The experts at Baseball Reference have published their projections for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. Using math equations, they have estimated the highest, and lowest, possible win totals for each of the 30 teams in the league.

That information reached the phones of Yankees’ fans, and needless to say, they weren’t thrilled with the information they read. Take a look at where the Yankees are slated to finish, per Talkin’ Yanks on Twitter:

Baseball Reference is projecting the Yankees to finish last in the AL East at roughly 72-90 With 90% confidence, they’re predicting their best case record at 82-80, and their worst case record at 61-101 pic.twitter.com/BFHVqH7doj

— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 26, 2024

As a fan of the Boston Red Sox, let me assure you that the Yankees will NOT be the team in last place in the American League East. They may not necessarily finish in first, but I PROMISE you, Alex Cora and his band of merry minor leaguers will finish below them.

Now, a few fans were quick to point this information out about the legitimacy of the projection model used by Baseball Reference:

They have this disclaimer: “The team’s estimated quality is determined by their performance over their last 100 regular season games” So yeah… it doesn’t really mean anything — Mike Medvin (@MikeMedvin) March 26, 2024

It was too late for most, however, as the damage had been done, and they were now upset. Here were a few of our favorite responses to the original tweet from Talkin’ Yanks:

Quick someone get Ippei’s bookie on the phone, I want to place a bet!

— NYC_Genie (@NYC_Genie) March 26, 2024

That is not great — Riggsy (@tyspace2) March 26, 2024

And if happens will they finally fire Boone and Cashman!

— Matt Castillo (@mitchyfresh1400) March 26, 2024

Lmao – saying the Yankees are a 60 win team. Hahaha saving this — Owen (@omurray271) March 26, 2024

The 2024 New York Yankees were already a polarizing group, and that polarization was made worse by the Gerrit Cole injury news. On the positive side, we have the offense, which even without DJ LeMahieu to begin the season, seems poised for a resurgence this year.

That tends to happen when Juan Soto plays on your team.

The bullpen still appears to be in solid shape, despite losing arms like Wandy Peralta. The starting rotation, however, is the true cause of concern for fans of the Bronx Bombers. At their best, pitchers like Rodon, Stroman and Cortes can all dominate on the mound.

At their worst…well, just keep the Yankees’ injured list bookmarked on your phone, just in case.

Despite that uncertainty, I still believe that Baseball Reference’s projection of 71.5 wins is an insultingly low total. If Cole returns to the mound, this team should be capable of 95+ wins, and even without him, they should still be able to reach the 90-win threshold.

Due to Cole’s injury, they will likely finish in an American League Wild Card spot, and from there, the chase for ring No. 28 will begin.

We Found the Ten Biggest Problems Facing the 2024 New York Yankees

Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees answered a lot of questions during the offseason, but these problems still remain as the team begins Spring Training.

Gallery Credit: Dan Bahl

Can Carlos Rodon Have a Healthy Season?

There’s a correlation between Rodon’s health, and his performance on the field. The more he pitches, the better’s pitched over the course of his career.

The difference between Rodon starting 15 games, and starting 25, is massive for the Yankees this season.

Is a “Leaner” Giancarlo Stanton a Meaner Giancarlo Stanton?

Giancarlo Stanton appears to be a lean, mean, fighting machine according to social media. Will his physical change allow him to stay healthy for a longer portion of the season?

And, even if he’s healthy, can he hit above .200 at this point in his career? Those are huge questions when it comes to the middle of the lineup.

Who Will Replace Michael King?
Who Will Replace Michael King?

This was a question before he was dealt to San Diego, but now, it’s an even more pressing question. King’s “Swiss army knife” role in the bullpen will be extremely hard to replace this season.

Will Anthony Rizzo Suffer Any Post-Concussion Issues?

Post-concussion syndrome is a very real thing, and can haunt athletes for years after they stop playing. Rizzo showed that, before his injury, he’s still capable of playing well offensively and defensively.

Can he return to that after an extended rest period, or does he return as a shell of his former self?

What Exactly Is Nestor Cortes?

It’s been the tale of two Nestor’s during most of Cortes’ career. He was a revelation for the Yankees in 2022, but when 2023 rolled around, he couldn’t stay healthy long enough to be effective as a starter.

So, with time to recover, does he return to his 2022 form, or was that year simply a flash in the pan?

Can Anthony Volpe Round Out His Game?

This isn’t as much of a problem, per se, as it is an experiment. Volpe showed flashes of the player that fans want him to be last season: an on-base machine, who hits at the top of the order, steals bases, and plays solid defense.

As the year went on, he regressed, and though his power was impressive for a rookie, his on-base percentage was not. Can he play a more well-rounded, complete style in 2024?

Who Replaces Wandy Peralta as the Top Lefty Reliever?

When healthy, Wandy Peralta and Jonathan Loaisiga are always Aaron Boone’s first calls from the bullpen. Loaisiga returns, but Peralta does not.

Will Boone be able to trust newcomers Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez in the same way that he trusted Peralta over the past few seasons?

Do the Yankees Have a True Starting Catcher?

Or, as a follow-up, is a platoon of Austin Wells and Jose Trevino good enough to get by?

Wells showed flashes of brilliance after being called up last year, and his work ethic on the defensive side of the game has been lauded. He’s worked his tail off to become a better game-caller, which has allowed him to build trust with the pitching staff.

Is he ready to handle the bulk of the catching duties (3-4 out of every 5 games), or does he still need time to develop?

Can Marcus Stroman Handle the Bright Lights in The Bronx?

To make a long answer short, I think Stroman could be a home run signing for Brian Cashman when all is said and done. If he embraces the spotlight in New York, and performs well early, then fans will be quick to rally around him.

If he struggles early in the year, however, will fans be patient with the right-hander?

Can Cole and Judge Be League Leaders Again?

No matter how many moves Cashman made this offseason, the pressure still falls squarely on the shoulders of Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge. Both players appear to be fully healthy, and should be poised for big years in 2024.

If one, or both, regress this season, do the Yankees have enough depth (Soto, Stroman, etc.) to pick up the slack?