ALL BULLPEN, NO STARTING PITCHING

OMG. The Yankees have collected yet another closer. Because nothing says “championship strategy” like hoarding ninth-inning arms like they’re vintage bobbleheads.

According to Jack Curry of YES Network, the Yankees have acquired flamethrowing righty Camilo Doval from the San Francisco Giants. You might know him as “the guy who already had a job finishing games,” but now he’s joining a crowded bullpen where everyone has that same job. So... yay?

Heading back to San Francisco in the deal are catcher/third baseman Jesus Rodriguez, infielder Parks Harber, righty Trystan Vrieling, and lefty Carlos De La Rosa. Four prospects, just to add to the pile of closers like it's a fantasy baseball draft gone off the rails.

Doval, to his credit, is solid—he posted a 3.09 ERA across 47 appearances, striking out 50 batters in 46 2/3 innings. The guy is electric. No complaints there. But what exactly are we doing here? Let’s take inventory: Devin Williams, David Bednar, Luke Weaver... and now Doval. Is this a bullpen or an arms race?

So where does this leave the rotation? You know, the group of humans actually responsible for starting baseball games? Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are hanging on like exhausted lifeguards at a kids’ pool party, while the rest of the rotation feels like a game of roulette that somehow only lands on “mediocre.”

Aaron Boone, speaking after Thursday’s game against the Rays, tried to make it sound like there’s a plan: Devin Williams is still the closer, and all these other guys will just "fit in around him,” according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Translation: We have no idea what we’re doing, but it’ll probably work itself out. Maybe. Hopefully.

Let’s be honest—Bednar is better than Williams. So is Doval. Weaver is too. But instead of naming a real hierarchy or building a functional bullpen blueprint, the Yankees are just stacking relievers like Jenga blocks and hoping nobody sneezes.

There’s no identity. No vision. No consistency. The Yankees front office feels like it’s playing MLB: The Show with the “auto-trade” setting on. Boone’s quotes always sound like he's reading off a cereal box. And as fans, it’s exhausting. You want to root for this team, but they’re making it as hard as possible.

Did the Yankees get better today? Slightly. Marginally. Maybe.

But did they actually address what’s been holding them back? Not even close.

The only thing they’re closing right now is their eyes, hoping this patchwork bullpen monster magically wins October games. Good luck with that.

PERAZA IS DITCHED BY THE YANKEES

 Well, it finally happened. The inevitable. The predictable. The eye-roll heard 'round the Bronx.

Oswald Peraza is gone. Shipped off. Vanished from the Yankees’ plans like common sense in their front office. According to Jack Curry of YES, the Yankees have officially traded Peraza to the Los Angeles Angels for outfield prospect Wilberson De Peña and some international bonus pool money. Translation: the Yanks gave up a major league-ready infielder for lottery tickets and spare change. Bravo.

Yankees have traded Oswald Peraza to the Angels.

— JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) July 31, 2025

This was never going to end any other way. From the moment Anthony Volpe arrived with his media hype, his shiny smile, and Aaron Boone’s undying affection, Peraza was toast. The kid never had a chance. The Yankees never gave him consistent at-bats, never let him settle in, never even really looked at him unless it was to pinch-run in the seventh inning of a 9-2 game. He was a name on the roster sheet—never a real plan.

Let’s be real here. Peraza had no options left—literally and figuratively. The Yankees could no longer send him to the minors, and clearly had no desire to actually play him. So off he goes, while Volpe, who continues to play shortstop like he’s allergic to making routine throws, remains the golden boy. Why? Because Aaron Boone has a crush. That’s it. That’s the analysis.

Peraza, once one of the Yankees’ top prospects and a strong defender with real upside, was treated like the backup character in Volpe’s hero story. He was the “Other Guy” in every narrative. And now, he’s the “Former Yankee.”

The Yankees can spin it however they want—“we needed to clear roster space,” or “we’re getting international flexibility,” or whatever jargon they pull from their cashmere-lined excuse generator. But the truth is ugly: I hate this. They mishandled a legit prospect. They wasted him. They got nothing close to fair value. And they did it all to keep playing favorites even if they aren't good.

JAKE BIRD'S A YANKEE, RIGGIO'S GONE & VOLPE LIVES ANOTHER DAY

Another day, another bewildering decision from the brain trust in the Bronx. The Yankees, in their infinite wisdom (read: full-blown delusion), just traded one of their most promising prospects, Roc Riggio, to the Rockies for… wait for it… Jake Bird. A middle reliever with a glorious 4.73 ERA. I'm dead.

Jake Bird is the kind of guy you pick up off waivers in a panic at 2 a.m. after your bullpen gets torched in a 14-inning game. It is my opinion that Bird's not the guy you trade one of your best young hitters for. Yet here we are. And somehow, the people running this team think we should be excited about this.

Let’s break this down.

Bird had a shiny little 2.63 ERA through June, which looked halfway decent. Then July came along, and he exploded like a cheap firework—14 earned runs in just over five innings. His ERA ballooned like the Yankees' expectations every spring. This isn’t depth. This is damage control. Thanks alot Brian Cashman.

But here’s where it really gets infuriating: they traded Roc Riggio but are still hanging on to Anthony Volpe like he’s Derek Jeter reincarnated. I mean—what is going on here? What dirt does Volpe have on Aaron Boone? Because the obsession is getting downright bizarre.

Let’s be honest—Volpe has been awful. The kid can’t hit, he makes throwing errors like he’s allergic to first base, and every time you think he’s figuring it out, he stumbles back into another week-long slump. But hey, Boone loves him. Boone adores him. Boone talks about Volpe like he’s his long-lost son who can do no wrong. Meanwhile, Roc Riggio—a kid with legitimate pop, fire, and improving defense—gets jettisoned to Colorado because… what? He’s not in Boone’s inner circle? And we gave him up for Jake Bird.

