as capable of a third baseman (and a better hitter, even though he's dreadful right now, too!). They knew they had Oswaldo Cabrera as a budding utility player (even though he's regressed). They knew they had Isiah Kiner-Falefa as their true veteran utility player, who's best at third base. There were so many options to absorb a Donaldson departure.

Instead, after importing a vocal Yankee agitator, the team stood by him after a career-worst season that didn't offer any indication of a bounce back -- it was actually definitive proof of a guaranteed decline. He can't hit 94 MPH fastballs over the heart of the plate. He has nine hits on the season, seven of which are home runs (none of which have translated to team success), and he has a 72 OPS+ to follow up his 95 mark in 2022. But it was all worth it to trade Gary Sánchez because you were afraid to non-tender him, right?

Not Trading Luis Severino (or Declining His Option)

Luis Severino will never become the 2017-2018 version of himself, at least not in New York. Only the front office and a few delusional fans don't believe that to be the case, as everybody was fooled by his 19-start 2022 showing where he was totally solid.

It was the first time since 2018 that the right-hander possessed any sort of trade value, and the Yankees had a premier opportunity to pick up his $15 million team option and trade him to upgrade their roster elsewhere, especially since they were signing Carlos Rodón and investing more money in the rotation. In theory, they didn't need a rotation of Gerrit Cole, Rodón, Nestor Cortes, Severino and Frankie Montas. It was nice to see on paper, but they could've taken a little from there to address a little of something over here. Though declining his option would've seemed a bit crazy, there was no evidence it would've been $15 million well spent. Sevy had pitched in 26 games since the start of the 2019 season. Was anybody seriously expecting 32 starts and ~180 innings after all that?

Plus, anybody thinking Severino wouldn't deal with injury issues in 2023 after dealing with them nonstop since 2019 was simply trying to fool themselves into envisioning a much more pleasant reality. And when Sevy went down in spring training and was out until May 21, everyone knew nothing good was going to come out of it.

After one solid and one promising start, Severino flew off the rails over his next four, rebounded two outings ago (though it wasn't exactly "impressive"), then arrived back at square one after getting rocked by the Cardinals in a game where he didn't even give the Yankees a chance. He's potentially dealing with mechanical issues and mental obstacles. Not something this team can afford from a supposed "key" player.

This will be a very regrettable move unless Sevy turns back to the clock and helps the Bombers on a deep playoff run, because he's as good as gone after 2023 -- something everybody knew once 2022 concluded.

Failing to Add a Left Fielder

Hand up, we didn't think this was a big deal because it seemed the rest of the lineup could make do if the Yankees had to shove Aaron Hicks out there for the first half. And guess what? That actually happened up until the Yankees decided to release him.

Fans undoubtedly endorsed the release, but rightfully questioned the timing of it because Hicks was finally starting to heat up. Either way, after not having a starting left fielder to begin the year, they lost another outfielder with this move, and have since had guys like Jake Bauers, IKF and Oswaldo Cabrera playing out of position to help fill the void. Not ideal, and it's certainly played a role during June's malaise.

Admittedly, there weren't many options, but that's where a good general manager comes in -- they find what the average fan can't detect. The Angels traded for Hunter Renfroe. The D-Backs and Mariners worked out deals for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez. The Red Sox signed Masataka Yoshida and Adam Duvall. The Cubs signed Cody Bellinger. Everyone else seemed to have figured it out!

Not the Yankees, though. While the team didn't need an All-Star patrolling left field, they needed somebody competent. They knew Hicks wasn't the guy. They rightfully passed on Andrew Benintendi. They willingly created a roster hole and ignorantly assumed it would work itself out, despite the fact injuries plague the roster each and every year dating back to 2018.

The Yankees didn't read the room. Again. And they've already paid dearly for all of these decisions after just three months. The sick part is that this could all get much, much worse.

MUST READ: 15 Worst Trades in New York Yankees History