THE YANKEES AREN'T CONTENDERS! CHANGE MY MIND.

We all want the Yankees to be contenders. We are tired of the mediocrity and reminiscing about season's past. This team looks different, it feels different, and it is run different. We are in the age of Aaron Boone the disappointment and Brian Cashman the washed-up General Manager. The difference is we have a new shiny addition.

I'm ready to get back to the Yankees winning ways. I think the Yankees made an "ALL IN" move with Juan Soto but then hit the pause button. They've been idle. Soto is the only significant upgrade. I've already given my two cents about Marcus Stroman, he's not a difference maker. I think Alex Verdugo makes the outfield better if you are comparing him with Aaron Hicks, but why do these moves make the Yankees contenders in the AL East now? If they aren't now, why would one or two moves make them contenders?

Anyone who thinks the Yankees are contenders right now or with the addition of Blake Snell or Jordan Montgomery, I still disagree. Pitching isn't ultimately what brought the Yankees down last season. The offense did, and unless the rest of the Yankees magically rally, stay healthy and hit the problem still exists.

And what about the injuries? Since 2021, 91 Yankees have spent time on the Injured list and the Yankees have spent more than $82 million in payroll to players who couldn't even take the field, check it out HERE. We aren't even playing meaningful games yet and the Yankees already have two players out hurt. The Yankees can't stay on the field, and they aren't healthy enough to play to their full potential. This problem is much bigger than adding one more starting pitcher. We need innings eaters too, that's not Snell, Cortes or Rodon right now. This is why the bullpen gets burned out.

This team hasn't been able to hit for years. Let's make a WILD assumption that Carlos Rodon and Nestor Cortes have magical bounce back seasons in 2024....let's paint the best picture possible. Even with a stacked and healthy rotation, we need the offense to do their part. This lineup is filled with guys that can't put the ball in play, strike out too much and don't practice baseball fundamentals. Contenders aren't swinging for the fences and striking out. They play small ball, bunt, move runners into scoring position and bring them home AND hit the long ball. The Yankees haven't done all of these things in years. They are so hypnotized by analytics and the insanity of doing the same failed routines over and over again that they forgot the basics.

To win, we need Anthony Rizzo back healthy and staying on the field putting the ball in play. We need the 2020 version of DJ LeMahieu to come back....and that's asking a lot. Giancarlo Stanton needs to be productive hitter and stay healthy. We need our young kids to just play good fundamental baseball, which the Yankees have failed to teach. There are too many questions marks here and the Yankees are gambling on rebounds rather than more good additions. Soto and Aaron Judge can't do it all.

When you look at the division, the Orioles are stronger and have a good lineup of young kids. The Rays are always a pain in our side and the Blue Jays can't be forgotten either. The Yankees don't look that different and have the same challenges so why are we going from a fourth-place finish to contenders?

I really want this team to surprise us all, and I hope they do but the Yankees have fundamental issues that haven't been corrected. A whole lot needs to go right for the Yankees to climb that high in the AL East. I want it to happen.... but I have reservations.

The Yankees can get all the arms they want, but unless they are also strong hitters it doesn't make the Yankees contenders overnight.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj