A significantly shortened season will hurt the New York Yankees more than help them, precisely because several starting pictures will become free agents after 2020. Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, and J.A. Happ will all be on the market next off-season, and the Yankees were hoping that some of their younger arms could develop into potential starters to supplement the losses.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the inability for team owners and the MLBPA to find a resolution on player contracts, the season could be shortened to 50 games.
A 50 game season would force the Yankees to maximize their healthy players right off the bat.