WHAT BARBARA WALTERS WOULD HAVE ASKED AARON JUDGE?

Late Friday night, we got word that legendary news anchor, Barbara Walters passed away. She is known for asking the questions that no one else had the nerve and credibility to ask. Everyone from heads of state to musicians to actors and celebrities and sports icons were interviewed by Walters and it is only fitting that I dive deeper into the question— "What would Barbara Walters ask Aaron Judge?"

2022 certainly was a year to remember in sports. From the Super Bowl win for the Los Angeles Rams to the 2022 Olympic Games, Serena Williams' retirement from US Tennis, and The World Cup, the hours of sports watched across the globe was incredible. But for me, it was Aaron Judge's historic season ending with him signing a contract to remain a part of the greatest franchise in sports and becoming the 16th Yankee Captain, that made my year. So in honor of both famed broadcaster Barbara Walters' passing and Aaron Judge's historic 2022, let's go 20/20 with Aaron Judge.

"Aaron, many have said that you filled the void for Yankee fans when their beloved captain Derek Jeter retired, how do you feel about this? "

"What is it like to get booed, not just by opposing fans, but your own fans in Yankee Stadium" How do you bounce back from a rough patch?"

"What was the most exhilarating part breaking the regular season home run record set by another Yankee, and ironically, right fielder?" "What were the first words your mom said to you after you hit that historic home run?"

"Why did you decide to stay with the Yankees for the rest of your career?" 

"What does it mean to you to be named the 16th captain for the New York Yankees?"

Perhaps his words at the press conference announcing his new title is an answer that Judge may have given to Walters, had they sat down and talked about his young career, “It means a lot to me, because coming up through the Yankees organization, this is all I’ve known,” Judge said. “My blood, sweat and tears have gone into one thing, which is to play for this team and play for this city and these fans. Knowing that I get to continue to do that and do it in one city, words can’t really describe it. It’s such an incredible feeling,” reported MLB.com.

I suppose one of her last questions to Judge would be framed,  "What is one thing you are looking forward to as you head into your next chapter with the New York Yankees?"

“There’s a lot of unfinished business here in New York,” Judge said. “I’m looking forward to finishing that business and trying to leave a legacy here for the next group of guys coming behind me," reported MLB.com. 

The Yankees have been in a World Series drought since 2009. Not only that, Judge with his MVP, Rookie of the Year and of course regular season home run record, he has never appeared in a World Series game. This is part of his agenda. This is the unfinished business. But can Judge lead this team to multiple World Series victories like Derek Jeter? That's not really a question nor is it a challenge for our new captain. Teams are not the same as they were back in the late 90s when teams held onto their players longer and yes, pitchers actually threw more than five innings on average. 

For Judge, he just needs to keep doing what he has been doing. He needs to set an example for the younger players, he needs to lead the clubhouse as he has been doing, he needs to remain present and engaged, he needs to stay healthy and he needs to be the best teammate he can be. 

2023 has a lot of promise for this Yankee team. And if Barbara Walters, a trailblazer herself, had the opportunity to interview Judge, she would have asked many of the same questions our very own iconic broadcaster Suzyn Waldman, has asked over the years covering Judge. Luckily for all of us, Judge will be here in pinstripes for a lot more questions, and opportunities to impress all of us. Happy New Year! Let's make it a great year for baseball. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

MARWIN GONZALEZ GONZO!

 

Alot of Yankee guys are gone lately.  It doesn't mean I want them all gone. I mean, I didn't want Lucas Luetge gone... but I'm glad Marwin Gonzalez is gone. What a waste.

I have never been a fan of Marwin Gonzalez.  I probably like him a tiny bit more than Aaron Hicks, but then again who am I kidding. Hicks is the worst.

Anyway, Gonazlez is gone. He's going to Japan. Here's the news about that from NJ.com:

"...the utility player signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball....

In March 2022, González signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees and made the Opening Day Roster.

He made the Yankees Opening Day roster for the 2022 season. He batted.185/.255/.321 with six homers in 207 plate appearances over 85 games."

Good. Maybe he can break .200 in Japan. Good luck to him.

THE YANKEES GET DANISH & NOW I'M HUNGRY

Quick note. The Yankees continue to stockpile minor league arms and I dig it.

CBS writes:

"Danish signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Thursday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

(Tyler) Danish spent the 2022 campaign in Boston and was released in October after he posted a 5.13 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB across 40.1 innings. The Yankees will be looking for a bounce-back season from the 28-year-old in 2023."

And yes, I'm still hungry.

LUCAS LUETGE GONZO!

Lucas Luetge is no longer a New York Yankee. It will take some time into the season to see if this one will sting a bit or not. Luetge was good for the Yankees.  But the Yankees are betting that the rotation and the already solid bullpen will allow them to cut one loose, and that "one" is Luetge.

