Every season since 2017, the New York Yankees have found themselves playing postseason baseball with their current core of players. However, they still have failed to win the American League pennant since they won the World Series back in 2009. Coming into this season, the Yankees again had great expectations put on them to get over the top after getting swept by the Astros in last year’s ALCS. They signed Carlos Rodon this past offseason to help out their rotation but he did not make his season debut until last month. Now in the present, the Yankees are in a position they have not been in for a long time: last place in a stacked AL East. 

For most of the season, the Yankees were hovering around the Wild Card positions after a hot start from the Rays and a surprising surge from the Orioles. However, since the month of July started, the Yankees have gone 5-11 and this has led to them dropping not only out of a playoff spot but to the bottom of the division. Part of this regression from the team has come from losing reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge in early June to a toe injury that he sustained while crashing into an outfield wall to make a catch at Dodger Stadium. 

The rest of the bats have been underwhelming this season from both the veterans and the young players. Giancarlo Stanton has struggled since returning from injury, Anthony Rizzo has not homered since May 20th, DJ LeMahieu has not lived up to the contract he signed before the 2021 season, Anthony Volpe took awhile to get going, and I have not mentioned the pitching yet. 

Besides Gerrit Cole, the rotation has been mediocre at best as it has dealt with injuries to Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, and Frankie Montas who has not pitched at all this season. When Cortes and Severino have been healthy, they have both pitched below expectations and despite his perfect game, Domingo German has been subpar for most of the season too. One bright spot for the Yankees for most of this season has been their bullpen but lately, relief pitching has had its times where it has faltered as well.

After being swept by the Angels, the Yankees find themselves currently on a four game losing streak and sit at 50-47, three and a half games back of the final wild card spot. There is just under two weeks until the trade deadline and the Yankees seem to be buyers and they have a lengthy wish list. The season is not over by any means but the Yankees cannot continue these struggles so there should be some urgency and even some panic within the organization from the front office to the players. With the combination of trades rumors and some crucial games against the Orioles and Rays looming, the Yankees have a couple of important weeks ahead of them as they will look to get back into a playoff spot.