YANKS CHOOSE .162 HITTING CATCHER OVER ADLEY RUTSCHMAN

Yikes!

Baseball's trade season always feels like a poker game where everyone insists they're not bluffing—right up until an ace disappears across the table. If reports are accurate, the Boston Red Sox are on the verge of landing star switch-hitting catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles in a blockbuster deal that could reshape the American League East.

For Boston, it's the kind of move that says, "We're done rebuilding. Hand us the chips." Adding one of baseball's premier catchers to an already dangerous lineup would instantly make the Red Sox better.

 
And then there's the Bronx.

If the Red Sox are loading up while the Yankees stand still, the question practically asks itself:

Brian Cashman, where are you? 

Are you really content with Austin Wells? Wearing an orange chest protector as a tribute to Thurman Munson is a classy gesture—but how about paying tribute with the bat? Thurman built his legacy by producing when it mattered, not by hitting .162. 

It's a freaking gimmick.

The Yankees aren't a franchise that celebrates effort alone; they're measured by results. If your biggest rival is making franchise-altering moves while you're watching a catcher struggle to stay above the Mendoza Line, that's not patience—that's complacency.

The Yankees don't need nostalgia. They need production. Wake up, Brian Cashman.

NO RIGHT TURNS: IS CASHMAN STEERING YANKEES LINEUP INTO A LEFTY DEAD END?

In the latest episode of "what the hell is Brian Cashman doing now?" we focus on the next player that the Yankees acquired that isn't what the Yankees really need. We have a long list of needs so in theory finding something to chase that isn't what we need should be hard, right?

Not unless you are Cashman. He has this knack for dumpster diving for junk. I won't even call it shopping in the clearance section because even the clearance bin would be insulted. The Yankees need better relief pitching, sound outfield depth, a catcher, the balls to dump Anthony Volpe and right handed hitting. None of that has happened....

But what has happened is the Yankees traded for Nationals First baseman Luis Garcia Jr. Who else is scratching their head right now besides me? It's crazy and true and you can read more about it HERE. The Yankees certainly need a boost offensively because they are awful without Aaron Judge so the connection to Garcia Jr makes sense when he has a .283 BA this season. Dig a little deeper and stats show he has a .293 BA against right handed pitchers.

This team certainly needs offense. A guy that hits near 300 is great, but they Yankees need more of that. One guy isn't going to bring the change this team needs without addressing positional needs also. But aside from that, it's insane because this move doesn't make sense. Adding another guy that plays first base is insane. He's not an upgrade over Paul Goldschmidt and what about Ben Rice? That's just another reason to make him more dispensable.

It's just a giant log jam. He can play first base against a righty pitcher and then Rice can DH while Goldy rides the bench. When a lefty is on the mound, Goldy can play first and the Yankees can shuffle DH. That's exactly what happens here. It's a cluster-you-know-what and I say that because Garcia Jr has played second base and shortstop also but he was awful at both positions so it's not like you can sit Jazz Chisholm or Volpe expecting an upgrade. It's just a giant puzzle that Aaron Boone is gonna have to piece together every night and it's one more opportunity for him to screw up. He was already good at that before adding another infielder to the equation so this could get even uglier.

Look am I glad Cashman finally woke up from his nap? Sure. I hate complacency. I wanted to see moves made more than anyone.....this one just doesn't fix any of the Yankees major weaknesses. So without fixing those this accomplishes nothing. We don't need another first baseman and we don't need anymore left handed bats for crying out loud! Sorry, not sorry.....but I call it like I see it.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

STRATEGY OR PANIC?

If Brian Cashman's trade deadline strategy is "wait and see," Yankee fans have seen enough.

The latest name connected to the Bombers is Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos, and honestly, he makes a ton of sense, but where did this come from? 

He's a right-handed bat, mashes lefties, can hold down the outfield while Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton try to get healthy, and he's under team control through 2029.

In other words... exactly the kind of player the Yankees should already be making a serious run at.

But this a strategy or panic? 

Remember, the Yankees watched Lane Thomas become a Brave because Atlanta actually did what contenders are supposed to do—they identified a need and pulled the trigger. While Cashman was probably still "gauging the market," their GM was introducing his newest outfielder.