SB Nation writes:

"The New York Yankees announced tonight that they traded reliever Lucas Luetge to the Atlanta Braves for minor leaguers Caleb Durbin and Indigo Diaz. The lefty was designated for assignment a week ago when they signed reliever Tommy Kahnle....

Durbin is a 5-foot-8 right-handed infielder who was picked in the 14th round by the Braves in the 2021 MLB Draft. He played second base for 32 games in High-A after being recalled from Middle-A. The 22-year-old slashed .220/.306/.330 with a wRC+ of 79....

Diaz was selected in the 27th round of the 2019 MLB Draft... In 2022, he was a 24-year-old righty reliever pitching in Double-A and had an ERA of 3.08 with a FIP of 4.27 and an xFIP of 5.37. Diaz fanned 63 batters in 49.2 innings."

Building up that minor league system is vital and I like these moves that we're making alot.

HERMOSILLO & EVANS ARE HERE FOR THE YANKEES NEEDS

Yup, it sounds like a law firm, but legit, these guys were just added to the Yankees team for some minor league depth, and I love it.

MLB Trade Rumors has this:

"The Yankees have added a bit of minor league depth, signing outfielder Michael Hermosillo and right-hander Demarcus Evans to minor league deals...

Hermosillo, 28 next month, has spent the past two seasons with the Cubs. He hit just .115/.250/.148 without a home run across 73 plate appearances and 31 games in 2022. He spent much of the year on the injured list with a left quadriceps strain, and only made an additional ten appearances at the Triple-A level, hitting .324/.400/.559 in 40 plate appearances....

Evans, 26, didn’t pitch in the big leagues last year but made appearances over the prior two seasons for the Rangers....

At Triple-A this year, Evans tossed 33 innings of 3.82 ERA ball."

While the numbers don't look super impressive, you just need to sit back and watch guys like this develop. They're young, hey have what it takes, they just need some time and that's what the Yankees are going to offer these guys.  Hopefully they can improve and show the Yanks they deserve a shot.

DID YOU VENMO CARLOS RODON?

Yankees fans are truly the best fans in baseball. They know what they want and they go for it. And this time, it was more than souvenirs and memorabilia. Yankee fans wanted to be sure that their team dished out the cash to land Carlos Rodon. So, they found his Venmo handle and you know what they did? They Venmoed him, just to be sure that he would sign a contract to play in the Bronx.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” Rodon said with a chuckle after his Yankee introductory press conference. “My wife [Ashley] and I were in the car and I was starting to send them back and she was like, Carlos, there’s like 400 Venmo requests. My cousin was standing right there and was like ‘hey, we should do something nice for someone for the holidays,’ and that’s kind of something we’re going to do,” reported The New York Daily News.

Sure, he signed with the Yankees, just last Wednesday—a six-year, $162 million deal. But to be sure, fans took to Twitter and things went viral. They were just making sure Rodon wouldn't sign anywhere else. If nothing else, I think the new Yankee pitcher knows just how much his signing means to fans who are looking forward to welcoming in new 2023 baseball season, with a fully stacked rotation.

The newly shaven Rodon is preparing himself for what could be the season of his life. "In 31 starts this past season for the Giants, Rodón was 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA, earning his second consecutive All-Star selection and placing sixth in the NL Cy Young balloting. In a career-high 178 innings, Rodón permitted 131 hits and 52 walks against a career-best 237 strikeouts, leading the Majors with a 2.25 FIP and 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings," reported MLB.com. He will sit second in the rotation behind Gerrit Cole and offers tremendous promise for this Yankee team.

Source: SI.com

By the way Rodon and his wife are putting the Venmo dollars to good use. “We have a kid whose house burned down,” said Rodon. “He’s 15 or 16 years old, we’re going to do something nice for him for the holidays. [They’re] a family in western-central Indiana who doesn’t really have much,"  reported The New York Daily News. 

So now Rodon knows just how passionate we Yankee fans are about our team. And how much he is already loved. Might be a tall order for the Yankee left-hander, but he seems just the kind of guy that can make things happen. He already has had success in Yankee Stadium and says it is one of the best places to pitch. The 30-year-old owns a career 2.16 ERA in Yankee Stadium. Let's hope he make that kind of performance in pinstripes. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

WHAT WASN'T LEFT UNDER THE YANKEES CHRISTMAS TREE - NOW WHAT?

Happy Day after Christmas, BYB family! Santa has come, the presents are unwrapped and we as Yankee fans have a lot to look forward to next season. I feel blessed, and I am looking forward to what comes next. There is a next according to Hal Steinbrenner. Now we can all wonder what that is exactly.

