COULD MACKENZIE GORE BE ON THE RADAR?

 

Could MacKenzie Gore actually be on the Yankees’ radar? Supposedly yes — which is shocking, because the Yankees’ radar usually only detects ex-All-Stars from 2017 and pitchers held together with hope and duct tape.

If you don’t know Gore, you should. The kid’s a legitimately talented left-hander with guts, fire, and an arm that actually misses bats — something the Yankees treat like a luxury item. At the Winter Meetings, ESPN tossed around questions like “Which team is under the most pressure?” Jesse Rogers didn’t hesitate: the Yankees. Why? Because Toronto is out here making moves like they’ve discovered a cheat code. Their top priority now? Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai.

Meanwhile, the Yankees keep saying they’re “in” on Imai, but whenever Cashman says he’s in, it usually means he’ll show up three days late with coupons and a confused look. While the Yankees are busy protecting Anthony Volpe like he’s a national treasure, the Blue Jays are building a legitimate contender. Imai is important now, and why not? They’re going for it. The Yankees are going for… well, vibes.

And suddenly, instead of being all over Imai like they claimed, the Yankees rumors are drifting toward another name — MacKenzie Gore. ESPN’s reporting it. ClutchPoints is reporting it too. Rogers flat-out said Gore is likely to be moved: “Where there is smoke, there is fire… his name came up a lot in Orlando.” Translation: he’s available and he’s good. Of course that sets off Cashman’s bargain alarm.

Rogers even said the Yankees or Orioles make the most sense. Imagine that — the Yankees making sense for a good pitcher who isn’t 38 or recently broken. Refreshing!

Gore’s résumé is actually impressive: debuted with San Diego, earned an All-Star nod in 2025, boasts a lively fastball, growing breaking stuff, and legit strikeout potential. Yes, he still battles his walk rate. Yes, he ended 2025 early with an injury. But the ceiling? High. Very high. “Possible ace” high. Which means the Yankees should absolutely be sprinting after him… and therefore probably won’t.

Why? Because this front office is terrified — terrified of spending real money, terrified of trading real prospects, terrified of doing anything bold enough to actually improve the team. That’s how you end up signing players like Bradley Hanner, who has zero Major League innings but fits perfectly into Cashman’s “We swear this is a sneaky-smart move” discount bin.

It’s ridiculous. It’s predictable. It’s exhausting.

And if the Yankees don’t wake up, the rest of the AL East will keep powering up while the Bronx Bombers keep fiddling with clearance-rack projects and then wondering why October feels so far away.

CASHMAN'S COUPON CLIPPERS

WTF is going on in the Bronx?

The New York Yankees need to get their offseason act together, because right now this front office looks like it’s running a yard sale instead of a franchise worth billions. We’re weeks into the winter and what has Brian Cashman done? Exactly what he always does: rummage through the bargain bin, dust off something nobody else wanted, and parade it around like he just discovered fire.

Translation: “Nope, we’re not spending on stars. Nope, we’re not being bold. But hey, look at this guy we got for the cost of a Staten Island studio apartment!”

And the latest episode of “Cashman’s Coupon Clippers” features… Bradley Hanner. Yep. A righty from Cleveland who hasn’t even sniffed the big leagues yet. The Yankees announced him like he was some secret weapon, when in reality it’s another scratch-off ticket. If he makes the roster, he pockets 800K. If he doesn’t, he’s another Matt Blake science experiment.

Why? Honestly—why? Why why why why why?

We’re told his sweeper is promising and that Matt Blake can unlock his potential. Cute idea. But if Blake is some pitching wizard, maybe he could fix the bullpen we already have instead of Cashman dragging home another fixer-upper from the MLB clearance rack.

Yes, Hanner give “depth,” but here’s the real question: Where’s the sure thing? Where’s the guy you don’t hope succeeds, but know succeeds? Where’s the actual investment?

Oh right—forgot. Hal Steinbrenner is too busy polishing his spreadsheets to care. As long as the luxury tax stays comfy and the profits stay warm, why bother building a championship roster? The man treats the Yankees like a boutique hotel chain, not a baseball powerhouse.

And Cashman? Cheap. Cheap. Cheap. A coupon-hoarding, penny-pinching mastermind who loves nothing more than pretending mediocrity is a strategic masterstroke. The man sees a $2 reliever and thinks he found the Holy Grail.