That's the difference.

The Yankees don't lose out on players because they don't know who they want. They lose out because someone else wants them more and the Yanks are too slow to the take.

Now they're pivoting to Ramos, but it feels like "Well... who's left?" rather than a Plan A. Like a roll of the dice. I don't know, I don't feel great about it. Also, that's not a strategy on how you win a division.

Let's be honest about the situation. Judge is hurt. Bellinger is hurt. Stanton is working his way back. The outfield has become a revolving door, and the infield still finds new and creative ways to turn routine double plays into adventure films. Just ask Volpe.

Every GM in baseball knows the Yankees need help. That's exactly why sitting on your hands is the worst strategy imaginable. Cashman has always loved the bargain aisle. He wants to make the trade where everyone says, "Wow, he really stole that guy."

Sometimes you don't steal the player. Sometimes you just pay the price because your team needs him.

Heliot Ramos is worth pursuing yes, but if the Yankees spend the next two days "checking in," "doing their homework," and "remaining engaged," don't be surprised when another team beats them to the punch... again.

At some point, Brian Cashman has to decide whether he's trying to win the trade...

...or win the World Series.

Right now, it doesn't look like he's doing either.

YANKEES WERE INTERESTED, BUT THE PHILLIES GOT ARRAEZ

So close? Not really.

The Yankees have become baseball's version of the guy who spends all day browsing Amazon and never clicks "Buy Now."

Another target is off the board.

The Phillies are acquiring Luis Arráez and reliever Caleb Kilian from the Giants, according to multiple reports, while San Francisco receives top pitching prospect Ramon Marquez and reliever Marty Gair. It's a move that makes a contender even deeper.

And the Yankees? They get another participation ribbon for being "interested."

New York had been heavily connected to Arráez before the deadline. Insiders like Jon Heyman reported the Yankees liked the fit and discussed the three-time batting champion. Of course they did. A lineup missing Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton could've used one of the best contact hitters in baseball.

Instead, they watched Philadelphia make the move.

This is becoming a frustrating trend. The Yankees kick the tires, make a few calls, leak their interest... and then someone else lands the player.

Another opportunity. Another "almost."

At some point, Brian Cashman has to stop window shopping and start checking out.

YANKS MARCHING

In the mid 90’s the “Jam Band Movement” hit this country like the British Invasion of the early 1960s. Suddenly songs elongated from around 3 and a half minutes to 15 minutes of vamping, flourishes, solos and breakdowns. Some of it was ok…at first. However, it wore out its welcome quicker than your typical jam band tune.

Most of those puka shell necklace wearing outfits - Rusted Root, Widespread Panic, Dispatch and Big Head Todd & The Monsters – have drifted into the ether. There is one band that, in many ways, have become the New York Yankees of Jam Band music…THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND.

Much like the Bronx Bombers, this crew packs them in on the road. They have a massive, loyal following. Even causal music fans are familiar with their act…the way someone who’s never watched baseball knows who the Yankees are. Unfortunately, the comparisons aren’t all a good thing.

I recently saw David and his gang…twice…in 3 weeks’ time. The first time in Camden just across the bridge from Philadelphia (I bet someone I was with that no matter what we’d hear a E A G L E S! spelling chant…you never disappoint, Philly…. awful.)

The second show was in the Insurance Capital of the World…Hartford, CT. What was the takeaway? Well, I still like many of Matthews’ songs. Dave and his band are very talented and the rush of memories of past shows made nostalgia hit like the contact high hanging in the air like a sad, hippie quilt. The other thing I left with is how formulaic it has all become. Sure, the set list is different each night but the rest…the rest is just the same old song. Dave is quirky. He offers up a few, “Thank y’all very, very much. We hope you’re having a nice time.” He may toss in a political nugget or dance like a Muppet with his loose leg hops and struts. Then we are treated to DMB’s Free Bird. A song as tied to a Dave Matthews show as New York, New York is to Yankee Stadium.

It’s catchy. Everyone knows the words…or has made up their own. It’s a great ending song…but it’s canned. The band walks off and gives us the 7-minute rest period before returning for the encore. It was fine. I enjoyed the show…but not as much as I once did.

