“Double Down on Fundamentals”: Alex Rodriguez Backs Yankees to Overcome Injuries and Chase Title

Alex Rodriguez says the Yankees are “poised to do good things” despite a wave of injuries early in the 2025 season (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Despite their mounting injuries, Alex Rodriguez is still high on the New York Yankees.

The Yankees are dealing with a number of injuries at the start of the MLB season, including three starting pitchers on the sidelines. Eight Yankees are on the injured list, including five-time All-Star Giancarlo Stanton and three-time All-Star DJ LeMahieu.

However, Rodriguez remains optimistic about the defending American League champs, citing key additions such as Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Max Fried. He also credits his former general manager, Brian Cashman, and says the longtime Yankees executive will make a move before the trade deadline if needed.

“Put yourself in a position where you’re getting hot and healthy at the right time,” Rodriguez says in a one-on-one interview with RG. “And then give Brian Cashman an opportunity that if you are lacking something, you can go out and get it with the great resources. Obviously, it’s a different team. This year they lost Juan Soto and they had a number of additions in Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt.”

Strong Offseason Helps Offset Loss of Soto

The Yankees still have considerable depth, returning essentially their entire core from last season’s team, with the exception of Juan Soto. New York arguably had the best offseason of any team in Major League Baseball, a crucial advantage as they navigate their current injury challenges.

Rodriguez says one area the Yankees must improve this season is “fundamentals.”

“When you look at the team from last year that lost in five games to the Dodgers in the World Series, what do they need to improve upon in order to finish the job this year? I think just fundamentals,” Rodriguez says.

“If you look at Game 5, that fifth inning, it is kind of a bit of a microcosm of some of their liabilities last year, and it all came together in one inning. And usually that’s what happens in October.”

Rodriguez is referencing the Yankees’ collapse in the decisive Game 5 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York blew a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning due to several errors that exposed their season-long struggles with fundamentals. Mistakes by Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe, and Gerrit Cole contributed to the unraveling.

Reloaded and Ready

“Baseball, in the course of a month, whatever your weakness is, it’s going to be highlighted, and that’s usually why you get eliminated,” Rodriguez adds. “Fortunately for the Yankees, it was not in the first or second round, but in the World Series. I think they’ve done a really nice job. No one is going to be happy about losing a future Hall of Famer like Juan Soto, but I think they did an impeccable job of quickly pivoting.”

Rodriguez credits the Yankees for reloading with their major offseason additions, including two former MVPs.

Although it’s only one game, the Yankees started the 2025 season strong, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 in the opener.

“You want to kind of double down on fundamentals, and they have continuity because the core group has been together for a number of years,” Rodriguez says. “I like where they’re at and I think they’re poised to do good things.”

Biggest Threat in the American League

When asked who he feels is the biggest threat in the American League if the Yankees are derailed by injuries, Rodriguez mentions the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles lost in the AL Wild Card series last season and are a trendy pick to win the AL East with the Yankees appearing vulnerable.

 "I think you can't sleep on Baltimore," said Rodriguez of the Orioles.

"Baltimore is a very, very dangerous team. I'll tell you why — the sophomore year for a group or a player is always the toughest. That was last year for them. Baltimore had to overcome some injuries, but now they're all young, but they're experienced, and they're hungry."

Rodriguez says he wouldn't be surprised if the Orioles win 100 games this season after winning 91 last year. The Orioles won 101 games and the AL East in 2023 but were swept out of the American League Division Series.

"Most people were looking at Baltimore to do really big things last year," said Rodriguez. "They're not as deep as the Yankees or Dodgers, so that injury to their closer [Felix Bautista missed the entire 2024 season] really hurt them. But I would not be surprised if Baltimore wins 100 games this year and could potentially run away with things."