What is the primary issue that is plaguing the New York Yankees?

When you look at the New York Yankees' roster, you really don't see many holes. Their starting pitching is more than solid, their offense is rife with good bats and their bullpen, well, it has some good arms and then other pieces that should probably never pitch for the Yankees again.

But the Yankees have not won a World Series since 2009. They appeared in one last year, but fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games thanks to a litany of brutal errors. They are now behind 2-0 to a Toronto Blue Jays team that they really should be better than.

So what is the problem? What can New York do to fix its issues?

Look: we get that the bullpen has blown games for the Yanks this season, but their issues definitely run deeper than their relief pitchers. Inconsistency across the board has plagued the Yankees for years, no matter what strategies they employ.

Is it really general manager Brian Cashman? Has he done a poor job of putting the team together over the years? He has certainly endured his fair share of criticism in recent seasons, and while much of it is justified, it's not like he is a terrible executive. Far from it.

Maybe it's Aaron Boone? Would a managerial change really solve the crux of the Yankees' troubles? Or is that just wishful thinking on the part of the fanbase?

The problem is that there really isn't a whole lot New York can do this winter (if it ultimately does bow out to the Blue Jays here in the ALDS). The Yanks don't have a ton of holes. They already landed their third baseman in Ryan McMahon, for better or for worse, and Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells will almost surely open the season with the team next year.

Gerrit Cole will be returning from Tommy John surgery, so you can essentially think of that is an offseason addition in and of itself.

The Yankees should absolutely add a couple of more relievers. That much is true. But the core of the team will likely look very similar next spring.

Unless New York trades McMahon and tries to sign Alex Bregman, or if it suddenly pivots and decides to move on from one of Volpe or Wells (or both), there really aren't many changes the Yanks can make. Should they try to change things? Yes, but that is easier said than done.

Realistically speaking, the Yankees do need a new manager. If they fail to advance past Toronto, Boone should be gone. But New York just extended his contract through 2027. That isn't happening.

Things just seem to be getting stale here, and there really aren't any obvious solutions on the horizon. Not in terms of moves that the Yankees would try to make, anyway.

Hopefully, New York is able to pull itself together and reel off three straight wins against the Blue Jays to move on to the ALCS. But if that doesn't happen, the Yanks will have a whole lot of soul searching to do in the coming months.