THE MACHINE IS A CHAMPION!

How great is this?

Congratulations to DJ LeMahieu, who in his first season as manager of the Royal Oak Leprechauns just led them to their first Northwoods League championship.

And they certainly earned it.

Royal Oak had to fight just to get into the postseason, clinching its first Northwoods League playoff berth during the final week of the regular season. From there, the Leprechauns got hot. They beat Madison 6-1 to win the Great Lakes Division championship, setting up Thursday night's title game against the St. Cloud Rox.

Then they finished the job.

Behind terrific pitching, Royal Oak beat St. Cloud 3-1 at Joe Faber Field in Minnesota to capture the championship. It was the perfect ending to an incredible postseason run—and an incredible first year in the dugout for LeMahieu.

And I absolutely love this for DJ.

Yankee fans remember what LeMahieu was when he first came to New York. He was everything you wanted in a baseball player: quiet, professional, prepared and incredibly intelligent. No nonsense. No excuses. He simply understood how to play the game.

Apparently, he understands how to manage it, too.

LeMahieu was hired in May to manage a collegiate summer team filled with young players trying to develop and take the next step in their baseball careers. Royal Oak specifically wanted DJ's experience and baseball knowledge around those kids.

A few months later, they're champions.

That's not an accident.

His Yankee career didn't end the way any of us wanted it to, but that should never erase what DJ LeMahieu was at his best—or the respect he earned while wearing pinstripes.

Now he's taken that baseball knowledge into the dugout, helped guide a bunch of young players through a championship run and added another chapter to an already terrific baseball life.

The Machine is now The Manager.

And in Year One, DJ LeMahieu is already a champion.

Couldn't happen to a better baseball man.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

DON'T LAUGH. MICKEY MONIAK ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE

Brian Cashman has developed an odd little hobby over the past few years: collecting former Colorado Rockies. DJ LeMahieu worked... until he didn't. Adam Ottavino had his moments. Ryan McMahon and Jake Bird are already in the fold, and Angel Chivilli joined the pipeline. So if Mickey Moniak is next, don't act surprised.

Actually, it might be one of the smarter under-the-radar moves the Yankees could make.

No, Moniak isn't Juan Soto. He's not the blockbuster name that'll dominate SportsCenter for a week. What he is, though, is a 28-year-old left-handed hitter who's finally looking like a legitimate major leaguer. Through 71 games, he's slashing .279/.322/.561 with 17 home runs and an OPS north of .880. That's not Coors Field smoke and mirrors either. The bat speed is real, the power is legitimate, and he's showing the kind of athleticism the Yankees' lineup has desperately lacked.

Here's the best part: he won't cost a king's ransom.

The Yankees don't need another headline. They need players who can actually help them win baseball games. Moniak can play all three outfield spots, runs well enough, hits from the left side, and remains under team control through next season. Those are exactly the types of players smart organizations target instead of chasing the biggest name available.

Of course, there's risk. Moniak spent years looking like another No. 1 overall pick who simply wasn't good enough. But baseball careers aren't always linear, and sometimes players figure it out later than expected.

If Colorado is willing to move him, Cashman should absolutely make the call.

Not every trade has to be flashy. Sometimes the best deadline addition is the one nobody sees coming. And if the Yankees are serious about adding athleticism and left-handed pop without emptying the farm system, Mickey Moniak checks more boxes than most fans probably realize.

DJ LEMAHIEU SENDS HIS GOODBYE TO THE YANKEES

There are exits in baseball that feel like slammed doors. And then there are the quiet ones—the kind where a guy just tips his cap, says thank you, and walks out like he handled everything else in his career: professionally, without noise, and with more class than the moment probably deserves.

That was DJ LeMahieu.

Nearly a year after the New York Yankees decided to move on, LeMahieu finally said his piece. No bitterness. No passive-aggressive nonsense. No “tell-all” tour. Just a simple, thoughtful message that basically said: this mattered to me.

And this time, we actually heard it in his own words:

“It’s been a minute since I’ve been in New York, but I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to the Yankees organization, my teammates, and the fans for my time there. The incredible moments on the field are something I’ll always cherish. Even though I wasn’t born there, New York will forever feel like home. Wishing the boys continued success.”

That’s it. That’s DJ LeMahieu. No fluff, no ego—just appreciation and a quiet nod on the way out.

And honestly? That tracks perfectly.

Because if you’re looking for a player who embodied what it means to be a Yankee without ever pounding his chest about it, you’re looking at LeMahieu.

This is a guy who showed up in 2019 as a sort of “nice addition”—a versatile infielder who could hit a little, move around, and hold things together. And then he proceeded to become the human equivalent of duct tape for a franchise that, at times, looked like it was being held together by hope and aspirin.