It makes zero sense.

 

Riggio was having a monster 2025. He was showing real power, a .542 slugging percentage, and 18 home runs in the minors already this year. He was improving defensively, he plays with a chip on his shoulder, and he’s homegrown. That’s the part that stings the most. He was the kind of second baseman with a bat that plays and a personality that could’ve thrived under the lights of Yankee Stadium.

But no, the Yankees kept the guy hitting .210 and launching throws into the 15th row. It’s not just bad talent evaluation—it’s cult behavior. It’s like Boone decided Volpe was going to be a star and now no one in the building is allowed to disagree, no matter how many times he boots a routine grounder or goes 0-for-4 with three Ks.

Meanwhile, Riggio had every right to be in the same conversation. Arguably? A better offensive profile than Volpe. I'm not kidding. More contact, more pop, and fewer delusions. 

 
And here’s the kicker—Riggio could have played second base very soon. Hell, they rushed Volpe up to suck at short, they could have rushed Riggio to do a decent job at second next year if they wanted to! He could’ve been Volpe’s double-play partner! But apparently, that was too much competition for Boone’s golden child to handle. I kid, I kid.

So instead of upgrading the middle infield with a rising bat and a gritty edge, we’re throwing Riggio into the thin air of Coors Field and crossing our fingers that Jake Bird doesn’t completely fall apart in pinstripes by mid-August. Because, yeah, bullpen relievers from Colorado always thrive in the Bronx. Sure. That tracks.

 
The Yankees aren’t just playing checkers while the rest of the league plays chess—they’re flipping the board over and gluing the pieces to the ceiling. The decisions make no sense. They’re clinging to the idea of Volpe being “The Next One” while shipping off someone who might’ve actually been the better player in the long run.

It’s a bizarre, frustrating, Boone-fueled fever dream, and we’re all stuck watching it spiral deeper into absurdity.

Jake Bird, welcome to the madness. Just don’t unpack too much—you’ll probably want out of here by August 30th.

THREE YANKEE CLOSERS & AN ABSOLUTELY UNSERIOUS FRANCHISE

No one knows what the Yankees are doing. Let's keep it real, we had Luke Weaver as a top, reliable closer last season and he did the job wonderfully. No complaints from any of us, including the Yankees. Weaver was dominant.  And then, because of that, Brian Cashman did what he should have done. He went out and gave away a potentially elite infielder in Caleb Durbin for a closer, because that didn't cause any problems for the Yankees this season, right? No wrong.  It's because of Brian Cashman that the Yankees were a mess in the infield at second base, and there was mass confusion between Luke Weaver and Devin Williams on who was the closer. No one could find consistency; confidence and it was a disaster. And now between those problems, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt dealing with Tommy John and Luis Gil still on hold, the Yankees did the right thing today. THEY TRADED FOR A CLOSER. By the way, this is all sarcasm. My head's gonna explode.

Like what kind of crack is Brian Cashman smoking right now, because this is a horrendous trade day for the Yankees.  

That's right, the New York Yankees are in the midst of acquiring Pirates close David Bednar, a name that not a single baseball insider had, because baseball insiders knew the Yankees didn't need a closer... until we did. Stupid. As we speak the Yankees and Pirates are reviewing the medical records of the players in the deal. Yankees are to give up catching prospects Rafael Flores and Edgleen Perez, along with outfield prospect Brian Sanchez. Never mind the fact that our future at catcher is .212 Austin Wells, his overall defensive performance as a catcher has been a point of contention. There are major concerns about his arm strength, ability to control the running game, and consistency behind the plate. Additionally, the demanding nature of the position, as it was reported recently suggests his body is taking a beating and it's impacting his hitting, or, at least that is what the Yankees want us to believe.  And so, he, why not give all the catchers away then? Makes sense right? 

Brian Cashman did not do what he said. He didn't go to town. Brian Cashman did not make the Yankees a contender.  Brian Cashman has figured out a way to mask this weird, broken-down team with a bunch of rentals from the Portland Mavericks.  A group of mediocre guys, he hopes can be great to get the Yankees a spot in the wild card, and the hope that the Yankees can win a championship back dooring it with a wild card spot. 

What happened to my Yankees? We are not a serious franchise.  And by the way, if I hear another report about how the Yankees were quote "trying to get Paul Skenes", I'm going to smash the screen. Because trying isn't getting him, and it didn't happen, so shut up.

THE BLUE JAYS JUST GOT BETTER

Look, I don’t need to give you a strict talk on how pitching wins championships. If you’ve watched even one Yankees game this season—heck, even just the first inning—you already know. Carlos Rodón and Max Fried have been the two bright spots, doing their best impression of duct tape holding together a house during a hurricane. But the rest of the rotation? Yikes. And the bullpen? Let’s just say "volatile" is a generous way to put it.

Oh, and if Anthony Volpe could go one full week without launching a routine ground ball into the seats, we might not be in this mess. But alas, here we are—half-collapsed, semi-sad, and watching the Yankees flail around like a team allergic to dominance.

Meanwhile, just across the border, the Toronto Blue Jays are out here making big-boy moves.

In case you missed it (or were too busy watching the Yankees strand runners in scoring position), the Jays just landed former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber from the Guardians. One-for-one deal. Boom. Done. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, Toronto just added a fully rehabbed Bieber fresh off Tommy John surgery—and judging by the early returns, his arm is back and better than ever.

Twelve innings. Two starts. Zero runs. Two wins. This man’s elbow might be made of vibranium.

Bieber’s arsenal is as nasty as ever: fastball, slider, curveball, changeup, and a cutter he sprinkles in just to be rude. None of them blend, all of them bite. And with his elite command, he doesn’t just throw strikes—he paints with them. Think Greg Maddux, but taller and slightly angrier-looking.

