A PITCHING TARGET THAT FEELS LIKE A SILLY CASHMAN SIGNING

With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón both coming off elbow problems and unlikely to be ready for Opening Day 2026, the Yankees’ rotation is basically a group chat titled “???” right now. So of course the offseason rumor machine has gone feral. One of the louder notes: Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors predicting the Yankees sign Chris Bassitt to a two-year, $38 million deal.

Bassitt, 36, has built a reputation as the league’s most reliable “Yeah, he’s fine” guy. Since joining Toronto in 2023, he’s been remarkably consistent: 30+ starts a year, 170+ innings, ERA floating in the perfectly medium zone between 3.60 and 4.16. He is the Chili’s of starting pitchers. Comfortable, familiar, dependable. Also unlikely to blow your mind.

But here’s the thing: I’m not convinced this is the move. Sure, being on a playoff-level team like the Blue Jays gave him some shine, but I don’t see the fit. At his age, he's not a long-term building block. He’s a temporary bridge, the guy holding the rotation together with duct tape until the real horses return.

In 2025, Bassitt put up a 3.96 ERA over 170.1 innings, striking out 22.6% of hitters while keeping walks in check. And yes, durability is massively valuable. Being able to take the ball every fifth day currently qualifies as a superpower in the Yankees universe.

But let’s call it like it is: Bassitt is not an ace. He’s not even a No. 2. He’s a middle-of-the-rotation adult who throws strikes and does the job. That’s great. That’s useful. That’s also not the answer.

Which is why this has big “Brian Cashman is coupon-clipping again” energy. Patchwork solutions, a couple of ‘pretty solid’ arms, hope the vibes carry us through. It’s the same logic that inspired him to collect four closers like Pokémon cards at the deadline. That wasn’t strategy. That was buying batteries because they were on sale.

This team needs real firepower. Not a holding pattern. Not a warm body with a glove.
No more middle-of-the-rotation shrug signings.

We’re supposed to be the Yankees, not a Home Depot clearance aisle.

YANKEES ALREADY HAVE STARTING PITCHING PROBLEMS FOR NEXT SEASON!

We may not be strategizing for the World Series, but the Yankees brain trust already has a problem to solve in the offseason. Since the Yankees have a real problem exercising their smarts sometimes (I'm being generous) they better get started now.

The 2026 starting rotation already has too much uncertainty. There are still unknowns with Gerrit Cole's timeline for a return. He's set to start throwing off a mound this week and if all goes well he should be back around May. There's even more uncertainty with Clarke Schmidt who had Tommy John surgery back in July. He could be back late in the year, but that is still a big if. That could be around August of next season. That's a lot of uncertainty to have, even before the latest news with Carlos Rodon. 

Rodon underwent an elbow scope Wednesday to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur. He will be shut down for the next eight weeks and will also miss the first few weeks of the regular season. That's three starters starting the season on the Injured List at minimum. Now the Yankees need more depth.

The Yankees need a veteran starter with experience, so they are looking for the 2026 Carlos Carrasco but one with better results in the regular season. Not just the guy that pitches well in Spring Training to get the gig and then fall flat. HERE is the free agent list, it's a lengthy one and if I am being honest, the starting pitchers don't have me jumping out of my seat.

But, neither did Carrasco or Marcus Stroman this season, and they didn't single handedly bring us down. The Yankees need depth, they need someone serviceable to get us through the first few weeks while Cole and Rodon ramp up. Two names that I keep seeing in the rumor mill are Merrill Kelly and Chris Bassitt and while I am not loving either option, I must admit the idea of adding depth to the Yankees while making the Blue Jays weaker doesn't suck right now. They could be the new Carrasco but...there's another interesting option.

There is a real strategic option with a guy like Nick Martinez. The Reds have used him as both a starter and reliever this season with 20 of his 40 appearances as a starter. His 4.45 ERA doesn't look pretty but he had better success in a reliever role. He could help some stability while our starters are out but be a reliable arm out of the bullpen also, which the Yankees need. His 2.87 career ERA as a reliever is what should intrigue the Yankees the most.

