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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

REPORT: THE YANKEES SIGNED A 13-YEAR-OLD

Who the hell is in charge of this ridiculous team?

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

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

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

Yes. Thirteen.

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

That’s the plan.

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

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

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

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

This isn’t confidence. It’s delusion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

That’s what bothers me most.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BADER BACK TO THE BRONX IS A REAL POSSIBILITY

Jack Curry of YES Network floated a familiar name back into the Bronx rumor mill, and no, it’s not a blockbuster. It’s Harrison Bader. And before anyone groans, let’s talk about why that actually makes sense.

Bader already did his time in pinstripes from 2022–23, putting up a modest .237/.274/.353 line with seven homers and 46 RBIs . Those numbers won’t make a highlight reel—but October told a different story. Five postseason home runs in 2022 will do that. It was electric. Remember it? The guy doesn’t hide when the lights get hot.

This is where context matters. Harrison Bader is not a spreadsheet darling. He’s a “balls-to-the-wall, beat-you-to-the-spot, run-through-a-wall” baseball player. A throw back. Gold Glove defense. Legit center-field range. Speed that still matters. Energy that shows up in wins, dugouts, and playoff games.

The Yankees could use exactly that right now. They need outfield defense that doesn’t make pitchers nervous. They need athleticism. They need someone who can put the ball in play, steal a base, and turn singles into doubles with effort alone. Bader checks those boxes in ink, not pencil.

There’s also the business side. He’s a New York native. He wants to be here. And he’s not about to break the bank. The early chatter suggested something like three years at $15 million per year, which—let’s be honest—probably makes the Yankees clutch their wallets. Fine. Then act like a functional front office and negotiate. Two years with a third-year option or opt-out feels like the obvious middle ground. Low risk, flexible, and very Yankees… at least the Yankees they used to be.

This isn’t a splash. It’s a patch. But it’s a necessary one—especially after the Yankees, in my opinion, fumbled the Cody Bellinger situation into oblivion. When you miss on the big swing, you don’t sit there admiring the strikeout. You adjust.

Harrison Bader isn’t a savior. He’s a fix. And sometimes, the hardest-working guy in the room is exactly who you need to stop the bleeding.

Time will tell. But if the Yankees pass on an easy, logical move like this, it won’t be because Bader didn’t fit—it’ll be because the front office didn’t think fast enough.

THE HALL OF FAME IS DEAD!

The news from yesterday has me sick. As soon as I saw the news I texted Casey because I was practically spitting bullets. I've had a few people tell me to get over it and stop talking about it but....I'm not gonna.

In case you didn't catch up on the baseball headlines yesterday Carlos Beltran was voted into the Hall of Fame. The sign stealing legend and head schemer of the 2017 Astros cheating scandal will become part of baseball's greatest honor.....let that sink in for a minute.

The man with no honor and integrity will forever be enshrined amongst the greatest names in the game. He's a disgrace to those who played the game with honor and passion like Derek Jeter. Jeter IS a hall of famer, Beltran is a horrible mistake with no honor. Will the Hall of Fame will ever be seen as a legitimate institution ever again? It's a fair question.

Beltran disgraced the game and should be shunned from baseball history just like Pete Rose was. Pete Rose, cheated OFF of the field and was banned from the sport and WAS ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration until May of 2025. He was made an example of. Nothing Rose did impacted the game during his playing time. He paid a high price that Beltran will never pay.

And you can't talk about scandals without talking about Shoeless Joe Jackson. He was banned from baseball in 1921 for his involvement in the "Black Sox Scandal," after he and some teammates conspired with gamblers to intentionally lose the 1919 World Series. He was permanently banned by newly appointed MLB Commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, to preserve the integrity of the game.....imagine that. Jackson cheated as a player and was held accountable. This is not the world we live in anymore.

However here we are a century later and Beltran cheated ON the field and has no consequences. He wasn't banned, weak pansy Rob Manfred protected him! The integrity that previous MLB commissioners fought to preserve has vanished. Two years after the scandal, Beltran was rewarded with a manager job for the Mets and just over two months later is removed from that role....all thanks to his involvement in the cheating scandal. He wasn't honorable enough to manager, but now he is honored by being inducted into the Hall of Fame? It's asinine.

