The House of Crickets...

 

Yankee Stadium (Photo Credit: Anthony DelMundo/New York Daily News)

Are the Yankees lurking, working, or jerking? …

This has been a strange offseason for the New York Yankees. The organization has been oddly quiet while other teams reload to end the current stranglehold on Major League Baseball by the gluttonous Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Yankees would have at least one big move out of the way by now, so the team could focus on the other areas of need. Yet here we are, less than a week before Christmas, and the most significant moves have been outfielder Trent Grisham’s acceptance of the qualifying offer and the re-signing of free agent LHP Ryan Yarbrough. Their returns occurred in November. The December transactions include Rule 5 activity and minor-league free-agent signings. No proven Major League commodity has been added this month. I hope the first Rule 5 pick since 2011 pans out to be a strong bullpen option (Cade Winquest), but we will table that for now. He has much to prove that he is worthy of a roster spot for 162 games. It would be a fantastic story if Winquest finds success in the Bronx. Otherwise, he will need to ensure that his ticket has a return to St Louis.

Cade Winquest (Photo Credit: Ashley Monjaras/Getty Images)

Ken Rosenthal reported on Saturday that the Yankees are lurking. I take his report with a grain of salt. I will believe it when I see it. Profitability is the foremost goal of Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. If given the choice of a championship or the almighty dollar, Hal will choose the latter. I know he is paying big money to the team’s best pitcher and its best player, but he is not doing enough to put those two superstars in the best position to win. Hal is a small market owner who happens to hold the most historic franchise in Major League history. I wish the Steinbrenner Family would decide to sell the team and walk away with literally billions of dollars.

The odds of Steinbrenner selling are about as good as the chances the Yankees will fire GM Brian Cashman and Manager Aaron Boone this offseason. Sadly, we are stuck with the Three Stooges for the near future.

Enough about my frustration with the team’s ownership and leadership.

The Cody Bellinger waiting game continues. There have been outrageous numbers and years thrown about through speculation (seven years, $200 million), but no team has signed off on that level of financial demand. If Bellinger ends up getting $200 million (I don't think he will, but saying if he did), I would want the Yankees to be the losers in the contract sweepstakes. This is despite my desire to see Bellinger return to the Yankees. This is a point where enough is enough. If it is not, turn the page and move on. I would love it if the Yankees turned to outfielder Kyle Tucker, either as Plan A or B. Sadly, I do not think the Yankees will sign Tucker even if Bellinger leaves. We will end up with a Michael Conforto-type to fill the left-field hole. I am sure the Chicago White Sox would gladly throw Andrew Benintendi the Yankees’ way. No thanks. I am prepared to be disappointed with left field. It is not an unfamiliar feeling, even if we had no worries in 2025.

I was sad to see Luke Weaver go. I know he was unplayable by the end of last season, but I was hopeful it was simply an off-year and that he would return to 2024 form in 2026. I got the Yankees’ decision to pass and let the crosstown Mets pay the big money on that bet. I will miss his personality and his best performances. If he succeeds in Queens, good for him. I do not feel the Yankees were wrong with this decision.

Devin Williams? Good riddance. I know that he eventually carved out a valuable role, but he was a huge reason (albeit not the only reason) the Yankees lost the AL East to the Toronto Blue Jays. His reaction to Yankees fans on social media after signing with the Mets only reinforced that the guy is mentally weak and unprepared for New York. I am sure the crowds at Citi Field will be far more forgiving. Yes, maybe not. With the departure of closer Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets will look to Williams to pick up the baton. For his sake, I hope Year 2 in New York is better than Year 1. Otherwise, it is not going to be pretty.

I will gladly take David Bednar as the Yankees' closer over Williams. I appreciate that they made the deadline deal to acquire Bednar from the Pirates. Bednar is the Yankees closer until he is not. I am sure the Yankees are working on Plan B, or I hope so. Relievers can be so volatile from year to year. I wish Williams had been a success in the Bronx, and the Yankees paid him handsomely to return. But it was not meant to be. C’est la vie. We move on.

I am not sure what I think about the Jazz Chisholm, Jr trade rumors. If he were to bring a strong starting pitcher to the Yankees, the team would make a free agent signing of Bo Bichette to replace him at second base. I could buy it. I would only be open to his trade if he brought strength to the team, and the team could backfill his position with a commensurate player. The last thing I want to see next year is a hole at second base if he is traded, with no capable replacements.

Although George Steinbrenner would have signed Pete Alonso for first base to keep him away from AL East competitors, I look forward to a defined role for Ben Rice. He has proven his worth, and he will continue to grow knowing where he will be positioned.

Ben Rice (Photo Credit: New York Yankees/Getty Images)

Although I was saddened to see RHP Michael King re-sign with the San Diego Padres, I did not think the Yankees would be aggressive in trying to sign him with draft-pick compensation attached because of the qualifying offer he received from the Padres. I am glad he did not go to an AL East competitor. The Boston Red Sox had been mentioned as a possible suitor.

I was pleased to see Don Mattingly’s resignation as Bench Coach of the Toronto Blue Jays. I love Donnie Baseball, but it was tough to watch him with a not-so-liked AL East competitor. I am not sure what his next move will be. Philadelphia is a likely landing spot for the bench coach position, with an old friend, Rob Thomson. The Phillies’ GM, Preston Mattingly, is also said to be familiar with the Yankees' great. While I do not have a great love for the Phillies, I would prefer to see Mattingly coach in Philly over in Toronto. I hope Mattingly gets another managerial opportunity, and selfishly, I would love to see him return to the Yankees. The only downside is that managers and coaches are inevitably fired. I would not want to see the Yankees fire Mattingly, so he should remain in the game, away from the AL East… and Houston. Sorry about the failed attempt at the Hall of Fame, Hit Man. I remain hopeful the Hall will open its doors for you one day. We, who saw you play, knew you were an elite player.

I continue to see fans speculate about who the Yankees should sign or trade for, but I feel apathetic this offseason. I blame Hal Steinbrenner. He has given us no reason to believe we are ready to cut the distance to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the game’s elite teams. Even the Pittsburgh Pirates have been more aggressive in improving their roster than the Yankees.

The New York Yankees have become the New York Run-it-backs. Minus a few players.

Hal, please give us a reason to believe in you and the team. Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge cannot do it alone.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Offseason of Uncertainty...

 

Will the Yankees make the moves that make the difference in 2026?...

This is a weird offseason. I legitimately do not know if the New York Yankees will move to fill holes without completing the puzzle to ensure more regular season success and a roll of the dice for the October Crapshoot, or if the Yankees recognize the ownership groups in Los Angeles (Chavez Ravine, not Anaheim) and Queens have set a new World Order, forcing the team to go “all in”. Granted, the Mets flunked the season, but it will not stop Uncle Steve from throwing more of his money into the problem. Sunday’s trade of outfielder Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Marcus Semien puts them in the outfield arena for guys like Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger. 

