Yankees overwhelmingly voted as 'team to beat' in AL by MLB executives

1 month ago 13

The New York Yankees might not win the American League East, but they might still end up being the best team in the AL once the postseason starts.

They've not been fully healthy this season, so as long as they aren't dealing with injuries by the start of October, this team can go head-to-head with any other team in baseball.

Of the 16 MLB executives polled by ESPN's Jesse Rogers on the "team to beat" in the AL, the overwhelming majority of votes cast named the Yankees as that top team, and for good reason.

Yankees voted as AL's team to beat by MLB execs

"The AL's team to beat is ... New York Yankees: 9 votes. (Tampa Bay Rays, 4; Boston Red Sox, 3)," Rogers shared.

The Yankees got more than 50% of the total vote, and compared to second-place in the Rays, the Yankees got more than double the votes for being the team to beat in the AL.

A rival AL executive shared that, "The injuries are the only thing that's held them back. They just have every ingredient for the postseason."

While their bullpen might not have the elite closer that some of the other contenders have, their overall roster is more than capable of going head-to-head against any other team in baseball.

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Cam Schlittler is the Cy Young leader in the AL, and with Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Ryan Weathers, and some other depth options at their disposal, this Yankees' pitching staff is more than capable of leading the way.

But the offense is just as good, if not better. Aaron Judge is back, and while he's not playing at his peak, by the postseason he could finally return to form.

Besides Judge, Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, Ben Rice, Luis Garcia Jr., and Jazz Chisholm Jr., among others, make up an elite offense.

This is a complete team when healthy, and these MLB executives believe that this healthy Yankees team is the one to beat in the American League.