I’m sorry, but I’m done. Not with the players—never with the players—but with this front office that absolutely, unequivocally DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE HELL IT’S DOING. Why should fans dump money into tickets, merch, and concessions when the Yankees won’t put real money into the team?

They’ve made rooting for this franchise feel like a chore. Painful. Embarrassing. A test of endurance. Why do you think I never write anymore? It's the same story every day? There's nothing interesting with this team.

I’m not going back to the Stadium until Boone is gone and this front office stops treating the Yankees like a budget cosplay of the Tampa Bay Rays. We’re soft. Softer than pudding. And at this rate, we’re not getting back to being competitive anytime soon.

Hanner’s Triple-A numbers show potential, sure—but potential isn’t the problem. The problem is that the New York freaking Yankees shouldn’t be bargain hunting. They should be setting the standard. Instead? They’re clipping coupons and praying.

They're not a serious franchise.

SCOTT BORAS HAS REACHED A NEW LEVEL OF CRAZY!

Winter would be very tame if there was no super agent Scott Boras. An offseason with no Boras would not be as entertaining but he would annoy less people. Boras is baseball's most powerful agent but he's also really freaking strange.

Boras is many things. He's sought after by many players, especially all of the big names but also hated by many fans. He's a smooth talker that can convince owners to open their wallets and spend the big bucks because they NEED his players. He's the schmoozer and entertainer that has done so well at it that we all have grown to despise him and now he's added one more quality....he's also a bizarro wannabe poet.

In case you missed it, Boras wants us all to know just how many suitors Cody Bellinger has and he did it in poetic fashion, read more HERE. He got cutesy at the Winter Meetings yesterday. Now that the Phillies have locked up Kyle Schwarber, he's doing what Boras does best....trying to drive up Cody's price.
"It's not for me to JUDGE, but great players see RED if they have a big bat YANKED out of their lineup," Boras said. "I haven't MET a team that DODGES a five-tool player. To PHIL the center field need is a GIANT step towards the playoffs. North and South, outfielders that fly with power, they're rare BIRDS. In the offseason, there's a lot of startup to organizations, and for that reason, there's a lot of ANGEL investors that are looking for very versatile outfielders. So other than that, Belli doesn't have much interest."

When I read that, I thought I was back in English Literature class creating sonnets and haiku's or something. That's just weird and on a whole new level of crazy. So going off of Boras' poetry session the Yankees, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, Phillies, Giants, Orioles and Reds are all in on Cody. I don't think the Phillies are as IN on Cody as Boras wants us to believe now that they have a deal with Schwarber. Again, this is what Boras does he drives up the price.

I don't see the Reds here, Cody is going to a big market with bigger money and the Angels are kind of funny too. Bigger market but just not realistic. This could easily come down to the big three once again....the Yankees, Mets and Billion dollar Dodgers. The Mets could be more aggressive now that they have lost out on Edwin Diaz and the Dodgers just have to spend money like they are in Congress.

How much does Cody want to be a Yankee? I guess we will have to wait and see. There's one thing that no other team has....the nostalgia that the Yankees have for the Bellinger family. It's a legacy connection. Like father Clay Bellinger, like son Cody. I know this isn't a guaranteed lock by any means but Cody enjoyed his time here just like his dad. 

This comes down to Hal Steinbrenner. He lost big last winter....does he want that to happen again? That would be a hard pill to swallow. Boras is just being Boras, but trying to make this cute is creepy even for his standards. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

BRIAN CASHMAN'S OBVIOUS MOVE IS WAITING....

This team cannot stay the way it is and expect to be champions next season. We all know that, but the Yankees are not anxious to add pieces that are necessary and blow the existing budget into oblivion. The Yankees are not the Dodgers looking to throw money around and defer it so they need to do something here to acquire the talent.

So, what can (and should) the Yankees do here? There's a solution here, but it might not be the most popular one. The Yankees want to bring Cody Bellinger back. They SHOULD bring him back, and they know it is not coming cheap. They should spend that money regardless but if they get him back, they can still address some of their log jams and liabilities.

The Yankees don't NEED the outfield scenario they have now, and it needs to be resolved. There is no sugarcoating this one, Cody plus Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones stashed down in Triple-A is just a self-inflected screw up the Yankees need to correct...and now. Someone has to go.