So now that the writers have voted Beltran in, they have set a precedence that integrity doesn't matter. Honor can be lost and you can still be rewarded with a place in baseball history. Now let's just add Manny Ramirez, Jose Canseco and Alex Rodriguez to the inductee list! I don't care WHAT form of cheating it is. I don't care if you think it's not the same....it's still a disgrace to the game. One disgrace is not "less" than another. Greats belong in the Hall of Fame, not just great stats but also great stewards of the game itself and with good character.

So Beltran may be feeling himself right now. He may be standing tall but being in the hall doesn't erase history, and Beltran will always be known as the architect of a massive and blatant cheating scheme. He brought disgrace to the game and that should NOT be rewarded for that by getting a place amongst the true greats of this game. 

That's just my two cents. Agree with it or not, it doesn't matter to me. Integrity over anything else.....period.
The Hall of Fame is now tainted. It is DEAD. I will never look at it the same again.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WE'RE THE MARLINS... WITH BETTER BRANDING

The Yankees keep telling us this is a plan. A strategy. A carefully calculated offseason chess match. But from the cheap seats, it looks a lot more like a staring contest where they refuse to blink while the rest of the league is actively improving.

Here we are, deep into the 2026 offseason, and the New York Yankees are still stockpiling “depth” like it’s toilet paper in March 2020, all while pretending they’re calmly waiting on their one and only white whale: Cody Bellinger. One target. One guy. Months of awkward silence. No leverage. No urgency. Just vibes.

And isn’t that the saddest part? This entire offseason has been reduced to a single, drawn-out charade. The Yankees want us to believe they’re fine waiting Bellinger out, that he’ll eventually realize how lucky he’d be to wear the pinstripes. But reality keeps tapping them on the shoulder and saying, “Hey guys… he doesn’t need you. We need him.”

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: the Yankees need to improve. Period. Not later. Not hypothetically. Now. Bellinger isn’t some luxury item you haggle over at a flea market. He can field. He can hit. He’s already proven he can help this team, just like he did in 2025. The problem isn’t Cody Bellinger. The problem is Yankee ego.

The organization seems convinced Bellinger would be foolish to walk away from their offer. Meanwhile, Bellinger is sitting comfortably, unmoved, watching the Yankees slowly negotiate against themselves. Because Bellinger doesn’t need the Yankees. The Yankees need Bellinger. That’s the bottom line.

And you know how we know the front office knows it too? Because the desperation leaks out in the fine print. Enter Seth Brown. Outfielder. First baseman. Minor league deal. Triple-A “insurance.” Translation: “We’re bracing for the fact that this probably isn’t going our way.”

That’s not aggression. That’s not competitiveness. That’s a franchise backing into the offseason with its hands up, hoping no one notices the white flag tucked into the back pocket. Signing Seth Brown as insurance isn’t a plan, it’s an admission. They know they might lose Bellinger, and instead of pivoting boldly, they’re padding the couch cushions and hoping something shakes loose.

This is a defensive organization now. Reactive. Hesitant. Clueless about how to actually close deals in the modern MLB marketplace.

And let’s stop pretending the Yankee brand is what it used to be. This isn’t the 1970s. This isn’t the 1990s. The mystique is gone. Today’s Yankees aren’t about relentlessly improving the roster, they’re about making sure the revenue streams stay warm and cozy. Merchandise still sells. The stadium still fills. The logo still prints money.

The team could finish in last place and, as long as fans keep buying jerseys and beers, the machine keeps humming. Winning championships has become optional. Profit is not.

As they continue trying to re-sign Bellinger as the centerpiece of their entire offseason, the Yankees have “supplemented” the roster with a grab bag of minor league signings: Seth Brown, Paul DeJong, Zack Short. Behold, the reinforcements. Hardly a band of heroes. 

If it works, great. If it doesn’t, who cares? You’ll still go to the games. You’ll still buy the merch. And that’s exactly the problem.

Nothing changes because nothing has to.

