With the 2025 MLB season right around the corner, recent roster projections have been made based on teams’ offseason moves around the league going into spring training. Focusing on the two New York teams, the New York Yankees and Mets their projected rosters are as follows:
New York Yankees:
Lineup:
- Jasson Dominguez, LF
- Aaron Judge, RF
- Cody Bellinger, CF
- Giancarlo Stanton, DH*
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
- Austin Wells, C
- Anthony Volpe, SS
- DJ LeMahieu, 3B
Rotation:
- Gerrit Cole, RHP
- Max Fried, LHP
- Carlos Rodon, LHP
- Luis Gil, RHP
- Clarke Schmidt, RHP
- Marcus Stroman, RHP
With the additions of Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Max Fried, and Devin Williams to replace the gaping hole of Juan Soto in the Yankees roster following their World Series loss, it seems the Yankees had made their best attempt in doing just that.
Yankees fans in Cortland are not as accepting as the front office of the organization would expect.
Dylan McAdam, a Junior here at the college stated, “Even though there was clear intent on making this roster a World Series contending team again, the hole at third base is still an issue.”
With there being talks about the Yankees making a move to trade for the ten time gold glove winner Nolan Arenado to fill the hole, no move was made. McAdam added, “Although Nolan Arenado has been the best at that position for a long time, he’s just getting too old to trade for and give up really anything valuable.”
Now there is a clear issue within the front office of this organization, and it’s simply the reluctance to go over the luxury tax. With other teams such as the Mets and Dodgers spending far beyond the luxury tax threshold it makes it a hard pill for Yankees fans to swallow when the Yankees have been known to spend like those two teams have this offseason.
For fans like Dom Rossi, another student here at Cortland adds, “I don’t really know if the front office has the intention to bring a championship to the fans or instead they’d rather take the little amount of luxury tax they have to pay, and line their own pockets with the profit from the season and put a huge band aid on it saying ‘This is all we could do.’”
With the recent injury of Giancarlo Stanton DH [Elbow soreness], and no clear idea of when he may return to action, and the tensions between Marcus Stroman RHP and the front office from trade allegations and rumors of putting him in the bullpen.
Jake Birnstill, a Sophomore at Cortland stated, “This team is honestly in trouble from continuous injuries with Stanton, and the ongoing drama with Stroman.”
Yankees fans like Jake, Dom, and Dylan can only hope the team figures it out eventually throughout spring training and before Opening Day, March 27th.
New York Mets:
Lineup:
- Francisco Lindor, SS
- Juan Soto, RF
- Pete Alonso, 1B
- Brandon Nimmo, LF
- Mark Vientos, 3B
- Jesse Winker, DH
- Francisco Alvarez, C
- Jeff McNeil, 2B
- Tyrone Taylor, CF
Rotation:
- Sean Manaea, LHP
- Kodai Senga, RHP
- Frankie Montas, RHP*
- Clay Holmes, RHP
- David Peterson, LHP
- Griffin Canning, RHP
From the Mets offseason there’s no doubt they made a splash with the record breaking deal with Juan Soto, who brings a great bat to a deprived outfield the Mets formerly possessed. Coming off a great season with an 8.1 WAR with the Yankees this gives the Mets clear flexibility with the lineup moving Starlin Marte to a platoon scenario with recent sign Jesse Winker DH making the lineup balanced with serious run scoring potential.
Now with the signing of Juan Soto, the Mets made another crucial re-signing of Pete Alonso 1B with the hopes he returns to his former power and average hitting self, and Sean Manaea LHP who just came off of a breakout 2024 season as the ace of Queens. The signing of Clay Holmes was questionable and furthermore by adding him to a chaotic rotation. The former Yankee closer who had a strong start to the 2024 season but posting a 3.14 ERA at the finish of 2024 due to losing control of his pitches.
Senior Ryan Hartman and die hard Mets fan gave his opinion about the move, “Clay is a high risk high reward type of player. The Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner has worked with pitchers over the years and have gotten the most out of many of them, including their top ace from last year Sean Manaea, who had his best year in the majors with the Mets last season. Hopefully the Mets can do the same with Holmes, although this will be his first go around as a starter in his career so there’s a little more questions with how he will perform.”
Now with the Frankie Montas RHP injury [lat strain] the rotation is in need of some sort of acquisition or another breakout player.
Ryan also spoke about the dilemma with the depth of young talent on the roster and a declining Jeff McNeil by adding, “Jeff was a batting champion three seasons ago and has had a significant drop off ever since. With all of the young infield depth that the Mets have, it will be interesting to keep an eye on what they do with Jeff and how they will go about the young set of infielders that include Ronny Mauricio, Luisangel Acuna and Brett Baty, who all have huge upsides and are all very young.”
With the 2025 spring training commencing these New York baseball fans look for only the best their teams organizations front offices have put together. Play ball!