Jorge CastilloSep 24, 2025, 12:59 AM ETCloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on X
Yankees rally for walk-off win, clinch playoffs (0:47)After tying the score on a wild pitch, Jose Caballero loops a walk-off single to center field to help the Yankees clinch a spot in the playoffs. (0:47)
The Yankees, despite boasting the third-most expensive roster in baseball, entered the season with pressing questions after losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets in free agency and Gerrit Cole to a season-ending UCL tear in spring training.
What followed has, so far, been a three-chapter tale. The Yankees’ 42-25 record to start the season through June 12 was third best in the majors. From there, they went 22-31 through Aug. 12, tied for the seventh-worst mark in baseball. They then went 25-12 since Aug. 13, the best record in the majors, to ignite Tuesday’s celebration and cut the Blue Jays’ division lead by five games.
Challenges surfaced throughout the campaign. Oswaldo Cabrera’s gruesome season-ending knee injury in May opened a gaping hole at third base that wasn’t addressed until the trade deadline. Giancarlo Stanton didn’t make his season debut until mid-June as he dealt with tendon injuries in both elbows. Clarke Schmidt, another rotation stalwart, joined Cole on the list of Tommy John surgery recipients in July. Luis Gil missed the season’s first four months with a lat injury.
Anthony Volpe’s struggles at shortstop and in the batter’s box drew consistent boos all summer and, eventually, a dip in playing time. Devin Williams, acquired over the winter, twice lost his job as closer. Veterans DJ LeMahieu and Marcus Stroman were designated for assignment.
“But I think we’re a really good club. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but I’ll certainly take our chances up against anyone.”
The Yankees overcame the obstacles with a combination of internal development and external additions.
And at the deadline, general manager Brian Cashman, recognizing the roster was clunky and short on relievers, acquired three position players for more roster versatility and four right-handers to overhaul the bullpen.
“The depth is very impressive,” Bellinger said. “Just the type of guys we got here, man. The culture here is very impressive, is very fun to be a part of. And we just believe in each other.”
One of those position players added on the final day in July starred when it mattered most Tuesday night, putting together the kind of at-bat that wins games in October to send the Yankees to the postseason again for another chance at World Series title No. 28.
Coupled with the Toronto Blue Jays’ loss to the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees moved within a game of first place in the American League East with five games remaining. Toronto, however, holds the tiebreaker over New York. The Yankees would have to surpass the Blue Jays in the standings by the end of Sunday to claim their 22nd division title and earn a bye into the AL Division Series to begin their pursuit of a second consecutive AL pennant after falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series last season.
Trent Grisham emerged as the every-day center fielder with a career year. Cody Bellinger, acquired over the offseason to compensate for Soto’s departure, gave the Yankees the left-handed bat they needed behind Judge while providing elite defense at four positions. Ben Rice solidified himself as a potent power hitter and a catcher the Yankees can trust. Rookie Cam Schlittler joined the rotation in July, just before the All-Star break, and didn’t relinquish his rotation spot. Chisholm became the third Yankee to ever post a 30/30 season.
Yankees rally for walk-off win, clinch playoffs (0:47)After tying the score on a wild pitch, Jose Caballero loops a walk-off single to center field to help the Yankees clinch a spot in the playoffs. (0:47)
After tying the score on a wild pitch, Jose Caballero loops a walk-off single to center field to help the Yankees clinch a spot in the playoffs. (0:47)
CloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on X
Acquired at the trade deadline to provide a versatile spark off the bench, the utility infielder fulfilled his duties to the max for the distinction: An inning after entering the game as a pinch runner, Caballero swatted a two-out, walk-off single on the ninth pitch of his at-bat to lift the Yankees to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox and clinch the 60th postseason berth in franchise history.
“This is the best time to have the belt,” Caballero said, “and I’m not letting it go.”
“This October we’re coming to prove a point,” Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said.
And finally, the latest major blow: The flexor strain Judge suffered in his right arm in late July — which forced a 10-day trip to the injured list to interrupt his MVP-level campaign — limited him to designated hitter for a month upon his return and cast doubt over his ability to unleash full-effort throws from right field.