Yankees first-half report card: Big-names’ grades range from A’s to F’s
The Yankees trudged into the All-Star break at 49-42, good for fourth place in the AL East, one game out of the last wild-card spot and on pace to finish 87-75.
While they wait for Aaron Judge’s return from the injured list, and hope that new hitting coach Sean Casey can make an impact on their struggling veteran bats, here’s a look at how the Yankees graded out in the first half:
Gerrit Cole: A
This is what the Yankees expected when they gave Cole $324 million.
Cole has been a rock in an otherwise inconsistent rotation, giving the Yankees a chance to win every five days.
Aaron Judge: A
His value to the Yankees has been emphasized by how the team has struggled during his two IL stints — with both of his injuries stemming from trying to go all-out on plays.
How he plays when, or if, he comes back could decide how the Yankees’ second half plays out.
Clay Holmes: A-
After a rocky April, Holmes got his sinker back on track and has paired it with a strong slider at the back end of the bullpen.
Tommy Kahnle: A-
Biceps tendinitis delayed the start of his season, but Kahnle has yet to allow a run in 16 relief appearances.
Michael King: B+
The multi-inning reliever went through a rough patch in June but otherwise has picked up where he left off after breaking his elbow last July.
Ian Hamilton: B+
For a non-roster invitee to spring training, Hamilton has carved out a legitimate role in the bullpen, earning more high-leverage innings.
Domingo German: B
He has been at both ends of the spectrum, from his 10-game sticky stuff suspension in mid-May to a perfect game in late June.
Clarke Schmidt: B
It wasn’t pretty early, but Schmidt stuck to the process (and his cutter) and has developed some consistency, despite not going deep into games.
Harrison Bader: B
Two stints on the IL haven’t helped, but his defense in center field has been invaluable, and he has provided some pop at plate.
Wandy Peralta: B-
The heavily used left-hander hasn’t been quite as sharp as he was toward the end of last season and the playoffs, but still has a valuable bullpen role.
Ron Marinaccio: B-
The second-year reliever has been solid while taking on higher-leverage innings, though he has gotten himself in trouble with walks.
Anthony Rizzo: B-
The Yankees’ most consistent hitter through the first two months has cooled off since he sat out three games for a stiff neck, and he has no homers since May 20 (38 games).
Jake Bauers: B-
After earning a call-up in late April, Bauers took on a near-everyday role before he got hurt, providing the sixth-most extra-base hits (19) on the roster, even if his defense has been subpar.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: B-
Kiner-Falefa, who has morphed into a true utilityman, is valuable player in both a starting and bench role.
Gleyber Torres: C+
Has been one of the Yankees’ steadier bats overall, but he has made some costly errors (nine) and baserunning mistakes.
Anthony Volpe: C
Growing pains were to be expected for the 22-year-old rookie, but he has started to turn things around since making a mechanical tweak to his swing in the middle of June.
Willie Calhoun: C
A left-handed hitter who makes contact, Calhoun was in a solid stretch before he strained his quad in June.
Kyle Higashioka: C
Has taken on more playing time of late, offering some slugging in addition to above-average framing numbers.
Jose Trevino: C
Has fallen off offensively from the first half last year that made him an All-Star, but makes up for it with his work behind the plate, which is among the best by advanced metrics.
Albert Abreu: C
Typically the last out of the bullpen, Abreu has mostly been fine — and better than that in a stretch from mid-May through June — though he has two six-run bludgeonings on his line.
Nestor Cortes: C
Before going down with a rotator cuff strain in the first week of June, Cortes had not fully looked like himself, with two especially rough starts inflating his ERA to 5.16.
Josh Donaldson: D
The definition of feast or famine, Donaldson has only 15 hits in 112 plate appearances (he missed two months on the IL), but 10 of them are home runs.
Luis Severino: F
His first two starts off the IL in May were impressive, but all but one since have been the opposite.
One of the Yankees’ biggest question marks in the second half.
Giancarlo Stanton: F
The streaky slugger can still hit some moonshots, but he hasn’t consistently stepped up when the Yankees have needed him most, with Judge out.
DJ LeMahieu: F
Last year, his toe and foot injury was to blame.
This year? The veteran insists he is healthy, which almost makes his struggles more concerning.
Oswaldo Cabrera: F
After starting in left field on Opening Day, Cabrera has failed to capitalize on his opportunity.
The Yankees have tried to send him to Triple-A twice, only for injuries elsewhere to quickly force them to bring him back.
Carlos Rodon: INC
The $162 million left-hander has made just one start because of injuries, but it offered hope for his impact in the second half.
Aaron Boone, manager: C
As always, Boone has taken some heat for some of his bullpen decisions and for lifting starting pitchers either too early or too late.
But he continues to protect his players, both with his words and with days off.
Brian Cashman, general manager: D
The roster that Cashman built has been exposed as having some serious flaws, including an overdependance on aging and injury-prone hitters and not adequately addressing left field.
