Yankees’ Offense Is Being Clobbered: Losing consequential players from their roster presents an offseason challenge for the Yankees, as 3 Pitchers are also on the free agent market…See Details

The biggest issue centers around All Star, and American League Most Valuable Player, Juan Soto, who is now a free agent.

If Soto doesn’t return to the Yankees, it leaves a huge void in their lineup.

But Soto isn’t the only missing piece as the free agent shopping season continues.

Second baseman Gleyber Torres, who had some important hits late in the year, is also a free agent.

Torres made good contact from the leadoff position, and was very impactful in the playoffs. He got on base with frequency for the powerful bats of Soto, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton.

To this writer, Torres will be missed as a nice hitter at the top of the lineup.

Will Jazz Chisholm Jr. move to second, and Oswaldo Cabrera take over at third? Possibly, but the Yankees will likely look for an upgrade at one of those spots.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo, while hurt last year, and not as productive as in the past, is a free agent waters. He leaves a hole at first base. It doesn’t seem feasible the Yankees will start the season with DJ LeMahieu at first base. But it’s possible.

Rizzo played only 92 games this year, but the club really never settled on a first baseman for much of the year, leaving an unmet need in their lineup.

Free agent Alex Verdugo is now gone from the outfield.

Verdugo didn’t knock down the fences with a consistent power stroke, but there were streaks in the season when he was impactful at the plate.

Verdugo is a very solid outfielder. In fact, he was a Gold Glove finalist in left field.

The potential loss of Soto and Verdugo leaves two holes in the outfield.

Unless the Yankees sign Soto to a very long-term, expensive contract, his loss in the outfield could have massive consequences. Not just on offense, but his defense is superb.

There are lots of ramifications to the loss of four starting players to the Yankees lineup.

With the short right field porch a waiting target for left-handed hitters, losing Soto, Verdugo, and even to some extent, Rizzo, reduces the appealing firepower of the Yankees to the right field seats. All hit left-handed.

Replacing starters with players normally considered utility players weakens the bench. Consequently, the Yankees need to replace the loud bat of Soto and the other regular players, and possibly find new bench strength.

Free Agent Pitchers:

It isn’t only hitting that is impacted by free agency.

Relievers Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loaisiga, and Tommy Kahnle are also on the free agent market.

Unless the Yankees bolster their bullpen with veteran relievers, it is possible a young pitcher like Yoendrys Gomez will get an opportunity as a big league reliever.

If they sign elsewhere, Holmes, Loaisiga and Kahnle would be missed.

sportrac.com lists the current Yankees tax payroll now at $199,136,666, which means there might be enough room for the team to be active in the free agent market.

Of course, signing Juan Soto would add millions to their payroll for years to come.

But the Yankees have holes to fill to remain competitive in Major League Baseball.

Conclusions:

While the potential loss of Juan Soto could have a major impact on the Yankees run production, there are other free agent position players that could be sorely missed if they sign elsewhere.

In particular, losing Gleyber Torres leave a hole in the infield.

Alex Verdugo is a good defensive outfielder with some pop in his bat from the left side of the plate.

Anthony Rizzo was already lost for most of 2025, but the Yankees would do well to find a permanent replacement for Rizzo who is capable of bringing some power to the lineup.

Signing Soto will be expensive, and he is looking around for a place where he can break the bank.

That said, the Yankees have to find a way to bolster their offense after losing some consequential hitters.