WHAT ARE THE YANKEES GONNA DO ABOUT REPLACING STANTON'S BAT?

There has been plenty of debate among us bloggers and sportswriters about what the Yankees need to replace Giancarlo Stanton. The bottom line? We need a home run hitter. Truth be told, I’m not one of those stat nerds obsessed with righty-lefty splits—I just want a reliable hitter. Righty, lefty, it doesn’t matter to me. What does matter is that Opening Day is just around the corner, and Stanton has officially fallen apart, thanks to his never-ending elbow issues and Achilles problems.

So the real question is: can we just get a replacement and move on?

Pinstripe Alley has made it clear that they believe the Yankees need a right-handed bat, and I respect their take. They argue that, with Stanton out, the Yankees lack a true right-handed power threat outside of Aaron Judge and, hopefully, Paul Goldschmidt. They point out that key players like Austin Wells, Cody Bellinger, and Jazz Chisholm all hit from the left side. Anthony Volpe hasn’t yet proven he can be a consistent offensive force. Oswaldo Cabrera’s power is significantly better from the left side (16 homers) than the right (just three). 

The Yankees seem to recognize this imbalance and are reportedly still scouring the market for a right-handed bat. Everson Pereira was once a possibility, but he was reassigned to minor league camp to continue rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. And now, with Jon Heyman reporting that Stanton won’t return until at least Memorial Day, the need for a righty bat is even more urgent.

I get it—I really do. But honestly? I just want the hole filled. I’m losing patience. J.D. Martinez was a name that kept popping up for weeks, but that talk has completely faded. My stance has been simple: just sign someone who can hit. Alex Verdugo, Anthony Rizzo—who cares if they’re lefties? It’s a DH spot, it’s potentially a one-year deal, and these guys will give you something. Maybe it’s not perfect, but it’s better than doing nothing.

Now, The Sporting News is pushing the idea that Ben Rice could make sense as Stanton’s replacement. They highlight his impressive spring performance, including a home run off Taijuan Walker. Rice, a lefty with a smooth swing, was a 12th-round pick out of Dartmouth in 2021 but has quickly made a name for himself.

So what do we really need? A hitter—plain and simple. Analysts can crunch all the numbers that suggest a right-handed bat is necessary, but at the end of the day, the Yankees aren’t making a move. That tells me Rice may have the inside track for the DH spot. If they truly believed they needed a righty, they would’ve signed J.D. Martinez already.

One thing is certain: this uncertainty with both Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton out is driving us all crazy. The offseason was amazing, and we thought we were set. But now? It feels chaotic. Stay tuned.

MARTINEZ TO YANKS: "DONE IN THE NEAR FUTURE"

I’ve been on the J.D. Martinez beat for days now, folks. It feels like every insider with a keyboard and WiFi has something to say about the Yankees potentially signing him as a "short-term" fill-in for Giancarlo Stanton. I respect the buzz. Here's another one.

Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter is throwing his prediction hat in the ring, suggesting Martinez will ditch the Mets and head to the Bronx. Look, I can "predict" Anthony Rizzo will be a player-coach for the Yankees, but unless Brian Cashman has a crystal ball, we’re all just guessing.

Now, let’s get to the facts. Jon Heyman of the New York Post says the Yankees have indeed been in contact with Martinez. Reuter takes it a step further, saying, "Don't be surprised if a deal gets done in the near future." Okay, I won’t be surprised, but I also won’t be holding my breath either.

Martinez wasn’t exactly tearing it up last year with the Mets. A .235 average with a .725 OPS isn’t setting the world on fire. Still, the guy put up 16 homers and 69 RBIs, so he’s not exactly washed. 

CBS Sports' Mike Axisa chimed in, saying, "Martinez is close to a 1-to-1 replacement for Stanton as a righty-hitting DH." I mean, sure, on paper. But we all know the Yankees don’t do "simple" when it comes to roster moves, but I like Axisa so here's the shoutout.

So, will Martinez be wearing pinstripes by tomorrow? Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing’s for sure: the rumor mill never sleeps, and I’ll be here to report every twist and turn. Stay tuned.

JD MARTINEZ CHATTER GETTING LOUDER

 As the Yankees head into spring, injuries are already raising questions about their roster. The biggest concern remains Giancarlo Stanton, while the team awaits further updates on Luis Gil and his shoulder tightness. In light of these issues, recent speculation suggests the Yankees may explore bringing in J.D. Martinez as a potential reinforcement, particularly with Stanton’s ongoing elbow problems.