The Yankees need to add some arms because right now the start of 2026 is already in jeopardy....in October. The Yankees brain trust needs to find an answer to this that the analytic geek in the front office isn't capable of fixing. They have a long time to start fixing it but they better get started now.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

CHRIS BASSITT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BITCH

We all remember when Aaron Judge was distracted and side eyed moments before he hit a bomb against the Blue Jays a few weeks ago. The Blue Jays announcers made wild accusations publicly and to be honest, they sounded like sour grapes. Read THE BLUE JAYS ANNOUNCERS ARE BITCHES for more on that. It was a spectacle. Never mind that Vlad Guerrero Jr. carries himself as a big baby on the regular and talks about how he hates the Yankees and he'd never play for them. Trust me bro... we don't want you. But more to that, I truly believe the hate against the Yankees, and the talents of Judge to hit the long ball has this entire Blue Jays team just baffled... and then you become baffled, you get cranky.

For some reason, Chris Bassitt made headlines the other day, still talking about Judge's home run, but more to that, just crying about it. And once again, a guy who sides with the Blue Jays is making ridiculous accusations. The Sporting News writes:

"According to Bassitt... he believes Judge made up a story in order to keep the Jays off the trail of their pitch tipping.

"They knew we were tipping and they were relaying tips," Bassitt said Monday. "Is that illegal? No. Is it kind of that grey area, of 'if the first and third base coaches are having to relay tips?'...you can argue that back and forth. Judge's response to it? I had no problem with it. Was it a lie? Yeah, it was a lie."

Chris Bassitt is a saint, I guess. He's also a bitch.  Look, no one likes to lose, but the idea in this world that we can continually make up stories, change the narrative and disparage someone because they feel like it is so Unamerican, it's disgusting.

I think the second questions is why in the world would Jomboy Media give this turd a platform? What does it get anyone? The game is old news. The explanation was revealed by Judge. What else do we need? Not everyone is going to believe it, but that's life.  Accusations, pushing a false narrative... that gets us nowhere.

Judge's response? "I don't see why it's a story to be honest."

Exactly. This is stupid. Giving Bassitt a forum is ridiculous.

YANKEES INCH ONE STEP CLOSER TO SIGNING CARLOS RODON

Source: ESPN

With Anthony Rizzo and Aaron Judge contracts intact, the Yankees look to beef up their starting rotation with another hard throwing pitcher. The Bombers have been eyeing left-hander Carlos Rodon, and are expected to make a formal offer early this week. With Wednesday upon us, San Francisco where Rodon played last season have since signed former Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ross Stripling on a two-year, $25 million contract and now Carlos Correa to 13-year $350 million deal, reports ESPN's Jeff Passan. This pushes the envelope perhaps an inch closer to the Yankees making a deal with Rodon.

Source: The New York Post

According to the New York Post, "The initial indication is that Rodon seeks seven-plus years at $200 million plus, and while the Yankees seem reluctant to go to that length, they also seem very serious and hopeful about this pursuit." With Chris Bassitt to the Blue Jays, the Yankees need to close this deal with Rondon in order to remain competitive and support the big time signing of Yankee slugger Aaron Judge.

According to the Post, "Rodon thrived in 2022 as a Giant, posting a 2.88 ERA with 237 strikeouts over 178 innings, while leading the league among qualifiers with 12 strikeouts per nine innings and a 2.25 FIP. Rodon celebrated his 30th birthday Saturday." Seven years is a long time for a pitcher to remain healthy and competitive. 

So if the Yankees take a hard pass because of Rodon's contract requirements, who can they leverage for another big arm to keep them in the hunt for a championship in 2023? According to Yahoo Sports, it actually could be Gleyber Torres. The 26-year-old had a comeback season in 2022, and perhaps just enough to be a good trading chip for another quality arm in the rotation.

Source: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Yahoo Sports sources said that "they thought trading Torres was the Yanks’ real chance to get an impact starting pitcher, assuming they do not sign free agent Carlos Rodón. But another wondered if the rest of baseball saw Torres as enough of a big bat to lure a quality starter in trade." I can't say I disagree.

So it is safe to say a deal will happen soon for Rodon and the Yankees are the top candidate followed by the Giants and the Cardinals. The Yankees need to lock up starting pitching and plug that gaping hole in left field. Perhaps Torres could help with that issue; but that is for another piece. For now, let's hope the Yankees get Rodon and continue to build their team for what is shaping to be a fun 2023 for baseball. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

YANKEES & METS REACT TO MLB'S "BAD BALLS!"