DJ quietly hit .300 and pretended none of it was happening.

He didn’t just play positions—he solved problems. First base, second base, third base… if you asked him to sell tickets between innings, he probably would’ve hit .310 doing that too.

And let’s not forget: for a stretch there, he wasn’t just good—he was elite. The kind of hitter who made you wonder if opposing pitchers had personally offended him. Line drives everywhere, at-bats that felt unfair, and an approach so calm it looked like he was late for a dinner reservation rather than facing 98 mph.

But here’s the thing about LeMahieu that stats don’t fully capture: he made the Yankees feel… stable.

No drama. No theatrics. No need to be the loudest voice in the room. While other personalities ebbed and flowed, DJ was just there—doing his job, doing it well, and making it look routine.

That matters more than people admit.

His message didn’t try to rewrite history. It didn’t beg for applause. It simply reflected what his time in New York actually was: meaningful, professional, and appreciated.

He wasn’t even from New York, and yet he said it felt like home.

That’s not something players say lightly. And it’s not something fans hand out freely.

You earn that.

And DJ LeMahieu earned it the old-fashioned way—by showing up, producing, and never making it about himself.

He didn’t leave with fireworks. No farewell tour, no curtain call, no dramatic final chapter. Just a quiet goodbye almost a year later… which somehow feels exactly right for a guy who built his entire Yankees career on letting his play do the talking.

So yeah—no bitterness here. Just appreciation.

For the hits.
For the versatility.
For the professionalism.
For being the kind of teammate every clubhouse needs and every fan base should respect.

The Yankees move on. They always do. That’s the business.

But players like DJ? They don’t get replaced so easily.

Whatever he does next, they’re getting a pro’s pro. The kind of guy who makes everything around him function a little smoother without demanding credit for it.

And if baseball has any sense of symmetry left, he’ll keep doing exactly what he’s always done:

Show up.
Do the job.
Say very little.
And somehow still be missed more than anyone expected.

YANKEES MAKE A SPLASH WITH ORNELAS

That is sarcasm.

’Tis the season for Brian Cashman’s annual bargain-bin Easter egg hunt — that magical time of year when he scours the baseball world not for stars, not for upgrades, but for depth. Glorious, unnecessary, “why are we doing this?” depth. And this week, he proudly placed another shiny trinket in the Yankees’ overflowing junk drawer: Jonathan Ornelas.

Per MLB.com’s transaction log, the Yankees scooped up Ornelas on a minor-league deal after he politely showed himself the door from free agency on November 6. Insider Francys Romero added that the deal comes with a spring training invite and a midseason opt-out if the Yankees don’t shove him onto their 40-man roster. Classic Cashman: sign him, stash him, shrug later.

And you just know what’s coming. By February, Cashman will trot out in front of the cameras with that “trust me, I’m a genius” energy and say, “Well, we made some moves, and I like the group we’ve assembled.” Meanwhile, somehow Bo Bichette will be strolling into Fenway wearing a Red Sox beanie, and the Yankees will be convincing themselves that Ryan McMahon is the second coming of DJ LeMahieu. It’s the same movie every offseason — Cashman’s love affair with spare parts instead of actual impact players.

Now, to Ornelas himself. His big-league résumé: 32 games across three seasons. His calling card? Defensive versatility. The guy has played everywhere except first, catcher, and pitcher — so that's good I guess. He was even the Rangers’ Minor League Defender of the Year in 2022. Sounds great… until you look at the offense.

A .208 career average. Fifty-three total MLB at-bats. Nine of them came in 2025, where he hit .222 — which is… well, numbers technically. Once again, the Yankees grab another perfectly nice human being who cannot, under any known circumstances, hit above .260. It’s a skill, honestly — not the players, the Yankees’ ability to find them.

So yes, it’s a minor-league deal. Yes, it probably won’t matter. But it’s also another tile in Cashman’s mosaic of mediocrity — a reminder that while other teams chase stars, we’re collecting utility gloves like they’re Pokémon.

Anyway… welcome to the circus, Jonathan. Best of luck. You’re gonna need it.

EUGENIO SUAREZ RUMORS HEATING UP BIGLY

The Eugenio Suárez-to-the-Yankees rumor mill is spinning faster than a Judge moonshot—and honestly, it's about time. The Yankees have had a glaring infield problem since checks notes December, and just like every other year, fans spotted it first while Brian Cashman was off somewhere trying to reanimate the corpse of Josh Donaldson’s career.

Now it’s mid-July, DJ LeMahieu is done, Oswaldo Cabrera’s bandaged up, and Oswald Peraza might as well be in witness protection. Not because he's worse than Anthony Volpe (spoiler: he's not), but because the Yankees apparently value marketability over metrics. The kid doesn’t sell jerseys, so he’s out. Classic Bronx front-office logic.