The Yankees do not seem to be on the same playing field with the game’s best, even if they historically have been Major League Baseball’s most fantastic franchise. You have owners who play to win, and you have owners who play to profit. While you could argue that a World Series Championship pays the most significant dividends, it involves too much gambling, particularly for a conservative, professionally trained bean counter like Hal Steinbrenner.

Hal Steinbrenner (Photo Credit: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

I blame George Steinbrenner for not training a son to hold his same passion. That was what he was trying to do with a former son-in-law, although divorce tanked the plan. Hank Steinbrenner’s son, George IV, holds the magic name. I have no idea whether he keeps his grandfather’s (or his father’s) passion. Yet, I am ready for the next generation of Steinbrenners to ascend to the throne. Hal was not interested in the Yankees when he was young, and I pray he is working on an escape plan. I am surprised that selling the team does not appeal to Hal. I know, he holds his father’s legacy in his hands, but a sale would bring multi-generational money to the Steinbrenner family. Every year, I hope Hal decides to go “all in” like he did in 2009. Maybe this is the year, maybe not. Realistically, the latter seems like the most probable outcome…and I come away from the offseasons with a sense of disappointment.

Sadly, we move forward with Hal’s leadership, for better or for worse. A transition to a younger owner is years away. So, we are married to him and can only hope that the Steinbrenner blood works into some future decisions. 

As for the team, the offseason is well underway. A few moves have already been made. Trent Grisham, surprisingly, accepted the Yankees’ qualifying offer. He must have felt the compensation that interested teams would pay to sign him as a potential market suppressor. If he can replicate his productive 2025 in 2026, he will enter the free agency period next offseason with no strings attached. Not sure if this is one of those ‘bet on yourself’ moments, or if Grisham was not ready to end his Yankees tenure. I suspect it is the former regardless of how Grisham feels about the Yankees.

I have mixed feelings about Grisham. If he can replicate his performance next season, a one-year deal is not a terrible thing. The money that goes to Grisham could have been used to attract an elite free agent like Kyle Tucker. The Yankees can afford both, but recent history says the team will choose a cheaper route. I would love to have Cody Bellinger back in Pinstripes, but Tucker is better. I would hate to see the Yankees try to chase Tucker, fail, and lose Bellinger while they were grasping for Tucker. Admittedly, I would go with the surer thing and try to bring back Bellinger. I have seen many fans say the contract will age poorly, but at this point, I am concerned about 2026. We are not making moves for 2027 or 2028.

Somehow, Boston always seems to get out from under bad contracts, but the Yankees bite the bullet and eat the money.

Grisham’s return spells the end for Jasson Dominguez unless the Yankees pass on both Tucker and Dominguez and need a left fielder (again). A trade of either Dominguez or Spencer Jones this offseason seems likely. I would hate to see Jones leave. I remember when people were complaining about a young Aaron Judge striking out too much. He has had a nice Major League career, one that has guaranteed a trip to Cooperstown, New York, someday.

The Yankees also re-signed Clarke Schmidt to a $4.5 million deal for the 2026 season. Schmidt had Tommy John surgery in July, and I feared a potential non-tender, like how they have moved on from other Tommy John rehabilitators like Nathan Eovaldi. I can hear GM Brian Cashman now, “He’s like a trade deadline acquisition” when Schmidt returns mid-season. I am glad to see Schmidt returning, and I am sure his return will coincide with a rotation need.

Oswaldo Cabrera, who missed most of last season, also re-signed for $1.2 million. While I like Cabrera, his role could be upgraded. The Yankees need a shortstop to start the year, and if they acquire a legitimate frontline shortstop, keeping Jose Caballero in reserve, it would be hard to find a place for Cabrera on the Major League roster. Shortstop is a sore subject. I know the Yankees love Anthony Volpe, but the team can do better.

The Yankees re-signed LHP Ryan Yarbrough, a dude who knows his role and does it well. With the starting pitchers who will be late arrivals in the 2026 season, it's all-hands-on-deck for the Yankees' rotation. Yarbrough is not the answer, but he helps. 

There were a few surprises with the non-tenders. I got the decision to cut bait with Michael Arias, Scott Effross, and Ian Hamilton. The two that surprised me were Mark Leiter, Jr., even if he did fade in the second half, and Jake Cousins. Cousins underwent Tommy John surgery in June, so like Clarke Schmidt, he is out until the second half of 2026. Holding two positions for guys who cannot help when the season begins must have been too much for Brian Cashman and his cast of nerds. I wish it worked out for Leiter, Jr., or Cousins, but I know protecting roster spots over the Winter is challenging when other moves are anticipated. Bullpen will undoubtedly be an area of focus this offseason as the Yankees try to build a strong pen after last season’s struggles.

The Yankees tendered contracts to eight arbitration-eligible players. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm, Jr., closer David Bednar, set up reliever Camilo Doval, shortstop Anthony Volpe, utility infielder Jose Caballero, starter Luis Gil, setup reliever Fernando Cruz, and deadline-disappointment right-hander Jake Bird.

The Yankees also selected the contracts of outfielder Spencer Jones and pitchers Chase Hampton and Elmer Rodriguez in advance of next month’s Rule 5 Draft.  After watching catcher Carlos Narvaez thrive with the Boston Red Sox this season, there is consolation in the fact that the Red Sox gave us a pitcher who can ascend to the top of the pitching prospects in the organization. Rodriguez is currently the third-ranked prospect in the Yankees organization behind Jones and RHP Carlos Lagrange, according to MLB.com. I thought they would protect a couple of other prospects, but I trust they had their reasons.  I hope none of the non-selected players come back to haunt the Yankees. They are RHP relievers Harrison Cohen and Eric Reyzelman; LHP Henry Lalane (once highly regarded), LHP Brock Selvidge, and LHP Allen Facundo (not on MLB.com’s prospect list, but a talent that has drawn strong reviews); first baseman T.J. Rumfield; outfielder Jace Avina; and catcher Manuel Palencia. It seems like a few of these guys will be poached in the Rule 5 Draft. Whether they stick with their new teams remains to be seen, but they will be playing for an opportunity that the Yankees either could not or did not afford.  No doubt the Boston Red Sox will be rummaging through the Yankees’ trash looking for another ex-Yankee difference maker.

Tough decisions. I recognize that we cannot judge today’s decisions until we see the moves the team makes between now and Opening Day. The chances for success in 2026 hinge on the collective improvements made to the roster, not a few surprising individual moves in November.

Congratulations to Aaron Judge for winning the 2025 American League Most Valuable Player Award. My fear was that the voters would be unduly influenced by the historic season of Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. He certainly went where no catcher has ever gone before, but Aaron Judge was the better overall hitter and deserved the award. The only thing that Raleigh did better than Judge, aside from the homers, was taking his team to the American League Championship. I still laugh when I remember people saying that Aaron Judge will never be Mike Trout. In retrospect, I am glad he is not Mike Trout, an injury-riddled 30-something former elite player. In Trout’s defense, I would love to see him rebound with one of his best seasons next year (so long as it is not at the Yankees’ expense). I have no idea what it must be like for him to watch his friend Shohei Ohtani win a World Series Championship every year since his departure from the Los Angeles Angels of "an hour away" Anaheim. I genuinely wish Trout could have been given better opportunities to win during his career.