Both New York teams are off to a good start this season. It's weird to type that, but it's true. Both teams are in first place (more weirdness) but one team is a little more content then the other.

I want to know what happened to "There's No Crying in Baseball" because right now the Mets are crying. In recent years there has been a lot of speculation that MLB has made changes to the ball in attempt to cut back on record setting home run seasons. Maybe it's true, it is possible since the league owns the company that makes the official ball, Rawlings.

The Mets are an interesting statistic with hit-by-pitch an it is hard to ignore and Mets starter Chris Bassitt isn't mincing words about it.

"MLB has a very big problem with the baseballs," Bassitt said. "They are bad. Everyone knows it. Every pitcher in the league knows it. MLB doesn’t give a damn about it. They don’t care. We have told them our problems with them. They don’t care."

Okay, maybe he is on to something but Jameson Taillon isn't buying in to all of it, read more HERE.
"I know guys around the league have been talking, so (those comments) didn’t really surprise me," Taillon said. "But I don’t think this is some grand scheme by MLB trying to mess up the game or anything. I think they’re trying their best to find a sweet spot here with the ball, and hopefully we can get there."

So Taillon says it hasn't impacted his game and Aaron Boone is also saying that it isn't a "big" topic of conversation in the clubhouse. Are the doctored balls possible? Sure, MLB and Rawlings are undeniably intertwined and maybe that is an issue to address. Maybe that would calm some tension.

Or maybe it won't. Maybe the Mets will continue to cry. Maybe other teams will cry with them. Now we will all sit back and see if the Mets continue to be leaders in the hit-by-pitch category. We will have to wait and see....and hopefully hear less crying for crying out loud!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE BLOCKBUSTER TRADE THE YANKEES NEED TO MAKE

Source: Yahoo Sports

With the universal DH rule announcement on Thursday, first base just became a more defensively aligned position instead of a place to land a sunsetting big leaguer with a big bat. The hot corner has been a big controversy over the last several years as we point out in our post on Saturday, I FEEL LIKE THE YANKEES JUST USED LUKE VOIT. All the more reason why a blockbuster trade with the Oakland A's needs to happen as soon as the gun goes off for the 2022 season to begin.

Source: The Athletic

"The Yankees were uncharacteristically quiet before the lockout, with [Joely] Rodríguez their only signing. They have a lot of work to do if they’re going to return to the postseason this October, and it might take a blockbuster deal to get there. They match up well with Oakland and could make a strong bid to land Olson, Bassitt and Laureano. All three would be significant upgrades," reports SI.com. We are all familiar with Matt Olson given all of the banter about the 27-year-old defensively elite first baseman with a lefty bat. But what about the other two "sleepers" in the mix?

Chris Bassitt is going into his last pre-free agency season requiring the Athletics to put up some additional money to keep him. The right hander had another strong season and could provide much needed consistency in the rotation. "He’s quietly been one of the AL’s best starters since returning from elbow surgery in 2018, logging 412 innings with a 3.23 ERA, including a 3.15 ERA and career-high 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 27 starts in 2021," reported the Athletic.

And then there is center fielder Ramon Laureano who likely provides a slight upgrade to Hicks in center. He played only 88 games in 2021 after being suspended pending investigation of use of a performance enhancing substance and has 30 more games to serve before returning to the lineup of any team. He averages about 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases batting.249. He is the least appealing of a a blockbuster deal but could provide needed help in the core outfield position.

Source: Mercury News

"Barring any other moves, Aaron Hicks is poised to return to his role as New York's starting center fielder—he missed much of last year after a season-ending wrist injury. That's really the only position in the outfield where the Yankees could put someone like Laureano. Aaron Judge and Joey Gallo are set to occupy the corner spots.," reports SI.com.

Source: NBC Sports

What would the Yankees give up? Likely one of their prospect shortstops like Anthony Volpe as well as other members of the talented young farm system—potentially five of these players would need to be in the mix to get a trade like this done. Now they could resign Anthony Rizzo and avoid this kind of trade all together, favoring shortstop and starting pitching, but knowing them, they are likely going to deal with the A's who have a history of offloading big salaries.

The Yankees need to make a blockbuster trade. But this may not be the one go for given the risk in giving up too much talent. The focus right now is getting the season going—ending the lockout and moving forward with 2022. But make no mistake the Yankees will be active and what direction they go and how the universal DH impacts this will be interesting to watch. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof