Introducing the 2025, scratch that, 2026 New York Yankees...

  

Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt (and others) back together again for a second run.

Front Office decides to “run it back”…

Same old, same old, minus a few faces and arms.

Like many Yankees fans, I am disappointed with the offseason. I am glad the Yankees re-signed outfielder Cody Bellinger. It would have been awesome to sign Kyle Tucker as his replacement, but it was not in the cards. Without Tucker as an option, Cody was clearly the best-case scenario. Not many players adapt to the Bronx so quickly and with such ease.

I did not want to lose Trent Grisham, but the way it played out was not ideal. Having Grisham back for one year is inconsequential; the concern is that his acceptance of the qualifying offer prevented the Yankees from being more aggressive in making other offseason moves to further enhance the team. If the Yankees feel that they have unlocked Grisham, and 2026 will be more like 2025 than any other year, congrats to them. I certainly want Grisham to perform at his highest and best.

Trent Grisham, before he accepted elite money on a one-year deal

It is a little sad that the returns of Bellinger and Grisham will push Jasson Dominguez to Triple-A again. I feel bad for him. The best way to become a great Major League baseball player is to play in the Major Leagues. With no starting spot, a bench role with limited appearances is not in Jasson’s best interests. So, the minor leagues appear to be the only option, short of injuries, unless the Yankees decide to package Jasson in a deal for pitching or a right-handed bat.  Grisham is only one year (it seems unlikely he will return in 2027), but holding Jasson down for even a year longer is too much. I hope he gets an opportunity in the Major Leagues this year, even if it is not in New York.  Jasson seems like one of those players you trade to Miami or Colorado, yet he ends up finding his way to Queens or Boston to make life miserable for the Yankees. 

I genuinely thought the Yankees would acquire at least a mid-rotation level starting pitcher, given the delayed starts this year by Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón. I know there is hope for upside with Ryan Weathers, but with no offense to the son of an ex-Yankee, I was hoping for more. I am hopeful Ryan flourishes under the tutelage of pitching coach Matt Blake, but I wanted somebody who could help Max Fried at the top of the rotation with certainty.  There is still time. The Yankees could make a move in Spring Training, but with each passing day, the likelihood of the Opening Day Roster coming from guys who already have their tickets to Tampa is the most probable outcome for all 26 positions. 

Losing Luke Weaver, I thought the bullpen would be a greater area of need, but the Yankees must feel that they can fix it in-house and/or through waiver claims. 

The Yankees re-signed 38-year-old Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year deal on Friday.  Ben Rice is already the designated first baseman, so Goldy returns as the backup despite his years of elite play. Time is never generous to anyone unless your name is Tom Brady.  Goldy’s best years will never include a move to New York. Here’s hoping that he can provide some punch off the bench. I would have been satisfied with Cody Bellinger spelling Rice at first, but I understand you cannot overplay Belli over the course of a long season. Goldschmidt should be a great coach in a player’s clothing to help Rice’s transition to the starting first base role.  Giancarlo Stanton will spend time on the Injured List. It is inevitable, so Goldy provides DH support too. Here's hoping we have no "cliff-dropoffs" in 2026.

3B Ryan McMahon and backup first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin, NY POST)

I will miss Luke Weaver, now a Met.  I know 2025 was not his best, but the quirky personality was fun to see in Spring Training. I was hopeful for a rebound in 2026, but unfortunately, if it happens, it will happen with Juan Soto, Clay Holmes, Devin Williams, and the New York Mets.

I keep hoping for something like the 1995 offseason when Don Mattingly decided to retire, and the Yankees made the astute trade to acquire Tino Martinez, along with valuable reliever Jeff Nelson, from the Seattle Mariners to replace him. We need more trades like that.

It is tough to keep up with all the waiver claims and the subsequent designations for assignment. Not much to write about, since "here today, gone today" seems to be the common theme, but it would be cool if the Yankees could unlock at least one of these formerly top-rated prospects to become a reliable piece for the 2026 Yankees.

I am not quite sure I understand the decision to “run it back”. I get that the Yankees made some aggressive deadline deals last season, and the team they ended with was better than the one they started the season with. But why not build upon your strengths? Enhance what you felt was a great team. I think the Yankees could have done so much more to instill confidence in the Fan Base and give the team on the field the best chance to succeed. 

