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| Cam Schlittler (Credit: New York Post) |
Winning is a distraction…
After a disappointing offseason for most Yankees fans, the team came to Spring Training ready to play. In the grand scheme of things, it does not matter if the Yankees win all the Spring games or lose every one of them. After losing the first game of the Spring schedule (2-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles), the Yankees are 8-2, while displaying excellent young starting pitching and powerful punches in the lineup, regardless of who plays. It has effectively stopped fans from moaning about the team’s lack of big offseason moves.
I was one of many people who complained about the Yankees’ offseason inactivity aside from re-signing outfielder Cody Bellinger (a necessary move) and acquiring a starting pitcher with a lesser name from the Miami Marlins. Trent Grisham was not so much a Yankees’ move, but rather a roll of the dice by placing a qualifying offer on him, which, to the surprise of many and probably the Yankees too, he accepted. I like Grisham and appreciate what he accomplished in 2025. I am reluctant to think he can do it again. I hope he does. For all the talk of trading Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez, the Yankees should hold onto them since Grisham will be gone in 2027, and Giancarlo Stanton is most likely in his last couple of years with the team. Jones has a chance to be an important part of the 2027 Yankees. The goal this season, in my opinion, is better plate discipline and fewer strikeouts, although strikeouts will always be a part of his game. I wish there were a spot on this year’s active roster, but sadly, on Opening Day, he will find himself in Eastern Pennsylvania. Injuries will bring him to the big-league club at various times this year, so I hope he continues to view those as valuable learning experiences to prepare himself for the eventual ascension to a starting role if the Yankees do not trade him.
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| Spencer Jones (Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images) |
I am old enough to remember when people said Aaron Judge strikes out too much or that he will never be the player Mike Trout is. I think people have forgiven Judge for his strikeouts, and the people who said he would never be Mike Trout were right…Judge is better. I am not saying that Spencer Jones will ever be the player Aaron Judge is. Judge is a once-in-a-lifetime player and an eventual resident of Cooperstown, alongside many great, legendary Yankees who preceded him. But Jones can be an admirable player for the Yankees, a trusted bat, a confident glove, and a leader who helps make others better. The type of player who helps lead teams to championships.
I am sure it is tough to tell both Jones and Jasson Dominguez to be patient, but hopefully the stars align so both men can shine in the Bronx.
The outfield became more crowded when the Yankees signed Yankees killer Randal Grichuk to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. The deal was made official today, so he should begin appearing in Spring games soon. He has much to prove after last season, but maybe he can be this year’s Matt Carpenter. I would love to see him bring sadness to the hearts of his formerly loving Blue Jays fans. A few David Ortiz-like homers against the Red Sox would be cool, too. I am hopeful Grichuk makes the team, assuming he still has it. He is not being asked to play a crucial role, so hopefully, he excels as a complementary piece. He is a needed right-handed bat and helps give Manager Aaron Boone options.
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| Randal Grichuk |
A couple of weeks of Spring Training, and George Lombard, Jr. has easily proven his defense is major-league ready. He seems like such an easy choice to replace Anthony Volpe as the Yankees’ starting shortstop. I doubt the team would do it, but there is no question Lombard, Jr. will be part of the 2027 squad. Move Volpe to second base after the season if Jazz Chisholm, Jr. departs through free agency. Unless, of course, super prospect Dax Kilby starts knocking on the door. It is nice to see these types of problems.
The young starting pitching was as good as advertised. Elmer Rodriguez, Carlos Lagrange, and Ben Hess have bright futures. Everybody laughed at the Yankees last year when former Yankees prospect Carlos Narvaez became the starting catcher for the Boston Red Sox and had a few key hits against his old club. Rodriguez has a chance to rewrite the script and give the Yankees the advantage. I am excited about Lagrange. There was such a long drought of elite young starting pitchers for the Yankees, but the focus in recent years started to blossom last year with Cam Schlittler, and it is flourishing with the arms behind him. I would certainly rather have young, extremely talented arms over journeyman veteran starters. When the best pitching prospect in the Yankees organization was Chance Adams, the team had to go outside to find help. Better days are here with much stronger arms on the farm.
Going back to the offseason, I understand the Yankees’ strong belief in the players in the organization. I thought adding to a good thing would be better, but the Yankees did not share that belief. To their credit, they are much smarter than me. This season will prove whether a little more would have been helpful or unnecessary. I will take the latter and hope for a World Series championship.
I am not going to try to read too much into Cody Bellinger’s current back discomfort. The Yankees are always conservative with injuries, and I accept that this is minor. Rest, Cody, as much as you would like. I want a happy and healthy Cody Bellinger ready to play on Opening Day. If not, it is an opportunity for Spencer Jones or Jasson Dominguez to prove they belong.
Congratulations to CC Sabathia on the news that the Yankees will retire No. 52 on September 26, 2026, in a game versus the Baltimore Orioles. Congratulations to CC for his enshrinement in Baseball’s Hall of Fame and his placement of immortality in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park. While I am one who thinks too many numbers get retired, Sabathia earned the right, and he wears a Yankees cap in Cooperstown despite starting his career with Cleveland, formerly known as the Indians. I do not understand the New York Post’s attempt to question the number’s retirement. CC Sabathia was a TALENTED player in his prime, and an elite leader in his final years. He made the adjustments to survive in the game and continued to help those around him improve. He is a great ambassador for New York despite his Northern California roots. The Yankees were better because of CC. I am concerned about the lack of numbers, but insufficient numbers between 0 and 99 are not something any of us will experience in our lifetimes. Maybe they should go with letters for the coaches. I would gladly give an F to Aaron Boone. Or go with no numbers. They all wear warm-up jackets anyway.
I am excited about some of the names I have seen for the 2027 international free signings, but I will contain the excitement until the players sign on the dotted line. This year was unusual with the firing of longtime international scouting director Donny Rowland. Key signings have reneged on their Yankees acceptance and signed elsewhere. Based on experience, their futures are probably not as bright as they once seemed. Even if they do become elite players in the Major Leagues, the Yankees need to overhaul this area. The Los Angeles Dodgers have prospered thanks to their elite farm system. The Yankees needed to catch up. I hope the decision to promote from within (Matt Garza) was the right move, but he has a strength in Latin America and should help. For Asia, the Yankees hired Matt Slater for the newly created role of global player acquisitions supervisor. He has 18 years of experience with the St. Louis Cardinals in a similar role, and, per Garza, “He’s very connected in Asia.” The Yankees also added Nao Masamoto, formerly of the Chicago Cubs, to their international staff. Given his success with bringing Japanese players to Chicago, I am hopeful he can restore the Yankees as an elite destination for Japanese players. It is hard to believe the Yankees have not been able to reign in a top Japanese talent since Masahiro Tanaka. I am truly hoping that Nao changes the landscape and brings great Asian players to the Big Apple. I get it, I love California too, but New York will always be the City.
As always, Go Yankees!
