Three questions Yankees need answered as second half of season approaches

The Post’s Dan Martin looks at three questions facing the Yankees as they begin the second half of their 2024 season.

An 8-18 finish to the first half knocked the Yankees out of first place in the AL East and raised some serious red flags throughout the roster, from the starting rotation, the lineup and just about everywhere in-between.

They staggered in the second half a year ago, missing the postseason, and fell off badly following a near-historic start in 2022.

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The difference this season, they hope, is the presence of Juan Soto, as well as a healthy Aaron Judge.

If that’s not the case, expect the heat to rise on Aaron Boone, who has a team option to return to the dugout in 2025.

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Whatever improvements the Yankees want to make to the roster need to happen by July 30.

They need to decide whether the bad month the rotation has had is just a poor stretch or something worse, and they’ll clearly be looking for bullpen help — among other things.

General manager Brian Cashman has been unafraid in other seasons to make big changes and he doesn’t have a lot of time to decide whether this will be another one.

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Soto and Judge by themselves aren’t going to get the Yankees back to the World Series for the first time since 2009.

Can DJ LeMahieu get out of the lengthy slump he’s been in or have the foot issues he’s had in recent seasons taken too much of a toll on the 36-year-old?

They’re hoping Anthony Volpe turns it around at the plate, but what about Gleyber Torres?

He’s about to be a free agent for the first time and is having the worst year of his career following a bounce-back season in 2023.

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