As for moves to be made this offseason, I would love splashy moves, but those days are over. I quietly hope for Kyle Tucker, but I hope for at least the return of Cody Bellinger. I would like to see the Yankees bring in another Japanese player to re-establish the intense connection they once had with Japan. The Yankees have not had a Japanese player since Masahiro Tanaka departed (Kenta Maeda’s brief stint in the minors last season does not count). I would like to see the Yankees sign Tatsuya Imai. I recognize the 27-year-old righthander is not elite, but I want to think he can be as valuable as Hiroki Kuroda once was. I have cooled on Munetaka Murakami, a first baseman who can also play third base, so that I would take Imai as the preferred Japanese player over Murakami. Murakami was recently photographed having dinner with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, leading to speculation the Dodgers will continue to add to their elite Japanese connection. This is the magic the Yankees once held when Hideki Matsui was on the roster. The Yankees need to re-engage the Japanese community and make New York as attractive as the West Coast.

Tatsuya Imai (Photo Credit: Sports Nippon/Getty Images)

Usually, I am anxious and excited for the Baseball Winter Meetings. It has always been my favorite time of year. This year is different. I am unsure what to expect from Yankees leadership. Will they try to run it back with the majority of the 2025 roster, or will they legitimately make the moves to close the gap with the game’s elite teams? I have no idea or trust in the Yankees’ leadership to do what it takes.

Hopefully, a month from now, we will have a better idea of the team’s direction and plans to compete in 2026. If late December is just as foggy, it sadly does not bode well for 2026. So, either MUCH happens between now and then, or there are crickets with the Yankees hierarchy. Hal, please make us believe in the Yankees again. This is your birthright.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Yankees: Incomplete Finish is the Product of an Incomplete Start...

  

Photo Credit: Ishika Samant/Getty Images

Not addressing the team’s needs last offseason led to disappointing results…

The New York Yankees ended their season nearly three weeks ago, and the time has not done much to heal the wounds of a disappointing season.

The early exit at the hands of the current World Series participant, the Toronto Blue Jays, stung because the Yankees seemingly had the better team on paper. Of course, the best team on paper plus a dime will only get you ten cents. This year’s disappointment began last offseason when the Yankees failed to address third base and went into the season as a flawed team. Just when it looked like the Yankees had learned how to build a dominant bullpen in recent years, 2025 was a mess. Devin Williams looked better late in the year, but he shares significant blame for why the Yankees failed to repeat as the AL East champions. Luke Weaver, who most likely departs the team this offseason as a free agent in search of a starting gig, regressed, going from a lockdown reliever to another replaceable arm. His personality will be missed. David Bednar was the most crucial deadline acquisition, but he could not do it alone.

Photo Credit: Tim Heitman/Imagn Images

The Yankees have a large offseason needs list. They will soon meet to identify their offseason priorities, yet I fear it will be another Winter of ‘stopping short.’ Or worse, they try to run it back with the current roster, albeit with some minor adjustments.

Ryan McMahon was a needed acquisition at the deadline, and his glove helped to bring stability to the position, but the bat, with only occasional pop, is underwhelming. The Yankees should have tried harder to get a stronger overall player for the position last Winter. McMahon will be the third baseman for the near future, which is okay only if the Yankees are fully engaged in the coming weeks to build the best possible roster. McMahon is not the reason the Yankees got bounced early, and he will be a Yankee until 2027 unless the team finds a better option between now and then. I like his glove at third base so long as we do not need to rely on his bat. The phrase ‘offensive production’ can be taken several ways with him, yet he is what he is, and he was an upgrade over the departed DJ LeMahieu or trying to play Jazz Chisholm, Jr. out of position.    

The Yankees need to address their starting rotation. Gerrit Cole’s recovery from Tommy John surgery puts him as a mid-season option. Yet, it takes time to regain full form after Tommy John surgery. Immediate success may not come. We may not see Cole at his best until 2027. Carlos Rodón will not be ready for Opening Day after his recent surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his left elbow. Clarke Schmidt is recovering from Tommy John surgery and will not be an early 2026 option. There has been some speculation that he will be non-tendered. The decision reminds me of the Yankees’ decision to cut Nathan Eovaldi in a comparable situation and how Eovaldi has been a much better pitcher since. For Opening Day 2026, the Yankees have Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, and Will Warren. Luis Gil will also be available, but in the long term, he seems better suited for the bullpen despite his starting success in 2024. Warren is “just that dude” at the back end of the rotation. Not expecting much from him other than to keep the Yankees in games.

We can dream about Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, but the Dodgers or the Mets seem like a more probable destination if the Tigers decide to trade away their ace. The Yankees should focus on other starters while the Dodgers and Mets are focused on Skubal. Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta seems like a good trade target if the rumors are true about Peralta’s availability. There will be competition for his services, but the Yankees can assemble an aggressive package to make it happen. Although the trades are unrelated, Milwaukee, by winning the Devin Williams trade, at least has some good feelings about trading with the Yankees. Former Yankee and current San Diego Padre Michael King is expected to opt out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent, and he looms as a possibility. I would enjoy a reunion with King. It was tough to give him up for what turned out to be only one year of Juan Soto. This year, he was powerful for the Padres, going 13-7 with fourteen quality starts, a 2.85 ERA, and 201 strikeouts.

Photo Credit: K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune

The bullpen needs offseason attention. David Bednar showed that he is the man for the ninth inning, but he needs a better supporting cast. Hopefully, last season was an aberration, and the Yankees can resume their prowess at picking relief arms. It would help to have a manager who does not routinely make bonehead decisions late in games, but it is what it is. Manager Aaron Boone is not going anywhere, whether you love or hate him. In Boone’s years as manager, I hoped for continued growth and evolution, but he is reaching the ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ stage.

Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner has the money to hire the best talent for the front office and the coaching staff. Yet, he is content with winning seasons that line his family’s pockets with wealth over his late father's ‘going for it’ style. General Manager Brian Cashman may be one of the better GMs in the game, but with no championships since 2009, it is time for new voices in the room. The game has evolved since Cashman became the team’s GM in 1998. I say it every year, and nothing happens. Still, the Yankees should move Randy Levine, the Team’s President, to the business side and appoint Cashman as the President of Baseball Operations, allowing the team to hire a new general manager. Granted, Cashman could overrule a new hire’s decisions, but bestowing power and authority in a younger, brighter mind would help.

Going down the ‘Fire Aaron Boone’ rabbit hole is senseless since Hal will not make a change.

