CASHMAN IS SHOPPING IN THE WRONG AISLE AGAIN

Now the latest rumor is the Yankees are interested in bringing back Clay Holmes.

Seriously... what the hell is this front office doing?

Holmes is coming back from a fractured right fibula. Yes, before the injury he was outstanding, posting a 2.39 ERA over nine starts, and he's looked good in rehab. According to The Athletic, the Yankees were among several teams scouting his latest outing as trade rumors continue to swirl.

But here's what's funny. When Holmes wore pinstripes, Yankees fans couldn't wait to get rid of him. Every blown save turned into another reason to bury the guy. Social media was relentless, and many fans acted like he was the biggest problem on the roster, pretty much how we are treating Anthony Volpe now. Now suddenly bringing Holmes back is supposed to excite everyone?

Why?

More importantly, why is this what the Yankees' front office is chasing?  The Yankees need to learn, fans want stars and championships, not BS and hope.

This team doesn't need another reunion or another player coming off a significant injury. It needs impact players—guys who immediately make this lineup and roster better.

Brian Cashman keeps treating the trade deadline like it's about plugging holes instead of landing difference-makers. That's exactly why this team continues to come up short.

Stop settling.

Stop looking backward.

Build a championship roster and play the right freaking guys for once.

THE YANKEES & ASTROS SWAP NOBODIES!

The Yankees get better and better at frustrating fans and now players alike. Back in February, the Yankees designated Braden Shewmake for assignment to clear up a spot on the 40-man roster. But he sat in limbo waiting....and waiting until yesterday.

On Sunday, after waiting two and a half months, Shewmake was traded to the Houston Astros for pitcher Wilmy Sanchez. The shortstop that had no clear path to the majors and just sat around cleasring up a 40-man roster spot for all of last season is officially gone. This is what frustrates me about the Yankees. We had no where to put him, and he was not a clear upgrade over Anthony Volpe but let's just let him hold on to a valuable spot that anyone else could have and we could've used. That's the New York Yankee way.

And there was no reason to keep Shewmake as long as we did. He was bad at Scranton last season with a .244 BA and he was on pace for more of the same this spring. Even an extensive injury history in the infield would not have given him a golden opportunity at the big league level. We just like to hold onto scrubs.

The Astros, unfortunately need him. They have significant injuries they are dealing with and let Mauricio Dubon walk over the winter so now they are desperate and get the Yankees leftovers. Not that we are left with much better.....

So now we have Sanchez, the Astros leftovers. He's going to be the latest reclamation project for the Yankees. We all know how much Brian Cashman loves those. Now Matt Blake gets another pitcher he has to try and tune up. I will say if Blake can work his magic there COULD be an upside but it is a gamble. In 61 innings pitched last season he only gave up six home runs so it will be interesting to see if he can keep that success in New York. He also recorded 75 strikeouts so he has potential....but he does have some serious command issues holding him back but at 22 years old, he's still young enough to mold and get him ready for big league play.

Potential is always nice, but we are all tired of watching the Yankees go dumpster diving for projects. This strategy has blown up in our faces now with Camilo Doval and Jake Bird. Not to mention, there is still some trauma lingering from the failures of Clay Holmes, Mark Leiter Jr and Jonathan Loaisiga and honestly I could continue with this list but I am gonna save myself some PTSD....it's going to be a long season.

The Yankees and Astros swapped nobodies this weekend. As we sit and wait for the Yankees to make a deal for a difference maker, we all age a little more and grow more frustrated. These are not the moves of a contender, but a pretender.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WEAVER TO THE METS & THE YANKEES STILL HAVEN'T MAKE A SIGNIFCANT MOVE

If this is what urgency looks like in the Bronx, someone needs to check the pulse.

The Yankees have officially sleepwalked into MLB free agency, and the early returns are… Amed Rosario and Ryan Yarbrough. That’s it. Two names that scream “placeholder,” not “contender.”  Meanwhile, the rest of the league is out here shopping like it’s Black Friday, and the Yankees are squinting at the clearance rack like they forgot their wallet.

At some point, we have to say the quiet part out loud: the Yankees do not appear to care about being competitive or even good in 2026.

And yes, before anyone reaches for the PR talking points, this is the same organization whose owner, Hal Steinbrenner, once suggested the Yankees are not a profitable franchise—which we all know is fucking bullshit. This is the New York Yankees, not a roadside lemonade stand. They print money in their sleep. Claiming poverty while fielding a half-asleep roster is insulting, not convincing.

The bullpen situation is a perfect snapshot of the rot. The Yankees desperately need relief pitching, yet somehow managed to sit on their hands while most of the high-end bullpen arms flew off the board. Even worse, several of those signings happened right in the AL East. Translation: the Yankees aren’t just standing still—they’re actively falling behind.

And if you want to see what a serious franchise looks like, glance north. The Blue Jays get it. They’re bringing in top-tier talent, players ready to win now. They look hungry. They look aggressive. Right now, they look like the new kings of the AL East, while the Yankees look like a brand living off past glory.

Then there’s the Luke Weaver situation, which somehow manages to be both baffling and infuriating.

According to Joel Sherman, “The Yankees were not part of the bidding to try to retain Weaver.” Not “they got outbid.” Not “they made an offer but fell short.” No—they didn’t even show up.

