JUST SIGN BELLINGER, DUDE!

The New York Yankees have officially mastered the art of looking busy while accomplishing absolutely nothing.

This entire offseason has been one long exercise in minor league cosplay. Depth signings. Non-roster invites. Roster filler dressed up as “smart baseball.” The Yankees didn’t improve a single pressure spot on a team that keeps folding when it matters — but hey, the farm system spreadsheet looks great.

And if you question it, you’re told to relax… because they signed a Mexican League MVP named Nick Torres, and apparently that’s supposed to move the needle. You’re supposed to be excited. You’re supposed to nod knowingly, even though 99 percent of fans had never heard the name until the press release hit. World Series contenders don’t ask their fan base to imagine production — they acquire it. 

The Yankees are now selling mystery boxes and calling them solutions.

Meanwhile, the most obvious answer has been staring them in the face the entire time: Cody Bellinger.

Dan Duquette said the quiet part out loud on MLB Network Radio, and unlike the Yankees, he didn’t overthink it.

“I think he’s getting six years. I still think the Yankees, even though there’s other teams that jumped in, I still cannot imagine that the Yankees will not be the final suitor on him,” Duquette said.

“He was such a good fit, obviously, mostly hitting behind (Aaron) Judge. It doesn’t hurt that Judge had another MVP season.”

That’s not insider gossip. That’s logic — something the Yankees seem allergic to.

While the front office fiddles with Triple-A depth and asks fans to pretend Nick Torres is the missing championship piece, Bellinger already answered real questions. He balanced the lineup. He protected Judge. He made Yankee Stadium work for him instead of exposing him. Left-handed power. Real contact. Zero fear of big moments. Pitchers had to pitch, and suddenly Judge wasn’t stranded on an island.

And then there’s the defense — something this organization treats like an optional accessory. Bellinger brought Gold Glove ability wherever they needed him. Outfield? Elite. First base? Smooth. No excuses, no learning curve, no defensive disasters disguised as versatility. He played baseball like someone who respects all nine innings.

Most of all, he handled New York like a pro. No press conferences about “adjustments.” No sulking. No coddling. Just a 5+ WAR season, quiet leadership, and actual results — the opposite of the Yankees’ offseason strategy.

That’s why Bellinger’s return isn’t just preferable — it’s necessary. Because while the Yankees hoard minor leaguers and hype overseas MVPs nobody asked for, Bellinger represents certainty. Proven production. Proven composure. Proven fit.

Championship teams don’t cross their fingers over Nick Torres and hope it plays in October. They lock in players who already showed they can survive the Bronx and thrive in it.

Cody Bellinger did that.

And if the Yankees don’t bring him back, it won’t be because he wasn’t worth it — it’ll be because this front office is more comfortable gambling on the unknown than committing to something that actually worked.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR TATSUYA IMAI! WHERE ARE THE YANKEES?!

Here we are, in the final hours of 2025. The countdown to 2026 is on....but that is not the only clock we are watching. Tatsuya Imai must sign a MLB contract by January 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET, this is when his posting window expires. Things are developing, but are any of those developments with the Yankees?

Last week we wrote YANKEES LATEST RUMORS JUST PUT A DAMPER ON MY HOLIDAY! because Jack Curry put that spark of any meaningful Yankee moves out by dumping cold water on it. It wasn't a surprise to hear but it was still a disappointment considering Yankee fans are on pins and needles waiting for a big splash.

Now yesterday, Newsweek had THIS update. Imai is rumored to be in LA meeting with interested teams. Previous teams that were once hot and heavy in the rumor mill seem to have faded (maybe) and now suddenly it is a show down again between the Chicago Cubs and the Yankees. The rumor mill thinks it comes down to us or the Cubbies. We are both a "fit" for him.

Newsweek says the Cubs have the edge in a deal that could be worth $150 million. Who knows if that is true, but the Cubs desperately need pitching. We need an arsenal, but we could be closer to taking on the Dodgers than the Cubs. Imai wants to play the Dodgers and beat them so this is where my fantasy kicks in and says we should have the edge. Besides, the Yankees were willing to spend stupid money for Juan Soto, this is pocket change compared to what he got.

This winter has been strange, it is hard to know what to believe anymore. It is hard for me to truly believe that the Yankees are willing to make the investments needed to improve this team. Brian Cashman is missing in action and Hal Steinbrenner has to limit spending and obsess over protecting profits after giving the seal of approval on a lot of bad Cashman deals.

This is one of the deals the Yankees need to make. Sign Imai. Sign Cody Bellinger, add some relievers. Get it done already. It's what is needed to get back to being champions. Seriously....where the hell is Brian Cashman?! This franchise is losing before the season even starts!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

ANTHONY RIZZO COULD MAKE A COOL COMEBACK

Anthony Rizzo wasn’t just a baseball player in my opinion. He was a presence. The kind of guy who walks into a clubhouse and, without raising his voice, instantly owns the room. Managers trusted him. Teammates leaned on him. Fans believed in him. That’s leadership you can’t fake — and you can’t teach.

For the Chicago Cubs, Rizzo was the spine of an entire era. When that franchise finally exorcised a century of ghosts in 2016, Rizzo wasn’t just part of the story — he was the story. He led by example, by toughness, by accountability. He played through pain, absorbed pressure like a professional shock absorber, and made everyone around him better. Two hundred forty-two home runs. Seven hundred eighty-four RBIs. Four Gold Gloves. Those aren’t just numbers — that’s a résumé built on reliability and respect. The Cubs didn’t just win with Rizzo; they grew up with him.

Then came the Bronx.

And here’s where it gets personal.

When Anthony Rizzo put on pinstripes, it felt right in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’re wired a certain way. As an Italian-American, watching Rizzo lead the Yankees hit different. Italians don’t just value leadership — we feel it. We respect presence. We respect the guy who stands in front of the room, takes responsibility, protects his people, and never hides. Rizzo brought that exact energy to Yankee Stadium.

He didn’t need theatrics. He didn’t need slogans. He showed up. If things got ugly — and in those recent Yankees seasons, and they often did — Rizzo was the adult. The voice. The calm. You could see players gravitate toward him, because real leaders don’t chase attention. Attention finds them.

So, when Rizzo left the Yankees, yeah — it hurt. A lot. Losing talent is one thing. Losing leadership is another. That stings deeper, especially when you know how rare it is. Still, even heartbreak can come with clarity. The time was right. Bodies wear down. Chapters close. And Rizzo, after the 2024 season, chose to walk away on his terms.

But the Italian roots are strong.

Team Italy has come calling for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and if you understand Italian culture, you understand why this matters. Heritage isn’t a footnote — it’s identity. It’s bloodlines, grandparents, traditions, pride. Rizzo represented Italy back in 2013 through his Sicilian roots, and the idea of doing it one last time clearly carries weight. This wouldn’t be a novelty act. It would be a statement.

Team Italy GM Ned Colletti made it clear this isn’t a ceremonial invite.

“You can’t just show up, and he knows that.”

That’s Rizzo in a nutshell. If he does it, he does it right. Prepared. Committed. Leading.

So now the decision belongs to him: family first, always — but maybe, just maybe, one last chapter. One last clubhouse. One last chance to lead men on a baseball field, this time wearing the colors of his heritage.

Anthony Rizzo has already left an indelible mark on Chicago, New York, and Major League Baseball as a whole. But if his final act comes draped in Italy’s colors, representing where his family came from and everything he stands for?

That wouldn’t just be baseball. That would be legacy... and I love it.

THE BOY CROWNED KING TOO EARLY

You can hear it every time the Yankees talk about Anthony Volpe. The optimism. The breathless faith. The rehearsed lines. The insistence that what you’re seeing with your own eyes is somehow wrong. Because if you really believed the numbers, the tape, and the results, you wouldn’t still be trying to sell Anthony Volpe as a franchise shortstop. Yet here we are.

Volpe talked last season “sleepless nights” and “work to be done.” Fair enough. Accountability is good. Unfortunately, it came paired with the usual organizational safety net: excuses, patience, and blind belief.  Then came the MRI. A torn left labrum requiring surgery. And just like that, for the first time in four seasons, Anthony Volpe will not be the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop... which, I'm not gonna lie, I am thrilled about.  Why?

Let’s stop pretending this is complicated. Through 1,886 major league plate appearances, Volpe owns a .662 OPS.  Offense that has been 16 percent below league average. 19 errors in 2025 alone. That’s not a slump. That’s a résumé.

This isn’t a small sample. This isn’t “he’s figuring it out.” This is who he has been for three seasons. The “upside” Yankees fans keep being promised remains theoretical, while the production has been painfully real. The math simply isn’t mathing. The Yankees crowned his kid King way too early.

The organization keeps talking about him like he’s on the verge of becoming something special—as if one magical adjustment is going to turn a below-average bat into a cornerstone.  No one peddles this garbage harder than Aaron Boone.

Boone will tell you Volpe is “working through it.”
Boone will tell you he’s “almost there.”
Boone will tell you the final two months were “really good,” even when they objectively weren’t.

At one point, during the height of Volpe’s struggles last year, Boone was asked about him in a press conference and literally mouthed the words “he’s f’in elite” to Meredith Marakovits.

Elite.

 
That moment should’ve stunned everyone—and not because it was bold, but because it was detached from reality. The eye test alone screamed otherwise. Boone wasn’t managing; he was campaigning.

This is what Boone does. He doesn’t evaluate players—he protects narratives handed down by the front office. If Brian Cashman says Volpe is the guy, Boone will repeat it until the words lose all meaning. He’s not managing results. He’s managing optics. And let's be honest, high school stardom doesn't cash MLB checks.  Volpe’s legend has always leaned heavily on his past. The local kid. The shortstop dreams. The high school dominance. The “perfect Yankee.”

But high school numbers don’t win games in the Bronx.  New York fans, don’t care what you were at 17. We care what you are right now. And right now, Volpe looks overwhelmed by the pressure, the expectations, and the reality that the major leagues separate potential from performance. but don't worry, the Yankees will blame it on the bum shoulder.  An injury that popped up in the late of the season and was suggested it started in May. IN MAY? What are the Yankees hiding. We lost a lot of winnable games because this kid was hurt.  We are clearly not a serious franchise.