The Yanks are the DMB. HUGE! DYNASTIC! CHAMPIONSHIP PROVEN! EXCITING...in the 1990s. Back when Stick Michaels was the “Tour Manager”. 

The club is now like the shows I saw. They dine out on old stories. They still bring in the audiences. They make you nostalgic with Paul O’Neill Nights, Bernie Bobble Heads or letting us watch Nelly groove one to Nick Swisher so he can go yard.

Brian Cashman is the record exec using yesterday and loyal fan base to hold down a job he does poorly. 

He knows the formula gets us just “good enough”…but that’s it? We do the same song every year and get the same story when it goes upside down at season’s end. We leave the ballpark in the Bronx the way I left the Dave Matthews shows…I’m a fan…but not like I was. 

Sure, they’re still the Yanks. He’s still Dave Matthews…and even to a punker like me the dude is worth seeing. But it’s not new…it’s not evolving. 

Look, we have Judge. We do have great pitchers. And Dave has put out a new song here and there that is solid…but it’s touring the old stuff to let older-ish folks from the 90s feel like high school and college kids again. It’s not about winning new fans or bringing in a championship. The formula is there…so the dollars will follow…until they don’t. 

So, take these chances…place them in a box…until a quieter time…lights down you up and die.

I’ll always like Dave and his talented band. I will always love the New York Yankees…but the shows pale to the 90s versions.

--Mike O'Hara

Bleeding Yankee Blue Contributor

REJECTED: CASHMAN PUBLICLY STUFFED IN A LOCKER

There was a time when Brian Cashman could pick up the phone and get a deal done. Those days feel like they're long gone.

The latest example? The Padres reportedly rejected the Yankees' offer of Will Warren for left-handed reliever Adrián Morejón. Not a blockbuster. Not a bidding war. Just a flat-out "no."

That's a bad look for Cashman.

Morejón is exactly the type of reliever the Yankees need—a power lefty who can dominate late innings and stabilize a bullpen that's been asked to do too much. If Cashman identified him as a priority and still couldn't get a deal across the finish line, it raises an uncomfortable question: Has the rest of baseball stopped buying what Brian Cashman is selling?

For years, Cashman has coasted on the reputation of being one of the game's elite executives. But reputations eventually expire if the results don't keep coming. Lately, the Yankees seem to be involved in every rumor and finish with nothing but another missed opportunity.

And now Cashman has created another problem—one of his own making. What else is new. Will Warren now knows the Yankees were willing to ship him out.

Whether that's part of the business or not, it's awkward. Every pitcher will tell you they understand trades happen, but understanding it and living it are two different things. Warren now has to walk back into that clubhouse, take the ball every fifth day, and pretend he didn't just find out the organization tried to send him packing.

That's not exactly a confidence builder. Cashman didn't improve the bullpen. He didn't land Morejón. Instead, he publicly exposed one of his own young starters as trade bait and walked away with absolutely nothing to show for it.

That's the real embarrassment. No new reliever. No upgraded roster. Just an uncomfortable situation for Will Warren and another reminder that Brian Cashman isn't the feared dealmaker he once was.

In the end, everyone loses for now. Who knows what happens next however. The Yankees still need bullpen help.

Brian Cashman once again looks like a general manager whose reputation has become much bigger than his results.  

What has happened to my Yankees?

BREAKING: CASHMAN SNAGS A BIG PIECE!

Well, look who's awake.

After what felt like an eternity of watching the offense sputter and hearing fans beg for reinforcements, Brian Cashman finally reached for the caffeine. The Yankees have acquired first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. from the Washington Nationals, giving a lineup in desperate need of life another weapon.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post first reported that the Yankees were pushing hard to get a deal done, and they did just that. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Nationals will receive four players in return. USA Today's Bob Nightengale identified right-hander Yovanny Cruz as part of the package, while The Athletic's Spencer Nusbaum reported that right-handers Jack Cebert, Ben Grable, and Jake Bird are also headed to Washington.

Make no mistake—this is a good baseball move.