Martinez, now 37, is coming off a respectable yet unspectacular season with the Mets. While no teams had been publicly linked to him, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Yankees have had "some contact" with Martinez’s representatives. Given Stanton’s uncertain status, it seems likely he will start the season on the injured list, allowing extra time for recovery and at-bats in extended Spring Training.

If a short-term deal can be struck, Martinez could be an intriguing option. However, the Yankees also have in-house alternatives—one being a familiar face in Anthony Rizzo. Utilizing Rizzo in a designated hitter role would eliminate the need for him to play defense, and while he’s a lefty, the primary goal here is power at the plate, isn't it? Another potential option is Alex Verdugo, who remains unsigned but has a proven ability to hit. Unlike Martinez, these alternatives would provide a younger and possibly more versatile solution.

Last season, Martinez batted .235 with 16 home runs over 495 plate appearances for the Mets—not terrible, but the question remains: How much would the Yankees be willing to pay for a temporary fix?

Empire Sports Media recently highlighted the similarities between Martinez and Stanton, describing them writing "aging right-handed sluggers in the final stages of their career, , J.D. Martinez and Giancarlo Stanton share a lot of similarities, and that both make this a seamless fit short-term and a terrible fit long-term. There’s no chance at this point of his career that J.D. Martinez could handle an outfield spot, nor will the Yankees task Giancarlo Stanton with reps in the outfield." While Martinez could serve as a short-term solution, his lack of defensive versatility and advancing age make him a less-than-ideal long-term fit. Similarly, the Yankees aren’t likely to give Stanton many outfield reps at this point in his career.

For now, the "Martinez to the Yankees" talk remains persistent, but whether it turns into a reality is yet to be seen. 

Stay tuned. It could get interesting.

J.D. MARTINEZ COULD BE A YANKEE "SHORT-TERM" REPLACEMENT

Here we go again.

According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Yankees might consider the free agent market for a short-term replacement. One potential option is veteran slugger J.D. Martinez, who signed a $12 million contract with the Mets last season. Despite a slight decline in performance, Martinez still brings power to the plate and could thrive in Yankee Stadium’s hitter-friendly environment.

As the season draws near, keeping a close eye on Giancarlo Stanton’s recovery will be crucial for the Yankees. If his absence extends, the team may need to act quickly, possibly pursuing Martinez or exploring other alternatives.

With Stanton’s status uncertain, the Yankees face a pivotal decision: bring in Martinez for immediate lineup support or risk starting the season with a weakened roster. This strategic choice could significantly impact their early-season competitiveness.

Earlier this week, Stanton left the team to return to New York for what was initially described as additional evaluation of his ongoing tendinitis issue. However, confusion grew when manager Aaron Boone stated on Tuesday that Stanton’s absence was "personal" and not injury-related, offering only a cryptic explanation. Boone’s stupid, vague comments didn’t help, and it’s frustrating when the truth feels obscured. Regardless, the need for a Stanton replacement is clear. The big question remains: Is J.D. Martinez the right fit?

Martinez could provide a strong presence in right field and might agree to a team-friendly deal, allowing him to face left-handed pitching more frequently. The coming days will likely bring more clarity—stay tuned.

SOTO READY TO LET BORAS "DO HIS THING" EVEN THOUGH HE'S SUCKED AT IT LATELY

It's no secret, Juan Soto will be the top free agent this winter. Hal Steinbrenner has been hopeful that Soto would sign a midseason extension, but that isn't happening. The baseball world has known it, but now it's come right from Soto's mouth so Hal can get off his delusional train ride. 

It's that time of the year. The Subway Series always sparks some sensational Yankees and Mets gossip and John Heyman shared in the New York Post HERE that the Mets could be the Yankees biggest threat to sign Soto this winter. We all know Steve Cohen has a big piggy bank and is more likely to spend more of it than Hal is but Soto replied with "we will see. In the offseason we will figure it out. I'll let [agent Scott Boras] do his thing. We're going to see." 

And we are definitely going to see. Soto clearly has a lot of faith in Boras, but does he have too much faith? Serious question. You can say many things about Boras like he is "bad for baseball" for example. He does get a pretty penny for his clients, which causes us to pay more money in the end but historically he's been great at his job. It's all about making his clients the most money, which he has done.....

