{"id":31006,"date":"2025-03-06T07:32:33","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T07:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31006"},"modified":"2025-03-06T07:32:33","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T07:32:33","slug":"shocking-take-mlb-analysts-yankees-prediction-will-outrage-pinstripes-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=31006","title":{"rendered":"SHOCKING TAKE: MLB Analyst\u2019s Yankees Prediction Will Outrage Pinstripes Nation!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite losing\u00a0Juan Soto\u00a0to cross-town rival\u00a0New York Mets, the\u00a0New York Yankees\u00a0still orchestrated a remarkably productive offseason.<\/p>\n

They signed two-time All-Star ace\u00a0Max Fried\u00a0to the largest contract ever for a left-handed pitcher (eight years, $218 million), inked former National League MVP\u00a0Paul Goldschmidt\u00a0to a one-year deal to man first base, traded for another former NL MVP\u00a0Cody Bellinger, and acquired All-Star closer\u00a0Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers.<\/p>\n

However, the Bronx Bombers have been stung by the injury bug this spring training. Designated hitter\u00a0Giancarlo Stanton\u00a0is sidelined with tennis elbow in both elbows with no timetable for his return; reigning American League Rookie of the Year\u00a0Luis Gil\u00a0has a right lat strain in his pitching shoulder and won\u2019t return until June at the earliest; starter\u00a0Clarke Schmidt\u00a0has been limited with a stiff back; and\u00a0DJ LeMahieu, a candidate to start at third base, is dealing with a left calf muscle injury and will be undergoing an MRI.<\/p>\n

The Yankees still harbor World Series aspirations after falling to the\u00a0Los Angeles Dodgers in five games last October. However, one MLB analyst has dropped a prediction that will surely rile up the passionate Yankees fan base.<\/p>\n

MLB analyst predicts New York Yankees won\u2019t make playoffs<\/h2>\n
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\"Aaron
Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

MLB.com\u2019s Will Leitch\u00a0surprisingly predicts the Yankees will miss out on the playoffs in 2025. Leitch pointed to how all teams within the American League East could level up this season, plus the concerning injury news surrounding New York\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs active, and successful, as the Yankees were in adding players in the wake of losing Juan Soto, this team still has plenty of questions, particularly in that lineup (which was the case even\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0concerning injury news surfaced about Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu). The upshot: It sure does look like\u00a0Aaron Judge\u00a0is going to have to do a\u00a0lot<\/em>\u00a0of heavy lifting,\u201d Leitch writes.<\/p>\n

Leitch adds that if Judge gets injured at any point, that could spell doom for the Yankees\u2019 postseason hopes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe question always looms over this franchise:\u00a0What if something happens to Judge?<\/em>\u00a0He\u2019s a player who has dealt with injury issues in the past, he\u2019s getting older (turning 33 on April 26) and, lest you forget, he\u2019s huge. And if the Yankees lose Judge for any period of time\u2026 they kind of look like they\u2019d be toast? Don\u2019t forget, when Judge was limited to 106 games in 2023, this team went only 82-80, including 25-31 without him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a lot riding on one player. It\u2019s going to be hard enough to repeat with him. The fall would be dramatic without him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Yankees have played October baseball in seven out of the last eight seasons. It would be an absolute nightmare scenario if they missed the playoffs in 2025, especially after losing Soto in free agency.<\/p>\n

Despite the bold prediction, it\u2019s difficult to imagine the Yankees watching October baseball from home in 2025. But if they do, expect the Bronx to burn with outrage as fans once again call for the jobs of\u00a0Brian Cashman\u00a0and\u00a0Aaron Boone.<\/p>\n