The Yankees weren't going to slug their way into October with wishful thinking and lineup cards that looked more like crossed fingers than a plan. They needed more production. They needed another bat. Most importantly, they needed to show the clubhouse—and the fan base—that they weren't content watching the offense disappear every other night.

Funny enough, we just posted about this. Just a short time ago, BYB published a piece asking whether Brian Cashman was finally waking up from his deadline nap. Turns out the alarm clock worked.

Garcia Jr. may not solve every problem in the Bronx, but he represents something the Yankees have been missing lately: action. And for a team chasing wins instead of excuses, that's a welcome change.

REACTION TO OUR BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE ARTICLES.

Episode 1: Cashman Deadline Desperation?

IS BRIAN CASHMAN WAKING UP FROM HIS SLUMBER?

If there's one thing we've learned about the 2026 Yankees, it's this: pitching isn't the problem. Scoring runs is.

Over their last five games, Yankees starters have allowed just two earned runs, and somehow this team managed to stumble to a 2-3 record. Let that sink in. Your pitching staff practically throws shutouts every night, and the offense still can't cash in. That's not bad luck. That's roster construction.

So when reports surfaced that Brian Cashman is aggressively trying to land Nationals slugger Luis García Jr., it was the first rumor in a while that actually made sense.

According to multiple reports, the Yankees are pushing hard to complete a deal before the deadline, with pitching prospect Jack Cebert reportedly a key name being discussed. Whether that's ultimately enough remains to be seen, but at least the Yankees appear to recognize what everyone else has known for weeks.

This lineup is running on fumes.

Aaron Judge is hurt. Cody Bellinger is on the injured list. Giancarlo Stanton is still working his way back and hasn't been available to provide the thunder this lineup desperately needs. Every night feels like the Yankees are hoping someone accidentally runs into a baseball.

That's not exactly a championship strategy. Luis García Jr. changes that immediately.

He's putting together the best offensive season of his career, leading the American League with a .560 slugging percentage while launching 23 home runs and driving in 76 runs. Those aren't empty numbers on a rebuilding club. That's legitimate middle-of-the-order production, exactly what the Yankees have been missing while their stars recover.

Now, yes, there are legitimate questions. García is left-handed, and the Yankees have spent much of this deadline searching for right-handed bats. He's also primarily a first baseman, where Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt have already been sharing duties. On paper, it isn't the cleanest fit.

Then again...

Since when has this offense been in any position to turn down a hitter because he bats from the wrong side of the plate?

When you're struggling to score two runs with a pitching staff that's practically begging for support, you stop worrying about perfect roster symmetry. You worry about getting someone who can actually change a game with one swing.

That's García. The irony here is almost impossible to ignore. Brian Cashman spent the first half of the season assembling a roster that looked powerful on paper but became painfully dependent on Aaron Judge staying healthy. The moment Judge went down, the entire offense collapsed like a cheap folding chair.

Maybe this trade is Cashman finally admitting what everyone else already knew. This team needs another legitimate run producer.

Will Luis García Jr. solve every problem? Of course not. Aaron Boone still has to manage this club. The front office still has plenty to answer for after another season of offensive inconsistency and questionable roster decisions. One hitter won't magically erase months of questionable planning.

But for once, the Yankees seem to be targeting the actual problem instead of pretending it doesn't exist. Imagine that.

If Cashman can pull this one off before the deadline, it would be one of the few moves this season that actually feels proactive instead of desperate. And after watching this offense waste brilliant pitching performances night after night, Yankees fans deserve at least one reason to believe somebody in the front office has been paying attention.

Now finish the deal.

DID YOU KNOW THE YANKEES INTERLOCKING NY WASN'T ORIGINAL TO THE YANKEES?

There are certain symbols in sports that have become larger than the teams that wear them. The New York Yankees' interlocking "NY" is one of those icons. It's recognized around the globe, worn by celebrities, tourists, die-hard baseball fans, and people who have never watched a single inning of baseball. But here's a question that might surprise even the most knowledgeable Yankees fan:

Did you know the Yankees weren't the original organization to use the famous interlocking "NY" design?

That's right.

Long before Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio or Derek Jeterever wore it, the now-famous emblem had an entirely different purpose—one rooted in courage, sacrifice, and New York City history.

It started with heroism. The story begins in 1877, when legendary jeweler Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co. designed a New York City Police Department Medal of Valor.

The medal featured the now-famous interlocking "N" and "Y" as part of its elegant design. It wasn't intended to become a sports logo. It was created to honor extraordinary bravery among New York's finest.

One of the earliest recipients was Officer John McDowell, remembered as the first New York City police officer shot in the line of duty. The medal became one of the NYPD's highest honors, symbolizing courage, commitment, and service to the city.

Think about that for a second. One of the most recognizable logos in sports actually began as a tribute to heroes.

Enter "Big Bill" Devery. Years later, Yankees co-owner William "Big Bill" Devery entered the picture.

Before becoming involved in baseball, Devery served as the Chief of the New York City Police Department, making him very familiar with the Medal of Valor and its distinctive interlocking design.

When the American League franchise relocated from Baltimore and became the New York Highlanders in 1903, the club was still searching for an identity that represented New York itself. In 1905, the Highlanders experimented with an interlocking "NY" on parts of their uniforms. It wasn't yet the polished emblem fans recognize today, but it planted the seed.

By 1909, the organization officially adopted a refined version of the Tiffany-inspired interlocking "NY" for its caps and uniform sleeves.

The rest, as they say, is history. Over the next century, the interlocking "NY" became synonymous with excellence.

It witnessed:

• 27 World Series championships.
• Legends from Ruth to Gehrig.
• The DiMaggio era.
• Mantle's switch-hitting greatness.
• Reggie's October heroics.
• The Core Four dynasty.
• Aaron Judge carrying the franchise into a new generation.

But despite everything the logo has come to represent in baseball, its origins remain tied to something much deeper than wins and championships.

It began with public service. It began with bravery. It began with New York City.

And let me go further. Many newer fans also don't realize that the Yankees weren't always called the Yankees.

The franchise actually began as the Baltimore Orioles of the American League in 1901—not to be confused with today's Orioles franchise. Financial problems forced the club to relocate to New York in 1903, where it became the New York Highlanders, named in part because their ballpark sat atop one of Manhattan's highest points in Washington Heights.

The nickname "Yankees" slowly gained popularity through newspaper headlines because it fit more easily than "Highlanders." By 1913, after moving into the Polo Grounds, "Yankees" had become the club's official identity.

The famous interlocking "NY," however, had already become part of the team's visual identity years earlier.  While the interlocking "NY" became timeless, it wasn't the organization's only historic logo.

The Yankees' second official logo introduced the now-famous image of Uncle Sam's top hat resting on a baseball bat inside a baseball, complete with stars and patriotic imagery. That design evolved over the decades into the club's primary corporate logo and remains one of baseball's most recognizable marks, even though the interlocking "NY" continues to be the symbol players wear on the field.

It's fitting, really. One logo represents America. The other represents New York. Together, they've become inseparable from Yankees history.

It's amazing how many fans wear the interlocking "NY" every single day without knowing its remarkable backstory. What began in 1877 as Louis Tiffany's elegant Medal of Valor honoring courageous New York police officers eventually became the emblem of the most successful franchise in baseball history.

The Yankees didn't invent the design. They immortalized it. And maybe that's the coolest part of the story. Sometimes the greatest symbols aren't created for sports at all.

Sometimes they're born from history, courage, and the spirit of a city—and the Yankees were fortunate enough to carry that legacy onto the baseball field for more than a century.

That's baseball history worth remembering.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

SKUBAL OFF THE BOARD & THE YANKEES GOT UGATZ

The trade deadline is supposed to separate contenders from pretenders. Saturday night, the Dodgers reminded everyone exactly who they are.

Tarik Skubal, arguably the best left-handed pitcher in baseball and a back-to-back American League Cy Young winner, is headed to Los Angeles. The rich got richer, adding another ace to a rotation that already features Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and with Tyler Glasnow working their way back.

That's what organizations do when winning is the only thing that matters.

The Braves weren't sitting around either. They landed Lane Thomas to improve their club.

And the Yankees?

Brian Cashman's big splash so far is... two prospects from Pittsburgh for Camilo Doval that most fans have never even heard of.

Seriously?