For Volpe, pressure showed up everywhere: the errors, the tentative at-bats, the inability to adjust when pitchers stopped challenging him. The stage got bigger. He didn’t. And instead of letting him sink or swim honestly, the Yankees wrapped him in bubble wrap made of excuses down the stretch.

But don't worry, Brian Cashman insists he still believes “everything they felt before the surgery.” He points to Trent Grisham as proof that development paths are unpredictable. That’s fine—once. But let's also not forget that the Yankees hid Grisham in 2024 and only played him in 2025 because they needed him... and he happened to work out.

Look, how many times can you say that Volpe is the answer before it becomes organizational denial? At some point, belief without evidence isn’t confidence—it’s stubbornness. And worse, it’s costing the team games. The irony is thick. Cashman himself said it best when he noted that “the game separates the men from the boys.”

It already has.

José Caballero is faster.
José Caballero is more athletic.
José Caballero gets on base.
José Caballero scores runs.

Caballero looks like a major leaguer who understands the moment. Volpe still looks like a player being protected from it. The Yankees don’t need another promise. They need production. They don’t need another press conference quote. They need accountability. And they don’t need to keep forcing Anthony Volpe into a role he hasn’t earned just to justify a scouting decision they refuse to admit might’ve been wrong. This isn’t personal. It’s baseball. Fans don't want Volpe as the starting shortstop... it's pretty simple.

When you’re bad, it’s better to know it than to pretend it isn’t happening. That’s how you improve. That’s how you grow. That’s how you stop embarrassing yourself nightly with empty optimism.

I want to be wrong about Volpe. Every fan does. But the tighter the Yankees cling to him, the stranger this whole thing feels. Development doesn’t look like this. Confidence doesn’t sound like this. And superstardom? It sure as hell doesn’t need this many excuses.

The math isn’t mathing. The tape isn’t lying. And the game and fans have already made their choice as far as I'm concerned.

The Yankees just refuse to listen... and that's on them.

YANKEES LATEST SIGNING IS BAD NEWS FOR SPENCER JONES!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS....Brian Cashman took another deep dive in the dumpster again! Doesn't that just grind your gears? I know it grinds mine, A LOT! The latest one is just crazy.

In case you missed it (and you might have) the Yankees went shopping down in Mexico, and have signed Nick Torres from the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna baseball team in the Mexican League (LMB), read all about it HERE. He is primarily an outfielder but can also play first base. He hasn't played a game at first since 2021 but he is depth. It's an interesting flyer to take if you happen to be the Athletics. But we are not the Athletics, we're the freaking New York Yankees.

Some fans are confused by this news considering Torres is 32 and hasn't had ANY big league action. He's been a journeyman since he was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 2014 draft. Hell, he hasn't even seen Minor League action since 2018. He transitioned to the Mexican League in 2019 and he has done very well there. So no disrespect, he found his stride and posted some impressive numbers including OPS over 1.000 in recent seasons and a .425 on-base percentage and 79 RBI's in 86 games last season. His stats are the reason why he is the 2025 Mexican League MVP.  But this move tells me one thing....

This signing has no impact to whether or not the Yankees are going to continue their pursuit of Cody Bellinger. That is still happening, Cody is still their priority. The Yankees have also been linked to Austin Hays as a backup to Cody. They want Cody, they will settle for Hays if they have to but Torres? Well, he's just the last ditch option.

Yup, that's what this tells me. He's the last guy on the radar because he had good stats in Mexico so they hope they can tap into more lightning in a bottle and that his skills translate at the big league level. He's unproven, but had some success elsewhere....unlike Spencer Jones. The Yankees are not sold on Jones, otherwise they wouldn't have signed Torres. They have no confidence in him. The same is true for Jasson Dominguez. He's not a good defender and he's just been okay when he was hyped to be the next big thing. That hasn't happened. Jones and Dominguez are less than ideal alternatives.

So that is why we have Torres. Simple as that. He's the guy that could derail the future of Jones and lead Dominguez to be non-essential. He's going to be the guy that the Jones fanatics are going to have to worry about....because this is not a good sign for Jones at all.

I'm calling it as I see it here. Torres coming to the Yankees has nothing to do with Bellinger at all....but it could spell really bad news for Dominguez and Jones. The Yankees are an absolute disaster, so much so that we went shopping in Mexico. That leaves such a bitter taste in my mouth right now.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE ART OF BEING COMFORTABLE, NOT COMPETITIVE

Let's face it, the Yankees off season has been weak. There was a time when the New York Yankees owned the offseason. Many were convinced that this December was their month. The Winter Meetings were their playground. But the headlines and rumors were loud and nothing ever happened.

This Yankees’ offseason feels like a dud. A wandering through an abandoned shopping mall where the lights are on, the doors are unlocked, but nobody inside seems interested in doing business.