And the Yankees? We just watched this whole thing happen like we were window-shopping at Tiffany’s with five bucks in our pocket. It’s not like we don’t need the help. It’s not like the rotation is overflowing with reliable arms. But once again, while the Yankees sit around waiting for Anthony Volpe’s bat to show up and Boone to make a good pitching change, another AL East rival gets stronger.

So now what? The Jays are coming. Actually, scratch that—they’re already here. They’re already beating us. Bieber just gave them a front-line ace, and we’re out here hoping our fifth starter doesn’t trip over his own cleats walking to the mound.

The Yankees had a chance to make a splash. Instead, we’re drowning.

And as always, we end with this: Do better, Brian Cashman. Please. Before we start reminiscing about the glory days of Aaron Small and Shawn Chacón.

LUIS GIL & NO QUESTION ON HIS RETURN!

So... when’s Luis Gil coming back? If it’s not yesterday, it’s not soon enough. Max Fried and Carlos Rodón have been doing their best superhero impressions every fifth day, but let’s be real—there’s only so much a two-man show can do when the rest of the rotation feels like an open mic night gone wrong.

Luckily, there’s a flicker of hope on the Scranton horizon. Gil had one last test Tuesday night—and spoiler alert—it looks like he passed. He punched out seven batters in a sharp rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, showing the kind of stuff that makes you forget just how long we’ve been living in this post-Gil apocalypse.

Aaron Boone confirmed that if Gil feels fine post-outing, the plan is to have him make his glorious return on Sunday against the lowly Miami Marlins. That’s right—Luis Gil, finally back in Yankee pinstripes, after what felt like a century-long absence thanks to that high-grade lat strain he picked up in spring training. Remember spring training? Neither do we.

If the Yankees do indeed unleash Gil on Sunday, it would conveniently give Max Fried an extra day of rest before his next start against the Rangers on Monday. That’s a strategic win for the rotation and, more importantly, our collective sanity.

Let’s not forget the last time Gil was on a major-league mound, he was finishing off a legit Rookie of the Year campaign. He posted a 3.50 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and racked up 171 strikeouts in 29 starts. That’s not just solid—that’s “can-someone-put-this-guy-in-bubble-wrap” valuable.

Bottom line: a healthy, nasty, strikeout-happy Luis Gil is exactly what this pitching staff needs right now. Bring him back. Give Fried a breather. Let Rodón breathe through both nostrils again. And maybe, just maybe, we can stop pretending bullpen games are a sustainable plan.

Sunday can’t come fast enough.

HARRISON BADER ALSO BACK IN THE YANKEE TRADE MIX?

I know the Yankees just got Austin Slater, but why is Bader chatter so significant on the web right now? 

The Yankees are technically winning. Yes, they’re on the right side of the standings most nights, and yes, there’s a good team in there somewhere. But let’s not pretend the ride has been smooth. If you’re a Yankees fan, every game feels like a caffeine-fueled panic attack waiting to erupt. And nothing screams “don’t trust this team” like Anthony Volpe air-mailing the very first ground ball of the game against the Rays.

Sloppy. Careless. And worse—it’s becoming a pattern.

Sure, the Yankees are streaky, and when they’re hot, they sizzle. But their defense lately has resembled something between a Little League tryout and a blooper reel. It’s frustrating. It’s preventable. And it’s the kind of stuff that will get you sent home in October with a sad handshake and an “at least you tried” T-shirt with Boone's face on it. Hmm... Maybe I'll make that T-shirt.

Which is exactly why the Yankees have to tighten up their defense. The lineup can’t carry everything. Not when the shortstop is booting grounders and the outfield sometimes feels like a GPS-less wilderness.

Enter: Harrison Bader, the defensive dynamo who once roamed center field in the Bronx like a caffeinated cheetah.

According to ESPN’s Jorge Castillo, the Yankees—along with the Mets and Dodgers—have shown interest in reuniting with Bader, who’s currently playing for a Twins team that’s going nowhere fast. Minnesota has already started selling, and Bader, on a one-year deal, is seen as a classic trade-deadline rental.

Let’s look at the numbers: 94 games this year, a .254 average, .337 OBP, .439 slugging, and 12 home runs. Not elite, but solid—and more importantly, Bader brings something this Yankees team sorely needs: defense that doesn’t make you spill your beer in frustration.

Yankees fans remember what it was like when Bader patrolled center field. He hustled. He got dirty. He threw his body around like he had a second one in the clubhouse. Was he always healthy? No. But when he was, you never questioned the effort. And let’s be honest: give me a guy playing for his next contract over a “superstar” who jogs to first like he’s saving his energy for a photo shoot.

(Yes, that was a Juan Soto reference. You saw it.)

Bader makes sense for the Yankees, especially as a rental with a mutual option. He knows the team. The fans already love him. And Brian Cashman? Well, he was practically giddy when Bader first arrived. After acquiring him in 2022, Cashman said, "Harrison Bader is one of the elite center field defenders in the game." That wasn’t just fluff. It was truth—and something this current Yankees roster desperately needs.

So, will they pull the trigger and bring Bader back?

We’ll see. But the fact that his name is floating around the Bronx again tells you all you need to know: the Yankees are finally realizing they need help, especially with the glove. And if you’re a fan watching Volpe throw balls into orbit, you’re probably hoping that help arrives before October shows up and reality crashes the party.

YANKEES JUST MADE A BIG MOVE ON A RIGHTY BAT!

