Standing Pat is Doing Well...

 

The Yankees have succeeded early despite not making big offseason moves…

It is early and much can change, but I like living in a World where the Yankees are succeeding, and the Mets are not. At the end of the day, I do not really care what the Mets do. The great revelation is that Uncle Steve’s money is not the sole cure for the New York Mess of Queens. GM David Stearns seems to be in everybody’s crosshairs, so we shall see if the owner believes Stearns is the problem. Regardless of the outcome, Manager Carlos Mendoza seems like a likely casualty. It would not surprise me to see Alex Cora as the next manager of the Mets. 

Early on, GM Brian Cashman showed that ‘standing pat’ was the right choice. I wish he had put more effort into the bullpen, but the starting pitching has been great. It will only get better with the return of Carlos Rodón, and hopefully soon, Gerrit Cole.  It will be a great time when the Yankees have difficulty deciding who comes out of the rotation. Hard decisions to be made, but it is better than pitching Carlos Carrasco or some other scrub arm until the big guns can return. The Yankees’ focus on minor-league pitching in recent years is starting to bear fruit. I would love to see old names like Chase Hampton succeed, but it is fun watching the younger guys step up.

Cam Schlittler is the ace I never knew I needed. That is more about me not knowing much about Schlittler on his way up, but I am glad he came to The Show on a mission. I am glad he is a Yankee. We need more like him.

Cam Schlittler (Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

It remains hard to believe that last offseason, there was some doubt if the Yankees would re-sign Cody Bellinger. It felt like the two were made for each other, but until Cody’s signature was on the dotted line, there was doubt. In retrospect, he was a must-sign given how well he has performed this year. Aaron Judge is awesome, but he needs protection. Thankfully, Cody Bellinger returned to provide the necessary protection.

I am glad the Yankees optioned Anthony Volpe to Triple-A after he completed his rehab assignment. While I do not think Jose Caballero is the long-term answer, he is the better short-term option. He has seamlessly meshed with the Yankees lineup to make short a strength. I prefer his play over Volpe’s. I feel bad for Volpe. A local (New Jersey) product with many local fans. It would have been fantastic for him to grab the position and make it his own. Sadly, it did not happen, and it will not. I am not opposed to Volpe as next year’s second baseman in place of pending free agent Jazz Chisholm, Jr. I like Jazz, but I do not think he is coming back. The tea leaves have been strong. George Lombard, Jr., has emerged as the next great Yankees shortstop. In no universe should he be forced to play third base because Volpe is the starting shortstop. I am attending a Yankees game in July. It would not surprise me if Lombard, Jr. is the starting shortstop for that game. He is close. If not this year, then 2027. George Lombard, Jr is to George Lombard, Sr, what Ken Griffey, Jr is to Ken Griffey, Sr. The sons are better than their Major League Baseball fathers. Better to be Ken Griffey, Jr than Pete Rose, Jr. Bottom line, the Yankees shortstop hand-off should be Caballero to Lombard, Jr (while Volpe continues to enjoy the surroundings of Eastern Pennsylvania).  If the Yankees find a trade they like involving Volpe, so be it. I am done with Volpe as the Yankees’ shortstop.

I love that the Yankees are playing with a greater sense of urgency this season. Nobody is rolling over to hand the championship to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hardware is for the best team at the end of October. This is the strongest I have felt about the Yankees in a few years. I wish they had a better manager than Aaron Boone, but if the guys on the field are getting the job done, the manager is of less importance. Addressing the bullpen remains a high priority, and it will mean the difference in October.

The Philadelphia Phillies’ decision to fire manager Rob Thomson and replace him with Don Mattingly brought mixed feelings. I feel bad for Thomson, the long-time Yankees coach. I thought he did a great job in relief of former Yankees’ and Phillies’ manager Joe Girardi. It would be nice if the Yankees could find a way to bring Thomson back into the organization. Fire Brad Ausmus and hire Thomson to replace him. Sure. It works for me. Glad to see Don Mattingly get another managerial opportunity. Despite his son Preston’s presence as the team’s GM, it seems like this is a one-and-done role for Donnie Baseball. If he does well enough to earn the job long-term, it is good for him, but it is always tough to see Mattingly wearing anything other than Yankees pinstripes. Given that Managers are hired to be fired, it is probably a good thing that Mattingly has never gotten a managerial chance with the Yankees.

Don Mattingly (Photo Credit: Derik Hamilton/AP)

The Los Angeles Angels should trade Mike Trout to the Phillies. They missed an excellent opportunity to trade Shohei Ohtani before his contract expired. With Trout having a great year, they need to cash in, and the Phillies would be the best place to send Trout because it would be sending him home. 

Given the Yankees are a winning team with needs, they seem like strong buyers at the deadline. It is tough. They will part with quality young talent in the farm system. Hopefully, they will choose the right ones to trade and keep the right ones for the organization. George Lombard, Jr., should not be part of any discussion.

I apologize for the brevity of the post. I lost a family member this week to mental disease. She made a decision that has adversely affected close family and friends. Mother’s Day will be a void, and my grandson will miss his mother, a key family member, for his first birthday next week. Never underestimate the burdens others carry. Be the helping hand. The listening ear. The hug provider. Life is short enough. Sometimes, a few of us need assistance to get through it.

As always, Go Yankees!

It's Showtime for the 2026 New York Yankees...

   

Aaron Judge (Photo Credit: Jeff Chiu/AP)

World Series or bust, otherwise known as the Road through Chavez Ravine…

The new MLB season is upon us.

Regardless of what the Yankees did or did not do in the offseason, I am excited about the 2026 New York Yankees.

The Yankees’ attention to upgrading the quality of minor league pitching in recent years is proving fruitful. Much like fine wine, it takes years to reach perfection. The Yankees had a plan, and they executed it. A plan not designed for immediate gratification, but one to strengthen the organization for years to come. I thought Cam Schlittler would be a decent major league pitcher after the years of glowing praise when he was in the minor league system (I thought a solid number three starter), but I did not imagine he would be an upper-rotation guy with the potential of being a team’s ace.  Schlittler makes up for GM Brian Cashman’s inability to acquire a strong starting pitcher in the offseason. If Will Warren takes the next step, it is just icing on the cake. For as much blame as he gets (from me included), Cashman deserves some credit for the elite focus on drafting and signing some of the game’s future pitching stars.

With Luis Gil heading to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the season since the Yankees do not need a fifth starter during the early weeks of the season, here are your 2026 New York Yankees:

Starting Lineup:

Catcher: Austin Wells

First Base: Ben Rice

Second Base: Jazz Chisholm, Jr.

Shortstop: Jose Caballero

Third Base: Ryan McMahon

Left Field: Cody Bellinger

Center Field: Trent Grisham

Right Field: Aaron Judge

Designated Hitter: Giancarlo Stanton

Bench/Utility:

Outfield/Utility: Randal Grichuk, Amed Rosario

Catcher: J.C. Escarra

First Base: Paul Goldschmidt

Starting Rotation:

Max Fried, LHP

Cam Schlittler, RHP

Will Warren, RHP

Ryan Weathers, LHP

Bullpen:

Closer: David Bednar

Setup/Middle Relief: Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill, Paul Blackburn, Ryan Yarbrough, Jake Bird, Brent Headrick, Cade Winquest

Injured List:

Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Anthony Volpe

I am honestly relieved that Volpe is on the injured list. I do not wish injuries or surgeries upon anyone, but I love the opportunity for Jose Caballero to be the everyday shortstop. It is not going to last. Volpe will be back in May, but I hope Caballero makes it very hard for Manager Aaron Boone to choose between the two. The bloom is off Volpe. I do not feel that he should be the starting shortstop for the most storied franchise in Major League history. A replacement for Jazz Chisholm, Jr. at second base when the Yankees make the financial decision to let Jazz walk? That’s a better long-term plan if Volpe can improve his game. Caballero may not be the long-term answer for shortstop, but he is better than Volpe. 

Jose Cabellero

Another player I would replace is DH Giancarlo Stanton. I love Stanton when he is healthy, and nobody can crush a baseball with ease as he does, but he is getting older, and he WILL spend time on the injured list. Trying to believe this will be an injury-free year for him is foolish after the years he has proven wrong. Jasson Dominguez, and his major league-ready bat, are sitting in Triple-A. I would trade or, despite the financial cost, cut Stanton to make Dominguez the everyday DH.  Jasson’s fielding is not sufficient for Yankee Stadium standards, so he needs to be a bat-only type if he is going to play for the Yankees. His only roadblock is Stanton.

I thought Trent Grisham was great last year, but I am skeptical he can match it. It felt like his Brady Anderson year. One season of epic proportions followed by a return to mediocrity.  If Spencer Jones takes Grisham’s place in center field before the season’s end, I am okay with it. Grisham is not coming back next year unless he proves last year was not a fluke. Play the best player regardless of the size of the contract.

This is why I do not want the Yankees to trade either Dominguez or Jones. I feel both can play vital roles for the Yankees when and if they get their chances.

While I am glad Cade Winquest made the Opening Day Roster, he has much to prove to deserve a roster spot for the entirety of the season. The first test will come when the Yankees need a fifth starter and call up Luis Gil. As an extra reliever, Winquest holds the weakest position on the roster.  He may be back in the St Louis Cardinals organization before the end of April. I hope he improves and can secure his roster spot to continue his Yankees career. I am just not optimistic that it can happen.

I try to avoid the articles about Paul Skenes and the Yankees’ attempts to acquire him at last year’s trade deadline. When Paul Skenes reaches free agency, the odds he will be a Los Angeles Dodger or a New York Met are far greater than his chances of pulling on the pinstripes. It is what it is. Love the guy, and I think he would be a great Yankee, but it seems incredibly unlikely to me, given the vast financial resources of the Dodgers and the Mets, and Hal Steinbrenner’s financial conservatism. I feel we are going to go through years of speculation for Skenes to the Yankees, only to see him go to one of the MLB’s wealthiest teams. There was a time when the Yankees were the wealthiest, but times changed. This is why I wish the Steinbrenner Family would cash in their chips and let a big financial boy (or gal) take over. Teams create cash flow, and the Yankees are among the best, but the intangibles are the owner's wealth and income streams beyond baseball. Hal Steinbrenner is dependent on the Yankees, so he does not add anything in terms of financial might beyond what the Yankees generate. As such, the Dodgers and Mets ownership groups will be able to run circles around the Yankees in the fight for the game’s best players.  Will the Mets make the right decisions? That’s debatable, but the Yankees are at a disadvantage with the current ownership regime. 

As an out-of-market Yankees fan, I am excited to attend a game at Yankee Stadium this season. I will be there in July when the Yankees host the World Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Looking forward to Shohei Ohtani versus Aaron Judge. I no longer live in the Los Angeles area, having moved to New Mexico nearly a year ago. Baseball in Albuquerque is limited to the Triple-A club for a bottom-feed MLB team (the Colorado Rockies). I am looking forward to some legit baseball in July. On a side note, the Triple-A facility in Albuquerque for the Isotopes is a good venue, but it is not Major League Baseball. So far, I have only attended when the Dodgers’ Oklahoma City squad has paid a visit.

After years of no concerts, I decided that 2026 would be different. So far this year, I have seen KC & the Sunshine Band perform at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, and John Waite, accompanied by John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, at Buffalo Thunder Casino in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Harry Wayne Casey, better known as KC, is a master entertainer, even at 75. He was all over the stage despite his age and weight gain, and the audience was literally on their feet for most of the concert. He still delivers his songs as strongly as he did in the seventies. John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band are best known as the voices for Michael Pare and his band in his lead role in the movie Eddie and the Cruisers, but they were terrific. They sang a new song called "Day in the Sun," which was fantastic. Cafferty said the State of New Mexico was interested in the song for their marketing campaign (we have something like 320 sunny days per year)…not unlike Denver, but the sun is prevalent in New Mexico. I hope the state makes the deal with Cafferty. I was thinking John Waite, former lead singer of the Babys and Modern English, would have a tough job to top Cafferty, but he did. Waite’s Missing You has always been one of my favorite songs. He threw multiple guitar picks that were snatched by those around me. I was a bit disappointed until he threw a second batch, and I nabbed a pick before the guy next to me could get one. It now hangs on my wall. Waite, at 73 years old, delivered his songs as strongly as he did in his younger days.

John Waite

Later this year, I have concerts to see Midland (for the fifth time), Loverboy, Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Barry Manilow. Outside of Midland, a current country group, every performance is a trip down memory lane. I hope the upcoming concerts can match the intensity of the first two.

Despite the concerts, the Yankees in July remain the marquee attraction for me. I had an opportunity to see a game in 2009, but it rained out. Four hours in Yankee Stadium with no game. I went to the old Yankee Stadium multiple times, but life has kept me away from New York since the new stadium opened. I am excited but obviously hope for good weather. Another rainout would suck. I am envious of those who get to experience Yankee Stadium as often as they would like. When you do not live in the greater New York metropolitan area, it is not as easy. It does not mean that we love the Yankees any less.

As always, Go Yankees!

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! 

Living the HZS Years in the Yankees Universe...

  

The Yankees are the image of their Managing General Partner…

When I was a kid, the CBS Years of Yankees Ownership were viewed as the worst in the history of the New York Yankees. The “CBS Years” ran from 1964 to 1973. George Steinbrenner, with an initial investment of $168,000, assembled a 12-member ownership group that acquired the Yankees from CBS for $10 million on January 3, 1973. George brought mediocrity in Pinstripes to an end and reinvigorated the organization's fire and desire. Sadly, George’s death in 2010 has brought us the HZS Years. Life under Managing General Partner Harold “Hal” Zieg Steinbrenner.

Hal Steinbrenner

The 2009 World Series Championship was under Hal’s watch after he had acquired day-to-day control of the Yankees from his father, a move approved by the MLB Owners in November 2008. The 2009 World Series Championship was a tremendous one, but in retrospect, it was an outlier in the HZS Regime. Hal, the Accountant, is pleased with the status quo. Win enough to be profitable, but never quite go ‘all in’ for a championship run. Every year, the team leaves something open and exposed as a potential fatal flaw. This off-season, the inactivity has been startling and alarming. Trent Grisham’s acceptance of the Qualifying Offer in November set the stage for the offseason. The Yankees were prepared to let Grisham walk, and his acceptance of the QO caught them off guard and left them without a plan. Well, unless the plan was to do nothing while waiting for Cody Bellinger decide where he plans to go for Spring Training.

Cody Bellinger

To the Yankees’ credit, they did make a trade for a talented young left-handed pitcher, Ryan Weathers, for four young, albeit not “top” prospects. It is not the big pitching move we had hoped for, but Weathers, son of former Yankees reliever David Weathers, should flourish under Pitching Coach Matt Blake’s tutelage. His acquisition also does not preclude the Yankees from making a move for a higher-level starter to slot in behind Max Fried to open 2026. The Yankees continue to remain connected with Freddy Peralta, which would be a huge acquisition, but Peralta’s name is attractive to other teams as well. The Dodgers could easily outperform a Yankees offer for Peralta, adding another star player to their vast collection of superstars. The Dodgers have the money, the farm system, and the burning desire to dominate Major League Baseball. They are what the Yankees used to be. They are what I thought the New York Mets would become under Uncle Stevie and his billions, but I forgot one aspect…they are still the Mets, an organization not known for making the wisest decisions.

Time is running out on the off-season, but the Yankees could make several rapid-fire moves to place their team among the AL’s best, heading into the new season. Working out a compromise with Scott Boras to ensure the return of Cody Bellinger would be a start, but if coupled with the acquisition of a strong young starter like Peralta, MacKenzie Gore, or another promising starter with high-end potential would ace the off-season for the Yanks despite the drought of activity for months. They still need another bullpen arm, but there are still guys available. With Closer David Bednar in place for the season (bringing stability to the position), the Yankees can work on the supplemental pieces. Last year’s bullpen was off recent standards, but the Yankees have fared well with their bullpen mix in recent years. The bullpen is the least of my concerns. It will work itself out.

Now that Kyle Tucker is off the board, Scott Boras has the Yankees where he wants them. The Yankees say they are not budging from their latest offer, which has been reported as five years and more than $30 million annually, with several opt-outs. Telling the public that they are not budging seems like a way to motivate another team, like the Toronto Blue Jays, to step in and overpay. Or at least that is what Boras wants. I have no idea how this will turn out. I want Bellinger to return, but it seems too easy for another team to jump to the head of the line, and Scott Boras would like nothing better than to stick it to the Yankees. So, my heart hopes Bellinger returns while my head says he goes elsewhere. The Yankees have no pivot, so we will find out whether Jasson Domínguez is ready for the Show on a consistent basis and can capitalize on glimpses of elite performance. Maybe he is never elite, but he needs to be a solid, consistent player with a dependable bat. Spencer Jones does not appear to be ready, but Bellinger’s departure could hasten his advancement, ready or not. Signing free agent outfielder Austin Hays for a platoon role seems like Plan B, but GM Brian Cashman is good about pulling out surprising names, so we shall see.

I do not expect Trent Grisham to be as good as he was in 2025. He had his Brady Anderson year. Hopefully, he will be a strong player for the Yankees in 2026, but there is a risk of regression.

I wish Hal Steinbrenner had a better understanding of how to excite the fan base. It is late January, and I am not looking forward to Spring Training with the usual exuberance. The Yankees will be a different team when all the guys are healthy, and Gerrit Cole climbs back atop the starting rotation. The question is how much ground will they lose between now and then? You can have great pitching, but you still need to put runs on the board. Aaron Judge cannot do this by himself. Ben Rice’s bat will be important to the team, but he is being asked to be the team’s full-time first baseman. His focus will be on the continued nuances of playing first base and playing it better than league average. I wonder how an offseason of trade rumors will impact Jazz Chisholm, Jr. I expect him to be among the team’s best players, but does the relationship between the Yankees and Chisholm start to sour due to the rumors?

2026 must be a full breakout year for Austin Wells. We need more from him. I am cautiously optimistic that third baseman Ryan McMahon will hit better this season after spending more time with the Yankees coaching staff.

So many questions, so few answers. It does not seem like a great starting point if you want to topple a two-time World Championship team that has only gotten better since last season’s final out. I am holding out hope GM Brian Cashman has some last-minute surprises for us, but I am prepared to be disappointed.

The Yankees and their dumpster-diving ways continue. After previously signing former St Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong to a minor-league deal, they have inked former A’s OF/1B Seth Brown to a similar minor league deal with a training camp invite. A few years ago, Brown would have been an exciting addition. In 2026, if he is playing, things went horrifically wrong.

I look forward to finding out who this year’s Cam Schlittler will be. The Yankees' focus on minor league pitching over the past few years has yielded many trade prospects, but it is nice to see some breakthrough with the Yankees, like Cam. 6’7” RHP Carlos Lagrange, 22, seems like the next to step up unless another young, talented arm jumps in front of him. I am really hoping that the MLB Rule 5 Draft selection, RHP Cade Winquest, pitches well enough to stay on the roster for the duration of the season to keep him in Pinstripes and places him in Boone’s circle of trust.

Cade Winquest

George Lombard, Jr. continues to be the team’s best prospect (SS/2B), but young Dax Kilby, SS, is on the fast track to the top of prospect rankings. Kilby seems like the future Yankees shortstop, but he is only nineteen, a year younger than Lombard, Jr., and is still a few years away. Lombard, Jr. will put himself in position for 2027 with a strong 2026 and may even suit up with the big-league club before the season is over. I would like both guys to succeed as Yankees, but it seems inevitable that one will be traded. Not that the Yankees want to move one, but rather one will be the cost of a trade the Yankees desire, and they will have to make a hard choice. In the end, with a championship club, prospect-hugging is not the formula for success. The offseason has shown us a team that will be looking for upgrades in July if they are within striking distance. Decisions are being made harder than they need to be.

Will this trend of playoff failures continue if the HZS Years continue? Most likely. I do not see any immediate World Series Championships on the horizon, and we will have legitimately wasted the best years of Aaron Judge. I continue to hope for the best. A World Series Championship for Judge and Gerrit Cole would be one for the ages. I hope it happens. Yankees, your move.

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!