The players have to play better.

"Despite having baseball’s second-highest payroll, the Yankees entered the season without upgrading their offense and with holes in left field and at third base. Those glaring deficiencies would have ultimately hurt this team even if the likes of Anthony Rizzo, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu were playing to their standards.

And it’s not like the injuries are a surprise.

The Yankees are extremely reliant on players who are known to get hurt, in addition to ones who have shown signs of decline. The depth required to survive their absences has been inadequate, with the club often turning to career fringe major leaguers and playing people at less than comfortable positions."

Cashman is ultimately responsible for putting good players on the field. He naturally shoulders a lot of the blame for a bad season.

But the problem isn't depth.

Forgotten Jake Bauers is the second-best hitter on the team.

Forgotten Clarke Schmidt has as man wins as Severino and German combined.

The bullpen is really good.

Most people doubted Hicks and Donaldson before the season started. The doubters were proven correct. The Yankees can absorb two failures ... they can't absorb seven.

I will list the remaining problem players in order, which is not a strenuous task at all:

• German
  
• Stanton
• LeMahieu
• Severino, the worst pitcher in baseball.
• Rizzo, the worst position player in baseball.

The biggest problem is not the bottom of the lineup or the outfield depth. The bigger problem is the veterans who are being paid a lot of money batting right in the middle of the lineup.

Like, I see no circumstance where the Yankees would be in last place if, in fact, LeMahieu, Stanton, and Rizzo were playing up to their standards.

Using baseball-reference's WAR: Stanton is 0.1; LeMahieu is 0.2; Rizzo is 0.6.

Rizzo's elevated 0.6 is extremely top-heavy; all April and May. Didn't exactly step it up when Judge got injured. Also, Rizzo's WAR might be elevated if he is given credit for knowing precisely when to visit the mound to calm down the pitcher.