In their never-ending quest to patch the Titanic with duct tape, the Yankees have added another piece to their ever-shifting puzzle: outfielder Austin Slater, acquired Wednesday morning from the White Sox in exchange for right-handed prospect Gage Ziehl, New York’s No. 18 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Photo: Gabe Ziehl

 And I’ll be honest with you — this move feels... off. Not bad. Not good. Just suspiciously meh.

Let’s start with the obvious. Aaron Judge is hurt. Again. A flexor strain in his right elbow landed him on the IL, and the Yankees already announced that when (or if) he returns, he’ll be used strictly as a designated hitter. Translation: Judge’s outfield glove is collecting dust, and the Yankees suddenly find themselves very left-handed out there — with Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Jasson Domínguez all batting from the left side (or switch-hitting in Jasson’s case, but still).

So in comes Austin Slater, whose claim to fame is being very okay against left-handed pitching. This year, he’s batting .261/.338/.522 vs. lefties, and if that sounds oddly specific, it’s because that’s literally the only reason the Yankees made this move. Against righties, you might as well hand him a pool noodle and wish him luck.

His overall OPS this season? .721. In the modern game, that’s... fine. You wouldn’t frame it and hang it in Cooperstown, but you also wouldn’t cut him mid-homestand. He’s a role player, a matchup tool, a warm body with a helmet and pulse.

Is that worth giving up Gage Ziehl? Eh. Maybe. Ziehl isn’t a blue-chip prospect, but he’s no throwaway either. He’s 22 years old, has a live arm, and went 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA and 70 strikeouts across three minor league levels this season. He’s exactly the kind of young pitcher teams trade when they’re trying to fill a short-term hole without making a long-term commitment.

 
But let’s not pretend this is some kind of game-changer. Slater’s not coming in to save the day. He’s coming in to be the guy you maybe remember had a clutch double in late August, if you remember anything at all. He’s here because the Yankees need a right-handed bat who might run into a fastball and probably won’t embarrass himself defensively.

Still, this move feels like a symptom, not a solution. The Yankees keep adding guys like they’re building a Frankenstein contender out of spare parts. Want a guy who can hit lefties? Here’s Slater. Want a lefty power bat? Here’s Bellinger. Want someone who can play the field without tripping over himself? Well... we’re still working on that.

This front office is trying to make the roster look balanced, when what it really needs is an identity — and maybe a functioning elbow for Aaron Judge.

In the end, Austin Slater is a decent insurance policy. But if this is the move that’s supposed to keep the Yankees’ October dreams alive, then we’re not dreaming — we’re delusional.

Nice bat, though. Against lefties.

MICHAEL KAY WANTS TO TRADE A BIG BULLPEN PIECE?!

The trade deadline is looming. Everyone is wondering what the Yankees do. Do they even do anything at this point? Or is Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario it? Maybe Brian Cashman has given up. He's certainly not what he once was, so maybe there will be no big splash.

At this point, I am not sure a big splash helps anyways. The Yankees need a lot more than just ONE big splash. They need fundamentals and a new roster to build around Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole once he returns. Cashman rebuilt this team in 2016, but would he do it again? Or better question....CAN he do it again? That's a fair question.

Or, at least the Yankees trade away some guys that will be free agents at the end of the season for some guys with control to build towards the future. That is an idea that Michael Kay discussed on his show on Tuesday, you can check it out HERE if you want to hear for yourself. He also pitched the idea of trading Devin Williams away. The guy we've said can't handle New York, even though he has a ton of talent. He would succeed anywhere else....he did before.

I appreciate Gary Sheffield Jr's perspective on X, so I keep up to date with him. He even likes Kay's idea. As angry as I am about how this season has played out, I still have a hard time with this idea. I see both sides of the argument.

And here I am wishing and thinking as much as I would like the idea of gaining cost controlled assets, I want wins. We are the reigning American League champions and we have regressed just like Anthony Volpe has. On paper, we made some nice additions since last season....and we are still so flawed it's disgusting. If we blow everything up again there's no guarantee we don't end up right back where we are now, especially with no leadership Aaron Boone and Cashman running the show. 

So does trading Williams make a difference? There is a noticeable void of available closers this year. He could fetch a nice return. A contending team would love to have him even though he has struggled here. Honestly though, trading Williams isn't an addition by subtraction for us. Our bullpen is in shambles, so we would need MORE arms, and good ones at that. I just don't know that moving him changes enough. Not for this season. 

It's disgusting that we are even in this spot.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

ALL EYES ON SPENCER JONES!

I don't dabble on X much these days, but for some reason I decided to go on and just see what the latest buzz was, exactly. I really should've known better. It just frustrated me more than I already was which is saying a lot.

We all know Aaron Judge is on the shelf, and hopefully back in the lineup sooner rather than later. Losing Judge means the sky is falling basically....because it is. Judge is the only heartbeat on this team. So now what do we do? The trade deadline is Thursday. The Yankees could make another move, but if this is "only" going to be closer to a 10-day miss, a trade won't be for a Judge fill in.

The easy answer for most people has been Spencer Jones, but here is why I got frustrated by my X feed. So many "experts" weighing in with different takes. Everyone wants to know what is going to happen with Jones. Some will defend him and demand he stay. Any trade talk means they will chase you with a pitchfork and hunt you down. Then you have some people who are open to it IF the price is right. I'm in this camp.

Then you have "experts" posting all kinds of takes. Like Bob Nightengale, after scrolling all the way down on THIS article, you find the Yankees are "open" to trading Jones according to rival GM's. Gee, that is mind boggling. Player gets traded sometimes. Wow. The Yankees aren't against the idea of trading someone if the price is right. Such a huge breaking news headline, yet X was all in a tizzy.

Then there's Jon Heyman who goes from Jones not getting called up to, also not getting traded.