First base is or is not a position of need. Granted, Paul Goldschmidt departs through free agency after one season. Yet, the Yankees need Ben Rice in the everyday lineup. If he is not catching, and Giancarlo Stanton continues to occupy the DH spot, first base is the best spot to plant Rice. I have seen some express interest in free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. I would rather focus on the outfield, pursuing free agent Kyle Tucker, despite his “Yankee-like” performance (i.e., unproductive October bat) in the Cubs’ losing playoff effort against the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month. If the Yankees cannot sign Tucker (who seems like a future Dodger), they must re-sign Cody Bellinger, who will opt out of his contract next month after a productive first year in Pinstripes. I am not saying Bellinger is better than Tucker (he is not); nevertheless, I enjoy Belli’s versatility, and he provides an easy alternative to pair with Rice at first base when he is not playing in left field. If the Yankees cannot get at least one of Tucker or Bellinger, the offseason will be disappointing, regardless of how much you believe Spencer Jones can be the answer.

I am among many Yankee fans ready to move on from shortstop Anthony Volpe. Yet, he seems as entrenched at shortstop as Boone does as the Yankees manager. The projected ETA for top prospect George Lombard, Jr. is 2027, which means we must endure at least one more season of Volpe at short unless the Yankees make other moves at shortstop (unlikely). A full season of the speedy Jose Caballero provides backup support while we wait on young Lombard, Jr. That is better than Volpe and nothing that was featured before the trade deadline this year.

Trent Grisham will not return. He was the surprise of the season and earned the right to get paid. The Yankees have too many other needs to invest more bank in Grisham. They need to fully commit to Jasson Dominguez as the everyday centerfielder or make a trade for a younger (or, as Hal would say, cheaper) option to place between Aaron Judge and Tucker/Bellinger/Mystery Player in the outfield from right to left. There is a chance Grisham stays if the Yankees put a qualifying offer on him and he accepts it. I think he will be looking for a lucrative long-term deal to cash in on what might be his career year when it is all said and done and will reject the QO if given. Whether another team wants to give up a draft pick to sign him remains to be seen. Every offseason of free agency is different.

The coaching staff will feature new faces, while Aaron Boone continues to blow bubbles in the dugout. The Yankees have already parted ways with First Base/Infield Coach Travis Chapman and Bullpen Coach Mike Harkey. They also removed respected Assistant Hitting Coach Pat Roessler, with some speculation that he will be offered another role in the organization. Hitting Coach James Rowson remains a finalist in the Minnesota Twins’ search for a new manager to replace the fired Rocco Baldelli, so he may depart. There was early talk about Luis Rojas in managerial searches, but there is a better chance he returns as the Yankees’ Third Base Coach. To replace Roessler, the Yankees promoted minor league hitting coordinator Jake Hirst. If Hirst had not been promoted, he most likely would have left the organization for better opportunities, so Roessler appears to be the sacrificial lamb to retain the younger, talented Hirst. The poor bullpen performance is not Mike Harkey’s fault, but neither Michael Fishman nor Brian Cashman will fire themselves for assembling a leaky pen.

I look forward to the end of the World Series so the offseason rebuilding can begin. I know it will set us up for disappointment when Spring Training rolls around, but there is always HOPE the Yankees will make the right moves, even if history shows they never quite do enough to field the best possible team. Thinking about the possibilities (such as Tucker or Peralta) is exciting until they are off the board. Maybe Cashman pulls off another trade that shocks us all. The offseason is like Christmas…the anticipation of the gifts that await us.

I am glad to see Don Mattingly experience a World Series, yet I wish it had been with a team other than a hated division rival (or Houston). Dave Winfield, who battled Mattingly for the batting title in 1984, which Mattingly won on the season’s final day, won his only World Series with the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays. If the Blue Jays defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, he will be another former Yankee great who had to go north of the Border to find the game’s most fantastic prize. Although I have been a long-time Mattingly fan, I am pulling for the Dodgers to win the World Series. While I am not crazy about the Dodgers winning back-to-back titles, it is a better alternative than the Blue Jays as the World Series Champions. Ironically, Mattingly’s path to the World Series this year meant facing two of his former teams (he was the Dodgers manager before Dave Roberts).

Photo Credit: Hunter Martin/Getty Images

I was surprised when the Blue Jays crushed the Dodgers, 11-4, in the first game of the current World Series, but Yoshinobu Yamamoto's dominant complete-game pitching performance in Game Two last night, leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 win, sent the Series to Dodger Stadium with strong momentum for Game Three on Monday. The Dodgers’ starting pitchers will be the difference-maker in the Series despite Blake Snell’s clunker in the opener.

I cannot wait for the World Series to end and the Hot Stove League to open.

As always, Go Yankees!

The Season of "It Is What It Is" Continues...

 

Aaron Judge and Ben Rice (Photo Credit: Pamela Smith/AP Photo)

Missed opportunity for the Division, but let the playoffs begin…

During the season, when the New York Yankees lose a game, people quickly say, ‘It’s just one game; there are many games to be played.’ Yet, in the end, it was literally one game that cost the Yankees a chance to repeat as the American League Eastern Division Champions.

Thanks to an eight-game winning streak to close out the season, the Yankees finished with a record of 94-68—the same record as the Toronto Blue Jays. For the Jays, it means the AL East Championship and the top seed in the American League playoffs. For the Yankees, they fall to the fourth seed and get the pleasure of hosting a bitter rival, the Boston Red Sox, in the Bronx starting on Tuesday night, while the Jays relax and wait for the next round (another round of Canadian beer or playoffs, I am not sure). The Jays took eight of thirteen games from the Yankees this season, delivering them a divisional championship and much-needed rest.

Devin Williams and his blown saves are the poster child for the Yankees falling short in their drive to reclaim the division.  Aaron Boone’s foolish bullpen choices rank up there and so is the decision to go into the regular season without a true third baseman when it was so clear the Yankees needed one last offseason. I am not sure what the Yankees thought DJ LeMahieu would deliver. After a few years of significant time lost to injuries, did the Yankees legitimately think he would revert to the hitting machine he once was? It was not a bet I wanted to make last offseason, and in retrospect, the Yankees should have cut LeMahieu in the offseason. Unfortunately, they tried to continually roll him out there, hoping for lightning in a bottle.  It never came, and the Yankees were finally forced to admit failure when they released LeMahieu on July 10^th. A day late, and a dollar short.

I suppose there is poetic justice because the Yankees finally found an answer for third base in a guy who was once nipping at LeMahieu’s heels in Colorado. Ryan McMahon may not be known for his bat, but his glove was a much-needed presence in the season’s second half. He was a huge upgrade over his former Colorado Rockies teammate.

Ryan McMahon (Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

It is a continual theme that the Yankees make some good offseason moves but always leave the last gaping hole open. They go into the season, struggle because they punted a critical position, and then try to make up for it at the trade deadline. It cost them an easier path to return to the World Series this season. 