It was nice to get Aaron Judge and Carlos Rodon as early holiday presents. It was also nice to see the Mets swoop in and offer Carlos Correa a deal after the Giants got some cold feet only to watch the Mets raise their own concerns. It couldn't happen to a more deserving cheater. I know some people out there like Correa and have forgiven but I am not one of those people and I never will be. I'm just glad he was never going to be under the Yankees holiday tree. 

There are two names I recently wrote about that also weren't under the Yankees holiday tree and have new homes now. One name I wish was a Yankee holiday present and one not so much. I know the Yankees need outfield help and I know they were tied to Michael Conforto but I was never sold on him. He missed all of last season after having right shoulder surgery and that's a tough injury to come back from. He hasn't been a consistent and productive player in a while, and I didn't think the Yankees needed to pay him a short-term high dollar deal in hopes that it works out. That's exactly what happened, Scott Boras worked his magic and now the Giants can take on that risk. There are other options out there, and Brian Cashman will find them.

I wish the other option could have included Daulton Varsho, I even said he was THE ELITE OUTFIELDER THE YANKEES NEED TO GET NOW! and the Blue Jays obviously knew it too. Now I get to watch him play for a division rival and write about what the Yankees should have had. An elite defensive outfielder with a left-handed bat and power doesn't come along every day. I'm not gonna lie, it stings a little. Plugging him into our outfield would have been a game changer. Now I get to sit back and wonder about what could've been. It's hard not to get excited and passionate about baseball.... this was a move I really wanted to happen. Obviously, it wasn't meant to be now I have to patiently wait to see what is.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your family and friends. I hope the rest of the holiday season brings you joy and I hope there are some more surprises that come our way soon. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

YANKEES SNAG WILMER DIFO

I know what you're thinking... who the hell is Wilmer Difo? You don't know? I do... but hey,  maybe that's why the Yankees grabbed him in the dead of night... because no one knows who the hell this guy is.  I kid. I kid.

The New York Post has the story:

"The Yankees added some infield depth on Friday when they agreed to a minor-league deal with Wilmer Difo, The Post confirmed.

The switch-hitting Difo, 30, played in just three games with the Diamondbacks last season, spending most of the season at Triple-A. He was productive in a limited role with the Pirates in 2021, when he had an OPS of .713 in 240 plate appearances at second base, third base and shortstop, as well as center and right field."

And so that's all you really need to know. This is a minor league deal, a deal to help with some depth in the infield and I really have no problem with it. In fact, I welcome it.

That is all... now go about your business!

HAL TEASES "WE'RE NOT DONE YET" & WE'RE ALL READY & WAITING!

Well, it sounds like Hal Steinbrenner is ready to throw down with that other New York team. I can dig that, but what about Brian Cashman? He doesn't sound quite as pumped so hopefully his poker face pays off!

I don't care about what the Mets and Steve Cohen are doing. I only care about what we have done and what happens next. It certainly sounds like there is a next coming and so far, the Yankees payroll is at $230 million so how much more money will come out of Hal's piggy bank? We're all intrigued.

Two exciting things happened yesterday. The Yankees announced Aaron Judge as the 16th Yankee captain with a star appearance from Derek Jeter and Hal topped it off with a "all I can tell you is that we're not done yet" in regard to winter moves. That's one hell of a day. So now, what's up next? More bullpen help? Maybe. Or what about an upgrade in the outfield? That's something I would really like to see.

Maybe we will get that, but will it come from free agency or a trade? I'm not excited by any remaining outfielders on the market. I am not crossing my fingers and hoping the Yankees woo Michael Conforto away from the Mets. Just personal preference, so maybe it is a trade?

That's where Cashman's poker face comes in. "The free agent market is not as full of opportunities as potential trade markets," general manager Brian Cashman said on Wednesday, read more HERE. "Trade markets have been difficult, to be quite honest, in terms of finding matches that both organizations would be comfortable making. We are prepared to go with what we have internally."

Sounds like a poker face attempt. It's true the free agent market is not as enticing now.... but Cashman has pulled trades off before. He can make that happen; we've seen it. Now we just have to wait for what happens next and that's not easy.

The moves the Mets made have lit a fire under Hal, so he's not going to stay idle the rest of the offseason. I wonder what happens next.... because I don't think we are done. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

CARPENTER GONZO!

Just when we thought the Yankees would reunion with Matt Carpenter, the 37-year-old veteran is headed to San Diego. According to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman, Carpenter signed a one-year deal with the Padres, with a player option for 2024 that guarantees him $12 million. So Carpenter's gonzo; what's next for the Yankees?