Then last but not least THIS feeding more flames into the "Will Jones or won't Jones" get called up?
I'm honestly just tired of seeing all of these headlines. I get it, but the Yankees are in a big enough jam as it is between Judge and massively underperforming, I just don't want to read more. No, I don't think Jones is going to get called up nor do I think he SHOULD. Yes, he is on a tear down in Triple-A and just had a three-homerun game.... blah blah blah but the kid just got there and has concerns. He has an UGLY strike-out rate and he needs to work on that before he can get called up to the show. He has potential, but he's not ready. He has a lot to do before he can convince me he is ready for the big leagues. We have a roster full of guys that strikeout like he does and can't put the ball in play and score runs OR practice fundamentals. 

If Jones WAS to get called up, the Yankees have a log jam as it is and he's not going to be playing every day. He needs to play every day. He doesn't need to be called up to sit on the bench and be cold. He's not ready. You don't get promoted in these circumstances, it's not good for him or the Yankees.

So if Jones stays so be it, let him play every day in the minors and continue to progress. Honestly though, if the Yankees can get a solid pitcher for him I won't be mad at it either. Can we just stop with the Jones is gonna get called up to replace Judge party? It's not time yet, and not in this chaos, please.

I need a break from X....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WILL DEFENSE IMPROVE WITH AMED ROSARIO?

Was this a good move? I can't tell.

The New York Yankees are spiraling, flailing, gasping for air — and finally, Brian Cashman is showing signs that he knows it. Saturday night, the Yankees made another move to try and salvage this slow-motion disaster of a season, acquiring infielder Amed Rosario from the Nationals in exchange for Clayton Beeter. It’s the kind of move you make not because you’re confident — but because you’re out of ideas and desperate for any spark. My opinion of course.

The timing of the trade raised eyebrows. New York just sent Allan Winans back to Triple-A and clearly needs arms, not more infielders. But instead of patching the bullpen or upgrading the rotation, they grabbed Rosario, a serviceable bat who’s mostly bounced around the diamond like a utility pinball. It’s almost like Cashman rolled the dice in the dark and hoped the ball landed somewhere near competence.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the clubhouse: Anthony Volpe. The kid is still in the lineup every day. Still the starting shortstop. Still struggling. This "Volpe Experiment" was supposed to be the next Derek Jeter. Instead, it’s closer to the next Pete Kozma. And yet Aaron Boone coddles him like he’s some sacred relic — or maybe a lost puppy he can’t bear to give up.

The signing of Ryan McMahon earlier this week was a proactive step, we’ll give them that. It was a real move. A legit player with a decent glove and some pop. But it didn’t solve the Volpe problem which I believe is a major one. Now, with Rosario in the mix, maybe — maybe — Volpe can actually ride the bench once in a while instead of trotting out there and giving Yankees fans indigestion four at-bats a night.

Rosario himself is no savior though. His bat is solid enough — hitting .270/.310/.426 with five homers over 158 plate appearances in Washington this season. But don’t get too excited. He’s mostly played second and third for the Nats, and his defense has always been... let’s call it "adventurous." At shortstop, his range is limited, and his instincts are suspect. So no, he’s not exactly a gold glove solution.

In other words, the Yankees just added another maybe to a roster already bursting with them.

This isn’t even the first time New York has gone after Rosario. Cashman’s had his eye on him before, which just tells you how long they’ve been running in place — chasing the same names, recycling old trade targets, and praying something clicks.

Let’s be clear: the Yankees should’ve handled third base back in the winter. But instead of doing their homework in December, they waited until July to do group project triage. And now, the damage is visible. There’s no rhythm, no consistency, and no plan. McMahon and Rosario might provide a slight offensive boost, but the real question is whether any of this matters if Boone keeps giving Volpe the royal treatment and the rotation continues to unravel.

When Cashman promised to "go to town," fans envisioned fireworks. Instead, we got... duct tape. And not even the heavy-duty kind — we’re talking off-brand stuff that peels up after a few hours.

So here we are: Rosario’s here, McMahon’s here, and Volpe is still here. The Yankees are frantically rearranging the furniture in a burning house, and Cashman’s trying everything — short of admitting the Volpe mistake.

Hope is not a strategy. Let’s see what happens next... but don’t hold your breath.

DRUM'S BANGING LOUDER TO SHIP VOLPE TO SCRANTON

At some point, someone in the Yankees' front office is going to have to step out of their analytics bunker, put the spreadsheets down, and face the music: Anthony Volpe just isn’t cutting it at the major league level. We’ve been floating this idea all season—maybe Volpe needs a wake-up call in Triple-A or maybe it’s time to dangle him in trade talks. Either way, the Yankees can’t keep pretending that this is fine. Because it’s not.

And now, it’s not just fans and bloggers saying it. Former MLB manager Joe Maddon—yes, that Joe Maddon, the guy who actually won a World Series and knows how to manage real talent—went on MLB Network’s “MLB Now” and said what Aaron Boone doesn’t have the guts to admit.

“I think there’s got to be some consideration, or thought, or talking about him possibly going back down,” Maddon said.

Translation: If Maddon were running the Yankees instead of Aaron “Everything is Fine!” Boone, Volpe would already be packing his bags for Scranton.

Maddon, a respected baseball lifer and one of the more thoughtful managers the game has seen in recent decades, even suggested the Yankees should grab a veteran shortstop at the deadline—someone who can actually field the position. Imagine that! A shortstop who… catches the baseball. What a concept.

Let’s not sugarcoat this: Anthony Volpe has become a liability. His 13 errors tie him for the most among shortstops in the league. He’s not hitting. He’s not leading. He’s not growing. He’s drowning. And Aaron Boone, in classic Boone fashion, keeps trying to sell us on the idea that “he’s coming around,” or “he’s just a kid.” Yeah—he is just a kid. That’s the problem. He looks like a high schooler playing dress-up in pinstripes. And it’s not adorable anymore. It’s damaging.

Fans aren’t rooting against him—we’re not villains. Nobody’s hoping this guy fails. But come on. How long are we supposed to wait? Every booted grounder is a gut punch. Every 0-for-4 is a grim reminder that this kid needed more seasoning in the minors, not a red carpet to the Bronx.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are sliding fast. Judge is out for at least another 10 days, and there’s a black hole at shortstop. This is the part where someone in the Yankees' front office is supposed to step in and steady the ship. Instead, it’s listing heavily—and Volpe’s play is one of the reasons why.

Wouldn’t it be nice—just once—to see a Yankee shortstop rise to the moment? Show some fire? Make a big play when it counts? Sure. But it won’t be Volpe. Not now. Not this year.

Joe Maddon is right. Get a veteran in here. Give the kid a bus ticket to Scranton and a chance to figure it out away from the big lights. The Yankees ruined this kid bringing him up way too fast. This isn’t about giving up on Anthony Volpe. It’s about saving the season.

And if the Yankees don’t act fast? We're not heading for the playoffs. We're heading straight for last place in the AL East—and maybe, just maybe, Boone can explain how that’s all part of the process too.

IF JUDGE IS OUT, THIS YANKEE SEASON IS OVER

Let’s stop pretending. This isn’t a slump. It’s not a “rough patch.” What we’re watching is the slow, humiliating collapse of the New York Yankees—errors, lifeless losses, and now, one elbow at a time.

Aaron Judge—the only thing separating this team from complete irrelevance—is now dealing with what manager Aaron Boone ominously called an “elbow issue.” Imaging is pending. The vibes are bad. Really bad.

Judge, the one-man army, the face of the franchise, the guy who still plays like a Yankee should, is now possibly sidelined. He grimaced after a throw earlier this week, but of course, the Yankees didn’t react until now—because this organization reacts to problems the way a turtle reacts to a house fire.

And if this turns out to be something like Tommy John? Buckle up. Because the Yankees, already spinning their wheels in mud, are about to find out what rock bottom really feels like.

This team has no direction. Let’s talk about leadership—because the Yankees don’t have any. Hal Steinbrenner is not his father, and that’s not a compliment. George Steinbrenner may have been a madman, but at least he cared. He acted. He built. He fired people when they deserved it. 

He spent real money, not just to say he did, but to win. Hal, meanwhile, is running the Yankees like a Marriott in Tampa: nice lobby, stale coffee, no ambition.

Brian Cashman? The man once known for smart deals and slick trades is now a relic cosplaying as a visionary. The Yankees front office is drunk on analytics—but not the kind that wins titles. No, this is spreadsheet cosplay, the kind that gives you Anthony Volpe’s “projected WAR” while he’s booting routine grounders and hitting like a backup infielder on a last-place team.

Volpe is out there every day like it’s a high school varsity tryout, and Boone—ever the company man—just keeps writing his name in the lineup card like he’s managing a Little League team sponsored by Goldman Sachs. It's not Volpe’s fault the Yankees skipped the whole “development” part of his career. But this is the Bronx, not a science fair project.

Judge deserves better. Judge re-signed with the Yankees because he loves the pinstripes. He is a Yankee. But that loyalty? It’s starting to look like a tragic mistake. He’s wasting his prime years surrounded by mediocrity, propped up by a franchise too arrogant to admit it needs help and too complacent to make the changes required.

The worst part? If Judge is hurt for any length of time, this team could be 10 games out by August 10. And that’s being generous. They're already slipping, and the schedule isn't getting easier. The Yankees can’t hit. They can’t field. Their bullpen is a horror show. Their manager is a cheerleader in cleats. And now, their only superstar is broken?

This isn’t bad luck. This is bad planning. This is a front office that builds like it’s never heard of contingency. Judge gets hurt, and there's no backup plan—just a shrug from Boone and another “process” soundbite from Cashman.

Look, the truth hurts. Here we are: a once-proud franchise being run like a boutique investment portfolio. The Steinbrenner family is still printing money off the Yankee brand—TV deals, jersey sales, and stadium tourists—but they’re not reinvesting in greatness. They're managing risk. They're avoiding tax penalties. They're surviving, not competing.

And that’s the most frustrating part. Yankees fans don’t ask for much—we ask for effort. For pride. For a team that looks like it gives a damn. Right now, we’ve got a clubhouse full of question marks, a manager who’s allergic to accountability, a GM stuck in 2009, and an owner who probably couldn’t name the starting outfield if you spotted him Judge.

If Aaron Judge goes down for real, the season is already over. But the bigger disaster? He might take whatever’s left of the Yankees' dignity with him.

Fix it, Hal. Or sell the team to someone who will. 

SEAN CASEY'S JUST AS CLUELESS AS BOONE WHEN IT COMES TO VOLPE

Let’s not sugarcoat it: The New York Yankees are crumbling like a stale pretzel in the sun. This isn’t just about a team playing poorly—it’s about an empire collapsing under the weight of its own ego, its bad decisions, and its relentless marketing machine. The worst part? They’ve dragged a kid—Anthony Volpe—along for the ride, and now he’s faceplanting in real time.

You almost feel bad for him. Almost.

Here’s a kid who didn’t play college ball, who got fast-tracked through the minors like he was on an Amazon Prime conveyor belt. Why? Because some analytics geek scribbled down a Derek Jeter comparison on the back of Volpe’s high school graduation program, and the Yankees ran with it like it was gospel. We didn’t invent that comparison—the Yankees, the YES Network, and the media machine did. They were desperate for a new face. And Volpe? He was local... New Jersey. He was marketable. He was the “safe” choice. Never mind that Oswald Peraza—an actual top prospect—was standing right there, major-league ready.

Nope. That didn’t sell enough jerseys.

So what did the Yankees do? They chose the white kid from Jersey over the Dominican shortstop already on the rise. That’s not an accusation—it’s an observation of how this franchise works when branding matters more than baseball. Peraza had the skills, but Volpe had the narrative. And now that narrative is unraveling faster than the Yankees’ season.

Let’s get to the cold, brutal reality: Anthony Volpe is not elite. He’s not a prince in pinstripes. He’s not even a particularly good major league player right now. What he is? A kid who got sold a bill of goods by an organization that was more concerned with creating the next Derek Jeter than letting a young player become something real. And us fans were sold the same bill of goods.

And 2025? This might be the worst offensive season we’ve ever seen from a supposedly “franchise cornerstone.” He’s not treading water. He’s drowning. Volpe is lost at the plate, swinging through breaking balls like he’s never seen one before. (.176 against them this year, and dropping.) This isn't just a slump—it’s a full-blown baseball identity crisis.

Oh, but wait. Here comes Sean Casey, official Boone mouthpiece and word-salad chef extraordinaire, to sprinkle some more delusion on top of the pile.

“Anthony Volpe is going to be just fine,” Casey said on his podcast. “Nobody works harder than he does.”

Cool. And? Do you get an RBI for punching in early? A Gold Glove for having a “great routine”? If working hard was the goal, every guy hustling on a minor league bus to Altoona would be in the Hall of Fame, dummy. 

This isn’t high school gym class—this is Major League Baseball. Working hard is expected from every player. But the Yankees keep pushing this idea that Volpe’s effort makes up for his actual play. Newsflash: He’s getting worse. His defense? Regressed since his Gold Glove rookie campaign. His bat? A glorified wind machine. He believed the hype, and who can blame him? The Yankees handed him the keys to the kingdom before he learned how to drive.

And the organization? They’re too stubborn to admit they got it wrong. They won’t trade him, bench him, or even move him down in the order—because doing so would mean admitting they made a mistake. And heaven forbid Brian Cashman ever admit to one of those.

This is what makes it all so pathetic. Not just the bad baseball. Not just the lost games. But the fact that this team—the once-proud Yankees—has become a marketing firm in pinstripes. They sold us a hero, and now that the hero can’t hit a slider, they just tell us to clap harder.

Anthony Volpe isn’t a villain. He’s the symptom of a bigger disease. He’s the result of a franchise that prioritizes hype over development, PR over performance, and optics over outcomes. They wanted a Jeter 2.0. What they got was a well-meaning kid caught in a storm he never created—but one he’s not surviving either.

And Aaron Boone? Still trotting him out there every day like it's 1999 and we're all just too dumb to notice. Boone loves Volpe like he’s his long-lost nephew, and Sean Casey just joined the BBQ. It’s a weird little club of delusion, and the fans? We’re just left watching the wreckage.

I’m not spending a dime at Yankee Stadium while this clown show of a front office continues to pretend everything is fine. It’s not. We were sold a dream, and we woke up to a .212 batting average and a collapsing dynasty.

It didn’t have to be this way. But the Yankees chose the face, not the future.

And now we're all paying the price.

YANKS GOT THEIR THIRD BASEMAN!

Stop the presses — or at least pause your daily despair scroll through Yankees Twitter. The Bronx Bombers actually made a trade that might not make you throw your remote through the nearest flat screen. 

The Yankees are acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies, per MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. In exchange, the Rockies get a pair of pitching prospects — lefty Griffin Herring and righty Josh Grosz.

Now, let’s get this out of the way: McMahon can field. Like, actually field. He's been a National League Gold Glove finalist three years running — 2022, 2023, and 2024 — and is basically penciled in for another finalist nod in 2025. He’s sporting a slick .978 fielding percentage through 100 games this year, which is impressive until you remember… he also led the National League in errors at third base last season with 15.

 

So yes, McMahon is technically elite with the glove — but apparently, he likes to keep things interesting with the occasional airmailed throw into the stands.

And let’s be real: with Aaron Boone managing this team like a guy who skipped “Defense 101” and instead teaches a masterclass called “Trust Your Gut and Ignore the Fundamentals”, there’s reason to worry. The left side of the infield — now featuring Anthony “I’m Still Learning” Volpe and McMahon is going to need divine intervention, or at least a full-time therapist for Gerrit Cole. Let's hope the errors on the left side of the field stop.

Still, let’s give this move some credit. It could’ve been worse. The Yankees could’ve gone dumpster diving and walked away with Eugenio Suárez, whose glove is basically a fancy oven mitt. So yes — in the kingdom of blind infielders, McMahon is the one-eyed man.

The Yankees front office, led by Brian “I Still Have a Job Somehow” Cashman, can pat themselves on the back for now. They didn’t solve their offensive woes, they didn’t figure out the future, and they certainly didn’t fix the Volpe development disaster — but hey, they found a guy who at least knows how to stand at third base and not trip over it.

Small victories, folks. Small victories.

EUGENIO SUAREZ WON'T IMPROVE THE YANKEES

The Yankees need way more than that... and it's just too damn late.

They're just not playing badly. They are disintegrating, right in front of our pinstriped eyes. This isn’t a slump. It’s not a cold streak. This is a collapse. A rot from the top down. We’re not just watching losses pile up—we’re watching the future vanish like mist over the Harlem River.

And somehow, the most tragic part of it all? Aaron Judge re-signing. The best player of a generation chained himself to a sinking ship. He chose loyalty. He chose legacy. And we, the fans, are watching this organization waste him. Squander him. Every home run he hits feels like another chapter in a Shakespearean tragedy.

Brian Cashman? Expired. His vision is foggy, his instincts dulled. He’s running this franchise like it’s still 2009.