Except this past winter, he had an epic fall from grace. Take a look at the MLBtraderumors.com projected for five of his clients and compare it to what they signed for:

Cody Bellinger: PROJECTED 12 years, $264 million     ACTUAL: 3 years, $80 million
Blake Snell: PROJECTED 7 years, $200 million             ACTUAL: 2 years, $60 million
Jordan Montgomery: PROJECTED 6 years, $150 million     ACTUAL: 1 year, $25 million
Matt Chapman: PROJECTED 6 years, $150 million       ACTUAL: 3 years, $54 million
J.D. Martinez: PROJECTED 2 years, $40 million           ACTUAL: 1 year, $12 million
TOTAL PROJECTED:   $804 million                              ACTUAL:   $231 million

All five of these players had impressive 2023 seasons. Bellinger won a Silver Slugger. Snell won his second Cy Young Award. Montgomery got a World Series ring. Chapman won a Gold Glove. Martinez was an All-Star. All of these guys were expecting a bigger pay day. It didn't happen.

The market didn't value these guys the same way Boras did. He tried to sell it in a tough financial market but it didn't happen. Diamond Sports Group filed for bankruptcy, and they provide television broadcasts for almost HALF of all MLB, NBA and NHL games. This left almost HALF of all MLB teams facing uncertainty about any local tv coverage in the future. One of these teams were the Rangers, who wanted but couldn't afford to bring back Montgomery.

So Boras didn't have the healthiest market to sell his clients to. In the end, Montgomery left Boras for new agents so it's not a great look for Boras. Now Soto trusts Boras to "do his thing" and get him the biggest and best deal? That's a scary gamble. 

Soto has declined as many as seven contract extensions in the last five years. He believes Boras will bring him his pay day, but is he foolish to do so? Will Boras misread the market again? It could happen.

I dunno Soto, Boras didn't "do his thing" for his clients last year. It might not work out the way you think it will.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

MLB IS FAILING ALL THANKS TO ITS FAILING LEADER

I love baseball. I can't get enough of it but the passion I have today is different then the passion I used to have. There's an obvious change in the game and I'm not digging it. It bothers me that it is just being overlooked and swept under the rug. Here's what I mean....

The last two offseasons have been incredibly frustrating. Free Agency is not what it once was, in fact I would say that FREE AGENCY IS FOR THE BIRDS. I have a feeling that Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel would agree with me at this point. They have become casualties to Rob Manfred's delusional and failing world.

Teams today are so focused on keeping their draft picks, rebuilding, and staying under the luxury task. Are there enough teams out there that actually CARE about winning at this point? Isn't that the ultimate goal? It should be to win the division, beat other teams in the division and championship series and then win it all in the World Series. At least, that's how it was. That's the old world of baseball that I loved and became so passionate about.

But times have changed. Do teams still care about all of that? Sure. Do they care enough? No, and all because Manfred doesn't care. If teams cared, two of the best players from the free agent class wouldn't be unemployed in May. If Manfred cared, he would acknowledge the problem and fix it! These guys should both have jobs right now. Free Agency has failed them....and commissioner Rob Manfred absolutely failed them. He disagrees that Free Agency is broken. His failure to recognize the broken system makes HIM a failure.

Here's where we are at now. In a month, Keuchel MIGHT have a job. Some team out there may decide to sign him after the draft ends, read more HERE. One of those teams MAY be the Yankees. If the stars align and Keuchel is a still a free agent after the draft ends, teams won’t have to cough up a compensatory pick to the Astros who made him the $17.9-million qualifying offer he rejected. Just like I said, teams want to hold on to their draft picks.

Next month if Keuchel remains unsigned a team WILL sign him because he becomes cheaper and teams keep their precious draft picks. Why is it okay for baseball to become THIS?

You may love Keuchel or you may think he is overrated. That's fine. Fact is he deserved more than this. He may not be the Cy Young caliber pitcher he once was but he's still an asset to any team out there. He had a good 2018 with a 12-11 record with a 3.74 ERA and 153-58 strike to ball ratio across 204.2 innings. That's still better than average in the American League and he's an innings eater!

There is nothing so wrong with Keuchel's record right now that he should be unemployed. This is a FAILURE on Manfred's part and he needs to own it plain and simple. I wasn't Bud Selig's biggest cheerleader but right now I'm wishing he was still the commissioner.

There is a problem in the sport I love so much. Instead of fixing the broken free agent system Manfred is worried about limiting mound visits and putting in pitch clocks to make baseball more appealing to younger viewers. He wants to make the game FASTER. How about we make baseball FUNCTION again? He's focused on all of the wrong areas. He's a failure.

This may not be a popular opinion with fans, but I'm sure guys like Keuchel and Kimbrel have their own similar opinions. We already heard J.D. Martinez give his opinion so how can Manfred deny that there is a problem here?