This isn’t “measured.”
This isn’t “strategic patience.”
This is an offseason defined by inertia, wrapped in corporate buzzwords and defended by a front office that seems genuinely confused as to why fans are upset.

If you want to understand why Yankees fans like me are frustrated, you don’t even need to look at the transactions page. Just listen to Brian Cashman talk.

Throughout December, Cashman repeatedly framed the Yankees’ inactivity as a product of a “tough market” and a lack of appealing options. He openly admitted that there wasn’t much inventory he was interested in and described the offseason as being stuck in a phase of “information sharing” and “preliminary conversations.”  For a small-market team, maybe that flies. For the New York Yankees, it lands like an insult.

This is a franchise that prints money, plays on the sport’s biggest stage, and still charges fans premium prices for a product that just finished another season short of a championship. Hearing Cashman talk this offseason like it’s a brainstorming retreat instead of a roster-building sprint is jarring. Cashman didn’t sound aggressive. He didn’t sound urgent. He sounded… comfortable.

And comfort is the last thing Yankees fans want to hear after years of early playoff exits, roster imbalance, and bullpen roulette. One of Cashman’s favorite words this winter has been engaged.

The Yankees are “staying engaged.” They’re “trying to match up.” They’re “monitoring options.”

That language may play well in boardrooms, but it plays horribly in the Bronx, especially since it's been years since we've won.   Because while the Yankees are “engaged,” other teams are actually doing things. Rivals are making trades, retooling rosters, and addressing obvious weaknesses. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ most notable activity has been a parade of depth signings and minor-league deals — moves that might matter in Scranton but don’t move the needle in October.

Re-signing Paul Blackburn? Fine depth.
Adding Zack Short on a minor-league deal? Harmless.
Bringing back familiar faces on modest terms? Safe.

But safe doesn’t win championships.
Safe doesn’t excite fans.
Safe doesn’t fix what’s broken.

The Yankees entered the offseason with glaring needs: bullpen reliability, lineup balance, and impact talent. Cashman even acknowledged the roster imbalance — particularly the left-handed heaviness — yet December has passed without a single move that meaningfully addresses it.  Instead, the plan appears to be the same one we’ve seen before: internal solutions, bounce-back candidates, and hoping variance works in their favor.

Hope is not a strategy.
Hope is what teams sell when they don’t want to spend.

The bullpen, which wobbled throughout the season, has been treated as something that might magically stabilize itself. The lineup, which still lacks fear factor beyond its stars, remains mostly unchanged. And the rotation depth — always a concern — has been padded with insurance policies instead of upgrades.

This offseason isn’t about improving the Yankees. It’s about maintaining the status quo and calling it flexibility. Even when discussing players like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cashman’s comments perfectly encapsulate the Yankees’ directionless tone. Chisholm is “part of the solution,” but the team remains “open-minded.” That’s not a plan — that’s a hedge.

Everything this winter has felt hedged. No strong declarations. No bold vision. No sense that the Yankees are trying to impose themselves on the league rather than react to it.

For a franchise built on dominance, that mindset feels alarmingly small.  This isn’t just about one slow offseason. Yankees fans have seen this movie before. The pattern is familiar:

Downplay the market. Talk up internal growth. Avoid long-term risk. Frame inactivity as discipline. Eventually, something small happens late in the winter, and it’s sold as a calculated win. But fans aren’t buying it anymore. We are tired of hearing why something didn’t happen. They’re tired of being told patience is the plan. They’re tired of watching rivals act while the Yankees analyze.

The frustration isn’t reactionary — it’s cumulative.   What makes this offseason sting isn’t just what the Yankees haven’t done — it’s who they’re supposed to be.

These are the New York Yankees. The brand alone should tilt markets. The payroll should scare agents. The urgency should be obvious. Instead, December 2025 has exposed a front office that appears more concerned with avoiding mistakes than making statements.  And that’s the real problem, isn't it?

Championship teams take risks. Dynasties don’t wait for perfect conditions. The Yankees used to dictate terms — now they negotiate with caution.

Yes, the offseason isn’t technically over. A move could still come. Something splashy could still happen. But the tone has been set, and it’s unmistakable. This has been an offseason of excuses, careful language, and low-impact moves — all from a franchise that once made winter its own personal highlight reel.

If the Yankees want fans to believe again, it won’t come from being “engaged.” It’ll come from being bold. Until then though, this winter will be remembered not for what the Yankees did — but for how loudly they didn’t. And this is the worst part, and maybe I'm just stupid for thinking this way.  Forever I felt as though this Yankee front office was there to help improve the team for us fans.  It's crystal clear to me these days that this isn't about us fans at all... and yet, we pay the bills. And what do we get in return? Not much, we spend money, we spend our time, and we don't see improvement.  But we collectively should be allowed to dictate in some capacity what this team should and should not do.  But we don't.  That's why I've given up on paying a dime to this franchise.  

Until there is improvement... I won't be around, and I will continue to attack this dying franchise and horrible, complacent front office.

#YANKEES LATEST RUMORS JUST PUT A DAMPER ON MY HOLIDAY!

First and foremost - to those of you who celebrate Merry Christmas! I really hope you are unwinding, and making memories with family and friends this holiday season. I know I am, but as I have been decking the halls, shopping and food prepping I have been sitting around and waiting for the Yankees to make a move.

I have had my eyes and ears plastered to Tatsuya Imai because I really want to see where the guy that doesn't want to be a Dodger ends up signing. It's intriguing to me. There's been so much hype about the Yankees being a real contender and as much as I secretly want to see that happen and know it's not likely, Jack Curry threw some cold water on that dream Tuesday night on an episode of Hot Stove, read more HERE.

"The vibe between Imai and the Yankees does not exist," per Curry. A quote that dampers some of my Christmas cheer even though I knew that was likely all along. I was still dreaming about it though. There's something about signing the guy that SAYS he wants nothing to do with the Dodgers that excites me. Even if he doesn't mean it, just hearing such a bold statement makes me more intrigued by him. He's the guy that has a new energy that is not on our team that could be a sparkplug. So to hear Curry say the connection isn't there sucks, and it makes me hope he is wrong.

But he might not be. Over the weekend Aaron Boone revealed that the Yankees had not met with Imai and he was not sure if they would. Could that be a strategy? Sure, it could but do we really think the Yankees are being THAT thoughtful? I don't see that in the Yankees playbook. Not to mention, if the Yankees are interested they need to get that ball rolling. Imai must sign a MLB contract by January 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET, this is when his posting window expires. MLB teams (AND THE YANKEES AHEM) have a limited window to negotiate with him. Time is running out and fast.

It's frustrating waiting around for NOTHING. The Yankees are not engaged, not with it. They seem to be more than comfortable going into the 2026 season with the same team we had last year. You know, that team that couldn't beat the Blue Jays and climbed back into the division race because they had an easier September schedule but in the end STILL fell to the Blue Jays. Yeah, that team....Hal Steinbrenner obviously doesn't see what we see. He doesn't care to as long as the profits continue to roll in. The rest of the division has improved and we have not. Don't let the Rays fool you by the way. They are loading up with some real young talent from within and soon we are going to see what they can build and have for many years....but we cannot.

The prime years of Aaron Judge are disappearing fast and the rest of our rivals are making meaningful moves. Is Brian Cashman even working? Did he take the winter off? He's missing in action. I hope the Imai rumors are false, but even if they aren't the Yankees need to DO SOMETHING FAST!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WILL SANTA DELIVER CODY BELLINGER TO THE YANKEES THIS WEEK?

This has been such a lackluster holiday season for Yankee fans so far. While the Mets continue to sign ghosts of Yankees past we sit around waiting for something exciting to happen. Something besides Yankees signing minor league castoffs...because that's all we have right now.

That could all change IF we could get Cody Bellinger back. But Cody's rumor mill has more ups and downs in it than I can even keep up with these days. No one really understands what his asking price is, and that became even more obvious when Yankees insider Jack Curry made an appearance Yankees Hot Stove on YES Network.

It's no secret Cody wants a multi-year deal with high annual value, and since he has Scott Boras as his agent that's exactly the kinds of deals he gets for his clients. The Yankees want Cody back but....there has been zero traction. According to NJ.com HERE, NO TEAM, has come close to the asking price for Cody. That could be good news for us....but that could be bad as well.

Back in November, MLB Trade Rumors posted their predictions for free agent signings, with Cody's prediction of 5 years and $140 million. The Mets and the Dodgers are in the mix for Cody, and we all know the Dodgers have no problems spending big money with deferrals and Steve Cohen threw his money around last winter only to not make the playoffs. He's looking to rebound this season.

If Cody's market isn't hopping right now, teams have plenty of time to wait and let it develop. With Kyle Tucker in the mix, Boras will likely want to see what he signs for to set the market and then let it play out from there. While we may be in a hurry for traction, we could be waiting a while for resolution. 

At this point, the Yankees really need to make some moves. If the Yankees don't make some moves and our rivals get stronger it's going to be a disaster. The Yankees were one of nine teams to surpass the $241 million base threshold and now have to pay $61.8 million in luxury tax penalties now. The Mets and Dodgers have a lot more to pay than that and they are not shying away from spending money....so I guess we will wait and see just how cheap Hal Steinbrenner is.

The outfield is an area of need for the Yankees. I've already said this before but the Yankees have Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez as backup options and neither of those are good enough. We've already seen Dominguez and Jones has struggled enough that he just made it to Triple-A this season....and he''' be 25 years old in May.  

Is Brian Cashman even working? It doesn't feel like it. I was really hoping for Cody under the tree this winter. It doesn't sound like he will be here for Christmas but I will still be happy if he's in pinstripes by Spring Training.

We really need some holiday magic around here...

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

BLACKBURN RETURNS IN THE NEWEST CHEAP CASHMAN MOVE

 The Yankees did it again. Because of course they did.

Saturday night, the team agreed to re-sign Paul Blackburn on a one-year, $2 million deal. And if your first reaction was “wait… why?” congratulations — you’re still paying attention. There is absolutely nothing worse than a franchise bringing back a player that no fan wanted, asked for, or even remembered. Blackburn checks all three boxes.

