THE DAMN PENNY PINCHING YANKEES!

I know the Yankees aren't "cheap" like the Athletics are. We spend a lot of money on a roster unlike the Athletics (as flawed as it is) and Hal Steinbrenner has talked a lot in recent years about pulling back on the budget for sustainability. For a long time we have wondered exactly where Hal would draw that line and say 'no more' and we have our answer.

We keep hearing about the Yankees "running it back" out again in 2026, and we can see that again....in an attempt that thankfully failed. The Yankees tried to bring back another guy from last season, and a very unimpactful one at that. The Yankees pursued Austin Slater again but he said 'no thanks' and packed his bag for Detroit, read more HERE. 

So the Yankees offered $1 million, but the Tigers gave Slater a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training worth $2 million with an additional $500,000 in potential incentives. Interesting how the Yankees chose to lose in this scenario for what is literally pocket change for them. Even at max incentive earnings, I never thought I would see the Yankees just fold like that. Not that I REALLY wanted Slater in particular, because he was not impactful for us but damn....I never thought I would see THAT happen. 

But honestly, that isn't even the first time or the first Austin. The Yankees were connected to Austin Hays all winter as a backup option if Cody Bellinger did not return. It was also rumored he could be a potential bench piece for us. The Mets were also interested because if the Yankees are interested the Mets have to be too. Last week, Hays signed a $6 million deal with the Chicago White Sox so Hays won't be playing for either New York team. It's crazy to think about but if the Yankees passed on the cheaper Slater this week, I guess it shouldn't surprise us the Yankees were out at the higher price tag.

Honestly, I would've preferred Hays over Slater but it doesn't matter now. What does matter is the Yankees need more right-handed options in the lineup so they need SOMEONE. Trent Grisham is left-handed, Cody is left-handed, and Jasson Dominguez might as well be left-handed because he is beyond weak on the other side of the plate. We need more than just Aaron Judge as a right-handed option in the outfield.

The Yankees need to do something here. Honestly when you look at remaining options it's pretty embarrassing to lose out on both of these guys for a dollar amount that is so insignificant to them in the grand scheme of things. This isn't a small market team with thin profit margins....but they are acting like one.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

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

FORGETTABLE YEAR

 I can't take this team.  Every day is a heartbreaker.

The Orioles play to win. The Yankees play to get by. It's the only thing I can suggest watching these 2 teams fight.

I will say this, I was hard on Clay Holmes when he came over to New York and despite last night's loss, obivously blaming that guy, he's actually been quite decent.  That being said you have got to be kidding me with this team and the ridiculous losses.

NorthJersey.com's Pete Caldera writes:

"Down to their last strike at Camden Yards, the Orioles tied Thursday night’s game on a wild pitch by Yankees reliever Clay Holmes, who was seeking to nail down a two-inning save.

And in the 10th, Austin Hays bounced a one-out RBI single over a drawn-in infield against Wandy Peralta, giving the Orioles – losers of 99 games – a 3-2 victory over the Yankees."

Why? Why does it happen? And listening to Boone with his stupid smug face in the post games, it just disgusts me.

Yahoo Sports writes:

"“The heater up and away there, you probably gotta get to,” said Aaron Boone of Sanchez's defense of the pitch."

Duh Boone, YOU THINK??? And once again, Sanchez can't get anything behind the plate because he's too damn slow.

Look, I hate writing about the Yankees when they suck, but I also don't wanna leave you hanging. The bottom line is the run a few weeks ago was so beautiful, but it's about pitching and leading that is really gonna be the end of this team.  Sure, every once in a while the Yankee bats are dead, but even if we did make the playoffs, do you really think this Yankee team can go far? This again is NOT the Year. And when they are finished, you only have to believe that Cashman and Boone will be out of a job. It has to be their fate at this point. 

Who replaces Cashman would be anyone's guess, but there are plenty of professional former players and former managers and coaches that can replace Boone easily. And I have news for you... THE YANKEES NEED TO CLEAN HOUSE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT COACHING STAFF TOO. They're a bunch of nobodies.  Except Phil Nevin who likes winning more than breathing. The rest of dorks with no real experience... and Boone is the leader of the dorks.

Yanks lose to the O's. What else is new. They're killing me.