No matter how you look at it both of these guys SHOULD have jobs somewhere. Free Agency is broken, and Manfred is failing. The the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts. How can you succeed at these things when you don't understand all of them? Until he stops denying free agency is a problem, the labor aspect of his duties will never function.

Manfred is failing. He's failed the players within the sport for the second year in a row, he's failing the fans and until he fixes these issues he will never achieve his own personal goals to help improve the sport. Baseball needs a leader, Manfred hasn't proved that he's the right guy.

I love baseball, but I'm starting to think Manfred is destroying it.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

FREE AGENCY IS FOR THE BIRDS

Times are definitely changing. Not long ago players looked forward to the day they became a free agent, especially if you were an "elite" player. Elite players look forward to those elite contracts with the extra years and extra dollars. Or should I say looked forward to? The last two winters have shown us that free agency isn't the same anymore.

Do players even embrace the idea of free agency anymore? Seriously, the last two winters have been miserable. Here we are one week into spring training and there are still 45 major league players without a job. But the 45 unsigned players isn't the only glaring problem in baseball. What about the 77 players that signed one-year deals? They will once again have to go through the undesirable free agency process in hopes to find a job. The number of one-year deals is concerning.

Several teams have all but given up on signing free agents. There are 10 teams out there who have not signed a free agent for at least a $6 million this winter. So far, Patrick Corbin and Manny Machado are the only real winners in free agency, and Machado just signed! A "generational" talent didn't get signed until after spring training started. Are we really supposed to believe Rob Manfred when he says baseball free agency isn't broken and it doesn't need to be fixed? Come on!

I think Manfred's blatant denial of the issue has only made it worse. Now we have guys out there like J.D. Martinez who have recently been through this frustrating process calling free agency "embarrassing," read that HERE. Martinez has been in both Machado and Bryce Harper's shoes, but he signed for MUCH less money that Machado did. He got a five-year $110 million deal that was much less than what he was predicted to get heading into free agency. His contract does include opt out options after years two, three and four but based on current trends there's no incentive for him to do that. There are ZERO guarantees he would get more money. Free agency definitely go according to his plan, so maybe players are taking notice.

Why would a player want t be a free agent now? I wouldn't. So are contract extensions the way to go? It certainly looks like it.

The Yankees are jumping on the extension bandwagon. On Monday the Yankees announced an extension with Aaron Hicks for seven years, $70 million. The deal keeps Hicks signed through 2025 with a team option for 2026. Now he won't have to worry about what will happen to him at the end of the season when his contract expired.

The same can be said for Luis Severino. He signed a four-year $40 million extension two weeks ago. That sounds like a much better deal than his alternative scenario. He was just minutes away from an arbitration hearing where he was likely to get just north of $5 million for a one year deal. The Yankees dangled a carrot in front of him that was eight times that amount and that's all it took. If he performs to his potential he'll be worth more than that $40 million.

So what's next for the Yankees? Rumor has it the Yankees are working on extensions now with Dellin Betances and Didi Gregorius, read more HERE. If that's the case, the Yankees will be making smart moves to keep their young core in tact and these guys will have a guaranteed contract and a chance to win a championship without the stress of free agency.

When baseball has guys like Harper, a veteran starter like Dallas Keuchel and an elite closer like Craig Kimbrel are still without jobs there is a problem that needs to be fixed. I don't know if Manfred is blind or just delusional....but this is broken. No one wants to be a free agent anymore. It's too risky. It frustrates the fans which in fact is bad for baseball.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

PREDICTION TIME! WHERE ARE THESE GUYS GOING?

Photo: Getty Images

It's two weeks until Spring Training starts! Two weeks....and the biggest names are STILL sitting on the market. This off season has been ridiculously boring. So instead of searching for new rumor that don't exist or rehashing the same David Robertson trade story and trying to put a new twist on it let's play a game. Where are the big names going?

Photo: Getty Images

1) Jake Arrieta - ???
I could see two possibilities here. If you ask my fiance who definitely has a good following on the baseball world in general he will tell you Arrieta is going to be a Brewer. It's a possibility, the Brewers are rumored to have made an offer but I also wouldn't count out the Phillies at this point. It's crazy to think that the Phillies are one of the top spending teams this off season. It's true! The Phillies are making that transition from rebuilding to contending. They aren't there yet but will be soon and you can't ignore the connection between the two. Phillies outfielder Nick Williams has been a workout buddy with Arrieta over the winter and it sounds like he's been trying to sway him to Philly according to reports like THIS ONE. Is it true? Who knows, but since the Phillies are spending money I wouldn't count them out.

