REPORT CARD
THE YANKEES have been among MLB’s biggest disappointments in the first half of the 2021 season. World Series aspirations have turned into an attempt to get back into the wild-card race in the second half, as the Red Sox and Rays have taken control of the AL East. Just when the Yankees have seemed ready to turn things around, they have suffered a disastrous defeat — such as the one Sunday in Houston. Who’s responsible for the subpar showing in The Bronx? Let’s grade it out:
Nestor Cortes: A
The lefty hasn’t pitched much, but he has pitched well, and he provided two important outings late in the first half against the Mets and Astros. Aaron Judge: A
Judge has been the lone constant in the Yankees’ lineup, providing power and the ability to get on base. Just as importantly, he has been able to stay on the field, despite dealing with an unspecified lower-body injury.
Jonathan Loaisiga: A
The right-hander continues to get better and has been as reliable as any arm in the Yankees’ bullpen. He’s had a pair of brutal outings, but has bounced back and otherwise been dominant, gaining the Yankees’ trust. Luis Cessa: B+
Once known as an innings-eater out of the bullpen, Cessa has become a more important weapon the last two years.
Chad Green: B+
Green has mostly been terrific. But his few clunkers have been memorable and damaging. He has had a pair of brutal outings against the Astros and another against the Red Sox. Each helped cost the Yankees games — including the finale of the first half. Otherwise, the right-hander has been superb and been a main reason the bullpen has survived Aroldis Chapman’s meltdown and Zack Britton’s prolonged absence.
Lucas Luetge: B+
The left-hander, who hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2015, has emerged as a reliable option. Kyle Higashioka: B
After briefly overtaking Gary Sanchez as the starting catcher, Higashioka has settled into the backup role. He also has been behind the plate for Cole’s excellent start to the year and ensuing struggles.
Giancarlo Stanton: B Stanton’s numbers are solid, but not what he produced when he was in Miami. He carried the offense when he was MLB’s hottest hitter in late
April and early May, but still goes through too many down times and remains locked as the designated hitter.
Gio Urshela: B
He’s not hitting as well as he did in previous seasons, but Urshela has provided some decent offense and has continued to play superbly at third base — as well as pretty well at shortstop, when needed. Michael King: B
The right-hander has been excellent in long relief, but a disappointment when given the opportunity to start.
Jordan Montgomery: C+
The left-hander has been fine, but the Yankees are still waiting for him to take the next step to a No. 2 starter. Domingo German: C
After a tense return from his suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence protocols, German started slowly. He
recovered, however, after a trip to the minors and pitched well. But he has had a disappointing last month. Rougned Odor: C
The Yankees picked up Odor off the scrap heap and at times it looks like he’ll never get another hit. But he delivered some big ones in the early going and has shown flashes at the plate. Gary Sanchez: C
The streaky Sanchez has lived up to his reputation in the first half. His nightmarish 2020 continued into this season before he broke out in May with a phenomenal stretch. But he finished the first half in a slump. His numbers are OK — especially for a catcher — but the Yankees had higher expectations from a guy who was once one of the premier righthanded hitters in the game.
Miguel Andujar: C
Other than a stretch in early June when his power briefly returned, this has been another lost season for Andujar, who doesn’t have a position and can’t stay healthy.
DJ LeMahieu: C
After signing a six-year, $90 million deal in the offseason, LeMahieu has not hit close to as well as he did during his first two seasons in The Bronx. Some believed he was particularly affected by pitchers’ advanced spin rates, and he has hit better since the crackdown on sticky substances began. His defensive versatility has been helpful again. Wandy Peralta: C
The lefty was solid after coming over from the Giants in exchange for Mike Tauchman, but has been less effective lately.
Jameson Taillon: C
Expected to provide a jolt to the rotation, the right-hander has instead had difficulty adjusting to the new approach he developed in coming back from a second Tommy John surgery. He has been good in three of his last four appearances.
Tyler Wade: C
The Yankees have been looking for an upgrade for Wade since spring training. At this point, Wade is who he is.
Aroldis Chapman: D
As with Cole, it has been a tale of two seasons for the closer — although the reason for his collapse is a little less clear. Chapman’s spin rate hasn’t been down that much since MLB’s crackdown, but he has gone from as dominant a regular season stretch as a closer has posted to being completely lost, practically overnight. If the Yankees aren’t able to get Chapman and Cole right, it doesn’t matter what else they do.
Gleyber Torres: D
So what was the fluke for Torres? The Yankees were hoping it was last year’s miserable season, but maybe it was his first two seasons in the majors, when he was an AllStar. His power has vanished and he still makes too many mistakes at shortstop. Luke Voit: D
He has been unable to stay healthy and hasn’t found his home run stroke.
Deivi Garcia: D
He wasn’t bad in his one major league appearance this season, but the right-hander’s struggles in the minors have prevented him from being an option in The Bronx. Clint Frazier: F
Anointed the starting left fielder in the offseason, Frazier lost his job and is now on the IL.
Justin Wilson: F
Signed in the offseason, the veteran lefty has been awful. Aaron Hicks: Inc.
The injury-prone Hicks is lost for the season again.
Corey Kluber: Inc.
The right-hander was pitching well when he went down with another shoulder injury. His no-hitter at Texas was among the Yankees’ only highlights of the first half.
Darren O’Day: Inc.
Had up-and-down results before going down with a rotator cuff injury and then
a strained hamstring. Aaron Boone: D
The Yankees insist there is enough talent on the roster to contend, but the fourth-year manager hasn’t been able to tap into it.
Brian Cashman: D
An offseason that included signing Kluber, Gardner, O’Day and Wilson and trading for Taillon has, at best, been a disappointment. And bringing back LeMahieu at $90 million for six years hasn’t looked good so far.