The Blame for Yankees’ Latest October Failure Falls Squarely on the Players — Not Brian Cashman

Another year, another October without a championship in the Bronx — and another round of finger-pointing. But this time, the culprit isn’t manager Aaron Boone or general manager Brian Cashman. It’s the players themselves.

When the Toronto Blue Jays eliminated the New York Yankees in the ALDS, it wasn’t because of front-office neglect or managerial missteps. It was because the Blue Jays were simply the better baseball team — deeper, more disciplined, and better at doing the little things that win in October.

Cashman Did His Job — and Then Some

If anything, Cashman delivered one of his best seasons as Yankees GM. After Juan Soto’s defection last December, he pivoted masterfully, filling key holes across the roster. He signed Max Fried, Paul Goldschmidt, and Cody Bellinger, while trading for Devin Williams, David Bednar, and Jose Caballero — all without sacrificing major prospects.

At midseason, he doubled down, reinforcing the infield and bullpen with Ryan McMahon and Caballero. It’s hard to argue any general manager in baseball outperformed Cashman in 2025 when measured by resourcefulness and value.

The problem wasn’t roster construction. It was execution.

Toronto Made Contact — the Yankees Didn’t

The ALDS was a microcosm of the Yankees’ offensive flaw that has persisted for years: too many strikeouts, not enough contact.

During the regular season, the Blue Jays ranked first in hits and second in fewest strikeouts across MLB. The Yankees? Third in strikeouts, behind only the Rockies and Angels. Despite out-homering Toronto by 83, New York scored only 43 more runs — proof that slugging alone can’t sustain a championship offense.

The contrast was glaring in the playoffs:

• Hits: Toronto 37, New York 24
• Strikeouts: New York 50, Toronto 34
• Runners in scoring position: Toronto .292, Yankees .255

It’s no wonder the Yankees’ power-heavy lineup once again looked lifeless against elite postseason pitching.

The Volpe Problem

If Cashman can be criticized for one thing, it’s his unwavering loyalty to Anthony Volpe. The young shortstop endured one of the worst seasons ever recorded at the position — hitting .212 with 150 strikeouts and just 43 walks.

In the ALDS, Volpe struck out in 73.3% of his plate appearances — the highest rate in divisional series history (minimum 15 plate appearances). That’s not development; that’s disaster.

With top prospect George Lombard Jr. still at least a year away (he hit .237 across High-A and Double-A), Cashman must find a competent stopgap — perhaps platooning Caballero with a reliable veteran until Lombard is ready. What’s certain: it can’t be Volpe again.

Contact Needed at the Top

Beyond shortstop, the Yankees desperately need a true leadoff hitter who puts the ball in play. Cashman is expected to non-tender Trent Grisham, avoiding a $22 million qualifying offer. The outfield will likely be turned over to the kids — Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones — both of whom bring exciting power but also alarming strikeout tendencies.

Domínguez posted 115 strikeouts vs. 41 walks, while Jones fanned 179 times in the minors despite leading Double-A and Triple-A with 35 homers. The potential is real, but so is the risk.

What’s Next in Free Agency

Despite rumors, the Yankees are not pursuing Kyle Schwarber, a 33-year-old DH who struck out 197 times and went 3-for-16 in the NLDS. Cashman’s focus is expected to remain internal — particularly on re-signing Cody Bellinger, who thrived in the Bronx and was arguably the team’s second-most valuable player behind Aaron Judge.

There’s also optimism that Goldschmidt could return on a short-term platoon deal at first base alongside Ben Rice.

The rotation, at least, is no longer a concern. With Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt returning and a wave of young talent emerging — led by Cam Schlittler and Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz — the Yankees’ pitching pipeline appears solid.

The Real Test Ahead

So no, the problem isn’t Boone. It isn’t Cashman. It’s the Yankees’ approach at the plate. Their “home run or bust” mentality has become their defining flaw, exposed year after year by playoff-caliber pitching.

Cashman can’t fix that with analytics tweaks or bargain trades. It will take a full organizational reset — from the hitting coaches to the front office philosophy — to build a lineup capable of consistent, situational hitting.

“It’s what Cashman does about the hitting that will once again determine how far they go in October,” the saying goes — and it’s never been truer.

The Yankees have the talent. They have the payroll. What they don’t yet have is balance. And until they learn to value contact as much as power, another long, quiet October may be waiting just around the corner.