So much for Boras and his huge BINDER he sent to every team with a sales pitch for a $200 million dollar deal. LOL!

Source: Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America)

2) J.D. Martinez - Red Sox
The Red Sox have been far too quiet this season. Let's face it after the Yankees got Giancarlo Stanton there has been no response. They always have to make their own splashy move and it hasn't happened yet. I can't see them waiting until the trade deadline. The Red Sox need some more pop in their lineup. Of course, if they don't get him I am perfectly fine with that....really.

Source: Ron Schwane/Getty Images North America

3) Mike Moustakas - Kansas City?
This is a hard one. He's the best left-side infielder available in this years free agent market but his market has been pretty dry. Just thinking from a business standpoint it might be in Kansas City's best interest to sign him after they let one of their other big names Lorenzo Cain leave in free agency. The Royals are only a few years removed from a World Series Championship and may need that familiar face to keep fans more motivated as they continue to rebuild.

Source: Tom Pennington/Getty Images North America

4) Yu Darvish - Cubs?
So the Phillies, Brewers, Twins, Yankees and Cubs are all considered to be serious suitors for Darvish. I would love to sign him, especially if we could get him at a discount now that the market is dropping faster as Spring Training gets closer....but I am not going to hold my breath. According to Jerry Crasnick HERE, the Cubs are considered to be favorites. I tend not to put so much weight on that because look at what happened with Shohei Ohtani. We were the favorites and yet we didn't make it out of the first round. Who knows. All of these teams make sense but the Cubs do have the need to sign a starter, the money to do it and the desire to get back to the World Series again. I wouldn't count them out.

And just for fun...

Source: Scott Cunningham/Getty Images North America

5) J.T. Realmuto - Nationals?
Yes, he's not a free agent BUT he is the last big name standing in Derek Jeter's gut job in Miami. Everyone else is gone! The Nationals are interested and should be. With one last push to win a World Series before Bryce Harper likely leaves in free agency they want more reinforcements to help their cause. Matt Wieters is still a starting catcher but he had a down year last season and adding a young 26 year old catcher under team control through 2021 who had a good season last year seems like a no-brainer. Jeter is going to ship him off somewhere soon. Washington seems to make a lot of sense.

No news means game time. Hopefully some of these guys sign soon because I am beyond restless!

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

WHAT THE YANKS ARE WILLING TO DO TO GET RID OF ELLSBURY

The Yankees are still determined to try and get rid of Jacoby Ellsbury, but are they desperate enough to do what it takes?

Kathy Willens/AP

According to Jon Heyman HERE the Yankees are willing to eat at least half of contract. Keyword here appears to be "at least" and even if that is just a starting point for negotiations it's not enough. The Yankees are having a hard time finding anyone that is interested and the clock is ticking....

The slow moving market is making a tough challenge even harder. There are still a lot of free agents out there, namely some big name outfielders like J.D. Martinez and Lorenzo Cain who are younger and don't have the declining track record that Ellsbury does. It's not hard to see why the Yankees can't find that obvious trade partner.

Ellsbury has $68.5 millon left on his contract that ends in 2020, even if a team does bite and take him for half that is still $11.5 million a year he is owed. If I am any other major league team I can see the current talent in the free agent market, recognize it is better than Ellsbury, not much more expensive and I get more for my money. Jay Bruce just signed for three years and $39 million. I'd rather sign and pay him, the younger and better player.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Yankees are fighting an uphill battle in a slow moving market. There are other "Ellsbury like" players out there like Heyman said. Other free agent outfielders Carlos Gomez, Jon Jay and Jarrod Dyson offer teams the same speed element and they are still waiting for a job. Pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training in 4 weeks and until the market starts to move, Ellsbury will sit stale on the roster.

If I am the Yankees and a team does come around willing to make a deal I may sure to have the right game plan. The Yankees should go in and say they will pay half, but be ready to pay more. It would be nice if half got the trade done but it isn't likely. If the Yankees want to move Ellsbury the price tag will likely be more than they want to pay. At this point, the Yankees need to decide if they pay a little more and get him off the bench....or do they pay for him to be a seat warmer?

I know it's not my money so it's easy to say I'd pay more to get rid of him but I hate the idea of paying him a bunch of money to sit in the dugout. It's a bad contract that the Yankees and fans need to move on from. His roster spot is too valuable to just waste away.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj