The New York Yankees off to a strong start in 2024 and looking like a legitimate title contender, and that's with ace Gerrit Cole and a handful of other key pieces on the injured list.

Shortstop Anthony Volpe has taken a significant step forward offensively in his second season in the majors, while former top prospect Luis Gil has done a solid job holding down a spot in the starting rotation and under-the-radar offseason addition Dennis Santana has filled a key role in the bullpen.

But are those strong starts for real?

Ahead, we have given our take on whether to buy or sell those early performances based on track records and advanced metrics.

RHP Luis Gil

Once upon a time, Luis Gil was the top pitching prospect in the Yankees farm system after he posted a 2.72 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 123 strikeouts in 96 innings between Single-A and High-A during the 2019 season.

He made his MLB debut two years later with six solid starts down the stretch in 2021, but he dealt with injuries and general ineffectiveness in 2022 before undergoing Tommy John surgery which kept him sidelined for the bulk of the 2023 campaign.

With a 2.87 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 15.2 innings this spring he pitched his way back into the rotation picture, and he was named the team's No. 5 starter after Gerrit Cole landed on the injured list.

The 25-year-old has a 4.01 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 24.2 innings over his first five starts this year, but he has also walked a tightrope much of the time with 19 walks and a 1.34 WHIP, and he allowed six hits and five earned runs on April 26 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Buy or Sell: Sell

RHP Dennis Santana

The Yankees signed Dennis Santana to a minor league deal during the offseason after he posted a 5.91 ERA in nine appearances with the New York Mets last season while spending the bulk of the year at Triple-A.

Once a top prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, Santana has bounced around a good deal the last few seasons, but he has seemingly found a home in the Yankees bullpen this year.

The 28-year-old has a 3.95 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with one save and one hold in 11 appearances, and a 2.94 FIP paints an even more promising picture of his performance.

He doesn't miss a ton of bats, but he generates plenty of ground balls with his sinker while also attacking hitters with a cutter and a slider. At the very least, he should be a serviceable middle relief option throughout the season.

Buy or Sell: Buy

SS Anthony Volpe

It seems a bit silly to call a player coming off a 3.3-WAR season a breakout performer, but Anthony Volpe has taken his offensive game to another level in his sophomore campaign.

The 23-year-old is hitting .271/.358/.398 for a 117 OPS+ through 136 plate appearances this year after posting a .209/.283/.383 line and 81 OPS+ during his rookie year, albeit with 23 doubles, 21 home runs and 60 RBI.

He has slashed his strikeout rate from 27.8 to 19.9 percent while also seeing a healthy bump in his walk rate from 8.7 to 10.3 percent, and that speaks to a hitter with a better feel for the strike zone and more comfort in the batter's box.

All signs point to this strong start being the next step toward bona fide stardom for the young shortstop.

Buy or Sell: Buy