The New York Yankees crashed out of the ALDS again, and this time, A-Rod isn’t buying the excuses. Alex Rodriguez says the problem isn’t with the manager or the GM—it’s the roster itself. He believes there’s a major hole in the batting order that’s costing them their shot at the championship.
In the first two games against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees’ hitters from the third to seventh spots went a miserable 0-for-33. That’s a stat that screams trouble. A-Rod points right at the fifth spot in the lineup, which has been a revolving door all season. When Ryan McMahon slumped and struggled defensively, there was no solid backup, forcing the team to shuffle players like Jose Caballero into the mix.
The front office built this roster with a massive $330 million payroll, but they made some questionable choices. They stacked it with players who can’t play multiple positions, leading to rigid and predictable lineups. Too many guys are stuck as designated hitters or limited defenders, like Ben Rice and Giancarlo Stanton. That means when it’s crunch time, the manager doesn’t have the flexibility to switch things up.
Another big issue? Way too many left-handed hitters in the core lineup—Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, Trent Grisham, and Ryan McMahon. Opposing managers love this because they can just bring in lefty relievers and shut down the entire middle of the order. It forces daily platoon configurations that mess with the hitters’ rhythm.
A-Rod put it bluntly: “You’re not going to win with this roster. When you have four or five DHs who are first basemen, that’s a problem. In an elimination game at home, with eight positions and a $330 million payroll, not knowing who plays where is scary.” He’s calling for players who are elite defenders, great athletes, and play with passion—things he doesn’t see anymore.
The Yankees are too dependent on Aaron Judge. When he was out for over 90 games, the whole offense collapsed, losing 43 games during that stretch. Compare that to the Dodgers, who built a balanced lineup with stars like Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman protected by solid players like Kyle Tucker. The Yankees need a serious overhaul if they want to contend next season.