Despite Boston winning the season series against the Yankees (9-4), I like the Yankees better. It does not mean they will win, but I like their chances better. The Yankees are not the same team that lost many of those games to Boston. They filled holes at the trade deadline, even if there were still questions in the pen. The Yankees’ top three starting pitchers…Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and Cam Schlittler…put the Yankees in position to succeed. Will Warren and Luis Gil provide intense long relief.  If the Yankees hit like we know they can, and the pen can step up their game to match the intensity of closer David Bednar, there is light after the Wild Card round.  Assuming Aaron Boone does not botch it up.

I wonder how Juan Soto feels given his view of the playoffs will be watching a TV screen unless he decides to spend some of those millions to buy a ticket to see a game at Yankee Stadium.  I am not sure who had the bigger flameout. The Detroit Tigers, who lost their division after holding a triple-digit lead a couple of months ago (fifteen games + in July) or the Mets coming up short on the last day of the season to end their season. At least the Tigers get another chance in the Wild Card round. For Soto and his teammates, including what sounds like a soon-to-be ex-teammate (Pete Alonso announced he will not be picking up his player option, which will make him a free agent at season’s end), they get to make non-baseball-related plans for October. When Soto signed with the Mets, I turned the page, but there is sweet justice that he misses the playoffs while the Yankees move on.

I know I have been critical of General Manager Brian Cashman, and his trade for Devin Williams was bad, but he hit on multiple players this year. Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, and Trent Grisham (who surprisingly rode the bench last year for one-season Yankee Alex Verdugo, currently out of baseball). Picking up a legitimate closer at the deadline for acquiring former Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar was HUGE.  I know Ryan McMahon has his share of detractors, but I was pleased with McMahon’s presence at third from the day he arrived. The acquisition of Jose Caballero from the Tampa Bay Rays was a surprise, to put it lightly, but a stellar move. 

Jose Cabellero and Friends (Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

Sure, Cashman’s moves cost the Yankees a divisional championship, but his moves also put the Yankees back in the playoffs while the Mets sip on their own tears.  It will be hard for me to go into one of those offseason beliefs that Cashman needs to go. Of course, if they get bounced by the Red Sox, all bets are off. 

I am ready to move on from Manager Aaron Boone, but his return to the playoffs buys him more time, even if the Yankees take an early exit.

Next season is exciting to think about with the return of Gerrit Cole, followed by Fried, Rodón, and Schlittler. The fifth spot will be a battle royale between Will Warren and Luis Gil. May the best man win. Either guy has a chance of blossoming in 2026, which could make the 2026 rotation a force from top to bottom.

I hope the Yankees bring back Trent Grisham. It feels like he is a goner, given he will cash in on a career year. Unfortunately, the Yankees waited until his final season to see what he could do. Cody Bellinger is the player that I want back in the worst way. He thrived in pinstripes. He needs to be part of next year’s squad. Paul Goldschmidt is the least one-season-and-done Yankee. A great player for a long time, but his better days are in the rear-view mirror. 

First base and the bullpen need to be addressed in the offseason, but that is for another day. Today, the focus should be on how the Boston Red Sox and the Yankees can reverse the regular season against their bitter foe. 

Despite the frustrations of the regular season, I am proud of how the Yankees finished. Unfortunately, Steinbrenner Field's temporary residents could not win a single game in the final regular-season series against the Blue Jays, but it is what it is. I return to an old saying, “to be the best, you must beat the best.” Bring it on. That mentality leads me to believe I do not care who the opponent is. Face adversity head-on. I am glad we have baseball’s Most Valuable Player in right field, even if they give the hardware to a catcher who had a historic season for a catcher. 

The defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, could not win as many games as the Yankees, and they won their division (they “only” won ninety-three games).  In a perfect world, the Yankees face the Dodgers for a repeat performance, with the Yankees emerging as the new World Champions. 

Yankees, this is your time.

As always, Go Yankees!

Cautiously pessimistic about America’s greatest franchise…

 

Ben Rice and Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Heather Khalifa/AP Photo)

Can the Yankees win when it matters? T.B.D…

Granted, the 2025 MLB Season has had its fair share of great Yankees moments; it has also been littered by uneven and inconsistent play that has turned wins into losses. The poster children for what ails the Yankees are former closer Devin Williams and fraudulent starting second baseman Anthony Volpe. Put a big shit-eating grin on Aaron Boone behind them, and you have the trifecta for what ails the New York Yankees.  

I wanted Volpe to succeed with the Yankees. Who does not wish for a New Jersey kid to grow up to wear the famed Pinstripes of his favorite childhood team? It makes for an incredible story if the player can walk the walk. Unfortunately, with ample time to decide, the jury has seen enough. The Yankees can do better. They can do better this season by benching or inventing a phantom season-ending injury for Volpe and inserting Jose Caballero as the starting shortstop for the duration of the season. Based on potential, Volpe is the better player, but Caballero is the easy play.

I am grateful the Yankees made the deadline deal to acquire former Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar. Given how many games Devin Williams has cost the Yankees this year, they needed to find a different solution. Williams is a one-season Yankee, and I couldn't care less about him. I hope he finds success elsewhere, so long as it is not in the AL East. Williams’ defining moment in Pinstripes will forever be his role in getting the Yankees to drop their prohibition against beards. Everything he has done on the mound is forgettable.

I wish I felt optimistic about the Yankees in the coming weeks (and months?), but they are a one-and-done playoff participant if they make it. Aaron Boone’s decisions are too much to overcome. I know the decisions belong to the Analytics Department, but Boone is the representative who could say no. The Yankees will make poor decisions that will cost them the potential to advance. That is the status quo for the 2025 Yankees.

I write all this hoping the Yankees can prove me wrong. Please.

This has been a weird season. Everyone knew the Yankees needed a true third baseman at the start of the season, yet the Yankees waited until the trade deadline to pick up a good glove, not a great bat, guy. I am not trying to diss on Ryan McMahon. The Yankees have been better at third since his arrival, and he has had a few clutch hits. But waiting for a half-season to address a significant weakness was a failure on the Yankees’ part. A better focus in the off-season could have landed a better option. Again, not trying to diss on McMahon. I appreciate his presence on the roster. Something is better than nothing.

I never dreamed starting the season that I would love Ben Rice as the Yankees’ starting catcher over Austin Wells, but here we are. Rice has proven his worth with the bat, and you must find a way to keep him in the lineup. I wish Wells had blossomed, and maybe he will. Despite his great career, Paul Goldschmidt is another one-season Yankee. Rice is a potential first baseman for next season unless the Yankees can re-sign Cody Bellinger. I hope and pray the Yankees sign Bellinger, but I am not optimistic. I pray his love for the Yankees will be the difference-maker. We shall see. If Belli returns and takes first base, catcher seems to be the spot for Rice, sacrificing Wells, and his potential—tough decisions ahead for Brian Cashman and his cast of analytic idiots.

I am glad that Max Fried has rebounded from his slump. I like Fried and do not regret the Yankees’ signing him. A front three next season featuring Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Fried, with support from Luis Gil and Cam Schlittler, is damn good. The Will Warren factor leads to off-season speculation that one may be moved.

There have been times I have missed Gleyber Torres, but second baseman Jazz Chisholm, Jr. has been a more exciting option. Playing Jazz at third to start the season was foolish, but letting the man perform at his natural position has helped offset the loss of Torres. One of Brian Cashman’s better under-the-radar moves in recent years. I wish all of them could fare as nicely.

If the Yankees exit early this season, they must consider making a managerial move. I know there is more that ails the Yankees than Boone, but we have seen enough of this story. It's time for a new bench cheerleader. Steal Kevin Cash from the Rays. As much as I did not want a ‘been there, done that’ return to Joe Girardi, Binder Joe is a better option than Boone. 

The Yankees have made many good decisions in recent years, but they still let foolish choices prevent them from being the best they can be. At some point, GM Brian Cashman needs to be held accountable. If Hal Steinbrenner is not man enough to axe his long-time executive and his father’s hire, I hope Cashman finally decides that it is time to try something new. Nothing changes with the team until the GM seat is refreshed. 

I want the Yankees to succeed in October and win their first World Series since 2009. I wish I were confident, but I am not. Please, Yankees, prove me wrong. I implore you to dig deep and show the World what you are capable of.

As always, Go Yankees!

What Goes Up, Must Go Down...

 

Luis Gil (Photo Credit: New York Daily News)

Optimism of Trade Deadline Lands Flat in Miami…

When the Trade Deadline ended, I felt good about the New York Yankees’ acquisitions despite their inability to snag another mid-level rotation starter. I envisioned writing a post about the positive additions, but we, as Yankees fans, are not meant for nice things. Armed with the roster enhancements, the Yankees had their butts kicked in Miami, as they were swept in the weekend’s three-game series. Hoping for momentum with the new hires, we can only hope they find the bilge water distasteful and rebound before it's too late.

The Yankees ended the weekend at 60-52 and find themselves in third place in the American League East. They are 4 ½ games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays and 1 ½ games behind an inferior Boston Red Sox squad. They remain in the play-off hunt, currently holding the second Wild Card, a half-game up on the Seattle Mariners. Realistically, a handful of teams could bypass the Yankees before the season’s end, including the Mariners, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, and Tampa Bay Rays. 

I was willing to give Manager Aaron Boone a chance during his first few years as the team’s skipper. As a first-time manager, you knew there would be some bumps and bruises along the way. For the longest time, I was amazed the Yankees did not have an experienced manager on the staff to serve as Boone’s bench coach and right-hand man. Then, the Yankees hired ex-Tigers/Angels manager Brad Ausmus. I should have been more specific with my request for a bench coach because Ausmus has not made a difference.

If the Yankees fired Boone in-season, the most likely scenario is that Ausmus would step into the role on an interim basis. As a manager, he is 386-422 (.478 winning percentage). Third base coach Luis Rojas also has managerial experience from his time leading the crosstown New York Mets. He was 103-119, with a slightly lower winning percentage (.464%). Ausmus would get the call based on the deeper managerial resume. Buck Showalter comes to mind, but I doubt Showalter would take a temporary gig, and I do not see him as a long-term candidate. Joe Girardi is available and would bring accountability back into the clubhouse. He could get someone to stand for him during the post-game interviews.

Joe Girardi

I saw a random X post that said the Yankees should hire Detroit Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Sr. as their manager. He would not be an in-season option, but he will be a popular managerial candidate in the off-season, considering Detroit’s strong season. Lombard knows baseball and is the father of the Yankees’ top prospect (the latter point is not a job qualification, but it would be a nice bit of irony).  I would be interested in Lombard despite the lack of managerial experience. Still, on the same token, if I endorse a candidate without the expertise, Jorge Posada is the name that immediately jumps to the forefront. Jorge’s no-nonsense approach is exactly what the Yankees need. He is focused, and he is a fighter. The Yankees would be better under that approach. 

I have also seen Kevin Cash’s name mentioned. The Yankees would be better with Cash. I remember when he was announced as the Rays manager to replace the popular Joe Maddon. Cash was a coach in Cleveland and had no prior managerial experience. He has excelled. Cash would be an immediate upgrade given the Yankees’ vast resources and the success Cash has had with limited financial resources.

The Yankees have many choices to do better than Aaron Boone. My God, please, please do it. Send Boone back to broadcasting, where he had a mildly successful career, or let him go manage in a city where wins do not matter.

Usually, I would prefer to see a managerial change in the offseason, but Boone has run out the clock. I am tired of his poor in-game decisions, and the team does not need a manager who wants to be everybody’s buddy.  When Girardi was fired, I moved on and tried not to look back. Girardi’s subsequent “miss” in Philadelphia lent some credence that GM Brian Cashman made the right call in not bringing back Girardi. Yet, after years of futility under Boone, I legitimately wonder if the Yankees could have won a World Series under Girardi since 2018 (when Boone took over).

Aaron Boone needs to go, and he needs to go now. Will the Yankees flush another year by standing pat with Boone, or will they light a fire and bring in a manager who can motivate the players to play to their abilities? We know Aaron Judge is a future Hall of Famer, but under Boone, Judge will be destined to match Don Mattingly’s ringless tenure as a Yankee. Aaron Judge deserves better, and so do we.

When I look at my favorite NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, I am excited about their head coach, Kevin O’Connell. I was behind O’Connell’s hire when it happened, and despite my support, he has exceeded my expectations. No championships for the Vikings under O’Connell (or ever), but the future is bright. I wish I felt as excited about the Yankees manager as I do O’Connell.

The Yankees wasted no time after the trade deadline releasing starter Marcus Stroman. Stroman, like Boone, underperformed and ultimately paid the price for it. Hold Boone to the same standard.

Boone is 100% Brian Cashman’s responsibility, and he must be held accountable. The longer Boone can mislead Baseball’s most fantastic franchise, the harder Hal Steinbrenner must consider cleaning the house. After years of the Boone Clown Show, I would not oppose a total purge of the front office.

The Yankees have gotten better at drafting, and they will hit on more than just a random Aaron Judge in future years. There might be some valuable talent to retain in the organization, but Brian Cashman, Michael Fishman, and Aaron Boone must exit Baseball’s most significant stage. 

So, suffice it to say that I am not a fan of Aaron Boone and am ready for a change. If social media is any indication, I am not alone. 

Yankees, please. Do Better. Be Better. The team is stronger than the clubs in front of it, and they need someone who can pull the best out of the best to leapfrog the pretenders. Boone is not that guy. 

Final Word: Fire Boone!

As for the acquisitions, I thought the Yankees would acquire a starter. I did not expect a frontline ace or former ace with potential to return to elite status like Sandy Alcantara, but I was surprised they did not add at least one mid-rotation starter. Aside from the inability to land a starter, the Tradeline deadline was successful for the Yankees. They seemingly filled holes, even if the Miami series begged to say otherwise.