Aaron Boone? An absolute buffoon. He might be a great babysitter, but a tactician? A motivator? Please. He's out there chewing gum and clapping while Rome burns behind him.

And the joke? The joke is us. We’re the punchline. The loyal, delusional fanbase still clinging to hope while the front office makes decisions that would make a Little League coach raise an eyebrow.

Case in point: The Yankees needed a third baseman in December. Everyone knew it. Fans. Analysts. Your barber. Your mom. What did they do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Now it’s July, and the panic button is so worn down it’s practically smooth—and suddenly we’re sniffing around Eugenio Suárez like he's going to save the season? Please.

Look, Suárez is fine. A decent bat—he’s hitting .252 with 36 homers and 86 RBIs through early July. He’s been a bright spot for the Diamondbacks, sure. But he’s not exactly vacuuming up ground balls over there at third. Defensively, he’s shaky. And plugging him into this mess of a Yankees lineup is like putting a Band-Aid on a ruptured dam. It won't stop the bleeding. It might just make things soggier.

Arizona is ready to sell. Corbin Burnes is out for the year. Josh Naylor’s already been shipped out. And Mike Hazen isn’t hiding the fire sale. But the Yankees? They’re not buying strategically. They’re grasping. They’re always chasing. Always reacting. They never seem to know who they are or what they want.

And that’s the real horror show. There’s no vision. No plan. Just chaos dressed up in pinstripes.

Yankee fans aren’t mad because we’re losing. We’re mad because this feels permanent. The rot is structural. The arrogance is still there, but the results have vanished. This franchise has become a bloated, confused relic, living off a brand that no longer matches the on-field product.

We’re not impatient. We’re not ungrateful. We’re not spoiled.
We’re just done watching a front office rewrite the same busted script and pretend it’s a blockbuster.

The Yankees are crumbling.
And no, it’s not fine.

WHEN LEADERS DON'T LEAD, FRANCHISES CRUMBLE

Is it almost Dead Day for this guy? I mean Boone is awful and needs to be canned. Sure, suggest I'm being dramatic, but the truth is I'm right. Bad leaders destroy a franchise. Google it.

Every week, I get emails. Facebook comments. DMs from confused Yankee fans asking the same question:

“Why do you keep going after Aaron Boone and Anthony Volpe? Nothing’s going to change.”

Here’s why: I don’t do “nothing.” Never have. If something I care about is rotting from the inside out, I speak up. And right now, the thing that’s decaying faster than day-old fish in the Bronx sun is the New York Yankees.

Once a proud franchise. Now? A parody of itself.

The front office is asleep at the wheel. Brian Cashman? Complacent, clueless, and somehow allergic to making an actual impactful trade. He’s been GM so long, he probably thinks VHS tapes are coming back. And Aaron Boone? Oh boy. If there’s a Mount Rushmore of managers who shouldn’t be managing, Boone is George Washington.

This guy couldn’t lead a marching band in a one-horse town. If Boone were in charge during WWII, we’d all be toasting bratwurst in Berlin. He’s soft. He doesn’t lead; he babysits. He’s turned the Yankees clubhouse into a summer camp where nobody gets cut and everyone gets a trophy. He yells at the media because of the pressure, but doesn't understand what comes with the job. It's not about arguing balls and strikes, its about leading players to victory... and he can try and suggest "players aren't playing well" all he wants, but there's a reason why... and it's him.

And his obsession with Anthony Volpe? Borderline Shakespearean. Volpe could boot three ground balls and strike out looking twice, and Boone would still run out like a helicopter parent screaming at the ump for hurting his “special boy’s” feelings. It’s not just cringe—it’s deeply weird. A grown man managing a professional baseball team should not act like he’s defending his son in tee-ball.

Meanwhile, I’ve been calling for Boone’s firing since Aaron Judge had baby cheeks. And at long last, baseball insiders are starting to see what I’ve been yelling about. Enter Ken Rosenthal, who—diplomatic as ever—finally hinted that Boone might just be a problem.

Rosenthal wrote:

“The Yankees’ performance is again lacking. And until they play cleaner baseball, it will be fair to question whether Boone is doing enough to hold the players accountable. If he is not, the accountability ultimately will fall on him.”

Translation: We’re getting close to Boone’s dead day. In other words, his firing.

This feels like 2022 all over again. Or worse—2004 Red Sox Highlight DVD levels of dread. Only now, we don’t have a manager with fire. We have Boone, who looks permanently confused and sounds like a podcast host who forgot to prep.

Last night’s game? Embarrassing doesn’t cover it. Four defensive errors, mental gaffes, and a total lack of urgency in an 8-4 loss that pushed the Yankees even further out of the division race. Boone says this is a “very good defensive team.” That’s either gaslighting or he’s watching the wrong sport. Because the Yankees out there? They looked like the Savannah Bananas with a head cold. And the Bananas are better fielders AND do tricks

.As for Volpe, he’s got all the hype and half the glove. He’s a walking error. But Boone still treats him like he's the chosen one. It’s beyond favoritism—it’s delusion. And it sends the worst possible message to the rest of the team: Play poorly, and the manager will defend you like a fangirl.

Fans like me? We’re tired. Tired of the excuses. Tired of the gloss. Tired of Boone acting like this is Little League and not the freaking New York Yankees.

Managers used to hold players accountable. Boone hands out warm milk and bedtime stories. And guess what? The team reflects that. Sloppy, slow, uninspired.

At the end of the day, leadership matters. Performance matters. The Yankees aren’t performing. And Aaron Boone, the manager who somehow thinks effort is enough, should be out of a job today. Not next week. Not in October. Today.

Because until someone in charge actually holds these players responsible, the only thing we’ll be winning is participation ribbons.