Naturally, the New York Post tried to slap lipstick on it.

According to the Post, this is why fans should calm down:

“That is of note because Blackburn offers the ability to start — which the Yankees might need early in the season as they await the returns of Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole — but also can provide innings out of the bullpen.”

Please. Stop. Just stop.

That’s not a selling point — that’s a cry for help. “He can start, or he can be bad somewhere else” is not roster construction. It’s survival mode. And it’s exactly the kind of nonsense spin you get when expectations have fallen through the floor.

Let’s be honest: this move wasn’t smart, bold, or strategic. It was cheap. And that’s why Brian Cashman loves it. Low cost, low commitment, low accountability. Blackburn has zero upside. None. 

And now he’s back. Because mediocrity apparently gets second chances in the Bronx, as long as it’s affordable.

This is what complacency looks like. Cashman isn’t chasing championships anymore — he’s managing payroll optics. And worse, he’s clearly handcuffed by Hal Steinbrenner, who continues to show he is not a serious baseball owner. Hal runs the Yankees like they’re a quarterly earnings report, not a historic franchise built on dominance. Spend just enough to say you tried. Compete just enough to sell tickets.

And Cashman? He’s comfortable with that. Which is exactly why he should resign. Today would be fine.

Now take a look at the 2026 rotation as it currently stands:
Max Fried
Cam Schlittler
Luis Gil
Will Warren
Ryan Yarbrough

If that doesn’t scare the hell out of you, then by all means — keep buying tickets and enjoy another early playoff exit. For me? I’ll always support the players. They didn’t ask for this mess.

But I cannot — and will not — spend another dime supporting this franchise as an institution. The standards are gone. The ambition is gone. And the front office thinks fans are stupid enough to believe that Paul Blackburn is a meaningful move.

They’ve ruined it.
And this signing is just another loud reminder of how far the Yankees have fallen.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ JUST CALLED OUT THE YANKEES...

And the example he gave? Anthony Volpe.

Yup, here we go again, because you already know how much I can’t stand Anthony Volpe being cemented at shortstop.

First of all, he never should’ve been there to begin with. And yeah, I’m going to say what everyone dances around: it feels like someone in the Yankees’ scouting department knew his dad, made a few friendly phone calls, and suddenly this kid was pushed to the front of the line. Let me be crystal clear before anyone loses their mind — this is just my opinion. I have no proof. No sources. Zero evidence. Just a gut feeling.

Because otherwise, none of this makes sense. How does a guy who didn’t exactly dominate the minor leagues become the Yankees’ unquestioned shortstop? Not compete for it — own it. Like, it was handed to him. He wasn’t some can’t-miss MiLB monster. Yet here we are pretending this was inevitable.

And now? Now Alex Rodriguez is saying it out loud — and for once, he’s dead right.

In a WFAN Sports Radio interview, A-Rod called out Anthony Volpe as a symptom of the Yankees’ completely broken hitting philosophy. And he didn’t sugarcoat it.

“The organization has fallen in love with him, but at some point the numbers don’t lie, right?” Rodriguez said.

Then came the part the Yankees hate most — the receipts.

“You have 167 strikeouts [in 2023], 156 [in 2024] and 150 [in 2025], and here’s a young man that the biggest way he can impact winning is with his number one tool: his legs.”

Exactly. Speed is supposed to be the selling point. Pressure. Chaos. Movement.

Instead?

“Here’s a young man who has over 50 stolen bases in the minor leagues, he stole 18 last year, and it’s hard to impact winning when you’re striking out 150 times and you’re hitting .212.”

That’s not hate — that’s math. And math doesn’t care about prospect rankings or feel-good stories.

Rodriguez didn’t stop there. He widened the lens and dropped the real indictment.

“So I think if you zoom out, it’s an organization hitting philosophy that is absolutely broken, and until they fix it, I don’t think they win big.”

That’s the whole thing, right there. This isn’t just about Volpe. It’s about an organization that falls in love with its own narratives and refuses to adjust when reality punches back.

But here’s where I’ll go even further than A-Rod: they’re not just using Volpe wrong — New York is wrong for Volpe. This city doesn’t have patience for on-the-job development, and the Yankees keep trying to turn shortstop into a training seminar. Boone coddles him nightly, mistakes get explained away, and the standard keeps sliding.

It’s sad. It’s embarrassing. And it’s wasting time.

Want a real fix? Trade him. Miami needs bats. The Yankees need stability. Give me Sandy Alcantara and take the experiment with you. We don’t need or want Anthony Volpe. What we need are players who already know how to play the game — not guys learning it under the brightest lights in sports.

And don’t worry, Brian Cashman will emerge in a few days to explain how Alex Rodriguez “doesn’t understand the inner workings of the Yankees’ front office.” He’ll be wrong. Again.

This is no longer a serious franchise. If you don’t believe me, look at what they’ve collected over the past few weeks. Not one immediate impact player. Not one difference-maker. Just more bodies for a roster that desperately needs solutions.

We don’t need a better minor league system.
We need a competitive major league team.

And whether people like it or not, Anthony Volpe has become the perfect example of everything the Yankees are getting wrong.

That's it.  Call me a hater, and you tell me where I am really wrong here. I'm not. Sorry.

YANKS "LINKED" TO, THEN SAT OUT ON MUNETAKA MURAKAMI

The Yankees were as rumored to kicked the tires, squinted really hard, and—shockingly—did absolutely nothing.

Munetaka Murakami, the Japanese masher who was loosely, vaguely, technically connected to the Yankees in the most non-committal way possible, has officially moved on. He’s headed to Chicago. The other Chicago. Yes, the White Sox.

According to Yahoo Sports’ Russell Dorsey, the Yakult Swallows’ star third baseman agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal. Murakami is just 25 years old, absurdly young for a free agent with this kind of résumé, and brings the kind of raw, terrifying power teams usually claim doesn’t exist anymore.

This is the same Murakami who obliterated Sadaharu Oh’s NPB single-season home run record in 2022 with 56 bombs, became the youngest Triple Crown winner in Japanese baseball history, and won Central League MVP at 21. Sure, there’s risk. There’s always risk. But there’s also upside—and that’s apparently a foreign concept in the Bronx these days.

So while the White Sox actually took a chance, the Yankees did what they do best: watched from a safe distance, nodded thoughtfully, and congratulated themselves on not “overpaying.”

Another bat with real upside gone. Another opportunity missed.

Oh well. Onto the next “we were linked” headline... and it doesn't surprise you if you are a Yankee fan these days.

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YANKS DESPERATE TO FIX THEIR PLAYERS, BUT NOT THEIR FRONT OFFICE

THE YANKEE PUPPET APPEARS CLUELESS ONCE AGAIN

Aaron Boone went in front of the microphones again and somehow managed to say absolutely nothing for several uninterrupted minutes. It’s honestly a skill at this point. If professional rambling were an Olympic sport, Boone would have a locker full of gold medals and still tell us the process is “ongoing.”

Let’s be clear: Boone doesn’t know anything. He isn’t steering the ship, he’s not reading the map, and he sure as hell isn’t calling the shots. He’s a well-paid ventriloquist dummy whose mouth moves while the front office throws its voice. He exists to absorb questions, deflect blame, and waste everyone’s time in the Bronx.

You can sell me the fairy tale that “the players respect him” all you want. Cool. Respect doesn’t sign free agents. Respect doesn’t stop players from bolting the moment they can. Respect doesn’t explain why big-time talent is looking at the Yankees this offseason and saying, “Nah, I’m good.” The league sees what’s happening here—even if Boone pretends not to and Cashman isn't helping at all.

And honestly? The worst part of all of this is Aaron Judge and Max Fried. Two elite players, right in the middle of their primes, watching years get flushed away while the Yankees cosplay as contenders. Judge should be chasing rings, not quotes about “tweaks.” Fried didn’t come here to be part of a vibes-based rebuild disguised as a win-now roster.

Then Boone drops this gem to the press, telling us he “knows” the Yankees are really good, that things “aren’t finished,” that there will be “tweaks,” and that whatever happens, the expectation is greatness. Translation: don’t ask me anything hard, don’t expect specifics, and please remember none of this is actually my responsibility.

Credit to Greg Joyce of the New York Post for doing his job—because he always does it very well—but Boone’s answers are pure oxygen theft. I genuinely don’t know why beat writers even bother asking him questions anymore. The only reason they don’t go nuclear on him is because they’d lose clubhouse access, and everyone knows it. That’s the sad, quiet part no one wants to admit out loud. By the way, I'm not even posting the video, because it's stupid. A whole lot of nothing and non-answers.

Boone is a baffoon. He’s clueless. And yes, dare I say it—he’s stupid when it comes to actually leading a championship-caliber team. If this franchise is “really good,” then explain the playoff failures. Explain the October no-shows. Explain how a team with this payroll, this history, and this many chances still hasn’t won a championship on his watch.

Fans should be screaming this from the rooftops, but too many are asleep at the wheel. The Yankees are no longer dominant. They are no longer feared. They are no longer the center of the baseball universe—and Boone standing there nodding along like everything’s fine is the perfect symbol of how far this has fallen.

If Aaron Boone can look at this roster, this offseason, this track record, and confidently tell us the Yankees are great, then shame on him. Because reality keeps proving otherwise.

MINOR LEAGUE SIGNINGS IS THE NEW YORK YANKEE STRATEGY

 More of the same. Different names, same song, same headache.

While the rest of baseball at least pretends to care about getting better, the Yankees’ offseason highlight reel continues to be… refreshing the transactions page. No splashes. No ambition from the Yankees front office. Just a steady drizzle of minor-league signings and a front office that somehow looks proud of it.

The latest additions to the ever-growing “maybe someday” pile:

• Zack Short, an all-glove, no-bat utility type who can bounce around 2B, 3B, and SS. Solid instincts, decent arm, draws some walks — basically the human embodiment of roster flexibility with zero fear of accidentally hitting 20 home runs. He’s had recent MLB coffee with the Astros, which is apparently enough to get the Yankees excited these days.

• Travis MacGregor, once a second-round pick by the Pirates back in 2016. That was nine years ago. He still hasn’t sniffed the majors. But hey, potential never expires in the Bronx — it just gets reassigned to Scranton.

• Chase Chaney, a minor-league free agent who topped out at Double-A last season. A 4.30 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, and the kind of scouting report that includes phrases like “untapped potential,” “movement,” and “competitiveness” — which is code for “we hope something clicks eventually.”

And look, I’m sure all three guys work hard, want it badly, and dream of putting on pinstripes. No shots at the players themselves. But this is the New York Yankees, not a long-term science experiment.

So, I’ll ask — again — the question nobody in the Bronx seems interested in answering...

Are the Yankees trying to compete, or are they just stockpiling bodies to rebuild a depleted farm system while punting on the big-league product?

Because right now, it feels less like an offseason plan and more like organizational autopilot. Stay the course. Avoid risk. Hope for miracles. Repeat.

This isn’t strategy.
This isn’t ambition.
This is madness.

THE YANKEES BULLPEN IS OFFICIALLY DEPLETED

The pitchers that the Yankees used to have in their bullpen are fleeing... leaving Camilo Doval and Dave Bednar to take care it of by themselves.  And where is Brian Cashman?  I assuming in the fetal position in the center of his bed in a dark room.  Why do I picture this? Because there is literally no excuse for the General Manager of the biggest, strongest franchise in baseball history to be sitting on his hands and not spending a dime or even TRYING to retain talent to be on the Yankees. Which means only one thing; the Beast of the Bronx is done.  We are no longer scary, dominant, strong or intimidating.  We are the Marlins of the Northeast, and it's the worst I've seen this team since 1990.  What the hell are we doing as an organization? I am being serious. Tell me. 

The Braves made it official on Friday: right-hander Ian Hamilton is heading to Atlanta on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal. Another former Yankee, another fresh start, another reminder that the Bronx bullpen is slowly turning into a ghost town.

Hamilton spent the 2025 season wearing pinstripes, logging 36 appearances and a 4.28 ERA over 40 innings. The numbers don’t exactly leap off the page, but anyone who actually watched knows Hamilton’s story with the Yankees isn’t told by a single stat line. This is the same guy who came out of absolutely nowhere in 2023, armed with that funky “Slambio” pitch, and somehow turned himself into a legitimate setup option. No hype, no pedigree—just results. For a while, he was one of the rare bullpen surprises that actually worked.

Then came the injuries. Then came the roster shuffling. Then came the classic Yankees ending: a non-tender in late 2025 and a quiet exit out the side door.

Now Hamilton is gone, too—joining the long parade of relievers who once filled the Yankees bullpen and now populate everyone else’s. If you’re keeping score at home, that bullpen is looking less like a strength and more like a clearance rack.

Was I ever banging the table for the return Ian Hamilton? No, but that's not the point. But I understood what he brought. He worked. He competed. He showed up. He was solid, he was respected in the room, and—this part matters—he was a body. A usable, capable body in a bullpen that is currently running on fumes.

The Yankees are depleted, folks. This isn’t dramatic, and it’s not nitpicking. It’s reality. Arms keep leaving, replacements don’t keep coming, and the plan—if there is one—remains invisible. 

Hamilton landing with the Braves isn’t a franchise-altering move, but it’s another small, annoying reminder that the Yankees keep letting useful pieces walk… and there’s no clear end in sight.

TYLER AUSTIN IS BACK!

Y’all remember Tyler Austin, right? Yeah — that Tyler Austin. A certified stud and a not-so-small part of the early heartbeat of Bleeding Yankee Blue. 

Back when Bleeding Yankee Blue was building and grinding, trying to carve out a voice, guys like Tyler, Ty Hensley, CC Sabathia, Brendan Ryan and David Robertson didn’t big-time us. They showed love. They backed us. And that stuff? You don’t forget it.

We’ve always respected the hell out of those guys, and we’ll always keep tabs on them here. Loyalty matters. Especially when it was real from the jump.

So yeah — Tyler Austin is back in the news.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Chicago Cubs just signed Austin to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. Not bad at all for a guy who took the long road and made it work.

Austin, now 34, spent the last six seasons in Japan absolutely mashing — slashing .293/.377/.568 with 85 homers and 236 RBI over 1,491 plate appearances. That’s not “hanging on.” That’s thriving.

We met Tyler and his mom, Kim, about 11 years ago when he was still climbing the ladder — minors to majors, dream very much in progress. With the Yankees, he showed legit pop, including 17 home runs in 2018, and he always felt like a guy who could’ve stuck if the breaks fell differently. Personally, I wanted him around longer. But instead of fading, he bet on himself, reinvented his game, and leveled up overseas. I respect the hell out of that.

So here’s a tip of the cap to Tyler Austin — always. Keep raking. Keep proving people wrong.

And hey Kim — hope you’re doing great.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: TYLER AUSTIN... WONDERBOY