The acquisition of Ryan McMahon addressed a significant need. An experienced third baseman. It continues to blow my mind that the Yankees disregarded the position in the offseason. It was clear their backup plan would fail, which, as expected, it did. I wish Nolan Arenado were not on the backside of his career, on the descent. I loved the guy when I lived in Colorado and went to Rockies games. Yet, Ryan McMahon is as gifted with the glove as Arenado is/was, even if Ryan does not have the bat. The Yankees needed elite defense at third more than they needed another bat (the latter point might be questionable after the last few games), and McMahon has proven his worth.  I am glad he is a Yankee and will not play what could have been with Eugenio Suarez. I like McMahon, and he fits the Yankees. Choosing the number Aaron Boone wore as a player with the Yankees is not the best decision, but I will forgive him. Maybe it is a nod to the great Dave “Rags” Righetti or Masahiro Tanaka. 

Ryan McMahon (Photo Credit: Ishika Semanta/Getty Images)

When the Yankees traded Carlos Carrasco to the Atlanta Braves, it was the setup for acquiring another starter. It did not happen, and I did not see Carrasco as a great option, so c’est la vie. Enjoy Atlanta. I wish the Yankees could have gotten their hands on Carrasco when he was a little younger.

The next trade after McMahon was the acquisition of former Mets/Dodgers infielder Amed Rosario from the Washington Nationals. A good move. Oswald Pereza, who was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Angels, was not offering any help in a utility role. The Yankees sorely miss the versatility of Oswaldo Cabrera. Despite sometimes hitting well at Triple-A, Pereza was not a reliable Major League resource. He could flip the script in Anaheim. For him, I hope so. But for the Yankees, they are better with Rosario.

The acquisition of outfielder Austin Slater from the Chicago White Sox felt so random. I get the need. With Aaron Judge’s injury, reliance on Trent Grisham is greater. The Yankees showed they did not feel Everson Pereira could be that option since they traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for shortstop Jose Caballero and future considerations. I like Yankees prospect Spencer Jones despite the strikeouts, but he is not ready for the show yet so the trade for Slater made sense. It does not seem like a long-term move, but Slater can determine the outcome.

I liked the Yankees' acquisition of Caballero. The Yankees did not have great depth behind shortstop Anthony Volpe. Caballero provides an option, and he is a burner on the base paths. After a few years of not liking the guy, I look forward to seeing his energy on the team. Volpe is hitting better, so I am not ready to say flush Volpe, but at least Caballero offers an alternative. 

Jose Caballero (Photo Credit: Robert Sabo/New York Post)

The Yankees' trade for Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar seemed inevitable. We have heard his name mentioned so routinely in recent years. His slump last year was noticeable, yet he pitched better this year (at least until his debut with the Yankees). He will be a valuable arm in the long term. I do not feel the Yankees should re-sign Devin Williams, so it would make Bednar the favorite for next year’s closer role. Maybe he captures it this year. I want both guys to pitch well this season, so I am okay; however, this plays out.

The trade for Rockies reliever Jake Bird was odd. The Yankees may have seen something they could improve. The price seemed high (second base prospect Roc Riggio and LHP Ben Shields), but I will give the Yankees the benefit of the doubt. Bird may become the latest iteration of Clay Holmes.

The subsequent acquisition of Camilo Doval was a surprise, and he will provide great setup for Williams, Bednar, or Luke Weaver, whoever is closing games for the Yankees, even if Doval was the San Francisco Giants' closer. I think Doval’s highest and best use is setup. He is a key eighth-inning guy and one of the best. 

Adding two closers (Bednar and Doval) was huge. The plus is that both guys seem selfless and want to do what’s best for the Yankees. Only a manager like Aaron Boone could screw this up.

I will not dissect performance against the Miami Marlins, I think the newcomers will help the Yankees. Once the Pinstripes become lighter, they’ll adjust and play to the best of their abilities.

The fact that the Yankees could make effective trades without losing their elite prospects was huge. I would have loved to have seen the Yankees grab A’s closer Mason Miller before the San Diego Padres did, but I understand the value of not giving up your third-ranked prospect. I went into this deadline expecting to lose Spencer Jones or Roderick Arias. In retrospect, I am glad they held onto those guys. It does not mean they will not be traded in the offseason, but they live for another day.

Today, the Yankees are not automatically in the playoffs. They would be if the season ended today, but there is still much baseball to be played. Getting swept by the Miami Marlins is not a good sign. Not trying to dismiss the Marlins, but the Yankees should have won at least one of those games. They continue to make foolish mistakes and seem to find more ways to beat themselves. If this trend continues, the Yankees will be on the outside looking in. Changes were made to the deadline, but more changes need to be made. Does GM Brian Cashman have the stones to make the right call? Time will tell.

As always, Go Yankees! 

Can the Yanks Make the Necessary Halftime Adjustments? ...

  

Max Fried (Photo Credit: Jason Szenes/New York Post)

Hanging on to AL East second place by a thread…

When the season started, I was cautiously optimistic. Despite losing their ace, Gerrit Cole, to Tommy John surgery, they had signed Max Fried as a free agent in the offseason. It looked like a great 1-2 punch at the time of the signing. As it turned out, Max would take the throne as the rotation’s ace. I thought Max would be good, but he turned out to be better than expected.

You cannot hold the blister issue in Fried’s last start when he lasted only three innings, giving up six hits, four runs (three earned), and three walks, in the 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Despite the struggles against the Cubs, Fried finishes the first half with an 11-3 record in twenty starts. His WAR is 3.3, and his ERA still sits below 3 at 2.43.  He racked up 113 strikeouts in 122 innings pitched. I cannot imagine where the Yankees would be without Fried. For as much as we have trashed GM Brian Cashman, the decision and the ability to sign Fried was one of the best moves of Cashman’s lengthy career. It helps that Carlos Rodón answered the bell to provide a substantial number two for Fried. Every pitcher occasionally throws a clunker, so I will not hold Rodón’s poorer games against him. Overall, he has been effective and is what the Yankees need.

I digress when the point was early-season optimism, with some caution. The Yankees are 53-43, after their struggles since May have caught up with them. They are two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays after holding down first place for most of the first half until the recent sweep by the Blue Jays. They can make up ground in the second half with the correct deadline moves. The Yankees MUST fix their weaknesses. The failure to address third base in the offseason is a colossal mistake. It has cost them several potential wins converted to losses through errant play or trying to play players out of their normal positions. I have no doubts the Yankees would be ahead of the Blue Jays at the half if Cashman had not stopped short, leaving the gaping hole at third. Jazz Chisholm, Jr. is a talented guy who did not embarrass himself but is a better second baseman. As much as I loved DJ LeMahieu early in his Yankees’ career and as gifted as he was with a glove at second base, it was too obvious he was not the player he once was. His misplays at the position would have been easy outs for Chisholm had he been the team’s second baseman. I am glad the Yankees finally did the right thing by moving Jazz back to second base.