In the last week, the Yankees have trade scenarios mentioned with the Miami Marlins, HERE and HERE. The Yankees could use some additional strength in their starting rotation without adding more large contracts and need to shed some outfield weight, because it all doesn't fit. A package centered around Jones for Sandy Alcantara could work or a Dominguez for Edward Cabrera could also work. Obviously, Alcantara would be the splashier move but that also means the Marlins would probably want Jones to start with and that could be a sore spot for many fans.

I will be the first to say I am not of the same mind as Casey, or many other fans I have talked to. I know everyone wants Spencer on this team now, but there is a reason why he is almost 25 and still in the minors. He's spent more time in Double-A then he should at his age and his 19 home runs in Triple-A has been impressive, but the 36% strikeout ratio is not. He's not ready.... but on the other hand Dominguez is just average after being overhyped. He's nothing to write home about, he's not a great fielder but he's been serviceable.

The Yankees can't keep Dominguez and Jones in limbo forever. They need to make a choice because doing that allows them to add other pieces, they do need without all of the extra money on the free agent market. Thinning out the outfield is where this starts....

Cashman needs to find the right trade partner and rip the band-aid off. It's overdue.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT, JASSON. THE YANKEES WASTED YOU!

I’m starting to feel like Jasson Dominguez is about to become the Yankees’ designated “Oops.” The kid spent so long marinating in the minors you’d think they were trying to age him like a steak. And when he finally arrived? Meh. Not bad, not great—just sort of… there. Then came the big revelation: apparently he can’t actually play the outfield. Shocking, right? A guy marketed as the next great Yankee outfielder… can’t really field.

Now, if Dominguez had been truly developing down there, and if the Yankees had an actual player-development plan instead of whatever that binder of buzzwords is they keep on Boone’s desk, they would have noticed his defensive issues long before 2025’s left-field disaster tour. But no—the Yankees saw a kid who could hit, and decided to spend three years teaching him how to hit. Brilliant. It’s like enrolling a math prodigy in three straight years of Arithmetic 101.

And let’s be clear: this is my opinion and none of this is Jasson’s fault. The blame falls squarely on the Yankees front office—yes, Cashman, the scouts, the analytics hive, and Boone, all sitting around basking in the glow of the interlocking NY like it’s some kind of achievement in itself. They’re in love with being Yankees, not with doing the work it takes to win as the Yankees.

So here we are: a once-electric prospect who was supposed to be a cornerstone is now a guy the organization basically wasted through neglect, tunnel vision, and the developmental philosophy of “Eh, good enough.” And honestly? I see Spencer Jones headed down the same path…but that rant will need its own day.

Dominguez is getting older right in front of us, and the Yankees—surprise—need talent again. Which is why I’d bet he’s quietly warming the trade block this winter. He’ll be 23 at the start of the 2026 season. That’s too young and too talented to rot on the roster as a glorified fourth outfielder. Someone out there will take a shot on his pedigree, tools, and the hope that their development staff can do what the Yankees didn’t bother to.

Of course, the Yankees may also find themselves boxed into a corner. If Bellinger and Tucker sign elsewhere, the left-field hole becomes an abyss. They might have no option but to keep Dominguez out of pure necessity, which I am fine with, but they need to teach him how to catch.

But if they can trade him and patch the many, many leaks on this roster? Honestly, moving Dominguez might be the smartest play they can make if they want any real shot at contending in 2026. I don't want it to happen, but I truly feel like it's going to happen and that's on the development department of the New York Yankees. Another department that needs to be overhauled.

CASHMAN WON'T ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE YANKEES...

Cheap, cheap, cheap. 

If Brian Cashman were a bird, he’d be a bargain-bin parrot squawking “familiarity!” every offseason. The man treats the free-agent market like it’s a clearance rack at a yard sale: “Who can help the Yankees win—but only if they’re dented, dusty, or someone we already know so I don’t have to, you know… scout?”

Let’s be real: there is no master plan in Cashman’s office. There’s barely a Post-it note. And with Hal Steinbrenner clutching his checkbook like the Yankees are one bad quarter away from holding a bake sale, fans are stuck listening to the same tired sermon: “We’ll be competitive.”
Competitive with who? The Toledo Mud Hens?

We’ve got a shortstop who plays like a malfunctioning Roomba, two top starters rehabbing like full-time hospital residents, and Max Fried stranded on an island staring at the ocean like he’s trying to Morse-code for help. Meanwhile, the Yankees are out here praying Cam Schlittler is the next secret weapon—as if that’s a strategic plan and not blind optimism dressed in pinstripes.

