JOEY GALLO THE PITCHER? IT COULD BE HAPPENING!

It's been almost a year since Joey Gallo told the world he intended to continue his MLB career as a pitcher. I laughed (and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still laughing) at the idea thinking it would never happen but he's still trying to make it happen and I'm still paying attention.

I really got tired of talking about Gallo when he played for us. He frustrated the hell out of me so when we got rid of him I was excited to never talk about him again. I guess he has proved me wrong no matter what happens with his new pitching quest because here I am talking (and trying not to laugh) about this. 

Gallo just turned 32 in November, and he is trying to reinvent himself. He's posted enough videos on X of him pitching to garner some attention from not only me but also some scouts. According to Jon Heyman, he's caught the eye of several teams.

So Spring Training is happening, and teams have actually made an effort to go watch him at a showcase. I never thought this would happen, even after seeing some videos but apparently, anything really is possible. His videos were good enough to catch the interest of scouts. I will give him some credit, he did used to have a good throwing arm so maybe he can harness that somehow and reinvent himself? He's posted content, and he's trying. We've all seen worse.

So could someone take a chance on him? Anything is possible. Hell, since the Yankees want to run out the same team they had last season they could be crazy enough to one up it and go back to 2022. I hope not, because as much as we need a stronger bullpen I'm not ready to experiment on Gallo 2.0. If he wants to try to channel his Shohei Ohtani skills and be the once hitter that also pitches then good for him! Just do it away from the Bronx, please.

I will never poo on anyone's goals, so credit to Gallo for trying. However, I'm not sure where this can really go. I did say anything is possible before.....and for me that could include Gallo finding a way to  strike himself out. I guess we'll see if this grows legs and goes anywhere.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE YANKEES "SCORED" ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET

Yankee fans, inhale… exhale… and maybe keep that skeptical eyebrow cocked just in case.

The New York Yankees have wandered into some unfamiliar territory, signing 17-year-old Mexican pitcher Felipe Hernández on the international market. The radar gun is already flirting with fantasy—he’s reportedly touching 95 mph—and yes, that’s the kind of number that makes people in the Bronx start daydreaming about parades before the kid can legally rent a car.

The paperwork just became official, and from that moment on, the hype train left the station with no brakes. Clips started circulating, projections started flying, and the familiar whispers of “future ace” echoed through the digital upper decks of Yankee Stadium.

There’s just one small detail worth underlining in bold: he’s still a teenager. A gifted one, no doubt—but one without a single professional inning under his belt, no dog days of August grind, no long bus rides, and no firsthand experience with baseball’s favorite pastime: humbling you when you least expect it. Banking emotional stock in raw youth is a newer move for a franchise that usually prefers pitchers who arrive with mileage, scars, and a résumé thicker than the media guide.

Hernández does bring more than just gas. Scouts are already drooling over an 82-mph curveball that’s being labeled “big-league ready,” and his command and poise have raised eyebrows for someone his age. That combination—velocity with polish—is what convinced the Yankees to lock him up for the future without blinking.

The signing itself was kept low-key, finalized quietly in Tamaulipas with family and team officials present. Months of planning led to February’s handshake, and now Hernández is headed for the Yankees’ development complex, where the real work begins—far from bright lights and bold headlines.

This isn’t a bad signing. It’s an intriguing one. Just remember the fine print: potential doesn’t equal production, radar-gun readings don’t guarantee durability, and dreaming on teenage arms is a long, winding road. Enjoy the buzz—but keep your patience handy.

ADDING ANOTHER SIGNING TO OUR TEAM OF MISFIT MINOR LEAGUERS

The New York Yankees have officially crawled into spring training the same way you crawl into a 24-hour diner at 3 a.m.—tired, uninspired, and hoping something on the menu magically fixes your problems.

Case in point: Rafael Montero.

According to MLB reporter Hector Gomez, Montero is joining the New York Yankees on a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. If he somehow pitches his way onto the big-league roster, he’ll earn $1.8 million, plus a $500,000 signing bonus. If not? Thanks for stopping by Tampa. Don’t forget your luggage.

This isn’t a signing designed to move the needle. It doesn’t electrify the fan base, terrify opposing lineups, or even raise an eyebrow outside the Bronx. It exists for exactly one reason: low-risk, veteran bullpen depth. That’s it. Full stop. No secret upside, no hidden master plan, no “Cashman cooking” subplot. Just another arm to toss onto the pile and hope something sticks.