This is insanity.

Weaver was a legitimate bullpen weapon for the Yankees in 2025. Even if he wasn’t at the top of their wish list, you don’t just ignore a quality arm who already proved he could handle New York. Not even entertaining a conversation—especially when the contract was two years, $22 million—is organizational malpractice.

And now? Weaver heads across town to the Mets, where he’ll pitch alongside former Yankees Clay Holmes and Devin Williams. That alone should be humiliating.

But here’s the real question: it’s not “Why did Weaver go to the Mets?” It’s why the fuck didn’t the Yankees even try?

The Yankees are the ones who created the Weaver mess in the first place. He was a top closer down the stretch two years ago, and then Brian Cashman brought in Williams and detonated the bullpen hierarchy. Roles vanished. Confidence evaporated. Nobody knew where they stood—Weaver included, Williams included, everyone included. It was the dumbest bullpen decision Cashman made in 2025, and that’s saying something.

And now the follow-up act is even worse: they let Weaver walk without a phone call, without a pitch, without a pulse.

So, what’s the plan?

Nothing.

No replacement. No backup move. No urgency. Just another useful arm drifting away while the Yankees act completely fine with it. That tells you everything you need to know. This wasn’t a tough decision—they were comfortable letting him go.

This is why Yankees fans are furious. This is why the organization feels hollow. The Yankees don’t look competitive. They don’t look gritty. They don’t even look like they want to win anymore.

It’s not just disturbing—it’s embarrassing.

IS LUKE WEAVER ON THE MOVE?

I loved when Luke Weaver parachuted into the Bronx and suddenly turned into Mariano Rivera’s chaos-loving cousin. The man stumbled into the closer role, found his rhythm, and started mowing dudes down like he’d been born on the mound at Yankee Stadium. Clay Holmes didn’t just lose the closer role—he gently backed away from it like someone who realized, “You know what? Maybe being a setup guy isn’t the worst thing.” It was a win-win. Weaver won the closer spot and Holmes found his footing again. It was pure gold.

And then came 2025, and Brian Cashman fucked it all up, by trading for Devin Williams, injecting unnecessary chaos into a bullpen that was finally stable. Suddenly we’re all sitting here questioning just how galaxy-brain stupid Cashman can get when he tries. Spoiler: pretty stupid.

Now Weaver’s a free agent, and while I would absolutely love to see him back in pinstripes, you can bet actual money that deep down—way past the interviews and the polite quotes—he’s thinking about how the Yankees treated him last season. And who could blame him?

Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter is already out here tossing out predictions that the Padres might swoop in for Weaver—not to close, but to start. The role he had before the Yankees turned him into a bullpen superhero. And shockingly, Weaver isn’t shutting the door on being a starter again.

“I would say, look, the door is open,” Weaver said about starting. “I am never going to just say ‘absolutely not.’ Like, ‘Hey, when the time comes, let’s talk about it. What does that look like?’”

Honestly? Now I’m fascinated. I want to see where this goes. I’m still a huge Weaver guy, but the Yankees absolutely wrecked his vibe in 2025. He needs to get back to that crisp, swagger-filled 2024 version—for New York, preferably—but who knows?

Stay tuned. The Luke Weaver Redemption Tour might be headed for the Bronx… or San Diego… we just gotta see. One this for sure though, I don't want him to leave New York. 

IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW YOU START THE SEASON; IT'S HOW YOU FINISH!

I'm not gonna lie, I am a little bummed that we ended as a Wild Card, because that's never good enough. We always want more, and we expect it. It's not the scenario that we want but we at least get to see October baseball. We can't say the same for that other New York team.

I say this thinking about my friends and coworkers who are Mets fans. On Tuesday, we play the Red Sox and on Tuesday the Mets are playing golf.....or maybe eating their feelings. They certainly would have a lot of feelings to eat. The Yankees could've been in the same situation. They had some of the same flaws, but the Yankees were able to figure them out.

At the beginning of the season, the Yankees were panicking after losing Gerrit Cole. I was poking fun of the Mets because after spending a stupid amount of money on Juan Soto, they created a science experiment for a pitching rotation that included converting blown save connoisseur Clay Holmes from a bullpen role into a starter. How could that not be a complete disaster? If you are gonna blow $765 million on one guy, at least build a formidable pitching staff so Soto wasn't working on overdrive to make up the runs they were sure to give up with a crappy pitching staff.

At first, both the Yankees and the Mets started out strong. Of course, we are used to seeing that with the Yankees. Both teams had an early lead in their divisions, and it looked like both teams invested well. They held a major-league best 45-24 record heading into June 13 at 21 games over .500 and a 5.5-game lead in the NL East. It was the dream team that Steven Cohen envisioned when he spent lavishly to win it all. Until it all fell apart with a 38-55 record from June 13 to September 28 to finish the year with a disappointing 83-79 record. Both teams did a free fall, but the Yankees managed to pull it together.

The Mets collapse was brutal. Their poor offseason pitching decisions caught up to them while the Yankees got creative internally. I still say Carlos Rodon evolved into the pitcher I never expected this season and then came Cam Schlittler who blew everyone away....both the Yankees and opposing hitters that couldn't adapt to his style. He proved himself enough to earn a role as the third starter in the Wild Card series coming up.

Both teams had a freefall, but the Yankees managed to pull themselves up by their cleats and salvage the season late. Thanks to guys like Ben Rice and Aaron Judge cashing in on big moments they won enough games to finish with a 94-68 record tying their record from 2024. They might not be division winners this time around, but they are playing in October.

It's proof that as nice as it is to see a red-hot start to the season, a strong finish is just as important. The Yankees managed to right the ship and are playing October baseball. The Mets and Carlos Mendoza on the other hand have a long, agonizing winter to get through and I'm more than okay with that.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

WILL WEAVER RETURN TO THE CLOSER ROLE?

In Major League Baseball, the ninth inning isn’t just a frame — it’s a war zone. And if you’re not stepping on the mound with a full tank of confidence, electric energy, and surgical precision, you’re just another body waiting to blow a lead. Which is why, to anyone actually watching Yankees baseball last year, it became stunningly obvious: Luke Weaver had it.

Not kind of had it. Not flashes of it. The man was a closer. Period.

Weaver took over the job when the Clay Holmes experiment officially fizzled. Holmes had a brief run of competence, but his grip on the closer role was about as steady as a wet paper bag. Enter Weaver — cool, collected, nasty stuff, and a bulldog mentality. He didn’t inherit the role. He seized it. He wasn’t propped up by analytics or public relations puff pieces. He just flat-out earned it.

So, what did the Yankees do? Naturally, they went shopping, cause their freaking clueless.

In swoops Devin Williams, a guy with a shiny résumé and a pitching arsenal that looks great on Pitching Ninja GIFs. The Yankees, desperate to make a splash in the offseason — whether it made baseball sense or not — decided they needed another closer. 

And what did Williams do? Well, first, he told the world he “didn’t feel like himself,” and blamed part of his struggles on — get this — shaving his beard. Yes, apparently the secret to his effectiveness was not a wicked changeup or clean mechanics, but facial hair.

Meanwhile, Luke Weaver kept dominating.

Then, predictably, Aaron Boone happened. Weaver, thanks to Boone’s patented “run my best arm into the ground” strategy, strained his hamstring warming up in the Dodger Stadium bullpen. The Yankees were forced to turn back to Williams — who, credit where it’s due, has been solid lately. Four-for-four in save chances, eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings, even three Ks today. Not bad.

But here’s the thing: Weaver’s back. Or he will be tomorrow. Ahead of schedule, by the way — because that’s what dogs do. He’s already beaten the projected recovery timeline, and let’s not forget, when he went down, he was rocking a 1.05 ERA with eight saves.

So now the million-dollar question: what will the Yankees do?

If you’ve watched this team long enough, you already know. Prediction? They’re going to keep Williams in the closer role — not because he’s the better option, but because he’s the more expensive option. Weaver will get some “easing back in” label slapped on him, and be quietly shuffled into a setup role, while the team hopes fans forget he was the best closer on the roster before the hamstring tweak.

Why? Because this front office operates like a luxury brand: if they costs more, they must play. Boone won’t fight it. He’s not calling the shots. He’s just nodding along, managing by committee, afraid to make waves as long as the turnstiles keep spinning.

And guess what? As long as Yankee Stadium is full with all of you, mediocrity is profitable.

That’s why I haven’t been to the Bronx in two years. These are still my Yankees — but not this version, not this front office, and definitely not this manager. I’m not paying premium prices to watch a team that insists on rewarding contracts over performance.

Luke Weaver should close. But with this regime? Don’t hold your breath.

Welcome to the Bronx — where the bullpen decisions are corporate, the excuses are bearded, and the fans? 

We’re getting tired of being the only ones who remember what winning championships used to look like.

EXTRA GIFT FROM YANKEES TO SOTO REVEALED

I mean, are you kidding me?

Let’s get this straight—Juan Soto played one season in pinstripes, cashed a $30 million check, smiled his way through some postgame interviews, and now he’s a Met. And now it's being revealed that the Yankees gave Soto a parting gift.  They send him a Tiffany wristwatch and a handwritten note from Hal Steinbrenner, like he just finished a decade of loyal service and retired with distinction.

Seriously?

Word is leaking out—now—that Soto received this “gift” shortly after his locker was cleaned out. A top-shelf Tiffany timepiece, engraved with the words: “Once a Yankee—Always Respected.” Respect? For what? For chasing the biggest payday in town and hopping crosstown to the Mets the second the ink dried on his arbitration deal?  Stupid move, but clearly a way to try and entice him back to the Bronx. But let's make it clear; the Yankees played that signing wrong from the start.

And don’t forget—the Yankees also handed him his 2024 American League Championship ring. He wore the jersey for one year. That’s it. The fact is they also gave rings to Clay Holmes and Desi Druschel. Fine. But that's where it should have stayed for Soto too. He’s already in Queens learning how to misplay fly balls in orange and blue.

What’s more insulting is the timing. This news didn’t break during his departure—oh no. It’s only surfacing now, long after he’s strutted out of Yankee Stadium and into Citi Field. Why? PR strategy? A last-ditch olive branch? Or maybe just plain old desperation dressed up in class? Nice work by Pinstripes Nation who put the story out today.

Make no mistake, Juan Soto is a tremendous hitter. But he's also a mercenary. And that’s fine—baseball’s a business. But don’t pretend it was anything more than that. Don’t let Hal’s penmanship and the Yankees’ luxury taste rewrite the story. Soto didn’t leave because the Yankees didn’t try. He left because they didn’t overpay.

And now, we’re supposed to pat him on the back with a “thanks for the memories” and a Rolex-level trinket?

Here’s a better gift: a thank-you card that reads, “Best of luck—just not against us.” That’s it. Nothing engraved. Nothing from Tiffany’s. And certainly nothing that screams desperate to be liked.

Because at the end of the day, the real gift wasn’t a watch. The real gift was playing for the Yankees. And Soto? He gave it back with the tag still on.

CARRASCO IS GONZO

Well, that didn’t last long.

The Yankees officially ended the Carlos Carrasco experiment on Tuesday, designating the veteran righty for assignment in a move that was both necessary and about three weeks overdue. Carrasco, 38, gave it all he had, but with a 5.91 ERA and all the signs of a pitcher hanging on by duct tape and guile, the Yankees finally said enough.

The twist? Aaron Boone, in his never-ending quest to say something so painfully useless it makes your brain cramp, decided this was the time to break out one of his all-timers.

“What a phenomenal human being that Carlos is,” said Boone.

Ah, yes. Thanks, Aaron. The Yankees are in a pitching crisis, they just DFA’d a guy with a WHIP that made fans duck for cover, and the best you can muster is a Hallmark card. Not one word about Carrasco’s performance, not a single honest reflection on why the team couldn't make it work—just that he's a nice guy. Cool. Maybe Carrasco can help the team with hugs now that he’s gone.

Let’s be clear: Carrasco didn’t pitch well. He earned this DFA with six starts and two relief outings that felt more like sacrifices than appearances. His 7% walk rate was fine, but when you’re only striking out 17.6% of batters and leaving fastballs over the plate like offerings at a buffet, it’s going to catch up with you. It did.

To plug the gap, the Yankees brought up right-hander Yerry De Los Santos from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He joins a bullpen that’s been run ragged, partly because Clarke Schmidt’s Saturday start got scratched due to side soreness. Carrasco had eaten three innings of mop-up work Sunday, so his arm was toast for the time being—and apparently, so was his spot on the roster.

But before we completely close the book, credit where it’s due: Carrasco came to camp on a minor league deal, worked his way onto the Opening Day roster, and handled everything like a pro. He’s been through far worse than getting DFA’d—he beat cancer, after all. That kind of perspective matters. And yes, Boone’s quote may be a broken record of empty platitudes, but Carrasco really is a phenomenal human being. Just maybe not a major-league pitcher anymore.

Still, there’s something tragic about watching the Yankees fumble this. Maybe Carrasco ends up across town with the Mets and turns into the next Clay Holmes—a guy the Yankees also misused until the Pirates and then the Mets figured him out. Wouldn't be the first time another team made better use of Yankee spare parts.

At the end of the day, the Carrasco story in the Bronx ends not with a bang, but with a Boone-ism: dull, cliché, and totally missing the point. Carrasco is a phenomenal human being. That's obvious.  Talk about his service and grit. That's what is most important. That's the story.  Cookie deserved better than his results, and fans deserved better than that stupid Boone quote.

Godspeed, Carrasco.  

MATT BLAKE DOESN'T GET TO TELL US HOW TO FEEL AS FANS

Devin Williams can't handle the pressure of pitching in the Bronx. That's not a slight, that's not being nasty, that's a fact.  

What I don't get is how and why it was important to get this guy while we still had a guy like Luke Weaver waiting in the wings after he proved himself as the Yankees closer last season.  And so, with the news of Devin Williams moving out of the closer role, I was thrilled and also, by the way, it was the most obvious move to the casual observer. But sometimes the Yankees front office falls all over themselves to try and fit square pegs in round holes.  Whatever, the experiment with Williams didn't work, clearly. 

Now we have the Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake doing that tired move that Boone does, defends his guys like he's breaking up a fight on the kindergarten carpet during quiet time. What this guy forgets is we pay this guy's salary. We pay all their salaries, and so pardon us for being hard on a professional baseball player, playing a kid's game and not being very good at it. 

Fans get mad and fans should get mad. That's what being a fan is. Oh, you don't know what I'm talking about? Listen to this garbage, from the beginning...

Friday night the Bronx faithful did what we do best: voice our opinions. Loudly. Passionately. And yes, sometimes ruthlessly. Devin Williams took the mound and immediately gave off the vibe of a guy who’d rather be anywhere else—like, say, back in Milwaukee where high-pressure situations consist of choosing between cheese curds or bratwurst.

The crowd let him have it. Boos. Chants of “We want Weaver!” It was glorious. Cathartic. New York in its purest form. And then Matt Blake—Matt freakin’ Blake—decided to step in and scold us like a substitute teacher trying to tame a senior prank day. 

“It definitely doesn’t help,” he whined. “Negativity doesn’t make the situation better.” Relax Matt Blake, you never even played pro ball.

Excuse us, Coach Whisper. Since when did the pitching coach get promoted to the role of Public Morale Officer? Look, Matt, we didn’t sign up for your TED Talk on emotional resilience—we signed up to see games won. If a guy is blowing leads and melting down like a microwaved Mounds bar, yeah, he’s going to hear it. Welcome to the Bronx.

Blake went on to say, “The earlier we can nip that in the bud and stabilize things, the better.” No, no. The better thing would’ve been to realize Devin Williams isn’t cut out for the ninth inning in New York. That’s not bullying, that's cold, hard baseball reality. This isn't Milwaukee, Matt. You said it yourself: "There's more noise, more pressure." Exactly. And if your guy can't handle the heat, we will remind him.

Let’s not forget Clay Holmes. I liked Clay. Though he got dogpiled on too much. Maybe it was his face—people just didn’t trust it. Still, when Holmes couldn’t get the job done, guess what happened? He got demoted. Because that’s how grown-up teams with championship aspirations operate. They adjust. They act. They don’t hold pity parades for closers getting rattled by boos. Blake's ridiculous.

So, Devin Williams is out, and Luke Weaver is in. And you know what? It’s about time. Weaver has the guts, the grit, and the Bronx-approved demeanor to handle the closer role. That should’ve been obvious weeks ago. Instead, we had to watch Williams unravel while Matt Blake stood on the mound playing armchair psychologist.

And now, we Yankee fans are apparently the bad guys for booing? Please. We’re the ones paying to sit through bullpen implosions. We’re the ones emotionally investing night after night. We don’t “abuse” players—we react to performance. That’s the deal in New York. Don’t like it? Get on the first flight to Anywhere-Else-ville.

So, here’s a tip, Blake: Shut your pie hole and let fans be fans. We chirp. We groan. We boo and yes, sometimes we cheer. It’s part of the game, and if Williams can’t take it, then maybe this just isn’t the town for him.

We already knew Williams was soft. Now it looks like his pitching coach is too.

METS ALREADY PLAYING UP HOLMES LIKE HE'S THE NEXT MARIANO...

 But Yankee fans know differently.

Leave it to the Mets to use the media to hype up Clay Holmes as if he’s about to become the greatest closer of all time. Let’s be real—they kind of have to.

Why? Because Mets fans already know they overpaid for Holmes. Sure, he was an All-Star with the Yankees, but by the end of last season, he had lost his way in the Bronx. Now, the Mets are in full spin mode, selling him as the next big thing to justify signing him to a three-year, $38 million deal.

To be clear, Holmes isn’t a bad guy or a terrible closer. He’s a solid pitcher—when he’s not stumbling. But let’s not pretend he’s on the level of Mariano Rivera or Dennis Eckersley. He’s not even in the Cy Young conversation. If anything, maybe he’s a more likable version of Carl Pavano.

And now, here we are, with Mets PR pushing the narrative that Holmes is a game-changer. The latest example? NJ.com reported that Holmes threw three simulated innings on the first day of pitchers and catchers, something no other Mets starter did. Manager Carlos Mendoza even chimed in:

"The fact that on day one of pitchers and catchers, he’s already at three ups, that’s pretty impressive. You got to give him credit because that shows all the work that he did as soon as we signed him, like I said, with the mindset that he was making that transition. So he knew he needed to get here and (be) ready to go to face hitters."

Come on, man. It’s Day 1 of spring training. Let’s pump the brakes on the Clay Holmes hype train.

WAIT, SO NOW LUKE WEAVER ISN'T THE YANKEE CLOSER?

Source: New York Post

The acquisition of former Milwaukee Brewer pitcher, Devin Williams, provides the Yankees with much needed relief in more than one sense of the word. He provides another quality arm to the bullpen, adding depth/options and he gives some relief to ever reliable Luke Weaver, who bailed the Yankees out of many sticky situations in the post season, emerging as one of the top relievers in the game. But the one thing I was not counting on was for Williams to relieve Luke Weaver of his closer duties. So now I am scratching my head: is Luke Weaver not the Yankee closer?

Source: North Jersey.com

ESPN is calling Williams Mo 2.0 while Yahoo Sports reports, "Devin Williams may not have thrown a pitch in pinstripes yet, but the Yankees' new closer is seen as the best reliever going into the 2025 season. MLB Network released their annual top 10 list of relievers on Wednesday and the right-hander was ranked at the top of the list for the second consecutive year. Williams, 30, was acquired by the Yankees in a trade with the Brewers in mid-December and will look to play up to his MLB Network ranking."

Source: NJ.com

Now is this just an assumption or is it fact? Will Williams replace Weaver as the new Yankee closer? According to ESPN, "For Williams, it all starts with The Airbender. Williams grips it like a changeup and its 84-mph average velocity plays off his fastball like a changeup. But it's a changeup with an exceptionally high spin rate that breaks to his arm side -- opposite from the typical changeup -- making it resemble a screwball or a left-hander's sweeping slider. It is without precedent." 

What is actually ironic is that Williams compares his superior "Airbender" change up to another guy we all know. "Williams said the closest changeup he's seen to his belongs to Luke Weaver, whose emergence as a shutdown reliever in 2024 was crucial in the Yankees reaching the World Series. Williams happened to be in New York when the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers played in the Fall Classic," reported ESPN.

Although no one on the Yankee brass is saying it except for this notion reported by NJ.com, "Yankees GM Brian Cashman said it’s up to manager Aaron Boone on how to arrange his bullpen, Williams figures to have the ninth inning, with Luke Weaver back in a valuable multi-inning setup role."

All publicity points to Williams as the Yankee closer for 2025, despite Weaver's incredible performance in 2024, particularly when they needed him most down the stretch. According to MLB.com, "In the postseason, Weaver remained the linchpin of the Yankees’ bullpen. The right-hander earned four saves and a win during New York’s march to the World Series and registered a 1.76 ERA across 15 1/3 frames." He stepped in cool and calm when the Yankee closer Clay Holmes began his meltdown. If not for Weaver, likely the Yankees don't even make it to the Fall Classic.

But now, he goes back to set up man to the presumably bigger Williams, again without the Yankees confirming or denying this assertion. Yet if you read the headlines, you have to assume Weaver has been demoted. Honestly, I am not okay with that. 

I say this: give everyone an opportunity to perform. And really, does it all really matter? I think all this pomp and circumstance around "the closer" is crap. Yes, there was Mariano Rivera. And he is superhuman. And perhaps he started all the closer hype. But he earned it. And guess what? So did Weaver. So perhaps we should just pipe down about who's the closer and who's not and just let the two battle it out in real time, this spring. But better yet, I would like to go with this approach that ESPN suggests, "He'll (Williams) partner with Weaver to create one of the best bullpen back ends in baseball -- in hopes of helping the Yankees win their first championship since Rivera was dominating hitters with his cutter." Yep, that works.

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

IN THE LATEST SAGA OF THE METS WANTING TO BE THE YANKEES...

Steve Cohen and the New York Mets—baseball’s answer to that one person in high school who keeps trying to reinvent themselves to impress the cool kids, only to trip over their own shoelaces. The latest twist in the Mets' ongoing obsession with the Yankees? A desperate grab at bullpen pieces that might as well come with pinstripes stitched in for good measure.

According to Dan Bartels of the New York Post, the Mets are considering a trio of options for their bullpen, including Yankee fan-favorite Tommy Kahnle. Bartels’ tweet sums it up:

"If the Mets don’t spend big in the bullpen: David Robertson, Chris Martin, or Tommy Kahnle could be a fit, per @NYPost_Mets."

All former Yankees by the way.

Oh, the audacity! Kahnle, who practically breathes Yankee mystique, posted a career-best 2.11 ERA, fanned 46 batters, and boasted an absurd 59.8% ground-ball rate. Naturally, this would make him a tempting target for a team that has spent the better part of the last decade looking like they’ve been cursed by the ghost of Bobby Bonilla’s contract.

But wait—this is the same Mets team that’s already poached Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas, two former Yankees by the way. Did I mention that they were former Yankees? Are we seeing a pattern here? Maybe Steve Cohen isn’t building a team so much as he’s collecting Yankees like they’re Pokémon cards. What’s next? A monument at Citi Field dedicated to "Almost Yankees We Paid Too Much For"?

And then there’s the Juan Soto saga. Former Yankee. Cohen’s near-obsessive pursuit of the slugger reportedly included outlandish offers—rumored to flirt with a near billion-dollar price tag and a luxury suite for Soto’s family. Really? NEARLY A billion dollars? That’s Bezos money, not "we're still paying for Max Scherzer’s arm and Justin Verlander’s ghost" money.

But here’s the kicker: the Yankees and us Yankee fans couldn’t be happier about the Mets taking Soto off the market. With their rivals distracted, the Bronx Bombers were free to bolster their lineup and pitching staff, leaving Mets fans wondering if Cohen is secretly a double agent sent by Hal Steinbrenner.

If Cohen wants to mimic the Yankees, here’s a free tip: it’s not about signing players who used to be good in pinstripes. It’s about cultivating a winning culture, making smart investments, and, oh yeah, not treating your team like a vanity project. Until then, the Mets will remain what they’ve always been: the Yankees' shadow, forever chasing the light.

Good luck with Tommy Kahnle, Mets. Maybe he’ll bring some of that Yankee magic with him. Or maybe he’ll just bring another reminder that Citi Field is where pinstriped dreams go to die.

But I actually hope Kahnle comes back to the Yankees. I liked him there, and I know he loved being a Yankee.

WE GOT ONE OF OUR FAVES BACK!

The Yankees have made a significant move by signing right-handed reliever Jonathan Loáisiga to a one-year deal, and I persoally couldn’t be more excited. Loáisiga, now 30, began his professional journey with the Giants as an international free agent in 2012, but it's with the Yankees where he has truly made his mark. This deal represents not only a chance for Loáisiga to reestablish himself as one of the game’s most effective relievers but also an opportunity for the Yankees to bolster a bullpen that has seen some key departures.

This offseason, the Yankees lost several reliable relievers, including Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, and Tim Hill. Loáisiga now steps into a bullpen that desperately needs high-leverage arms alongside Luke Weaver and Ian Hamilton. Brian Cashman will likely continue adding depth, but the signing of Loáisiga is a crucial step in filling the void.

When healthy, Loáisiga has been nothing short of electric. Since his MLB debut in 2018, he has put together a solid career, boasting a 19-11 record, a 3.44 ERA, and 207 strikeouts in 219.2 regular-season innings. His standout year came in 2021 when he was a dominant force, going 9-4 with a dazzling 2.17 ERA across 70.2 innings. Though injuries have limited him at times, there's no denying the immense potential he brings when he's on the mound.

This one-year deal feels like the perfect opportunity for both Loáisiga and the Yankees. For Jonathan, it’s a chance to prove he’s still a top-tier reliever and to earn his well-deserved break. For the Yankees, it’s a low-risk, high-reward signing that could pay massive dividends in a bullpen needing stability. Here’s hoping Loáisiga dominates in 2024 and reminds everyone just how special he can be. He’s earned this chance, and we’re rooting for him all the way!

I HAVE MAD RESPECT FOR CLAY HOLMES

The Mets made waves Friday, snatching up a free agent from the Yankees—but not that free agent. No, Juan Soto is still out there deliberating on where to spend the next 12-15 years of his life, but in the meantime, the Mets locked down Clay Holmes on a three-year, $38 million deal (pending a physical). While it might not be Soto-level headlines, this signing is intriguing for one big reason: Holmes, a reliever for a while now, wants to be a starter.

Let’s pause for dramatic effect.

Yes, Clay Holmes, a man who has spent seven years coming out of the bullpen, has decided it’s time to embrace his inner Justin Verlander. To his credit, he’s got guts. Holmes has been a reliable (though occasionally nerve-wracking) reliever, posting a career ERA+ of 113 across 311 games—307 of which were relief appearances. But now, at 31 years old, Holmes is ready to reinvent himself. If nothing else, you’ve got to respect the audacity.

Holmes didn’t exactly burst onto the MLB scene. Drafted by the Pirates, he spent seven years in the minors and then three-plus seasons as a middling reliever in Pittsburgh, where he compiled a forgettable 4.93 ERA. Then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes—or maybe just a guy who needed a change of scenery—Holmes found new life with the Yankees.

When the Yankees acquired him at the 2021 trade deadline for two minor leaguers (who are probably running batting cages somewhere), Holmes immediately clicked. He slashed his ERA to 1.61 in 25 games and quickly became a bullpen staple. By 2022, he replaced Aroldis Chapman as closer, made his first All-Star team, and looked like the Yankees’ new ninth-inning sheriff.

But then came 2023. Holmes started 2023 strong but hit turbulence late in the season. By September, he was removed from the closer’s role after racking up 13 blown saves. The Yankees pivoted, using him in a setup role during their postseason run, where he pitched respectably (2.25 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings). Still, the shine had dimmed, and questions about his long-term role swirled.

Apparently, Holmes had an answer: starter.  Enter the Mets, who are apparently feeling experimental these days. They’ve signed Holmes with the plan to convert him into a starter, despite his complete lack of experience in the role at the major-league level. The Mets clearly see potential, and hey, $38 million isn’t chump change. Maybe they’re hoping for another Nathan Eovaldi-type reinvention. Or maybe they just really like rolling the dice.

As for Yankees fans, it’s hard not to feel a mix of emotions...slightly. On one hand, Holmes’ bullpen heroics in 2021 and 2022 earned him a lot of goodwill. On the other hand, there’s something oddly satisfying about seeing the balls on this guy wanting to start a new in Queens in a pretty significant role. It takes guts to pivot your career after all these years, especially under the bright lights of New York. That said, I’m skeptical. Reinventing yourself as a starter at this stage is a tall order, and Holmes’ track record doesn’t scream “ace material.”

At the end of the day though, there’s mad respect for Holmes taking this leap. It’s not every day a two-time All-Star reliever says, “You know what? Let’s rewrite the script.” Whether it works out or not, Holmes deserves credit for betting on himself—and for pocketing $38 million while doing it.

WOULD ADDING JANSEN MAKE SENSE?

MassLive's Chris Cotillo recently lobbed a suggestion Yankees fans might meet with a mix of intrigue and side-eye: the idea of pursuing former Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen in free agency. Yes, the same Kenley Jansen who’s been terrorizing hitters for years with a cutter so nasty it could moonlight as a horror movie villain.

"According to major league sources, the Yankees made a serious run at Jansen before he signed a two-year, $32 million contract with Boston in December 2022," Cotillo wrote. "With mercurial All-Star Clay Holmes heading for free agency after the season, it’s more than likely the Yankees look to add a big-time piece at the back end of their relief corps. And Jansen, at nearly 37 years old, just wants to win wherever he goes next."

Intriguing? Sure. Plausible? Eh, not so fast. As a Yankees fan, the idea of poaching a former Red Sox closer—one who has a 1.35 ERA and 9 saves in 19 career appearances against the Bronx Bombers—is tempting. Who wouldn’t want to steal Boston’s thunder and make it their rain? But let’s not forget the Yankees already have some lightning of their own with Luke Weaver, who came out of nowhere like that extra bag of fries at the bottom of the fast-food bag. Weaver earned the right to close games next season, no question.

Jansen’s résumé is stacked—four All-Star nods, a 2.57 career ERA, and the kind of poise that comes with 15 years of success. But he’s also 37 years old. In baseball years, that’s basically ancient—he’s one blown save away from being offered a gig on YES Network. And while Kiley McDaniel of ESPN predicts Jansen could land a two-year, $25 million deal (a bargain if you’re playing Monopoly), it’s hard to justify throwing big bucks at a closer whose best days might be behind him. Especially when you already have a shiny, new option in Weaver.