Source: Twitter

"The Yankees and the 37-year-old Carpenter talked about a reunion, according to sources, but with Anthony Rizzo at first base and Giancarlo Stanton at DH, there was no clear spot on the roster. Carpenter had a stunning comeback last season after being released by the Cardinals following two subpar years in St. Louis," reported the Post. Recall that Carpenter gave the Yankees much needed life when the injury bug bit the team mid-season. Carpenter homered in his second game as a Yankee and hit 15 home runs in 154 plate appearances. And even when the team came off the IL, Carpenter remained relevant and stayed in the line up until he was hit by a pitch in August, breaking his foot. 

Source: NBC Sports

With Carpenter gone, Andrew Benintendi off to the Chicago White Sox in a five-year, $75 million deal, the Yankees have to make another move to fill that big hole in left field. Or do they? What about 23-year-old phenom Oswaldo Cabrera? Another guy who came in when the Yankees were down, Cabrera represents the Yankees' future. Homegrown, and ready for more consistent reps in the lineup, Cabrera could serve as a utility player, sure, but why not the Yankees full time left fielder?

Source: NY Post

"Across every defensive alignment, he produced 13 defensive runs saved above average, including nine in the outfield, specifically (under 500 total innings, which is incredible). Showcasing solid arm strength and phenomenal athleticism, Cabrera transitioned to a position he had never played before with ease, justifying more playing time in 2023. Offensively, there’s a lot left to be desired from the switch hitter, finishing with a .247 batting average and 31.2% on-base rate. In 44 games, he hit six homers with 19 RBIs and a 25.7% strikeout rate," reported Empire Sports Media.

The Yankees are not done yet and now that free agents are dwindling, and the year is coming to an end, spring training is not that far off. Stepping away from the past, thinking about their future, the Yankees need to consider who they have in their arsenal, who they can position into utility spots and who they need to go out and get. If they want another pure hitter like Carpenter, they may need to trade for a replacement bat. Who that might be? Not sure. But it sure has me thinking...

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @suzieprof

THE METS SHOW DESPERATION, NOT CHARACTER IN THEIR SIGNING OF CORREA

Steve Cohen... egg on face.

The Mets now have Carlos Correa.  It was the Giants first, but here's the thing; before it was the Giants, Carlos Correa was attached to the Dodgers.  But the Dodgers said, "No Way". Why? Because they went to their fan base and understood that doing that would be stupid... for the city of Los Angeles, for the Dodgers brand and for the fans who hate the guy because he was part of that cheating Asstros World Series team. And so... they bailed.  Read more about that in CARLOS CORREA IS DAMAGED GOODS - DODGERS ARE OUT!

But last week we saw the Giants had decided to sign Correa. Why? Well, the answer is simple; it wasn't because they needed a shortstop. Nope... they have Brandon Crawford. They would have been fine at short. They did it because they had the money.... money that was originally designated for Aaron Judge.  But thankfully Judge came back home to the Bronx. And so, in desperation to make a splash in the offseason and not look like they had egg on their faces, they signed big fish Carlos Correa... only to not.

Here's the latest from the New York Post:

"There is suddenly a hiccup regarding Carlos Correa’s megadeal with the Giants.

The team suddenly postponed a Tuesday news conference, in which they were set to introduce Correa, 28, as their new shortstop, due to a “medical concern,” The Associated Press reported. According to the AP, “a medical issue was flagged during Correa’s physical,” and the team and player are waiting on test results.

Correa and the Giants had previously agreed to a 13-year, $350 million contract, the fourth-largest contract in MLB history in terms of total money.

The Giants were originally set to introduce Correa on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET, but the press conference was called off three hours prior without an explanation."

So not only does Correa have a character problem in the league, but he also has a medical problem. But apparently none of that matters to Cohen and the Mets., because then this happened. The Post writes:

"Correa and the Mets worked out a middle-of-the-night deal after his Giants deal fell through, the New York Post has learned. Correa’s new deal with the Mets is for $315 million over 12 years, sources told The Post."

But this isn't a signing of need. This is a signing so Steve Cohen can say he did something. Any concern in a medical record should never command a contract that big.  But this shows me if the Mets don't care about integrity... about character of a player. What it tells me is they are absolutely desperate. They just lost DeGrom who HATES the Mets and now they need a shiny thing for the fans to cling to. Desperate, Desperate, Desperate. Desperate to win, desperate to not be out shadowed by the Yankees... and desperate to prove to the league and their fans that they are relevant.  

But here's the thing... Carlos Correa is garbage.  He was garbage with the Asstros, that team has a serious stain on them, and as far as I and many baseball fans are concerned... Correa will NEVER be loved like he once was.

Correa IS damaged goods. I said it when I wrote it when the Dodgers passed on him... and that will not change.  

Hey Mets... just another Mets move. Have fun with that.