I do not believe in Hal Steinbrenner because I do not feel that his heart is in it. The Yankees represent a great financial opportunity for him and his family, but his desire to make the Yankees the best they can be will always be in question unless he proves otherwise. I like Hal, and I think he treats people better than his father does, but maybe that is a fault, as he has given GM Brian Cashman too much leeway.  The game has changed, and the Yankees would be better served by upgrading the General Manager position. I have long said promote Cashman to President of Baseball Operations, keep Randy Levine on the business side, and hire a new general manager (so long as it is not analytics geek Michael Fishman). The new general manager should be fresh blood from outside of the organization, preferably someone who has proven themselves in smaller markets. The Dodgers, obviously backed by stupid money, made a good decision when they hired former Tampa Bay Rays executive Andrew Friedman. The Yankees need to make one of those types of moves.

I love the Yankees, and I want to win the World Series to end the ‘they have not won since 2009’ talk.  I wish the Yankees had done everything possible to ensure they field the team with the best chance for success against MLB’s elite teams, and the one a little higher than that, the Los Angeles Dodgers.  I know, make it to October, and it is anybody’s game. I think the Yankees will be in the October playoffs. I am not so confident they’ll be facing the Dodgers or Mets at season’s end. I hope so. Brian Cashman and his team need to do better, and time is running out. If the Yankees flop this season, it will be time to end the Brian Cashman Era and take his manager with him.  As always, I hope these guys prove me wrong.

As always, Go Yankees! 

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!

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!

Just When It Was Safe To Feel Good Again...

 

Will Warren and Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

Yankees make the best of a bad weekend…

A series loss is a series loss; any way you slice it. I am trying to find the positives in the weekend thrashing by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who took two of three games from their World Series rival and our beloved men in Pinstripes. Winning the getaway game on Sunday at least gave the team some sliver of hope after Saturday’s massacre and Friday’s loss despite an ace on the mound. It is not enough to make up for losing two of three games, but it is something. The downside is the injury news related to Luke Weaver and his hamstring, which could potentially land him on the Injured List, and the contusion on the left thumb of Jasson Dominguez.

The Yankees cannot afford to lose Luke Weaver for an extended period. The severity of the injury will obviously dictate the length of his absence so we can only hope and pray for the best. His absence would put Devin Williams back in line for his original Closing role. Williams has much to prove to give us any optimism that he can be the great Airbender he was in Milwaukee. I would like to see him succeed, but I am not confident he can. Some guys are not made for New York, and so far, Williams seems to be one of those guys who shy away from the brightest lights. I would like to be wrong, and maybe his Pinstriped start was just a product of learning life on America’s greatest stage. I want him to succeed, but it seems to me that he will exit the stage for a new and smaller city as soon as his contract expires this Fall, and free agency opens. Nevertheless, he gets another opportunity to prove he can finish what he starts.

Devin Williams (Photo Credit: SI.com)

I am concerned about losing Dominquez, but not as much as Weaver. To back up Dominguez, the Yankees could call up Everson Pereira, who certainly deserves another opportunity. Now twenty-four, Pereira is batting .275/.355/.504 with .859 OPS. He has nine home runs and twenty-three RBIs. He has swiped five bags while getting caught stealing only once. If Dominguez misses any time, I will have no qualms about bringing up Pereira to replace him. Pereira is one of those guys. He has nothing left to prove in the minors.

I was feeling good about the Yankees until the Dodgers series. Losing two games in early June is not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but after all the trash-talking the Dodgers did about the Yankees after the World Series, I did want a better outcome. At least the Yankees took the last game to prevent a sweep. I like challenges such as that series because it helps the Front Office identify clear and present needs (as if they do not already know). It shakes the belief to just stand pat with the present hand. The Yankees do need reinforcements and effective ones at that. Too often, GM Brian Cashman’s deadline acquisitions underwhelm. They proved they were not worth the cost. Every now and then, he hits a winner, but he errs more than he succeeds.

I know the Yankees will soon see the return of Giancarlo Stanton. It will be good to have him back, but it is hard not to wonder how the roster will be constructed when they must make room for him on the active roster. I am worried that the loser will be Ben Rice, who has proven he is a Major League baseball player. Long term, I would rather have Rice over Stanton,  so I do not want to see Rice suffer because of Stanton’s return. We are within the last few years of Stanton’s Yankees career. He is getting older…it happens…and he is not suddenly going to become an injury-free player. Stanton will get hurt and he will miss time (lots of it). I love the guy’s home runs, but with all sincerity, I would rather have a younger player (Rice) who has played consistently since the start of the season.

Ben Rice (Photo Credit: Newsbreak.com)

When the Yankees signed Ryan Yarbrough in the offseason, I thought it was just another scrap heap move. Of course, I thought the same when the Yankees signed Luke Weaver, but it is nice when Cashman and his cast of cronies catch lightning in a bottle with one of their low-risk signings. I hated it when Yarbrough pitched against the Yankees. I did not look back at the stats, but it seemed like he was always keeping the Yankees away from reaching home plate with his soft pitches. The guy who looks like he should be hittable but is not. There is no scenario I had pictured Yarbrough in the starting rotation, and yet, I do not want him to lose his current spot. He cannot sustain his effectiveness, but I am not sure the Yankees can do better at the deadline. It is not like frontline aces will be available for hire. Credit to Max Fried and Carlos Rodon for easing early concerns about the starting rotation. Fried, despite his disappointing start against the Dodgers a few days ago, has been a Godsend. Gerrit Cole is irreplaceable, yet Fried has held the door. Fried is, by far, my favorite free agent signing of the past few years, and the most unexpected.

I like Yankees manager Aaron Boone despite frustrations with him at times. I continue to see posts on social media that say the Yankees cannot win with Boone as the manager. I am not sure that I agree. I think, surrounded by the right players, Boone can lead the Yankees to the promised land. When people bash him, I always think, who is out there who could do better? I am sure Buck Showalter would get a few votes, but if he were so good, why is he not currently managing? Same with Joe Girardi. I like Joe, but I do not feel he is better than Boone. Rob Thomson has proven to be a better manager than Girardi in Philadelphia. If anything, the Yankees should have given Thomson a stronger chance for the Yankees' post before he left after Boone was hired.

Ironically, I feel better about the coaching staff on my favorite NFL team, a team that has NEVER won a championship, the Minnesota Vikings, than the Yankees. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is an offensive genius, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores is an elite defensive mind. I wish I had that confidence with the Yankees coaching staff. Outside of pitching coach Matt Blake, there is not really anyone who stands out. I temper it with who is out there (available) that can do better? I cannot find the answer to the question.

DJ LeMahieu had a nice game on Sunday. Thank you. But I am not buying into the belief that he will be a difference-maker. His age and his recent challenge with injuries place him in a high-risk category, and I do not want to pin any hopes on his health and ability to succeed. It sucks because I really liked LeMahieu when he was younger, but sadly, age happens. It does not help when a recent history of injuries accompanies it. It only gets worse from here. The talk is that Jazz Chisholm will be the third baseman upon his return, which would keep LeMahieu at second base. I do think second base is the best place to maximize LeMahieu’s talents, but for no other reason than age, I would prefer Jorbit Vivas. If the market dictates the availability of a better second baseman than third baseman who can help at the trade deadline, I think the Yankees should move on from David John LeMahieu. Heck, even if they did land a third baseman who can be a difference-maker, pushing Jazz to second, I would move on from DJ.

Why do people still talk about Juan Soto? He is a Met and will be for an exceedingly long time. I have moved on from him, and I do not care what he does (or does not do) with the Mets. Soto is not a Yankee, and he does not deserve any discussion in the Yankees Universe. That ship has sailed. It was Soto’s decision to leave. I have read people saying Hal Steinbrenner failed to keep him. Hal made an incredibly competitive offer, and Soto would have been a very wealthy man by staying with the Yankees and putting his name among the game’s all-time greats. It was his choice to leave. C’est La Vie.

I am a little annoyed that the Yankees keep giving the Boston Red Sox valuable pieces for their roster. Catcher Carlos Narvaez is obviously the latest example. I like JC Escarra, but I would have stayed with Narvaez as the backup for Austin Wells. I am old enough to remember when the Yankees would send talented catchers to the Pittsburgh Pirates. I wish they had done that with Narvaez (or just kept him). The Red Sox have benefited more from Yankees-developed talent than the Yankees have from Red Sox natives.

Hopefully, the Yankees can shake off their Dodgers series and return to their winning ways. The last thing the Yankees should do is let the Red Sox reignite hope in their lost season. Hopefully, every Yankee can bring their A game this weekend when the Yanks face their dreaded rival.

As always, Go Yankees!

May the Yankees Find Their Way...

   

Carlos Rodon (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News)

Making the moves to retain control of the AL East...

I should go on record for saying that I like Giancarlo Stanton, but with the passage of time, I prefer younger players. I would hate to see Ben Rice lose his place when/if Stanton returns. For the benefit of the player and the team, it would be best for the Yankees to find a new home for Stanton when he is ready to play. I would have liked to have seen Stanton put a Yankees World Series Championship ring on his finger, and I appreciate the time he gave us. He was never really the World Crusher that he was in Miami during his MVP year, but he earned his pinstripes. It is a shame that so much time has been spent on the injured list during his time in New York. Moving Stanton would help the Yankees improve in other areas, like third base. 

As far as the AL East goes, I love the Yankees in first place, but I am amazed at the collapse of the Baltimore Orioles. The team has a pipeline of talent ready to be infused at the game’s highest level, but the front office’s decision to stay clear of premium pitching talent has thrown a monkey wrench into the machine. I thought the new Orioles ownership would be effective, but it has not. At the end of the day, the best AL East rivalry is the Yankees versus the Boston Red Sox. I may be a bit biased, but those tend to be the best games in the division.

Max Fried is a god. When Gerrit Cole went down for the season, losing the team’s ace seemed devastating. Yet, Fried promptly stepped into the top role and has delivered. Fried represents one of the greatest Yankees free agent signings of all time. It also rates highly as one I did not see coming. I am grateful for Max Fried and glad he is a Yankee.

Jonathan Loaisiga is back in the Bronx. I love Johnny Lasagna, but the injuries are inevitable. I am glad he is back, but it is hard not to wonder when the next trip to the IL awaits. I wish him good health, and I know the Yankees need him in the pen. I would love it if we could put the injuries in the rear-view mirror. I am glad he re-signed with the Yankees in the offseason, but staying healthy is on him. I wish him the best for good health as we move forward. I feel bad for Tyler Matzek, who was designated for assignment. But I would rather have a healthy Loaisiga on the roster than Matzek. I wish him the best for the future, whether he is selected by another team on waivers or if he is outrighted to Triple-A.

Luke Weaver, Closer. In retrospect, the Yankees should have stood pat with Weaver as their closer in the offseason. Devin Williams has been a disappointment, and so far, he has shown that he is not cut out for the Bronx. The fact that Nestor Cortes Jr has underwhelmed Milwaukee is of little comfort. I hope Williams can shake the Carl Pavano jitters and become a solid force in Pinstripes. If not, I would prefer the Yankees ship him elsewhere by the Trade Deadline. Send him to the Cubs to spice up the Cubs-Brewers rivalry as if it needs more spicing. I am disappointed Williams has become the latest Ed Whitson/Carl Pavano, but he has time to right the ship. I am hopeful the Airbender becomes a thing in the Bronx rather than just another failed acquisition shipped elsewhere. Meanwhile, I have no qualms about Weaver as the backend guy. 

Juan Soto, Luke Weaver, and Austin Wells (Photo Credit: Corey Sipkin/NY Daily News)

I was shocked to hear that Pete Rose and other deceased players like Shoeless Joe Jackson were freed from their lifetime suspensions. I saw Rose play, and there is no doubt he was an All-Star talent on the field. Yet, Rose, the man, was a sorry excuse for a human being. I wish he had admitted his guilt for betting on baseball games while he played. I had always said that it was okay for Rose to make the Hall of Fame after he died, and I continue to hold the opinion. Pete Rose, the player, is a Hall of Famer. Pete Rose, the guy? I could not care less. I do not find fault with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision to free the deceased. Ultimately, they should be judged for their performance on a baseball field, not what they represented in everyday life. But if Rose does make the Hall of Fame, I think Barry Bonds, while living, should be there too. The cases are not related, but they both crossed ethical lines. Not saying that everybody who crossed an ethical line should be admitted, but I feel Bonds, without steroids, would have been a Hall of Famer. He was a talented baseball player with tremendous hand/eye coordination. The steroids may have boosted the bulk and the power, but not the ability to hit a baseball. You can get into more reasons why Bonds’ crimes are less severe than Rose’s indiscretions, but suffice it to say, I think Bonds should be in the HOF before Rose.

Barry Bonds

This post is not long, but I have experienced “life happens.” I moved from sunny Southern California, which I loved, to New Mexico. No doubt New Mexico would have never been at the top of my list of places to move to (if not for family), but I love my new home in Albuquerque. This past Wednesday, I became a grandfather for the first time, and the opportunity to live ten miles from him is exciting. The little guy is beautiful. I have found most babies to be ugly, but my grandson avoided that tag. Love the little man. He is quiet, except when he is hungry (hey, he took after me!), and my son is beyond proud of his son. It is great to see the continuation of the family lineage.

Sadly, there are no Major League sports in Albuquerque. The best sporting events are the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, the top farm club of the Colorado Rockies. I wish the Dodgers and their former farm club, the Albuquerque Dukes, were still here, but they are not. The second sports venue is the University of New Mexico basketball team. Go Lobos. I intend to check out some of the games. My daughter-in-law, the mother of my grandson, is a Lobo. My children are Arizona Sun Devils, but I will try to embrace the local Lobos.

Albuquerque will get a hockey team in 2026 when the ECHL expands. It is not the NHL, but it is the next level. I will certainly be supportive of the local hockey team.

Yesterday, I saw the Yankees traded minor league pitcher Rob Zastryzny back to his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers, for cash considerations. I have not been following him, and I know he is in the later stages of his career, but I am sorry it did not work out for him with the Yankees. Hopefully, he finds late career success in the Beer Capital. The Yankees also took a minor league flyer on former Giants/Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani. I am not expecting much from the acquisition. The veteran right-hander is now thirty-five, and he last pitched in the Majors in 2023 for San Francisco.

I look forward to making some meaningful trades to help the team in the weeks and months before the trade deadline.

Unfortunately, the Yankees have lost Oswaldo Cabrera for an extended period due to his broken ankle and subsequent surgery. I wish him the best with his recovery and triumphant return to the Majors when he is ready. Even if he had not been injured, the Yankees would need an upgrade at third base. DJ LeMahieu is not the answer, and I always prefer to keep Cabrera in his utility role to play multiple positions. 

Oswaldo Cabrera (Photo Credit: AP)

I hope to write more in the coming months, but the move has occupied my time. This has been one of my most complicated moves despite moving from multiple cities over the past decade. I look forward to a prolonged stay in the Land of Enchantment with my young grandson. I plan to take him to a few baseball games and introduce him to America’s greatest sport.

As always, Go Yankees!

Is the Season Beginning or is it Ending? ...

 

Aaron Boone and Gerrit Cole (Photo Credit: Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post)

Starting Rotation gives up significant hit…

Unfortunately, the hit absorbed by the starting rotation was not a meaningless single to left, it is the likely loss of the Ace of the Staff, Gerrit Cole. Fans are jumping off the ledge while the Yankees Universe awaits the MRI results on Gerrit Cole’s right elbow. It is not so much the MRI results, but the subsequent medical opinions based on the results that we await. The concerns expressed by both Cole and Yankees GM Brian Cashman raise the red flags that Cole will miss time. How much time is TBD? We could look at months for the best-case scenario and a year and a half for the worst-case scenario if Tommy John surgery is required. It is safe to assume that this will not be a Cy Young year for Cole.

In the words of former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, it’s not what you want. But there is always a chance a pitcher will go down. You hope for good health and immense success, but injuries do not seek out the less talented players. They do not discriminate. Good or bad at playing baseball, the risk of injury is consistently present.

I am not ready to admit defeat for the season because Gerrit Alan Cole cannot play. I am grateful the Yankees signed former Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried in the off-season, but Fried and injuries are well known to each other. The keys to the starting rotation will be Carlos Rodón and Clarke Schmidt. Their performances will go a long way toward determining which direction this year’s club takes.

I had hoped the club would trade Marcus Stroman to free up some cash to seek an upgrade for third base, but Stroman will be part of the 2025 rotation whether we like it or not. I hope for better results in Year 2. I like what we have seen from Will Warren this Spring, and I am optimistic he can keep it up when the real games begin, and he is fed a conveyor belt of major league hitters. When the Yankees gave Carlos Carrasco a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, I assumed it would be one of those opt-out situations if Carrasco could show other teams that he was capable. Instead, he will likely be asked to join the Yankees rotation to begin the year. I would have been excited to have him in the rotation a few years ago. But with the passing of time and the inevitable aging that happens to all of us, reliance on Carrasco is not where I wanted to be this year.

Once Upon a Time in Cleveland: Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco

There will be no opportunity to land a frontline starter in March. A strong middle-of-the-rotation arm is a tough ask. It would take going after a pitcher like Jordan Montgomery, who has something to prove with a contract that his present club finds a bit uncomfortable.

In other words, there are not too many options.

I wish there were greater readiness in the farm system. Other teams might perk up if the Yankees offered George Lombard, Jr, in a trade, but that should be off the table regardless of the state of the Starting Rotation. I am not trying to prospect-hold, but if there is one prospect in the Yankees system I want to keep, it is Lombard, Jr, who looks to be a future superstar. I thought some of the other prospects would be future superstars but ‘over-hyped’ tends to be the more common theme. I would like to think Lombard, Jr, can be the exception to the rule.

Oswaldo Cabrera has emerged as the frontrunner for third base. I am disappointed because I see Cabrera’s best asset as his diversity in playing multiple positions. I am not convinced he can provide the production needed from one of the corner infield positions. Maybe he proves me wrong. I am okay with that. But realistically, I would go into the season more confidently in the position. I get there will be no last-minute trade for Nolan Arenado before the season begins. Luis Rengifo is off the table too since he will not be ready for Opening Day. Maybe a Luis Arraez trade, including Dylan Cease, would be the perfect trade this time of year.

If Cabrera is named the Opening Day starter at third base, what does it mean for Oswald Peraza? Out of options, his only chance with the Yankees is to make the big-league club. If it does not happen, he will find himself designated for assignment, with enough talent another club would take a bite unless the Yankees can offload him in a trade. If you do not believe Peraza can be a starter, I would like to know whether you should stand behind him as a role player. My preferred path would be Peraza as the starter, with Cabrera maintaining his super-utility role, but the Yankees know better than I.

When Spring Training opened, I had no idea who would back up Austin Wells at catcher. I assumed it was Alex Jackson, the veteran catcher, who was netted in the trade of Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds last December. It's not that I thought Jackson was a potential talent, but it's more of a ‘who is left’ situation after the Yankees traded Carlos Narvaez to the Boston Red Sox. I like the JC Escarra story, the Uber driver who made good on a dream. He has displayed the talent to succeed in a backup role at the Major League level. It is not like we need a platoon partner for Wells. For all the catchers the Yankees have drafted in recent years, it seems weird that the best candidate is a minor league free agent that started in the Baltimore Orioles organization. I like Escarra and I hope he can succeed on the big-league roster. If Ben Rice makes the roster as a bench player, he will provide depth in catching and first base. I use the word ‘if’ but I think Rice has made the roster for his bat if nothing else.

Ben Rice

The Yankees could always swing a last-minute trade for a backup catcher before the team heads north. Many clubs face problematic decisions. Keep the phone lines open.

Regardless of whether the Yankees will miss Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Luis Gil, and Juan Soto, I refuse to give up on the season. There is talent on the roster. It needs to be subsidized but that is Brian Cashman’s job. He needs to figure it out. Last time I looked at the Yankees' record for the 2025 season, it was 0-0, which is matched by all other clubs. The missing guys were not the sole keys to winning. They certainly contributed to it, but other guys need to step up. No one will step up to Juan Soto’s level, but there are pathways to the club’s 28^th World Championship if Cashman can find the right ingredients.

Although the Yankees' transactions have been quiet for the past few weeks, things should start to heat up (a little) as we get closer to Opening Day. I fully expect a Yankees move or two that will change who makes the Opening Day roster. Whether we are surprised and excited remains to be seen, but there will be moves.

If there is a takeaway from this post, please do not give up on the 2025 New York Yankees. Please feel free to exit if the team is twenty games out in July and in a downward spiral. But until then, the team needs our support. I will not bail on the Yankees because they have lost key players. I look forward to the guys who can be effective while they are out.

As always, Go Yankees!