Enter Eugenio Suárez—the big bat from the desert who's apparently just as fed up with losing as Yankee fans are with Boone’s bullpen decisions. During his All-Star media duties, Suárez didn’t shy away from flirting with the Bombers:

“It’s a team that wants to win,” he said. “They’re hungry still. If I got over there, I would do my best and try to help them win the World Series.”

Let’s go, king. Pack your bags.

Stat-wise, Suárez is dropping bombs like it's 2019: 31 homers already, with a clean .277/.332/.587 slash line and a slugging percentage that screams “carry me to October.” He's the kind of guy the Yankees should’ve had locked in six months ago—yet here we are, again, scrambling at the trade deadline like it’s a last-minute group project.

Of course, nothing in Yankee Land is simple. To get Suárez, Cashman’s going to have to make some magic happen without touching the Big Three prospects: Spencer Jones, George Lombard Jr., and Cam Schlittler. And if he trades one of them, expect Yankee Twitter to light its torches by sundown.

But even if they land Suárez, here's the cold truth: this team isn't winning a World Series—not because of talent, but because of leadership. Boone’s in-game strategy still looks like he’s playing MLB The Show on autoplay. And the bigger problem? No one’s holding him accountable.

Suárez might bring some much-needed juice to the infield, but unless something major changes upstairs, this season's ceiling still feels like a second-round exit and a “we’ll get ’em next year” press conference.

DJ DFA'D SAYS MY BUDDY AL

It’s official: the Yankees have designated DJ LeMahieu for assignment.  This was the text I received. I was playful with my buddy Al.

But just like that, one of the most respected veterans in the clubhouse is out, and it feels—well—wrong. Necessary? Maybe. But still wrong.

This move almost certainly marks the end of DJ’s Yankee career, even with $22 million left on his deal through next season. That’s a cold breakup, even by Yankees standards. But this isn’t just about money or numbers—this is about a guy who gave everything and quietly got pushed aside. My opinion of course.

Let’s set the record straight: DJ LeMahieu never whined, never made excuses, never played the diva card. He just showed up, did his job, and did it well—whether at second, third, or first. And when the Yankees were down bad over the last few seasons, guess who was still trying to get back while others were cashing checks and jogging to first? Yeah, DJ.

Now we’re supposed to believe he couldn’t handle third base physically. That's the story that's coming out.  According to general manager Brian Cashman, he had said to the Yankees that he couldn't do it.  Maybe his range has shrunk, sure. But the guy never backed down from a challenge. I don’t buy the idea that he refused to play 3rd. What I do believe is this: DJ would’ve crawled to the hot corner if it meant helping the team.

But here’s where the plot really turns: the Yankees got cute. They tried sliding Jazz Chisholm Jr. over to third—despite him being a natural second baseman—because, hey, flashy sells. And surprise, surprise… Jazz struggled. Badly. Then he publicly reminded everyone, “I’m a second baseman.” That sound you heard was Yankee brass choking on their analytics.

Now with their shiny new All-Star demanding his real position back, DJ became the odd man out. Not because he couldn’t play—but because it was easier to shove the aging veteran off the roster than admit their plan blew up in their face.

And let’s be real here: this isn’t just baseball. It’s branding. You move mountains for the guy who makes the All-Star team and sells jerseys. You cut ties with the quiet, aging vet, even if he gave you some of your best years in recent memory. That’s the game now.

Still, DJ deserves better. This is a guy who gave the Yankees everything. Gold Gloves. A batting title. Leadership. Professionalism. No drama. He was the adult in the room when the team desperately needed one. And now, he’s getting shown the door like he’s just some roster clog.

So, here’s to DJ LeMahieu—one of the good ones. A real Yankee in every way that mattered. It’s a shame it had to end like this, but maybe it’s for the best. He deserved more than being a pawn in the Yankees’ position shuffle.

Thanks, DJ. You’ll be missed more than the front office realizes.

VOLPE NEEDS TO FACE REALITY

Maybe this all isn't real. Volpe's like the Milli Vanilli of the Bronx.

Let’s be clear about one thing: if you’ve been coming to Bleeding Yankee Blue since 2010, it’s not just because you love the Yankees (though of course you do). You come for the fire. The fury. The unapologetic Bronx-born rage when things go sideways—and oh boy, are they sideways now.

Look, we get it. Aaron Boone has a borderline romantic obsession with Anthony Volpe. It's less a manager-player relationship and more a Nicholas Sparks novel. Their relationship is strange and uncomfortable at this point in my opinion.

