After failing to re-sign Juan Soto, the New York Yankees went on a spending spree to tighten up their run prevention and make up some of that power (41 homers) that left when Soto signed a historic contract with the New York Mets.
After signing Max Fried to the highest contract given to a left-handed starter, the Yankees turned their focus to adding some power at positions of need — signing one former MVP and acquiring another via trade.
The first move after signing Fried to his $218 million deal was trading for Cody Bellinger in a deal with the Chicago Cubs. Later in the week, the Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt in free agency to a one-year deal.
After those moves, here is theYankees projected lineup for 2025 Opening Day:
Yankees Opening Day lineup
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B/3B
- Aaron Judge, RF
- Cody Bellinger, CF
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
- Austin Wells, C
- Anthony Volpe, SS
- Jasson Dominguez, LF
- Oswaldo Cabrera/Oswald Peraza/DJ LeMahieu, 3B
Bellinger moves into center field predominantly with the addition of Gold-Glove first baseman Goldschmidt.
He slides into the third spot to give Aaron Judge lefty-batters around him. Goldschmidt gives the Yankees another potential power bat with Stanton in the middle of the lineup.
Chisholm leading off fits better at second base than third for the Yankees, solidifying the defense up the middle (and the Yankees may still have a move for a third baseman coming).
With Fried’s addition to the rotation, Marcus Stroman is probably going to be in the bullpen if the Yankees cannot find a team to trade him to.
Fried will slide in behind the Yankees’ right-handed ace Gerrit Cole giving them a pretty strong 1-2 punch.
Reigning American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil should be the right hander to slide in between left-handers Fried and Carlos Rodon. Clarke Schmidt would round out the five-man rotation in this group.
Stroman becomes a long-man in the bullpen, a spot starter or insurance in case of emergency.
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