Three veterans could shape Yankees’ 2025 playoff destiny

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As the New York Yankees prepare for the 2025 season, the spotlight is firmly on three pivotal veterans: Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt, who together account for $77 million of their estimated #285 million payroll. Their performances are anticipated to influence the team’s success in the upcoming campaign significantly.

Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ captain and reigning American League MVP, continues to be a cornerstone of the team’s offense. Acquired from the Chicago Cubs in December 2024, Cody Bellinger brings a blend of power and defensive prowess to the Yankees’ outfield. Signing a one-year, $12.5 million deal with the Yankees in December 2024, Paul Goldschmidt adds veteran leadership and a reliable bat to the lineup.

The Yankees’ offseason moves have been strategic, aiming to compensate for the departure of key players like Juan Soto. The addition of Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt is anticipated to offset some of the lost offensive production. Furthermore, the team is focusing on enhancing its defense, with Bellinger providing a significant upgrade in center field and Goldschmidt offering reliability at first base.

As spring training approaches, the Yankees are poised to integrate these key players into their roster, with the expectation that their combined contributions will be instrumental in shaping a successful 2025 season.

Aaron Judge: The projected powerhouse impact

Aaron Judge’s anticipated performance remains central to the Yankees’ strategy. Following his remarkable 2024 campaign (58 home runs, 144 RBIs), leading projection systems forecast another dominant season:

• RotoChamp: 49 home runs, 119 RBIs, .284/.408/.611 slash line, 1.019 OPS
• FanGraphs Depth Charts: 49 home runs, 126 RBIs, .278/.405/.590 across 159 games
• Steamer: 43 home runs, 106 RBIs, .273/.399/.584

These projections unanimously position Judge among baseball’s elite hitters, reinforcing his status as the top-ranked outfielder and third overall player in fantasy rankings.

Goldschmidt’s projected veteran contributions

At 37, Paul Goldschmidt enters a crucial phase as the Yankees’ primary first baseman. Despite a challenging 2024 (.245 AVG, .716 OPS) with St. Louis, projection systems anticipate a stabilizing performance:

• FanGraphs’ Steamer: 24 home runs, 80 runs, 84 RBIs, .252/.327/.434
• FantasyPros’ Zeile Consensus: 24 home runs, 75 runs, 79 RBIs, .247/.318/.429
• Razzball’s Preseason Projections: No. 8 ranked first baseman, $12.5 fantasy value

While perhaps past his peak, Goldschmidt’s projected output suggests continued effectiveness in anchoring the Yankees’ lineup.

Bellinger’s projected role in Yankees renaissance

Cody Bellinger’s December acquisition represents a strategic enhancement to the Yankees’ roster. Multiple projection systems offer optimistic forecasts for his 2025 campaign:

• FanGraphs Depth Charts: 23 home runs, 79 RBIs, .254/.317/.439
• Steamer: 23 home runs, 78 RBIs, .254/.317/.438
• Razzball: Projected .447 slugging percentage

Bellinger’s defensive versatility across center field, left field, and first base provides crucial tactical flexibility, while his left-handed power swing appears well-suited to Yankee Stadium’s dimensions.

With spring training around the corner, the Yankees have a mix of proven veterans, high-upside prospects, and question marks across their roster. Can the veteran trio compensate for the loss of Juan Soto and sustain their offensive firepower? The answers will begin to unfold in Tampa, as these hitters prepare for what promises to be a pivotal season for the Bronx Bombers.

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