Without improved depth, don’t expect another title

ON A day the Yankees celebrated the incredible accomplishments of the 125-win 1998 Yankees, the modern version of the team continued to tempt fate.

This team is baseball’s version of Jenga. One shaky piece and it can all come falling down. The Yankees are hoping to hold on for better days when they are healthy again.

The Yankees came away with an 11-6 victory over the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, but Toronto is just another example of baseball gone bad in 2018.

Sure, the Yankees are 77-46, but there are major issues that won’t go away.

Brian Cashman had better find some reinforcements because the Yankees lose a little more talent every day. When Gary Sanchez returns it will be a welcome sight, no matter his .188 batting average.

The Yankees are just too thin right now, especially in the outfield.

That 1998 team was a testament to team play, depth and a ballclub thinking championship from Day 1. These Yankees are just trying to get through another day because of injuries. Catcher Austin Romine had to leave the game in the sixth inning after taking a foul ball off his mask in the fifth.

The Yankees are short at catcher as Kyle Higashioka had to finish and will start Sunday.

Accidental right fielder Neil Walker is trying to keep it together and is doing as well as expected for a veteran second baseman shifted to the outfield, but Walker made a critical error in the fiverun sixth inning that enabled the Blue Jays to clear the bases.

Walker was fortunate that when he let Billy McKinney’s sharp single drop in front of him and then get past him, scoring all three baserunners, he hustled down the ball and threw it to cutoff man Gleyber Torres, who fired to third base to nail McKinney. The former Yankee over-slid the bag for the final out of the inning, one of countless mistakes made by the messy Blue Jays.

The Yankees need to pick up an out- fielder, but refuse to do so. Even the Mets got Jose Bautista off the scrap heap. The Yankees’ fourth outfielder at this moment is Shane Robinson, who looks to be tremendously overmatched and is batting .129.

Walker could spell Greg Bird at first base if he did not have to spend so much time in right field. In addition, the lack of outfield depth takes a toll on Brett Gardner in left. The veteran could use a rest every now and then, but that is not the case because of that lack of depth.

Aaron Boone was quick to compliment Walker for making the sacrifice to go to right field for the team.

“Walk’s a pro and he has put a lot of work in,’’ Boone said. “He understands we are in a little bit of a unique situation. He’s actually played it really well out there. A couple of mistakes but all in all, he’s probably surpassed what I thought he’d be able to do just going out there on the fly.’’

Even bringing back a pro’s pro like Curtis Granderson in a deal with the Blue Jays would be welcomed, but the Yankees have not made the effort to do so, holding on to prospects even though there is such a big hole with Aaron Judge out of the lineup with that chip fracture in his right wrist.

It’s going to be a while before Judge is back in the lineup, so this problem is not going away.

If not for the accomplishments of young Miguel Andujar, the Yankees would be in serious trouble. Andujar homered, his 20th, and doubled, his 36th, as he continues to be an extra-base machine. He also singled to raise his batting average to .300, the only Yankee regular at .300. Andujar drew praise from Giancarlo Stanton, who blasted his 32nd home run of the season in the fourth.

“The best part is that he is enjoying the game and what he is doing out there is even cooler to watch,’’ Stanton said.

Still, the Yankees continue to tempt fate.

Getting to the postseason is nice, but this is about competing for a championship.