Attendance tells the story. The Yankees peaked in 2008 at the old Stadium with over 4.29 million fans, then again in 2010 at the new place with more than 3.76 million. After that? A steady decline, bottoming out around 3.06 million in 2016. Recently, attendance has stabilized and even grown, with over 3.39 million fans showing up in 2025, third-best in baseball.  But let’s be honest about why. The World Series run in 2024 helped, sure. But the real draw has been Aaron Judge. Watching him chase history. Watching greatness in real time. That’s been refreshing. That’s been special.

But players age. Windows close. Judge is getting older, and there’s still no championship to show for it. Hope exists, sure, but hope without action is just marketing.

The Yankees aren’t winning championships anymore. They’re just… playing. Expensively. Loudly. Mediocre.

Fans have been crystal clear about their frustrations: unrealistic expectations used as excuses, a lack of accountability, flawed team-building philosophies, and a front office that somehow manages to underperform despite having every financial advantage imaginable. The Yankees are no longer the gold standard. They’re just another big-budget team spinning its wheels while rivals pass them by.

Call me negative if you want. But this isn’t the Yankee team I fell in love with. Brian Cashman and his front office philosophy have drained the soul out of it. Aaron Boone is a mouthpiece, not a leader. I still love the players. I still root for them. They’re stuck in baseball purgatory, and that’s not their fault.

Ownership can scream about performance all they want, but if you don’t give players the tools, what do you expect? Look at the Dodgers. That’s what commitment looks like. That’s what actually trying to win feels like.

The Yankees aren’t top-tier anymore. They’re not dominant. They’re not feared.

The Yankees? We’re the Marlins now, just with better branding.

Get used to it.

BELLINGER IS SLIPPING AWAY ...BUT HAL DOESN'T CARE!

 "I've got ears. I know what's expected of me." - Hal Steinbrenner November 2024

My how times have changed. Those were Hal's famous last words when he was chasing after Juan Soto before losing him to the Mets. Funny how he was willing to over spend $760 million on Soto over 16 years but won't open his wallet for any difference makers this season.

I'm sick and tired of it. This offseason is a bust. Hal said he knows what is expected of him but....we don't have a championship caliber worthy team. We have returning Yankees, including an expensive Trent Grisham, Ryan Weathers and then some minor league dopes to bolster depth. This is a wild card team at best. That's even a pipe dream right now.

The Yankees are still paying chicken with Cody Bellinger and Scott Boras and now they are just daring anyone else to come to the table and out bid them according to Bob Klapisch.

I get it, because that is a "fair" offer. But when you have teams willing to spend stupid money like the Mets and the damn Dodgers, it's a dangerous line to tip toe over. The bigger problem for me is....if Cody doesn't come back the Yankees are screwed because all of the impact bats are gone. They have new teams. The Yankees have a weaker team and suddenly we are stuck with Jasson Dominguez or Spencer Jones for better or worse! That's not how a competitive team like the Yankees should be operating.

This winter is an absolute bust. Brian Cashman and Hal have literally pissed it away. If the season starts tomorrow, we are so screwed. Our rivals are better and have meaningful upgrades to their teams where as we have the 2025 roster with no Cody and a weaker offense and outfield. All of this to save a buck and probably start golfing in November.

All because Hal wants to save some money. The writing was on the wall in November last year. "Would it be ideal if I went down [with the payroll]? Of course. But does that mean that's going to happen? Of course not. We want to field a team we know could win a championship -- or we believe could win a championship," read more HERE. The Yankees have the means to pursue any player they want to improve their team and make them more competitive.....they just choose not to.

And in this case they have chosen mediocrity. Cody is going to be playing in a different uniform this season....and the Yankees are going to be a bottom feeder. The more Hal does this and proves to us that he doesn't care it becomes easier for us to not care enough to spend money on tickets, merchandise and overpriced concessions so Hal makes less money. Maybe Hal isn't smart enough to realize that.

Hal is playing a dangerous game here. If Cody does not return it is proof that Hal doesn't care about the legacy of this team anymore. We care more than he does! Just sell the team Hal.....we deserve better and I am just sick of you at this point!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE END OF WHAT MY NEW YORK YANKEES USED TO REPRESENT

Call it dramatic if you want, but this Yankees franchise is no longer living large. The New York Yankees, the supposed gold standard of professional sports, are operating in something that looks a whole lot like survival mode. And I say that as someone who has bled Yankee blue for decades. I have lived through bad teams, weird teams, transition teams, and aging-dynasty teams. What I have never lived through is an offseason quite like this one: timid, directionless, and drenched in alligator arms.

This isn’t patience, gang. This isn’t strategy. This isn’t some grand chess match where Brian Cashman is secretly five moves ahead of the rest of baseball. This is an organization sitting on its hands, congratulating itself for not spending money, while the rest of the league treats urgency like oxygen.

And yet, somehow, we the fans are supposed to be scolded for being angry.

Enter Michael Kay, stage left, wagging his finger at the fanbase like a disappointed substitute teacher. Kay can whine, lecture, and condescend all he wants, but the reality is painfully obvious: his commentary has drifted so far from the lived reality of Yankees fans that it’s become unrecognizable. Let’s not play dumb here. Michael Kay is paid handsomely through the YES Network, the Yankees’ own broadcast arm. That paycheck clears because the organization signs it, not because fans clap politely when the team sleepwalks through an offseason. When Kay lashes out at us fans, it’s not analysis. It’s insulation. His wallet is doing the talking.

And here’s the thing he seems to have forgotten the moment he handed in his fan card: fans are allowed to be mad. In fact, being mad is often the most honest form of fandom. We invest time, money, emotion, and generational loyalty. Anger isn’t betrayal. Apathy is.

The Yankees lost last year. Not “just short.” Not “one bounce away.” They lost. Which means the assignment this offseason was painfully clear: improve the team in a meaningful way. Add impact. Add stars. Add players who scare opposing teams in October.

Instead, here’s the receipt:

Ryan Weathers, acquired for four prospects to “bolster depth.”

Kaleb Ort, claimed off waivers.

Paul DeJong, minor league deal.

Sebastian Pinto, minor league deal.

Trent Grisham, qualifying offer accepted.

Amed Rosario, one-year versatility play.

Paul Blackburn, re-signed.

Ryan Yarbrough, re-signed.

Nick Torres, minor league deal.

Tim Hill, re-signed.

That’s not a championship plan. That’s a clearance rack with pinstripes on it.

Not one All-Star caliber stud. Not one needle-mover. Not one player who walks into a postseason series and forces the other dugout to change its strategy. This is a collection of depth pieces being sold as vision.

Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón won’t be ready for Opening Day. The shortstop we’re told is “elite” won’t even sniff the field until summer. The catcher who was hyped as the next great stopper hasn’t stopped much of anything and only batting .214. 

And hovering over all of it is Aaron Judge, a generational superstar wasting prime years on a roster that refuses to meet him halfway. Every season that passes without serious reinforcement is another year of malpractice. Judge will retire one day never seeing a championship if this front office continues to lead blind.

The front office’s greatest blind spot remains the same: baseball is played by humans, not spreadsheets. Chemistry matters. Urgency matters. Accountability matters. You can’t model heart, confidence, or fearlessness in a back-office algorithm, no matter how pretty the Excel file looks.

And where is ownership in all of this? Where is Hal Steinbrenner? Where is Randy Levine? Once upon a time, the people at the top didn’t hide when the Yankees underachieved. Now they’re silent, distant, and seemingly detached from the product on the field. Cashman tells us long-term contracts limit flexibility. Steinbrenner promises aggression without recklessness. Fine words. Empty results again.

The Yankees print money. Roughly $700 million a year in revenue. That’s not a small-market excuse. That’s a financial juggernaut choosing restraint while fans are told to be grateful for prudence. There is zero justification for this level of inactivity. None.

Fans have every right to be furious. We pay for season tickets, parking, concessions, jerseys, streaming packages, and cable networks. We show up 162 times a year emotionally, even when the team doesn’t. Wanting a championship isn’t entitlement. It’s the standard this franchise taught us to expect.

And if nothing changes by spring, if Aaron Boone is still wandering the dugout without consequence, if 2026 is once again sold as “trust the process,” then yes, fans should consider drastic responses. Boycotts. Walkaways. Silence where noise used to be. Because loyalty without accountability is just being taken advantage of.

For the first time in my life, I’ve even questioned my own fandom. I’ve thought about walking away for a season. I’ve thought about shutting down Bleeding Yankee Blue, a blog that’s been alive since 2010, because the frustration has curdled into something worse: sadness. This front office doesn’t seem to understand what fans want, or worse, doesn’t care.

It has been a championship drought since 2009 despite sky-high payrolls. Analysts and former players alike have called out unbalanced rosters, outdated thinking, and a fixation on bargain-bin signings. Too many DH-types. No first-base stability. A power-or-nothing approach that collapses under pressure. No urgency. No consequences. No fear of failure.

That’s on Brian Cashman. That’s on Aaron Boone, who would rather be liked than respected. And it’s on voices like Michael Kay, who should be holding this organization’s feet to the fire instead of blaming fans for noticing the smoke. You're pathetic Kay. Shame on you.

Don’t tell us how to root. Don’t insult our intelligence. And don’t pretend this is fine.

This used to be the New York Yankees. Now it feels like a brand slowly being run into the ground by people who confuse comfort with competence. At this point, why not bring Frankie Montas back and call it a day?

Sad.

EVEN THE DIAMONDBACKS ARE MAKING BIGGER MOVES THAN THE YANKEES!

I never thought I would live in a world where the Diamondbacks make splashier moves than the Yankees. Welcome to the new world I guess. It's like I stepped into the Twilight Zone.

If you didn't know....I no longer live in New York. Now I live in Arizona where the sports world is bleak. We no longer have a hockey team (they sucked anyways), the Suns choke every year, and the Cardinals are just unwatchable and Kyler Murray is a joke. Hell, ASU football has more of a following. The Diamondbacks are the pride and joy of this state....and historically speaking that is pretty sad.

But as of yesterday, Diamondback fans are celebrating like it is 2001 all over again. The Diamondbacks traded for Nolan Arenado in exchange for minor leaguer Jack Martinez and cash. The Cardinals are in the middle of a major rebuild but three years ago a salary dump moving Arenado was a fantasy wish for other teams. He was a National League MVP finalist with elite defense. His offense has slipped steadily since then and the Cardinals finally moved him. Arenado is due $42 million over two years but the Rockies are on the hook for $5MM of that sum. Arizona is on the hook for $5 million this season and $6 million next year making it "easier" for the Cardinals to eat the rest of the money owed.

With that, Diamondbacks fans are feeling good about themselves. I heard about it all day at work, the jabs just kept coming. 

"Hey where is your GM? It's Brian Cashman, right? He must be at school learning how to become a General Manager."

"Did you guys sell your team? It's like the Yankees don't exist anymore! It's all about the Blue Jays now."

"We have a bigger budget than the Yankees do. You guys go bankrupt or something?"

"Watch Cody Bellinger is gonna be a DODGER again and then you will be crying."

"Hey I bet we can teach Arenado to play a better shortstop than Anthony Volpe!"

The sad part is I think they COULD teach Arenado to be a better shortstop than Volpe. That bar isn't set very high. Arenado may not be what he once was but he's no worse than the Yankees dumpster dive specials they have acquired. Cashman is clipping coupons and playing chicken with Scott Boras and Cody. That's our winter, and soon to be a laughable season when the Yankees put a weak lineup on the field and the Blue Jays walk all over the Yankees again.

It's worth mentioning that Dbacks fans are also laughing about adding Jonathan Loaisiga. The former Yankee turned Dback on a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training doesn't hurt my feelings but...whatever helps them sleep at night I guess. They can believe I am sad about that along with the rest of Yankeeland. Do we need relievers? Sure we do. Do we need Loaisiga? Not exactly.....but Dbacks fans don't (and can't) understand that.

It's a pretty dark day when the lowly Diamondbacks are making more moves then the Yankees. It's quite the fall from grace. The Yankee identity that once was....is no more unless the Yankees pull their heads out of their asses and prioritize building a REAL roster that can win again.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj