Yankees Will 'Make Some Changes' After Missing MLB Playoffs, Hal Steinbrenner Says

After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the New York Yankees are prepared to do some things differently before the start of next season.

Speaking at Sportico's Invest in Sports conference on Wednesday, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said they are "going to make some changes" this offseason but didn't specify what that would include.

"Some may be more subtle than others," he added. "Possibly personnel but not necessarily personnel. It could be practices. It could be the way we communicate."

Expectations were incredibly high for the Yankees coming into this season. They advanced to the ALCS last year, brought back Aaron Judge and signed Carlos Rodón in free agency.

Things didn't work out due to injuries and poor performances from key players. Judge was out of action for two months in the middle of the season due to a toe injury. Anthony Rizzo didn't play after Aug. 1 due to post-concussion syndrome.

Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Volpe, Oswaldo Cabrera and Harrison Bader were regulars in the lineup who all had on-base percentages under .300.

Rodón only made 14 starts and had a 6.85 ERA. Luis Severino had a career-worst 6.85 ERA in 19 appearances. Gerrit Cole was the only starting pitcher in the Yankees rotation who made at least 10 starts and had an ERA under 4.50.

The Yankees' $294.5 million payroll was the second-highest in MLB. They also have a $30.7 million luxury tax bill.

Judge told The Athletic's Chris Kirschner and Brendan Kuty on Oct. 1 that the Yankees' brass "might be looking" at the wrong numbers when they are making decisions.

"We get a lot of numbers, but I think we might be looking at the wrong ones and maybe should value some other ones that some people might see as having no value," Judge said. "But when you're playing 162 games, you've got to grind, and you've got to play through things. I think there are certain things you can't put a number on."

Steinbrenner noted a group of 15 Yankees officials recently met in Tampa, Florida, that got a "little dicey" at times but was "respectful."

The Yankees were able to keep their streak of seasons without a losing record alive, as they finished 82-80 overall. Their last season with a sub-.500 record was 1992 (76-86).

But the Yankees haven't advanced to the World Series since winning their last title in 2009.