Yankees: 5 fatal flaws that could come back to bite them

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 30: Joey Gallo #13 of the New York Yankees looks on during a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George Steinbrenner Field on March 30, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 30: Joey Gallo #13 of the New York Yankees looks on during a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at George Steinbrenner Field on March 30, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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New York Yankees
Apr 15, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa (12) breaks his bat on a ground ball to shortstop during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The Yankees may not get much from their shortstop either

Far greater of a flaw is what they did at shortstop. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has not hit much at all in the early going and could quickly become a failed experiment by Cashman. It’s only a big deal because of everything else that was out there.

The Yankees had a chance to really make a difference at the shortstop position. Corey Seager, Javier Baez, Carlos Correa, and Trevor Story would have all been lineup-altering additions. They would have been expensive ones, but any of those four could have really made the Yankees into the powerhouse they pretend to be.

Instead, the Yankees went with making Kiner-Falefa a headliner in their trade with the Twins alongside Donaldson and Rortvedt.

The need for Kiner-Falefa in the first place came about because of Gleyber Torres’ struggles at the shortstop position. A better second baseman on defense, we can relate this all back to the Yankees and how they’ve somehow managed to field a team with five infielders for four positions and an outfield foursome for only three spots.

Kiner-Falefa looks like a Band-Aid on the roster until hopefully Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza is ready to take over.