If you’ve been following the New York Yankees this season, you know things aren’t exactly going as planned. The once-mighty Yankees have plummeted from a promising start to fighting for a wild card spot, leaving fans scratching their heads and asking: What’s the deal? According to CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa, the Yankees’ struggles stem from multiple issues, with poor pitching, stalled player development, and questionable managing all contributing to their current woes.
Faltering Pitching and Stalled Development
It’s no secret that pitching is the cornerstone of any successful team, and for the Yankees, that foundation is crumbling. What was once a strength has become one of their most glaring weaknesses. Axisa points to the two co-aces, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, who have faltered poorly over the past month.
Fried, dominant through June, has seen his ERA balloon and innings per start shrink, putting constant strain on the bullpen. Rodón, who showed early-season promise, has struggled with command, even walking more batters than he struck out in his last outing. These two were supposed to carry the Yankees in the absence of Gerrit Cole, but instead, they’ve been major contributors to the team’s midseason collapse.
With Clarke Schmidt sidelined, Luis Gil just coming back from injury, and rookies like Will Warren and Cam Schlittler pressed into starting roles, the rotation’s depth is paper-thin. The lack of stability creates a snowball effect, forcing relievers into high-leverage situations far too often. Axisa stresses that if Fried and Rodón don’t turn things around, it’s hard to see the Yankees climbing back into contention.
Player development has been another glaring weakness. Anthony Volpe, once a highly touted prospect, has failed to deliver league-average offense in three seasons, and his Gold Glove-caliber defense has regressed poorly in 2025. Austin Wells, who finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting last year, remains strong defensively but has seen his plate discipline vanish, leading to a sharp decline in offensive production.
Axisa notes that the Yankees haven’t had a homegrown position player post a league-average OPS+ in back-to-back seasons since Gleyber Torres in 2018. That’s a stunning drought for a team that prides itself on developing stars from within.
Boone’s Decisions and the Road Ahead
While the players ultimately have to perform, Axisa argues that Aaron Boone hasn’t helped matters. Despite his poor splits, Boone continues to give regular starts to veterans like Paul Goldschmidt against right-handed pitchers, while younger, more productive options like Ben Rice are left on the bench. His bullpen management has also raised eyebrows, particularly his decision to use struggling reliever Devin Williams in a high-leverage spot immediately after the team acquired new arms at the trade deadline. Boone still designated Williams for the closer role.
Beyond individual tactics, the Yankees are plagued by sloppy fundamentals. Missed cutoff men, poor baserunning decisions, and defensive miscues have become nightly occurrences. As Axisa puts it, the Yankees must win on pure talent because they consistently lose the battle on the margins—a trait no championship team can afford.
So, what can they do now? Play better, plain and simple. GM Brian Cashman added some depth at the trade deadline and Aaron Judge is back from injury. However, as recent losses to the Marlins and Rangers have shown, “easy” opponents are no guarantee for this group.
In recent years, the Yankees have followed a pattern: start hot, slump badly in the summer, then rally late to reach the postseason. This year’s slump has been deeper, the issues more glaring, and the path back much steeper. For the Yankees to salvage their season, Fried and Rodón need to pitch like aces again, the young core has to show real growth, and Boone has to manage with urgency and precision.
The window to fix things is still open, but closing fast.
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