And poor Aaron Judge. The man is aging like fine wine—except the Yankees are storing him in a paper bag under the sink. No rings, no support, just an MVP dragging around a roster held together with discounted duct tape. It’s the biggest waste of generational talent since someone let Mike Trout live in permanent baseball purgatory.

The Yankees franchise isn’t serious. It’s complacent. It’s hesitant. It’s allergic to pulling the trigger on actual stars. And fans? We’re not annoyed anymore—we’re exhausted. The Yankees keep kicking the can down the road, and at this point the can has more dents than their infield.

And now the latest nonsense? Cashman isn’t chasing Sandy Alcantara or Tarik Skubal. No. He’s poking around the idea of bringing back “Old Yankee Face” Michael King because—of course—he’s familiar, and he requires zero imagination.

MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch even laid out the parade of mediocrity: Trent Grisham accepting his qualifying offer, Tim Hill back, Ryan Yarbrough returning… the whole “Cashman Special Value Menu.” Not one superstar. Not one bold move. Just three guys who sound like they’d be great at assembling office furniture.

Hill? Solid. Grisham? Fine. Yarbrough? A science experiment Cashman thinks will make him look like a mastermind. Not one of them moves the needle—unless the needle is pointing to “meh.”

Then there’s King, the latest rumor. Had a nice season in San Diego, sure—3.10 ERA, 277 strikeouts, missed time but still solid. But San Diego is not the Bronx. Coming back to New York and repeating that isn’t a guarantee—it’s a coin flip, and Cashman loves a gamble if it lets him skip paying real money.

Meanwhile poor Max Fried is probably in his living room staring at the ceiling thinking, “How do I escape this roster of bubble gum, thumbtacks, and budget decisions?”

So here we are, careening toward the Winter Meetings, praying that Cashman finally makes a real splash. But we all know how this shakes out: some broken-down bargain pieces, a shrug at the podium, and the annual sermon: “The market was tough… we tried… but we really like our group.”

Yeah. We’ve heard it. We’ve lived it. We’re tired of it.

Cheap. Familiar. Not competitive.
Your 2025 New York Yankees, ladies and gentlemen.

Pathetic.

SONNY GRAY FOUND HIS BALLS!

Or did he? You can find lots of opinions about it on social media. That's one thing that is never in short supply on social media.....lots and lots of opinions. Sonny Gray had lots to say. Some people took it more offensively than others and then there's me, who laughed hysterically and is still chuckling as I write this.

In case you missed it, the St. Louis Cardinals traded Sonny to the Boston Red Sox. He was introduced to the Boston media yesterday and he already fits right in. He sounds like he was born and raised there. Translation....he hates the Yankees. SHOCKER oh and....I couldn't care less!

He's excited to be directly involved with the biggest rivalry of sports. "It feels good to me to go to a place where it's easy to hate the Yankees," Sonny said HERE. Some fans are enraged because once upon a time he said this:

That was almost 10 years ago. What was he supposed to say when he was asked about it....that he was mad as hell? Let's not forget that Sonny disagrees with the approach coaches took with him. They wanted him to throw fewer fastballs in favor of pitches that had more spin. That is the Yankees analytics game after all. He didn't agree with the Yankees approach and in the end he couldn't handle the bright lights in New York.

So let the guy talk and say he hates us. It's cool....it doesn't change the fact that he couldn't hack it in New York and he better hope he's learned a thing or two (or 5000) from his Yankee tenure because he is gonna need it in Boston. The pressure is on and now that he is adapting to the rivalry he better talk the talk and walk the walk meaning his salty ass better pitch well....or Boston will eat him alive and I will laugh even harder.

He's just trying to revive the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry to a new level. I guess he's just pathetically following in Cam Schlitter's path. Cam did it better though so he should take notes. None of us have forgotten that the kid that grew up in Massachusetts and was a die hard Boston fan with his family. Now he is a big part of our team and loving it. Oh and his family converted naturally. I guess that's what happens when the Yankees draft you and your hometown team doesn't. Their allegiance switched, just like Sonny's.

So I don't care about Sonny and his big mouth hating on the Yankees. Isn't that normal? Everyone hates us. I'm not gonna get bent out of shape over it. I also am not gonna give Sonny credit for talking tough. I'm just gonna laugh and enjoy it. Save the tough guy routine for the mound, buddy. Oh and, be ready for the Boo birds when you return to the Bronx. It's how we say WELCOME HOME!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WEAK-CHINNED WILLIAMS SIGNS WITH THE METS

There’s really no polite way to frame it, so let’s just belly-flop straight into honesty: I am ecstatic that Devin Williams is officially someone else’s problem. Truly, this might be the first offseason moment where Brian Cashman didn’t step on a rake. Whether he hesitated, procrastinated, or simply stared into space long enough for the Mets to do something reckless, it worked out beautifully for the Yankees.

Because let’s be real — did anyone watch this man pitch in pinstripes? It was like buying a fancy espresso machine that only spits out muddy water. Williams showed up from Milwaukee, immediately lost the closer job, and then spent the rest of the season trying to remember where the strike zone lived.

But fear not, New York baseball fans! The Mets — God bless their chaos — have swooped in with a three-year, $51 million love letter. A big one. A “did we really need to spend that?” one. Enjoy that ride, Mets. Bring a helmet.

So, what now? Do the Yankees make a bizarre, galaxy-brained run at Edwin Díaz? Who knows. Stranger things have absolutely happened in this town.

If it were up to me, I’d happily bring back Luke Weaver, hand him the ninth inning, and rebuild the bullpen with actual logic. Will Cashman do that? Of course not. This is the same GM who treats roster construction like a Sudoku puzzle he’s too tired to finish.

But hey, at least he didn’t sign Devin Williams. Even a broken franchise gets one right every now and then.

Go grow that beard, Devin. Have fun with it.

COULD SANDY ALCANTARA BE A YANKEE SOON?

Would the Yankees ever grow a spine, sack up, and actually trade for Sandy Alcantara? You remember that rumor, right? It was the hot, steamy, headline-dominating fling of last offseason… then it popped back up at the deadline like an ex who “just wants to talk.” And what happened? Nothing. Zip. Classic Yankees.

Part of the holdup is the Marlins convincing themselves they’re “competitive.” Sure. And I’m a Gold Glove second baseman. Miami, sweethearts, you don’t have a chance. It's adorable that you think you do, but no — you don’t.

Now here’s where it gets fun: Sandy Alcantara is exactly the kind of pitcher the Yankees pretend they’re bold enough to go get. He’s built for the Bronx. Power arm, bulldog attitude, and he’s proven he can carry a staff. But for a trade like that to happen, the Yankees would need to… brace yourself… sack up and move Anthony Volpe. Yes. I said it. Yes. I will die on this hill.

Package Volpe, add a couple minor leaguers, get Sandy, and call it a day. But will they? No. Because the Yankees are desperate to fix their mistake instead of admitting they made one. Volpe is the IKEA dresser with three missing screws — you keep trying to force it together while pretending it’s “fine.” Spoiler alert: it’s not. Volpe is trash, they picked wrong, and the scout who pushed that decision should be told to kick rocks in cheap cleats.

Anyway, back to sanity.

MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM dropped this on November 30 where former GM Jim Bowden said he thinks Alcantara to the Yankees is legit.

“I also think Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins has a legitimate shot of getting traded to the New York Yankees... I know they’ve had a lot of discussions; I think if the Yankees decided they would give up Spencer Jones—think of this for a minute—they trade Spencer Jones for Alcantara.”

Bowden is great when you need entertainment. Sometimes he even makes sense. But then he spirals into fantasyland, like when he insists the Yankees need Kyle Tucker. Buddy… if the Yankees re-sign Bellinger, that conversation ends. Full stop. Bellinger is the better fit in that scenario, period.

And Spencer Jones? Really? The Yankees waited two years for this kid to turn into a skyscraper that plays baseball, and Bowden wants to ship him off like an unwanted houseplant? Calm down, Jim. There are other creative paths to Alcantara that don’t involve gutting the future.

Nick Deeds from MLB Trade Rumors threw some ice water on everything, writing on November 28 that the Marlins expect to keep Alcantara:

“Alcantara, in particular, is someone that the organization ‘expects’ to still be in Miami on Opening Day.”

Deeds isn’t wrong — Sandy won a Cy Young in 2022, and even though he posted a 5.36 ERA over 31 starts last season, the Marlins aren’t going to sell low unless they absolutely lose their minds. And honestly? That’s fine. Rumor season is rumor season. Wake me up when someone actually does something.