Is this really how the trade deadline is going to play out? Because if it is, it's complete garbage.

Year after year, Cashman talks about being aggressive. Year after year, the Yankees get lapped by organizations that actually understand the assignment. The Dodgers identify elite talent and go get it. The Yankees identify "organizational depth" and hope nobody notices.

This isn't about demanding every superstar in baseball. It's about showing some urgency. The Yankees have obvious holes on this roster, yet Cashman continues to operate like he's protecting the farm system for a future that never seems to arrive.

Enough already.

The Yankees aren't supposed to be stockpiling mystery prospects while the Dodgers are collecting Cy Young winners. They're supposed to be chasing championships.

There's still time to change the narrative, but the clock is ticking. If Cashman's answer to the Dodgers landing Skubal and the Braves adding Lane Thomas is a pair of anonymous minor leaguers, then don't insult Yankees fans by calling this a successful deadline.

Call it what it is.

We may be looking at another failure from a front office that's become far too comfortable with mediocrity. And if this deadline ends the way it's started, it will once again expose the biggest weakness in the Yankees organization—and it isn't on the field. 

It's sitting in Brian Cashman's chair.

DON'T LAUGH. MICKEY MONIAK ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE

Brian Cashman has developed an odd little hobby over the past few years: collecting former Colorado Rockies. DJ LeMahieu worked... until he didn't. Adam Ottavino had his moments. Ryan McMahon and Jake Bird are already in the fold, and Angel Chivilli joined the pipeline. So if Mickey Moniak is next, don't act surprised.

Actually, it might be one of the smarter under-the-radar moves the Yankees could make.

No, Moniak isn't Juan Soto. He's not the blockbuster name that'll dominate SportsCenter for a week. What he is, though, is a 28-year-old left-handed hitter who's finally looking like a legitimate major leaguer. Through 71 games, he's slashing .279/.322/.561 with 17 home runs and an OPS north of .880. That's not Coors Field smoke and mirrors either. The bat speed is real, the power is legitimate, and he's showing the kind of athleticism the Yankees' lineup has desperately lacked.

Here's the best part: he won't cost a king's ransom.

The Yankees don't need another headline. They need players who can actually help them win baseball games. Moniak can play all three outfield spots, runs well enough, hits from the left side, and remains under team control through next season. Those are exactly the types of players smart organizations target instead of chasing the biggest name available.

Of course, there's risk. Moniak spent years looking like another No. 1 overall pick who simply wasn't good enough. But baseball careers aren't always linear, and sometimes players figure it out later than expected.

If Colorado is willing to move him, Cashman should absolutely make the call.

Not every trade has to be flashy. Sometimes the best deadline addition is the one nobody sees coming. And if the Yankees are serious about adding athleticism and left-handed pop without emptying the farm system, Mickey Moniak checks more boxes than most fans probably realize.

ARE THE YANKEES READY TO MOVE VOLPE?

God, I hope so.

I've reached my limit with Anthony Volpe. I used to defend this guy. I've waited for the breakout. I've bought into the "he's still young" argument. I've watched the flashes of brilliance and convinced myself they would eventually outweigh the mistakes. They haven't. And then I got annoyed. I researched why they babied this kid as long as they have.  Reported about it in: HOW YANKEE SCOUTS LOST THEIR WAY IN THE VOLPE RECRUITMENT.  What I found was startling. And so, things changed for me.  This kid is a special treatment case. Not earned... it's who you know.

Volpe is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Defensive miscues continue to pile up, the bat has never become the weapon the Yankees envisioned, and every game seems to feature another reminder that this experiment simply isn't working.

The good news? I'm not the only one who feels this way anymore.

For the first time since Volpe arrived in the Bronx, legitimate baseball insiders are openly discussing the possibility that the Yankees could move him before his value sinks any further. That's a significant shift. This isn't social media overreaction. This is baseball people acknowledging that the Yankees may finally be ready to pivot.

And honestly? It's about time. the chatter is getting louder.  The rumors aren't coming from one source. They're coming from several respected voices, and they're all pointing in the same direction.