Montero’s recent résumé doesn’t exactly scream renaissance. In 2025, the right-hander struggled mightily with the Atlanta Braves, posting a 5.50 ERA across 36 appearances before being shipped off to the Detroit Tigers. That’s not a rebound story—that’s a relocation.

And yet, here we are. Another spring training invite. Another “maybe he figures it out” flier. Another reminder that the Yankees’ current roster philosophy seems to be less Death Star and more yard sale. A lot of no-names. A lot of minor leaguers. A whole lot of hope doing the heavy lifting.

This is what passes for roster construction now: plugging holes with bubble wrap and crossing fingers. The Yankees aren’t attacking weaknesses; they’re politely acknowledging them and moving on. The bullpen isn’t being reinforced—it’s being padded with insurance claims.

Montero isn’t the problem. He’s just the symbol. A perfectly reasonable, perfectly uninspiring addition to a team that once collected stars and now collects lottery tickets. Spring training used to be about sharpening a powerhouse. Now it’s about auditions.

Welcome to camp, Rafael. You’re not here because you change the Yankees’ fate. You’re here because you were available—and apparently, that’s the bar now.

YOU'RE ABOUT TO WASTE ANOTHER YEAR, YANKEE FANS...

And you should be pissed about that.

The most alarming thing about the Yankees right now isn’t any single injury, signing, or quote. It’s the overwhelming sense that nothing has actually changed. Strip away the hype videos, the spring optimism, and the buzzwords, and the 2026 Yankees look almost indistinguishable from the 2025 version—a team that already showed you exactly who it was.

This front office continues to operate as if baseball is played on spreadsheets instead of by human beings. Everything is optimized, projected, and simulated—except health, fatigue, and reality. That blind spot is now staring them in the face with Cam Schlittler. The Yankees practically crowned him the next Cy Young winner before he threw a meaningful pitch, and now he’s sidelined with mid-back inflammation. Aaron Boone told reporters Schlittler won’t be throwing off a mound for several days. They didn’t account for the fact that bodies break down, especially young ones pushed into oversized expectations.

Schlittler’s issue may not feel catastrophic today—but that’s the point. Yankees injuries never are, until suddenly they are. And it matters because Schlittler is one of only two reliable arms expected to be ready on Opening Day, alongside Max Fried, who led all of baseball in wins last season. Beyond that? The same fragile depth, the same question marks, the same crossing-your-fingers routine fans have endured for years.

The rest of the roster feels just as automated. The Yankees have become baseball’s version of a rerun factory—collecting familiar names, recycling narratives, and pretending it’s progress. Bringing back Paul Goldschmidt is the clearest example. Why, exactly? His 2025 season was a disappointment by any honest standard. He punished left-handed pitching but collapsed against righties, hit just 10 home runs in 146 games, and cratered after the All-Star break, batting .245 while losing at-bats to Ben Rice. That’s not a bounce-back candidate—that’s a warning sign.

@yankees Have you checked the Weathers today? #ryanweathers #yankees #springtraining ♬ original sound - Yankees

And yet, here we are again, complete with hype videos for a fifth starter like Ryan Weathers, as if the Yankees cracked some secret code that guarantees a title. Is this a joke? This is not how serious contenders behave. When teams fall short, they usually overhaul. They get uncomfortable. They get aggressive. The Yankees did none of that.

In the latest episode of his podcast, New York sports radio icon Mike Francesa said the quiet part out loud. The Yankees, he argued, are perfectly content. Winning 95 games and falling short doesn’t trigger panic—it triggers profits. “There is a satisfaction inside the Yankees that their fans don’t feel,” Francesa said. The organization isn’t operating in crisis mode because, financially, there is no crisis.

He echoed what fans—and places like Bleeding Yankee Blue—have been screaming for over a year: nothing changes until the money does. Empty seats. Empty luxury boxes. Fewer jerseys sold. Fewer $15 beers consumed. Until ownership feels it, complacency reigns.

And that’s what makes this all so infuriating. The Yankees are actively wasting the prime of Aaron Judge, one of the greatest players of his generation. Instead of building aggressively around him, they’re signing minor leaguers, patching holes, and pretending continuity equals competitiveness.

The Cam Schlittler injury may not derail the season today—but it’s a symbol. A reminder that this pitching staff is still hanging together with duct tape, that nothing structural has been fixed, and that the lessons of last year were ignored.

The bottom line is unavoidable: the 2026 Yankees are a mirror image of the 2025 Yankees. And teams with the same flaws, the same philosophy, and the same manager who still struggles to manage cannot suddenly become champions. Sorry to break it to you—but this isn’t a title team. 

It’s just another rerun and another year wasted.

THE DAMN PENNY PINCHING YANKEES!

I know the Yankees aren't "cheap" like the Athletics are. We spend a lot of money on a roster unlike the Athletics (as flawed as it is) and Hal Steinbrenner has talked a lot in recent years about pulling back on the budget for sustainability. For a long time we have wondered exactly where Hal would draw that line and say 'no more' and we have our answer.

We keep hearing about the Yankees "running it back" out again in 2026, and we can see that again....in an attempt that thankfully failed. The Yankees tried to bring back another guy from last season, and a very unimpactful one at that. The Yankees pursued Austin Slater again but he said 'no thanks' and packed his bag for Detroit, read more HERE. 

So the Yankees offered $1 million, but the Tigers gave Slater a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training worth $2 million with an additional $500,000 in potential incentives. Interesting how the Yankees chose to lose in this scenario for what is literally pocket change for them. Even at max incentive earnings, I never thought I would see the Yankees just fold like that. Not that I REALLY wanted Slater in particular, because he was not impactful for us but damn....I never thought I would see THAT happen. 

But honestly, that isn't even the first time or the first Austin. The Yankees were connected to Austin Hays all winter as a backup option if Cody Bellinger did not return. It was also rumored he could be a potential bench piece for us. The Mets were also interested because if the Yankees are interested the Mets have to be too. Last week, Hays signed a $6 million deal with the Chicago White Sox so Hays won't be playing for either New York team. It's crazy to think about but if the Yankees passed on the cheaper Slater this week, I guess it shouldn't surprise us the Yankees were out at the higher price tag.

Honestly, I would've preferred Hays over Slater but it doesn't matter now. What does matter is the Yankees need more right-handed options in the lineup so they need SOMEONE. Trent Grisham is left-handed, Cody is left-handed, and Jasson Dominguez might as well be left-handed because he is beyond weak on the other side of the plate. We need more than just Aaron Judge as a right-handed option in the outfield.

The Yankees need to do something here. Honestly when you look at remaining options it's pretty embarrassing to lose out on both of these guys for a dollar amount that is so insignificant to them in the grand scheme of things. This isn't a small market team with thin profit margins....but they are acting like one.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

DO THE YANKEES HAVE DIFFERENT PLANS FOR DOMINGUEZ THIS SEASON?

There are many questions about the Yankees heading into the 2026 season. Now that we have some questions answered about who is playing where....now one of the biggest ones left unanswered is what role does Jasson Dominguez have? Now that the Yankees have a full outfield, everyone has a clear role except Dominguez.

That's not a fun place to be. It certainly seems to be the Yankees operating model over the years though log jams and insanity is the norm. Now according to a recent report HERE, MLB insider's believe they have a clear picture on the future of Dominguez. The Yankees aren't confirming this yet but it makes sense.... Jon Heyman reports that "barring something unforeseen," Dominguez looks to be destined for a start the 2026 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

It all makes sense. After the All-Star break last year, at-bats were very few and far between so why not send him down? His development would be better served with regular playing time. Even Brian Cashman said he considered doing it last season but ultimately decided against it. 

"He wasn't playing. I could have sent him to Triple-A," Cashman said. "I didn't think that was right to do, either. He provided the chance for us to run into something off the bench, especially with his speed to go along with José Caballero. But I still think there's some upside there."

The Yankees had some upside last season with a deeper bench, but his lack of regular playing time didn't help against left-handed pitching where he batted .186 with one home run and nine RBI's. Some regular playing time would help him work on some of his deficiencies, especially since he didn't have much of that in the minors. 

"We're talking about a very, very young player that didn't play a ton of Minor League baseball," Aaron Boone said. "And what suffers from that? The side you don't hit from as much. He's a natural right-handed hitter, so I don't think it's out of the question that at some point the right-handed catches up to the left side."