Instead of dropping millions on Jansen, the Yankees should let Weaver keep doing his thing and enjoy the bonus of flexibility unless they just want to put Jansen in the pen "just in case" or as a "Second closer", whatever that means. Picture Boone using him in high-leverage situations whenever the game is on the line—fifth inning, seventh inning, Tuesday at brunch. No need to save him exclusively for the ninth. Plus, spending that kind of money on a 37-year-old arm feels like buying a luxury sports car for your morning commute—it’s flashy, but probably not necessary.

While Jansen still has gas left in the tank and a cutter that could make hitters weep, this idea just doesn’t click. Let Boston mourn their own bullpen woes while the Yankees find the next unsung hero to dominate in pinstripes. After all, if Weaver’s already bringing the thunder, why pay for more rain if we don't have to?

I don't know, I'm conflicted. What do you think?

THE WONDERING & WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH JONATHAN LOAISIGA

Jonathan Loaisiga has been the Yankees’ ultimate "what if" for years — what if he could stay healthy, what if his 98-mph fastball and vicious curve could anchor a bullpen, what if he didn’t spend more time in the training room than on the mound? 

The tantalizing potential has always been there, and don't get me wrong, he's had really good moments. But Jon has had so many injuries. After missing much of 2023 with arm issues, Loaisiga managed just three appearances in 2024 before tearing his UCL and undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. For a power pitcher who lives off high velocity, a second go-around with this procedure is a daunting hurdle. Now, as a free agent rehabbing in Houston and aiming for bullpen sessions in January, Loaisiga is drawing interest from 14 teams, including the Yankees, who are once again scouting the right-hander they’ve watched for his entire career.

While there’s undeniable upside in Loaisiga — a guy who can dominate when his arm isn’t threatening to stage a mutiny — the Yankees’ interest feels like a microcosm of their puzzling offseason approach. Sure, the bullpen needs work, with Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, Tim Hill, and Tim Mayza all hitting free agency, but pinning hopes on a two-time Tommy John veteran reeks of either desperation, stinginess, or sentimentality. My opinion of course, and I love Loaisiga. 

The Yankees’ current bullpen strategy feels less like a plan and more like a shrug, especially since the team seems paralyzed while waiting for Juan Soto to decide his next move. Rather than addressing glaring needs, they’re sitting on their hands, scouting Loaisiga as if he’s some secret weapon rather than a roll of the dice. My opinion of course, and you can have yours.

You can’t help but feel bad for us Yankees fans who, after watching years of overspending on shiny-but-unreliable free agents, are now enduring an offseason of thrift-shop strategizing. Loaisiga is talented, sure, but shouldn’t the Yankees be gunning for surer bets to fix their bullpen? 

The idea of bringing him back is, at best, an emotional hedge — they like the guy, they don’t want him to sign elsewhere, and they’re hoping he’ll return to his 2021 form. But when that hope starts to look like the core of the strategy, you can’t help but shake your head. The Yankees have spent seven years waiting on Loaisiga to stay healthy, and now they’re waiting on Soto to make a decision before addressing their real needs. It’s hard not to wonder: is this desperation, cheapness, or just the Yankees being weird? Maybe it’s all three.

Stay tuned, folks.

ORIOLES ARE TRYING TO LOCK IN CLAY HOLMES

The Baltimore Orioles are trying to patch up their bullpen after another postseason meltdown, and guess who they’ve got their eye on? Clay Holmes. That’s right—our Clay Holmes. According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Orioles are sniffing around Holmes like a dog at a picnic, and honestly, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. On one hand, good for Clay; on the other hand, what are we even doing here if he ends up in Baltimore AND HE'S GOOD AGAIN?

Now, let me be clear: I like Clay Holmes. I’ve always liked Clay Holmes. Sure, he wasn’t perfect—13 blown saves will test anyone’s patience—but he always showed up, did what he was asked, and, when he was on, he was lights out. He gave us some huge moments this season, and even when things went sideways, you could tell he cared. Holmes isn’t one of those guys who shrugs off a bad outing—he feels it, and that’s why I rooted for him.

But the idea of Holmes in Orioles orange? Interesting. It’s like finding out your ex is dating someone you hate—someone who lives next door and blasts terrible music at all hours. Picture this: Yankee Stadium, bottom of the ninth, and here comes Clay Holmes out of the visitors’ bullpen, looking calm, collected, and ready to mow down our lineup. And then... he does it! Do you know how awkward that would be? 

Look, I get it. Baltimore needs bullpen help. After another October where they folded faster than a cheap lawn chair, they’re desperate. And Clay Holmes is exactly the kind of guy they’d want—an All-Star in two of the past three seasons, a high-leverage arm with a track record of getting big outs. Sure, he struggled late in 2024, but who didn’t? The Orioles see potential, and they’re not wrong. If they sign him and he rebounds, they’ll look like geniuses. And we’ll look like chumps.

Here’s the worst part: we all know how this script goes. Holmes goes to Baltimore, figures it out, and starts locking down saves like he’s Mariano Rivera. Suddenly, he’s the guy we were all hoping for—just not for us. Instead, he’s slamming the door on the Yankees in big games while Orioles fans pretend they always believed in him too. You think it was tough watching Nathan Eovaldi carve us up in Texas? Just wait until Clay Holmes does it in our own division.

So yeah, this would suck. Big time. I like Holmes, I really do. But the thought of him pitching for Baltimore? That would suck, especially if he's lights out.