Jim Bowden has floated one of the more intriguing ideas, suggesting the Yankees could package Volpe with reliever Camilo Doval in a deal with the Minnesota Twins for catcher Ryan Jeffers. It's a move that would address one of New York's biggest weaknesses behind the plate while giving Minnesota a young, controllable shortstop to gamble on.

Chris Kirschner of The Athletic has also identified Volpe as one of the Yankees' most logical trade chips. His thinking is simple: if the Yankees are serious about upgrading this roster, they have to be willing to move players who haven't lived up to expectations. Volpe fits that description whether fans want to admit it or not.

Ryan Garcia has reported that rival clubs continue to show genuine interest in Volpe. Why? Because he's still just 25 years old, he's inexpensive, and another organization may believe a change of scenery unlocks the player scouts once projected him to become.

That's the key.

The Yankees may no longer believe they can fix him.

Another team might.

Devon Platana went a step further by predicting Volpe could be one of the first underperforming Yankees shown the door if Brian Cashman decides this club needs a serious shakeup before the deadline. That's not exactly shocking.

If the Yankees are going to change the direction of this roster, they can't keep clinging to former top prospects simply because of where they were drafted.

Now look, for me, Ryan Jeffers makes too much sense. If Minnesota is willing to listen, Ryan Jeffers should absolutely be near the top of Brian Cashman's wish list. The Yankees have desperately needed offensive production from the catcher position, and Jeffers immediately upgrades the lineup. He gives the Yankees another legitimate bat while stabilizing a position that's been an offensive black hole for far too long.

Would it hurt to give up Volpe? Not even alittle. Maybe he'd cry which only means to me that he's been babied too much by the Yankees organization.  It also solves two problems at once. Minnesota gets a young shortstop they can develop. The Yankees get a catcher capable of helping them win now. That's exactly the kind of baseball trade contenders make.

Then there's CJ Abrams of the Nationals. I don't actually see this happening, but wow what a rumor. If the Washington Nationals decide to entertain offers, Abrams would represent everything the Yankees hoped Volpe would become. He's an All-Star caliber shortstop with game-changing speed, legitimate power and the type of offensive production that transforms a lineup. While injuries have forced other Yankees stars to carry more of the load, Abrams has emerged as one of the most dynamic young players in baseball.

Replacing Volpe with Abrams isn't just an upgrade. It's a statement. It shows us Yankee fans that the Yankees are actually series 9 years into Boone's managerial career.  

And there's another catcher worth watching by the way. If Minnesota asks for too much, Cincinnati's Tyler Stephenson becomes another fascinating alternative.

Stephenson has been mentioned repeatedly in trade discussions because he fills the exact hole the Yankees need to address. He's a proven offensive catcher capable of lengthening the lineup while giving the pitching staff a dependable presence behind the plate.

Would the Reds want Volpe as part of that conversation? Given his age and years of club control, they just might. Plus, I was convinced last year Volpe would become a Red for some strange reason.  Google it.  It just makes sense to me.

And here's the other reality nobody wants to ignore. George Lombard Jr. is coming.

The Yankees' top prospect continues to impress throughout the minor leagues, and there's a growing belief inside baseball that he's the organization's future at shortstop. If the Yankees truly believe Lombard is the better long-term answer, why keep forcing Volpe into a role he hasn't fully claimed?

Sometimes the hardest move is admitting you were wrong. Sometimes it's also the smartest one. Think about that.

But look, it's time, and this isn't about piling on Anthony Volpe. No, I don't think he's a legit major leaguer, but I also don't hate the kid as a person. He was put into this situation but a bunch of guys in a room that chose him because a scout in the Yankees organization knew him.

In the beginning, not knowing that? I wanted him to succeed. But the Yankees don't hand out trophies for patience. They are supposed to chase championships.

If Volpe's biggest value now is bringing back a catcher like Ryan Jeffers, opening the door for George Lombard Jr., or becoming part of a blockbuster for someone like CJ Abrams, then Brian Cashman has to seriously consider pulling the trigger.

Holding onto a player because you're afraid of watching him succeed somewhere else isn't a strategy. It's fear.

And the Yankees have spent enough time hoping Anthony Volpe becomes something he hasn't shown he can consistently be. Sometimes the best move for both sides is admitting it's over.

This might finally be that moment.