Aaron Judge or Bust? That has been the story of the New York Yankees for the past few years. Despite having a satisfactory lineup on paper, things haven’t translated well on the field. The noteworthy evidence of this came in 2023 when the Pinstripes completely collapsed after the injury of Judge. However, after heavy reinforcements this offseason, things look a little brighter for the Bombers.

Still, one can’t help but wonder if the Yankees will flatter to deceive again. The Bronx Faithful has lived this story before, but there’s something different in the air this time. 

The more balanced New York Yankees of 2024

2023 proved to be the nadir for Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman. The 82-80 record of the Yankees was their worst since the 90s. The leading troubling sign was the apparent inability of the batters to hit the pitch. Only Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres had an OPS+ over 100, so clearly, things were a little bleak for the Pinstripes.

It led to the Yankees sacking their hitting coach, Dillon Lawson, on July 9. They replaced him with Sean Casey, and the team improved. However, now that Casey is gone and James Rowson is the new hitting coach, the future of the Yankees does look less dependent on Judge than they did before.

Unlike last season, the Bombers might not need Aaron Judge to be in the MVP form to save the Bombers. They’ve acquired Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo, two of the most consistent hitters in the sport. Soto, in particular, has turned the Judge-dominated lineup into a two-man power trip. Additionally, it can’t be forgotten that the Yankees’ hitting did progress by the end of the season. 

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Last season’s chief issue was the untimely injuries, not just to All Rise but also to Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo. 2024 could prove to be much different and the confidence of skipper Aaron Boone shows his belief in his team.

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto to carry the scary Bombers lineup

According to MLB.com, during his recent media talk – Aaron Boone declared, “We’re hell-bent on being a champion.” However, the intriguing part was when Boone talked about the lineup of Judge and Soto. The skipper hoped DJ LeMahieu would provide the perfect leadoff to his stars. He then noted how LeMahieu was moving well in training and stated, “He’s running well. He’s just more explosive to me in the batting cage. To me, it’s very noticeable.” 

Then came the revelation that Anthony Rizzo was pushing to start the games as early as possible. The slugger looks better after he suffered through the Post-Concussion Syndrome in 2023. With Giancarlo Stanton looking fitter than most, the Yankees are at full strength. Once again, the Pinstripes have a very strong-hitting staff on paper. Could this year prove to be better for them?

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