Boone sees a gritty, photogenic kid in pinstripes with the hope he will "break out". But this isn't me watching my 12-year-old pitching for his travel team... it's the major leagues and Volpe got a fast pass while, in my opinion, he really needed more time to grow. Us fans are struggling watching this quote "shortstop" with a .217 average and the range of a traffic cone try to become a major leaguer. It's a terrible experiment.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Volpe is playing bad baseball. Period. His bat’s gone quiet, his glove’s gone soft, and somehow... he’s still starting every day. Meanwhile, DJ LeMahieu—an actual major league veteran who’s paid his dues—is getting benched like he forgot to tip the valet. When Boone was asked about DJ’s reaction to his benching, the skipper admitted DJ “wasn’t thrilled.” No kidding.

Boone says this is "just the situation we're in.” But newsflash: it’s only the situation because Boone made it that way.

He could move Volpe to the bench. He just won’t. And if you ask Boone about sitting Volpe, the excuse? "Well, who else do we have?" Uh, Oswald Peraza, anyone? You know, the guy who actually plays elite defense? Sure, he’s not exactly lighting up the scoreboard either—but let’s be honest, it’s not like Volpe’s batting .320. He’s barely treading water at the Mendoza Line while Peraza is duct-taped to the bench for... vibes?

And let’s not ignore the elephant in the locker room: marketing. Volpe looks good on a billboard. He’s a Jersey kid. Polished, polite, and PR-ready. It doesn’t matter if he goes 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a pop-up to the pitcher—as long as his name moves jerseys at the team store, he’s apparently untouchable.

That’s not baseball. That’s branding. And fans aren’t stupid.

Volpe’s recent comments only confirm what we feared: he’s been completely absorbed by the Yankees’ media machine. Here he is, in The Athletic, talking like a corporate intern:

“I know it might sound crazy, but I feel good... I’m confident we’re getting toward that… I’m really confident every time I step up to the plate.”

Come on, man. That’s not honesty. That’s pre-programmed nonsense. The guy sounds less like a ballplayer and more like a self-help audiobook. Meanwhile, the fans are sitting at home, watching error after strikeout, wondering if anyone in the front office even owns a television.

And now, the worst part: fans are giving up.

I hear it every day: "Casey, why do you even bother? Nothing’s gonna change. They’ll keep running Volpe out there and gaslighting us into thinking he's the future."

Well, maybe. But Bleeding Yankee Blue wasn’t built on shrugging our shoulders and calling it a day. We’re here to rage. We’re here to demand better. Because Yankees fans deserve better.

So we say it again, louder this time: Dump Volpe. Dump Boone. Clean house.

Enough with the coddling. Enough with the optics. The Yankees aren't a lifestyle brand—they're supposed to be a baseball team. Time to act like it.

CLUELESS BOONE & THE QUEST TO BE INCOMPETENT

Remember March 31, 2025? Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa said it plain as day: THE YANKEES HAVE A BIG PROBLEM IN THE INFIELD. And what did the Yankees do? Not a damn thing. Actually, scratch that—they made it worse.

They let Gleyber Torres walk (for nothing), propped up Anthony Volpe at shortstop like he’s Ozzie Smith when in reality he’s leading the entire American League in errors, and then, for their latest act of baseball malpractice, they shoved Jazz Chisholm Jr.—a SECOND BASEMAN—over to third base like this is some kind of summer camp positional experiment.

Now it’s July 2, and the Yankees’ infield is still a mess. Shocker. Aaron Boone is out here defending Volpe’s avalanche of errors as “aggressive mistakes” the other night, but then turns around and throws Jazz under the bus for an error he made at a position he doesn’t even play. Make it make sense.

Boone’s quote-unquote defense of Volpe and criticism of Chisholm is the kind of clueless double standard that has defined his entire tenure in the Bronx. And let’s not forget: Jazz Chisholm said it himself, loud and clear—“Everybody knows I’m a second baseman.” Yeah, Jazz. Everybody except the New York Yankees.

And guess what? Jazz is still at third in today’s lineup. Because nothing says "we're trying to win" like continuing to play a guy out of position while DJ LeMahieu—36, declining, and being babied like he’s royalty—is locked in at second because he’s “more comfortable” there and Boone doesn't want him to get hurt again. Do I know that for a fact? No, but what I do know is that there is a lot of money locked up in DJ, and they are going to get every ounce of him on the field they can.  That my friends IS a fact and Boone is being told to do that.

This is what we’re doing now? Basing defensive alignments on comfort levels instead of logic, talent, or, I don’t know, competence? DJ LeMahieu is no longer the Gold Glove vacuum cleaner he used to be. He should be at third. But here come the Yankees, protecting contracts and aging vets at the expense of...winning baseball games.

Let’s also not pretend Aaron Boone is the only problem. The front office is just as guilty—maybe more so. According to Clint Frazier (who has no reason to lie), