THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, HOW STUPID FOR THE YANKEES TO PASS ON KIM?

At first, I was just annoyed the Yankees didn’t go after Ha-Seong Kim. The guy is a perfect fit—an elite defender, a solid baserunner, and a guy who, at the very least, would’ve been a massive upgrade over the mess they have at third base. But the more I think about it, the more it blows my mind just how stupid it was for the Yankees to sit this one out.

Money wasn’t an issue. The Yankees have money. They print money. And in case anyone forgot, the Tampa Bay Rays—the kings of penny-pinching—are literally paying the Yankees to use their stadium this year. Thanks to Hurricane Milton ripping the roof off of Tropicana Field, the Rays will be playing their home games at Steinbrenner Field in 2025. That little arrangement? It’s projected to bring the Yankees an extra $15 million in revenue.

So, let’s get this straight: the Yankees are cashing checks from their own division rival—one of the most budget-conscious teams in all of baseball—and yet somehow it was the Rays who found the money to sign Kim? How does that make any sense? The Yankees had a glaring need, the means to fill it, and still passed while the small-market Rays swooped in and got the deal done.

And don’t even try to argue that Kim’s contract was an overpay. The deal was more than reasonable. In fact, it’s the kind of smart, mid-tier move that championship-caliber teams make to solidify their roster. Instead, the Yankees watched from the sidelines, seemingly content to roll with Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, and whatever is left of DJ LeMahieu.

The more you sit with it, the dumber it gets. The Yankees had the opportunity, they had the resources, and they had the money coming in from the Rays of all teams—and they still didn’t make the move. It’s not just frustrating; it’s flat-out embarrassing.