I think we saw a lot of red flags last season with Dominguez. He needs time to develop, he's not ready for a full time big league roll. Until he is, he shouldn't be a spare piece riding the bench. It does no good for him. If the Yankees intend to keep him he needs to go down and work on fundamentals. He was one the worst left fielders in the league last year. He cannot hit lefties, righthanded. He cannot help the Yankees.....yet.

So I think it is time to go back down, it's a terrible 23rd belated birthday present but if we are talking about what's best for him, the minor league demotion is the only right answer.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

 

JUST WHO DOES BRIAN CASHMAN THINK HE IS KIDDING?

The Yankees have been dreaming of a rematch with the Dodgers at the World Series. Brian Cashman thinks running the same team back on the field this season is gonna get the job done. Now he is trying to gaslight all of us into thinking the Yankees are gonna be better than they were last season....

And no one sane believes that. Great, the band is back together once Gerrit Cole returns. The magic will be back and suddenly everything is supposed to change. Oh and having a full season of Cam Schlittler is a big upgrade IF he can stay healthy and productive but Cashman is all in on this team. He's as stupid and delusional as ever and wants us to join him in delusion land. "We all understand in the postseason, you've got to bring your best baseball every series and if you don't, you're going home. It doesn't mean we weren't capable of great things. We just didn't get the job done in that time frame against the Toronto Blue Jays," Cashman said HERE.

And naturally Aaron Boone is his parrot and feels the same way. "At the end of last year, in so many ways, it's as good as I felt about our team heading into the postseason in the years I've been here," Boone said. "Obviously, we got beat up in the division round. It didn't go our way. That doesn't mean it's not gonna go our way the next time. We think we’re really good. That doesn’t mean we’re gonna win 94 games again. It doesn't mean we're gonna win 88. But we think we have the pieces." 

Obviously both of these bozos believe we are so good we didn't need to make any improvements. We can just run the same team back out there and do it all again but win this time. Never mind that the rest of the division has made improvements and is stronger on paper. We can stay the same and maybe win 94 games again....or not. I'm leaning towards not because the left side of the infield is a disaster and Anthony Volpe is such a lost cause, but the Yankees will continue to foolishly stand behind him. The Yankees was us to believe he is the right piece? NOT EVEN CLOSE!

We are two weeks away from Spring training and Fangraphs have already made their predictions for this season and they disagree with the Yankees strategy, read more HERE. Not only do they think the Yankees are a LONGSHOT to win the division at 18.9%, but they only have a 41.1% chance at winning one of three wildcard spots. Hell, they even predict the Yankees to finish in FOURTH one game behind the Orioles. It hurts to read but I can't say I disagree.

I want to see this team get back to the World Series and win but we couldn't beat the Blue Jays last season. They owned us in the regular season so losing to them in the postseason wasn't a surprise to anyone with a brain....so of course that excludes Cashman and Baboonie. The Blue Jays have made improvements over the winter, so unless they regress A LOT and the Red Sox and Orioles massively underperform Yankee fans should be ready for a long and frustrating season.

These clowns need to stop gaslighting us. I'm sick of it!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

DON'T LOOK NOW, BUT BRIAN CASHMAN IS TRYING TO MOVE YOUR FAVORITE PROSPECT!

There has been a big movement to promote Spencer Jones over the past year. I've had several readers tell me it is time to see what the kid is made of and bring him to the big league stage. Yankee fans may finally  get their wish....or will they?

It's funny because BRIAN CASHMAN CAN'T WALK & CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME this winter, but now that there is a crowded outfield with Cody Bellinger officially back in pinstripes he may have figured out how to put one foot in front of the other while chomping on some Big League Chew. It took him long enough, and if it finally happens....it's about damn time!

Cashman laid the groundwork for a big tease, check it out HERE. The Yankees have been reluctant to move Jones, and now all of the sudden Cashman thinks he is going to use some Jedi mind trick to drum up some major interest. Teams were interested, especially in 2024. Now? Not as much but Cashman thinks he can rekindle that.

"He's an exciting young talent that's, again, unproven at the Major League level," Cashman said of Jones. "We're going to find out at some point -- or somebody else would find out at some point, if they pry him away from me."

IF THEY pry him away from me....that's cute. That would've worked better two years ago, but this is an example of the classic Yankees. They hype up prospects, don't actually promote them or trade them when they are at their highest value and just collect them like an old, dusty antique relic in your grandfather's closet. Jones could be the same dusty relic (even though several of you have told me I am wrong). Fact is, Jones will soon be 25 years old, still in Triple-A because he has a horrendous strikeout rate. His trade value is diminished.

It's a sad but true fact. What the Yankees could've commanded for him two years ago is NOT what they can get for him now. Will some team out there still pay something for him in a trade deal? Sure. He's supposed to be a five tool guy and teams are always looking for those. He could just be a late bloomer....but teams know he's not everything Cashman is trying to sell him as, otherwise the Yankees could've just walked away from Cody without blinking an eye.

But they didn't. The Yankees spent $162.5 million on Cody instead. So now that the Yankees have other needs (especially pitching), they can afford to move some surplus. Cashman could decide to have an estate sale and try to make Jones a big ticket item instead of a hand-me-down at a neighborhood garage sale. Cashman is gonna try.....but I think he is two years too late and his sales pitch isn't as impressive now.

Cashman is trying. If you believe Jones is the next Yankee great, this is your proof that the Yankees disagree. Don't be surprised if the Yankees do find a trade partner....and don't be surprised if the return isn't as big as you would like. Blame the Yankees!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SCOTT BORAS DOESN'T LOSE OFTEN - BUT HE DID THIS TIME!

It's not often that Scott Boras loses...so when he does I like to celebrate it. I celebrate it even more when his loss comes at the hands of the Yankees. But let's take it a step further.....when it comes to Cody Bellinger he has a history of getting it WRONG.

Look, I am happy that the Yankees got Cody back. We NEEDED him. Without Cody, this team would be doomed right now. I just didn't want the Yankees to massively overpay for him, especially after Boras got cutesy at the Winter Meetings and cited poetically about how Cody had EIGHT interested teams. Well it turns out, that was a big fat Boras lie. The amount of interest wasn't exactly what Boras spinned it to be (shocking).

So here we are. Cody is a Yankee again for five years at $162.5 million. No crazy seven year contract that Boras wanted with an annual average of $37 million a season. Even the Yankees told Boras a six year offer was "a pipe dream" read more HERE. It was take it or leave it....and if there was a better offer than the Yankees out there then Cody should take it.

This isn't the first "fail" Boras had with Cody. Remember back to the 2023-2024 offseason, MLBtraderumors predicted Cody would get a 12 year deal worth $264 million HERE, The Yankees were even picked as the favorite, but Cody's actual contract fell VERY short of that at three years $80 million with the Cubs with an opt out. That opt out is what brought him here. Talk about a MASSIVE difference in between expectations and reality.

That's two BIG losses for Boras when it comes to Cody. It sucks for Cody, but maybe this is a good lesson to show him that he should stop relying so much on Boras. He's not getting the job done for him at least. Boras MAY hit a milestone of $1 billion in contracts for his clients this winter but it might give Cody  something to think about if he choses to exercise his opt outs in his new contract. It might be time for a new agent who isn't completely delusional in his market expectations.

I am happy Cody is a Yankee again. I've wanted it all winter and have been talking about it constantly, but that doesn't mean I have to root for Boras too. He's failed to achieve his own goals for Cody twice now. I think it's time for Cody to take a good long look in the mirror and realize Boras hasn't served him as well as he had hoped....and to lose his number for good. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

REPORT: THE YANKEES SIGNED A 13-YEAR-OLD

Who the hell is in charge of this ridiculous team?

If this story is actually true, then congratulations to the New York Yankees front office: you’ve officially chased me off the bandwagon. I’m done pretending this is a serious organization run by serious adults.

We just sat through an entire offseason where the Yankees refused to sign a proven Major League player — you know, someone with an actual résumé — because they were allegedly being “smart” and “responsible” with their money. No reckless deals. No foolish spending. Very noble. Very forward-thinking. Very “trust us.”

And then — when fans finally snapped because this team made zero meaningful moves to win in 2026 — the Yankees responded by signing a 13-year-old.

Yes. Thirteen.

Middle school. Book reports. Growth spurts. Algebra homework.

That’s the plan.

This franchise, worth billions, with championship expectations, has decided the solution is to gamble seven million dollars on a kid who won’t be legally old enough to rent a car until roughly the time they hope he might help them win. They’re not trying to win now. They’re not even pretending to. The Yankees are aiming for relevance eight to ten years from now based on a guess. A guess about a teenager.

For the love of God, you can’t even project how a 13-year-old will play next year, let alone in eight.

According to Wilbur Sanchez, an MLB analyst who covers international prospects, the Yankees have reached a pre-agreement with Albert Mejías, a Venezuelan prospect from the 2030 class, for a record-setting $7 million bonus. Sanchez calls him “the best player in the history of the international market” and claims he could play professional baseball right now.

Right. Sure. And Anthony Volpe is “elite,” according to Aaron Boone — despite never playing college ball, being rushed through the minors, and routinely sucking the oxygen out of the lineup. Forgive me if I no longer treat Yankee scouting hype like gospel.

This isn’t confidence. It’s delusion.

History screams at us that this stuff goes wrong all the time. The Giants once gave Lucius Fox $6 million as a teenage shortstop. He played ten Major League games. Ten. Injuries wrecked him, and he became a career minor leaguer.

And Yankees fans should know this better than anyone. Remember Brien Taylor? Number one overall pick. Record bonus. High school phenom. Untouchable. Until one fight ruined his shoulder and his career evaporated. Gone. Just like that.

That’s the point: money doesn’t just “not matter.” It complicates everything. Injuries happen. Bodies change. Life happens. Kids grow up. Seven million dollars doesn’t come with a crystal ball.

I’m not saying this kid won’t work out. I’m saying anything can happen between 13 years old and the Major Leagues — and betting the franchise’s direction on that timeline while ignoring the present is organizational malpractice.

The deal is stupid. The logic is broken. The priorities are upside down.

The Yankees didn’t fail to improve because they couldn’t. They failed because they chose not to — and then had the audacity to sell this as some master plan. This team is making the wrong moves, over and over, with no urgency, no accountability, and apparently no one watching.

That’s what bothers me most.

Not the kid.
Not the money.
But the unmistakable feeling that the people running this franchise have completely lost the plot — and no one is being fired for it.

I'm over the Yankees front office. They are morons and not even Michael Kay, the Yankees apologist, can defend this.

CASHMAN CAN'T WALK & CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME

It’s honestly astounding how aggressively unaggressive the Yankees’ front office has become. Once upon a time, this franchise hunted stars. Now, under the ever-comfortable watch of Brian Cashman and his circle of yes-men, they spent an entire offseason dumpster-diving for minor leaguers while dragging their feet on the one obvious move that mattered: getting Cody Bellinger back.

To be fair—credit where it’s due—they finally landed their big fish, and the news broke yesterday. Great. Applause. But here’s the problem: it never should have taken this long. The foot-dragging, the posturing, the “we’re totally fine as-is” routine—it all reeks of either penny-pinching or paralysis. Either the Yankees don’t want to spend money anymore, or Cashman has reached the stage of his career where multitasking is considered a hostile work environment. Neither option is comforting.

And while the Yankees sit on their hands, pitchers continue to come off the board. The latest? Freddy Peralta—now a New York Met. Let me be clear: I wasn’t pounding the table for Peralta. If anything, it felt like a potential Devin Williams 2.0 situation. I was cautious. Skeptical. But you know what was appealing? The idea that the Yankees might actually try to improve their team. That illusion, of course, vanished right on schedule.

Peralta is gone. The Mets acted. The Yankees watched. Again.

So now we’re left staring at a projected Opening Day rotation of Max Fried, Will Warren, Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler, and newly acquired Ryan Weathers. Intimidating? Only if you’re afraid of mediocrity. There’s no question the absence of another frontline starter will eventually grind Fried down and overwhelm rookie Schlittler. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón remain shelved, and pretending otherwise is organizational malpractice. A power arm early in the season isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. The fact that this seems invisible in Yankeeland is borderline deranged.

Even Yankees insiders see the problem. Over at Yankees on SI, Mitchell Cocoran laid out the dwindling options—many of which have already been discussed on Bleeding Yankee Blue. He’s right to bring them up though. As Cocoran wrote:

“Luckily for the Yankees, there are still options, but they are becoming few and far between.”

Cocoran suggests that one idea gaining traction is a trade for Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore, coming off a 2025 All-Star campaign with a 3.0 WAR, 185 strikeouts, and a 4.17 ERA. Another name floating around? Tarik Skubal—though even there, the Dodgers are reportedly lurking, because of course they are. According to Buster Olney, L.A. remains firmly in the mix.

And that’s the most disturbing part of all: the Yankees can no longer outmuscle—or even outmaneuver—the monster franchises. The Dodgers act. The Mets act. The Yankees issue statements.

This is the new Yankees brand: cheap, complacent, and painfully disengaged. Cashman responds to every question with a word salad about timing, fit, and how “trades are complicated.” No kidding. That’s the job. And right now, the job is screaming for a starting pitcher.

They needed one at the start of the offseason. They still need one now. Without Cole and Rodón, the pressure on Fried, Schlittler, and the rest of this thin rotation is enormous. One more power arm could be the difference between a playoff run and another October disappointment—maybe even the difference between a title and another wasted season.

Without it? This team will fall behind early. And if this is truly the plan, I’ll say it plainly: the Yankees will not win in 2026.

Sometimes common sense has to enter the room. Right now, it hasn’t. Cashman looks slow, detached, and completely unwilling to adapt. And honestly? I can’t stand it anymore.

BELLINGER IS BACK & I'M HAPPY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS OFFSEASON

Let’s get something straight right out of the gate: the Yankees didn’t just want to bring Cody Bellinger back—they had no choice. This wasn’t a luxury buy. This wasn’t a “nice addition.” This was a reputational bailout.

Yes, Bellinger improves the roster. Anyone pretending otherwise is either lying or staring at a depth chart through Yankee Stadium beer goggles. He fields. He hits. He lengthens the lineup. He gives you actual competence in multiple spots instead of duct tape and crossed fingers. That part is obvious. But the real reason this deal had to happen lives above the field, inside the front office, where this offseason went to die.

Because let’s not rewrite history here. The Yankees’ winter was a masterclass in doing a whole lot of nothing while pretending it was part of a grand plan. “Flexibility.” “Optionality.” “We like our internal options.” Every buzzword, zero urgency. It was like watching someone rearrange deck chairs and calling it naval engineering. The fanbase wasn’t restless—it was insulted.

If the Yankees failed to land Bellinger, the contingency plan was painfully transparent. Out comes the media blitz. Cue the glowing prospect packages. Spencer Jones suddenly becomes untouchable, generational, Babe Judge Mantle Jr., whether he was ready or not. Every YES segment turns into farm-system propaganda. The hope? That fans would get distracted by shiny future toys and forget the present was being neglected in real time.

It would be damage control at its best. But wow...the Yankees actually did the right thing today.

And to be clear: Cody Bellinger will help this team win. He brings balance to a lineup that’s been painfully one-dimensional. If they didn't sign him, there's no question there would be a hole, a void.

Now, would I still like a true top-of-the-rotation starter? Of course I would. Anyone with a pulse would. But baseball doesn’t work that way, and the Yankees already burned too much time playing chicken with the market. You don’t get everything you want when you spend months acting like you don’t want anything at all.

The Bellinger deal itself—five years, $162.5 million, opt-outs after years two and three, plus a $20 million signing bonus—is hefty. Is it perfect? No. Does Bellinger “deserve” every cent in a vacuum? Probably not. But this isn’t a vacuum. This is the modern MLB marketplace, where it was either the Yankees, the Mets, or the Dodgers—and standing still meant losing. Context matters.

And let’s not ignore the sentimental truth here. Bellinger’s roots matter. His father wore pinstripes. The Yankees still sell history better than anyone, and in this case, history helped close the deal in my opinion. Nostalgia isn’t everything—but when the money’s close, it still tips the scale.

So yes, I’m happy. Legitimately happy. For the first time this entire offseason, the Yankees front office acted like an organization that understands expectations. They didn’t hide. They didn’t spin. They didn’t punt. They signed the guy they needed to sign.

Now—before anyone gets carried away—this doesn’t mean all is forgiven. One good move doesn’t erase months of inertia, or years of stubborn thinking. It just means they passed a test they absolutely could not afford to fail.

Enjoy the moment. Celebrate it. And don’t worry—I’ll find a fresh reason to be mad at Brian Cashman tomorrow. That, unlike roster construction, remains perfectly consistent.