As for LeMahieu, I am saddened his Yankees career ends with a designation for assignment, followed by his release the next day. Saddened, but it was the right move. Watch LeMahieu sign with the Blue Jays or the Los Angeles Dodgers and make a game-winning hit in the World Series for his new team. I enjoyed his time in New York, but all good things must end. I wish LeMahieu the best in the future, but regardless of how he plays for his next team, Cashman made the best move for the 2025 Yankees (as it relates to LeMahieu).

DJ LeMahieu (Photo Credit: New York Yankees/Getty Images)

If you had told me the Yankees would be 53-43 at the All-Star Break before the season, I would have welcomed it. After the miserable play of the last month and a half, it does feel like the Yankees were exposed as an early-season fraud.

The past month/month-and-a-half events prove the Yankees do not have the right combination of players on the roster. They need a third baseman (Oswald Peraza is not the answer). I have given up hope for a player like Eugenio Suarez. I do not feel the Arizona Diamondbacks will trade him, and if they do, they are looking for an overpay. Do not give up Spencer Jones or George Lombard, Jr., for a rental player. Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies rates my best-case scenario, although I would gladly take Ke'Bryan Hayes for his glove. I wish Hayes had a better stick, but he can help the Yankees. I have moved from Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals were foolish for not offloading him last offseason. In retrospect, I am glad they did not.

The Yankees need a starter with Clark Schmidt’s Tommy John surgery this past week. Given that they needed one before Schmidt’s injury, they need two unless they believe Cam Schlittler can contribute at the back end of the rotation. No aces or near aces will be available for trade, so solid number three is the best the Yankees can hope for. A strong third would help enhance chances to reach October and provide a solid third for the duo of Fried and Rodón. The tricky part is how much prospect capital will cost to secure a strong starter. It is a double-edged sword. You must believe that you have a chance to reach the Fall Classic to let go of elite talent. If there is doubt, tough decisions must be made, which may not bode well for the immediate future.

Again, I keep digressing. To get back on course, I feel the Yankees have had a successful first half of the season, albeit tinged with disappointment. They are within striking distance, which is all you can ask. The Boston Red Sox are doing well, winning ten consecutive games, and they sit just one game behind the Yankees. The Yankees are the better team, but this reinforces why they need to address their weaknesses now.

I appreciate the job that JC Escarra has done for the Yankees as a backup catcher, but trading him makes sense given Ben Rice’s ability to catch. Roster Construction is the key. Opening Escarra’s roster spot allows the Yankees to strengthen the bench in other areas. Escarra is also a late bloomer and does not represent the future. The Yankees have strong young catchers coming up in the farm system. They are better with Austin Wells and Rice as the catching tandem because they can build a stronger bench.

I am glad that Cody Bellinger has proven to be a reliable Yankee. I never lost patience with him in April when he got off to a slow start. He is not Juan Soto, but he fits the Yankees' roster. I hope the Yankees see his long-term worth and work to secure him for a longer tenure. He wants to be a Yankee and has performed at the level necessary to ensure his fan support. Hopefully, Cashman and his cast of nerds are watching.

Cody Bellinger (Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)

We have established that the Yankees need a third baseman and a starter. Lastly, they need bullpen help. A managerial change is a need, but regardless of how we feel, Aaron Boone will be the Yankees' manager throughout the 2025 season and most likely longer. I had hoped that a seasoned manager as a bench coach would help Boone, but while Brad Ausmus may be good at what he does, Boone has not noticeably improved. Yet, the calls to fire Boone, even though he is not my favorite, lead to the question of who is available and who is better? The options are limited. This season is Aaron Boone, whether we like it or not.

As for the bullpen, the Yankees have proven to be bullpen wizards in recent years, but they have had their challenges this season. Devin Williams got off to a horrific start as the Yankees' closer and lost his job until a Luke Weaver injury put him back at the end of games. He has performed better and is starting to play like a guy the Yankees should consider re-signing at the end of the season.

I do not know what to think about Jonathan Loaisiga. He was always at risk of injury, but has been awful this year. He has become a guy, and I cringe when he enters games. I am not sure the Yankees can turn him around. Given his injury history, is he worth holding onto to find out? I am starting to lean to the side of letting him go.

The Yankees should have made a small deal by now as a prelude to the coming days leading up to the deadline. So far, nothing but crickets. Is this the year the Yankees shock us with their moves, or will it be another deadline that passes with an underwhelming feeling?

If the Yankees do nothing, fail to make the playoffs, or get bounced in the early rounds, if they do, Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner must finally stand up and make a change in the general manager and manager seats. He has the money; he needs to bring the brightest and the best to the team’s most sacred managerial roles (the general manager and the field general).

I am not sure what to think about the second half. There will be more disappointing games if we stay with the status quo. Making a return trip to the World Series seems like a long shot without shoring up the team’s weaknesses.

I am grateful Aaron Judge is a New York Yankee. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh is having an incredible (and historic) season, but Judge remains a step ahead.

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Sunday’s only run was on a Giancarlo Stanton home run. It would be nice if he found his groove for the second half. The Yankees need him.

Like the first half, I go into the second half cautiously, emphasizing what the Yankees do at the trade deadline to determine whether optimism becomes pessimism. If the Yankees can add a strong starter, a reliable bullpen weapon ( a Circle of Trust kind of guy), and an elite defensive third baseman, the AL East can be the Yankees if they choose to take it.

No pressure, Brian Cashman. You, sir, are on the clock.

The MLB Draft has finally arrived. Congratulations to Eli Willits, the Washington Nationals' first selection of the 2025 MLB Draft. Willits, 17, a shortstop from Fort Cobb-Broxton (OK) High School, is the son of the former Yankees first base coach Reggie Willits. I did not like watching the pitcher with the highest upside fall to the Boston Red Sox for the fifteenth selection when they chose Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma.

The Yankees did not have a first-round selection. With the thirty-ninth (compensatory) pick, the Yankees have chosen shortstop Dax Kilby, Newnan High School (GA). A polished bat, according to the guys on MLB Network. They also said Dax was Buck Showalter’s favorite during the MLB Combine. After all the shortstops taken in recent years, I would have gone in a different direction. The Los Angeles Dodgers got an intriguing prospect in LHP Zach Root, Arkansas, immediately after the Yankees’ pick. I would have chosen Root over Kilby because you can never have too much good pitching. Nevertheless, welcome to the Yankees family, Dax!

Dax Kilby

Back to the Yankees: Brian Cashman is the key to the second half. Can he fix the roster and give the Yankees their best chance of success in the October race? I wish I had better confidence that it would happen. Color me a skeptic. I want the Yankees to win, and I hope they win. The current roster says otherwise, so make the moves. Ensure the lights of Yankee Stadium shine brightly deep into October.

As always, Go Yankees!