Three ways to save the Yankees lineup from the one-trick mess it’s become

Brian Cashman spoke for much than an hr Tuesday successful conjunction with the announcement that Aaron Boone would beryllium returning connected a three-year contract. In 60-plus minutes, the Yankees wide manager covered a batch of ground with reporters astir his returning manager and the likelihood of a changing roster.

Most absorbing was his concession that the Yankees request to beryllium much contact-oriented. I deliberation the Yankees’ persistent occupation successful this country is not deficiency of contact, but the wide accomplishment acceptable of galore of their biggest swing-and-miss addicts.

The Rays, for example, really struck retired astatine a somewhat higher percent this twelvemonth than the Yankees, and they won the AL East with the league’s champion record. I would enactment that attached to an above-league-average strikeout complaint of galore Tampa Bay players was a antiaircraft stalwart specified arsenic Kevin Kiermaier, Brett Phillips and Mike Zunino — arsenic opposed to, say, Rougned Odor, Gary Sanchez and Luke Voit (want to propulsion in, say, Clint Frazier erstwhile helium was inactive playing?).

The Yankees implicit clip amassed excessively galore players who conscionable don’t assistance the squad successful an above-average manner unless they deed the shot retired of the park. For example, too the defence astatine a premium presumption (center field), Kiermaier and Phillips are beardown baserunners and lefty hitters who nutrient above-average results versus righties.