BALTIMORE — The start of the New York Yankees’ season has been a success by just about anyone’s standard.
When they wake up Thursday morning, they’ll be tied for first place in the American League East. They’ll have spent 26 of 32 days either atop the division or tied for the lead.
For manager Aaron Boone, that’s a welcomed change. Last year, they finished April at 15-15, and they were on the way to a fourth-place finish and missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
have made do without ace Gerrit Cole (elbow inflammation), who may not return until July. They haven’t had their starting third baseman DJ LeMahieu, and big pieces of their bullpen have missed time.
“I know we’re just kind of scratching the surface on the season,” Boone said. “We’ve got a long way to go.”
Here are two players whose stocks are rising, and two whose stocks have taken a hit through the start of the season.
Here’s how good Soto has been for the Yankees this season: As of Wednesday, without his production, the Yankees would have the 11th-best offense in the sport with a 105 wRC+. With Soto in the lineup, the Yankees have the fifth-best offense and a 116 wRC+.
There’s been a narrative online that the Yankees’ offense is just Soto and the 2023 roster. That’s not accurate. Last year’s team had just four regulars at or above league average, and both Anthony Rizzo (100 wRC+) and DJ LeMahieu (101 wRC+) were bad for large chunks of the season. This year, the Yankees have seven players with at least a 115 wRC+.
But make no mistake: Soto has already carried the offense in several games this season. If the American League MVP award was given out in April, Soto would be a prime candidate to win.