The 2015 New York Yankees season was the 113th for the New York Yankees, who play in the American League East of Major League Baseball. They finished the regular season with a record of 87–75, six games behind the Toronto Blue Jays and second in the AL East. They clinched the host Wild Card berth, but lost to the Houston Astros in the 2015 American League Wild Card Game.
This was the Yankees' first full season in over twenty years without team captain and shortstop Derek Jeter, who retired at the end of the 2014 season. In addition, the Yankees retired the jersey numbers of center fielder Bernie Williams (51), catcher Jorge Posada (20), and pitcher Andy Pettitte (46) during the season; doing so brought the total amount of retired numbers to 20, for 22 different players.
In 2022, a letter was released detailing the illicit use of technology to steal signs by the Yankees during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Offseason
The Yankees fired Kevin Long, the hitting coach, and Mick Kelleher, the first base coach on October 10. They also re-signed GM Brian Cashman to a three-year deal that same day.
On November 8, the Yankees re-signed free agent outfielder Chris Young to a 1-year, $2.5 million contract with incentives. On November 12, the Yankees signed left-hander José de Paula to a 1-year major league contract worth $500,000. That same day, the Yankees traded longtime backup catcher Francisco Cervelli to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for left-hander Justin Wilson.
On December 3, the Yankees signed reliever Esmil Rogers to a 1-year, $1.48 million contract. On December 5, the Yankees acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-team trade involving the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees sent Shane Greene to the Tigers as part of the trade. That same day, the Yankees signed reliever Andrew Miller to a 4-year, $36 million deal. On December 15, the Yankees re-signed free agent third baseman Chase Headley, to a 4-year deal worth $52 million. On December 16, the Yankees re-signed left-hander Chris Capuano to a 1-year, $5 million deal. On December 19, the Yankees traded utility infielder Martín Prado to the Miami Marlins, along with pitcher David Phelps, in exchange for pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, 1B/OF Garrett Jones, and pitching prospect Domingo Germán. Also on December 19, the Yankees acquired relief pitcher Gonzalez Germen from the New York Mets, in exchange for cash considerations. He was later traded to the Texas Rangers on January 20, again in exchange for cash considerations. On December 29, the Yankees traded reliever Shawn Kelley to the San Diego Padres, in exchange for minor league pitcher Johnny Barbato.
On January 1, the Yankees traded pitching prospect Manny Banuelos to the Atlanta Braves, in exchange for relievers David Carpenter, and Chasen Shreve. On January 6, the Yankees signed infielder Stephen Drew to a 1-year contract, worth $5 million with incentives. On January 11, the Yankees hired Jeff Pentland to be their main hitting coach, along with Alan Cockrell to be the assistant hitting coach. In addition, the Yankees also hired Joe Espada to be their third base coach. On January 13, the Yankees acquired reliever Chris Martin from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations.
On February 16, the Yankees signed pitcher Jared Burton to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. In February, the Yankees announced they will retire Bernie Williams number 51 on May 24, Jorge Posada's number 20 on August 22, and Andy Pettitte's number 46 on August 23.
On March 11, Yankees pitcher Chris Capuano left a spring training game with a strained right quad. On March 26, the Yankees released pitcher Jared Burton, before resigning him three days later. On April 1, the Yankees acquired Gregorio Petit from the Houston Astros for cash or a player to be named later.
Notable transaction chart
Season standings
American League East
American League Wild Card
Season summary
April
The Yankees lost their Opening Day game on April 6 against Toronto, losing 6-1. The Yankees only accumulated three total hits that first game, with a home run by Brett Gardner accounting for the only run scored by the Yankees. They bounced back to win the next game 4–3 on April 8, which was the first Yankees win of the season. On April 28, ace pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a tendinitis in his right wrist and a slight strain on his forearm. It was not connected to the elbow injury he suffered in the previous season. The Yankees would later finish the first month with a 13–9 record atop the American League East division.