New York Yankees' Path to AL East Dominance is Crystal Clear

We know what New York's biggest problems are. The bottom of the lineup is very shaky, the bullpen is more than questionable, and sometimes, the Yanks struggle to manufacture runs without the long ball.

Nevertheless, their issues pale in comparison to the rest of the AL East, and it should make for a fun ride for Yankees fans this season.

Key word: should.

We've seen New York get off to incredibly strong starts each of the last two years, only to falter during the dog days of the season. While the Yankees did win the AL East in 2024 in spite of a midsummer swoon, they ended up losing out to the Blue Jays last year. Could the same thing happen this season? Possibly.

But realistically speaking, New York is absolutely top dog in the division, and with Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole both returning soon, the Yankees are about to become that much scarier.

Of course, some trade deadline additions would be nice. The Bronx Bombers could use another bat, and they definitely need more relief help. But when you contrast that with what everyone else needs, the Yankees are sitting pretty.

Health permitting (and we just saw Giancarlo Stanton sustain a calf injury, which hopefully isn't too serious), New York should once again stake its claim to AL East supremacy, something it was not able to do in 2025.

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