But here’s the reality: the Yankees absolutely must upgrade their pitching. Mandatory. Required. Non-negotiable. Getting Max Fried was beautiful — chef’s kiss — but the rotation isn’t done. Not even close.

We can’t keep pretending Luis Gil is going to throw 180 innings without exploding. We can’t assume Cam Schlittler’s 2025 wasn’t a cosmic fluke. And we definitely can’t stroll into the season thinking, “Eh, good enough.”

WE. NEED. ONE. MORE. STARTER.

And Alcantara?
Yeah, he’s the guy.

Stay tuned — or more accurately, stay angry.

THE CHRISTMAS RUSH IS ON AT BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE

I’m not usually the guy on the street corner with the cardboard sign that says “WILL WORK FOR MERCH SALES,” but for the love of all things pinstriped, we’ve got some ridiculously good Yankee-flavored gifts cooking over at Bleeding Yankee Blue. Honestly, it’s one of the best parts of this whole BYB empire we’ve built—creating gear that makes Yankee freaks like us grin like we just watched a Boston error decide a game.

We’ve got everything: shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, pillows—yes, pillows. I never imagined in my wildest Steinbrenner-inspired fever dreams that BYB pillows would become a thing, but here we are. People buy them. People love them. People put them in their man caves, fan caves, lady caves, whatever cave they watch the Yankees in while screaming at the TV. And honestly? Respect.

Point is, there’s something for everyone. And when the holidays roll around, nothing—and I mean nothing—beats the legendary “Santa Is A Yankee Fan” tee. Folks grab it in long sleeve, pair it with pajama pants, and suddenly they’ve invented a Yankee-themed holiday sleepwear line. Who am I to judge? If it works, it works. I just want you all to enjoy the stuff.

But here’s the thing I really want: I want to SEE you wearing it! When you get your gear, post it on Facebook, tag me, tag BYB, tag your neighbor’s dog, I don’t care—just show it off. Nothing makes me happier than seeing BYB family rocking the merch like the runway is Yankee Stadium’s warning track.

Black Friday deals won’t last forever. Shipping exists. Time moves. We want your gear to arrive before Santa parks his sleigh on your roof. So do yourself a favor: hit the store, dive in headfirst, and go absolutely bonkers. There are a ton of designs waiting, and an entire new batch is dropping in 2026.

So go forth. Shop like Cashman should be shopping.
Great deals, great gear, great fun.

Happy Holidays, BYB family.

PATH FOR THE YANKEES TO SIGNING IMAI JUST TOOK AN INTERESTING TURN

Since last week I have been on a major Tatsuya Imai watch. It hasn't subsided and now that there are rumors surfacing now about more teams that may no longer be in play, it makes the Yankees potential path to signing Imai even more fascinating. I said last week, I just want to see who he signs with.

Last week Imai said he didn't want to play for the Dodgers. He wants to play against them and beat them to win a championship. Ever since I have been hooked because I just love that attitude. I have been trying to avoid all headlines teasing about Imai and his Yankee connections, and I was actually doing a good job until recently. I am not looking to get emotionally attached to the idea he wears pinstripes....but I am seeing more and more headlines.

Yesterday, Sports Illustrated hinted that the Yankees may not be as crazy of a destination as I thought, check it out HERE. Two of Imai's other potential suitors MIGHT be out of the race. Buster Olney posted on X over the weekend.

I'm not going to hold my breath because anything is possible. The Giants have been looking to make a splash since they lost out on Aaron Judge and what better way to try to compete with the Dodgers? It's an interesting idea, Imai could sign with a division rival and have more opportunities to play against and beat other Japanese players. It's an angle that could work.

There's also still the Blue Jays. I get it, they just signed Dylan Cease to a seven year $210 million dollar commitment, but adding a second starter could really reinforce the Blue Jays abilities to get back to the postseason. They add another arm, and they really could be dangerous, to everyone not just the Yankees. If they want to make a real investment another pitcher with a potent bat will only help their chances of playing baseball in November again.

There's a team that can't be overlooked and we haven't heard as much about and that's the Mets. We could see another faceoff between Cohen and Steinbrenner. The Mets realistically need multiple arms to retool their roster after a disappointing 2025 season where starting pitching did not meet expectations. The Mets need arms that can get them deeper into games and as disappointing as last season was, I don't see them sitting back and playing it cool.

So this could be another team to watch. Cohen has deep pockets, and he's already proven he's not afraid to dig into them. He's not looking for another disappointing season, so Imai could be just the move he has on his radar. I could see it happening.... this has the stink of the Mets all over it.

The Yankees have not made a splash in the NPB market since Masahiro Tanaka, so this could be the opportunity, but I am still not going to give my hopes up. Is the path to signing him getting less crowded? My gut tells me no but.... I'm still watching attentively.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

BELLINGER IS KEEPING US ALL GUESSING

I hate the games within the game. Baseball used to be simple: pitch the ball, hit the ball, pray the bullpen doesn’t spontaneously combust. But thanks to Scott Boras—Baseball’s Self-Appointed Emperor of Drama—we now have offseasons that feel like hostage negotiations run by a guy who thinks he’s starring in Succession.

Let’s get one thing straight: Scott Boras absolutely wrecked the sport’s sanity. Oh, he’s phenomenal at getting his clients rich. Nobody disputes that. If you’re a player and you want a gold-plated jacuzzi installed in your contract, Boras is your guy. He will squeeze every owner until they’re begging for mercy and signing checks with shaky hands. But if you're a fan? Forget it. Boras has turned free agency into a months-long opera where every aria ends with, “Sources say he’s considering all 30 teams.”

He’s great for his players, sure. But for baseball? He’s like putting greased wheels on a runaway shopping cart and rolling it down a hill.

Look at Pete Alonso. Boras pushed him so hard last year he practically emerged from negotiations like a bag of overworked laundry—wrinkled, mishandled, and marked “fragile.” By the time the dust settled, Alonso could only swing a one-year deal with the Mets. Why? Because Boras dragged him through a circus so long that teams just watched from afar, sipping coffee and whispering, “Yeah… we’re good.”

Then Alonso said “enough,” walked himself back to Queens, and delivered a monster season—because he took control. Not Boras. Alonso saved Alonso.

Now we pivot to Cody Bellinger, whose offseason story already feels like it was co-written by Boras and a malfunctioning Instagram algorithm.

Let’s run down what we actually know:

• Bellinger is a free agent.

• He was a Yankee.

• The Yankees would like him back.

• That’s it. That’s the whole plot so far.

And then he posts a photo of himself in a blank, logo-less hat—basically the baseball equivalent of entering the Witness Protection Program—and now we’re left squinting at social media like it’s a Dan Brown novel. Anytime Boras is involved, everything feels like a coded message:
Is he hinting at something? Is he trolling? Are we supposed to “decode” the hat?

Meanwhile, the Yankees—masters of slowness, champions of hesitation, pioneers of dragging things out until other teams actually finish their business—continue to “monitor the situation.” Cashman says he wants Bellinger back. And sure, he says it with conviction… but he said he wanted pitching for the last five years and somehow still ended up signing guys who need immediate Tommy John brochures printed for them.

Other teams—the Dodgers, the Mets—are already lurking with actual intent. You know, that thing the Yankees used to have before Cashman started approaching offseasons like a man shopping for a winter coat but refusing to buy one until spring arrives.

And here’s the kicker: Bellinger isn’t some middle-of-the-road gamble. The guy mashed in 2025:
.272 average, 29 homers, 98 RBIs, 89 runs across 152 games.
At Yankee Stadium? He basically turned the place into his personal amusement park:
.909 OPS, 18 bombs in 80 games.

Defensively? He was great—center field, left field, right field, first base. Plug him anywhere and he excels. He was good for the Yankees, great for the Bronx, and honestly one of the rare Cashman acquisitions that didn’t require an apology letter later.

But here we go again:
Boras playing chess while pretending it’s 4D underwater reverse chess.
Cashman sitting there staring at the board like the pieces might move on their own.
Yankees fans waiting like we’re in line at the DMV.

Will Boras inflate Bellinger’s market into the stratosphere? Probably.
Will Cashman drag his feet until the Dodgers or Mets swoop in? Wouldn’t shock a soul.
Will this turn into another offseason where the Yankees act like they have all the time in the world while every other team is out there actually doing things? Almost certainly.

So now we wait.
And wait.
And wait some more.

All because Scott Boras loves long, dramatic offseasons…
And Brian Cashman loves moving at the speed of a chilled glacier.

Baseball deserves better.
The Yankees need Bellinger.
The Bronx wants Bellinger.

But will this front office actually beat Boras’ game for once?
Or will they get played—again?

Pull up a chair. The circus is in town.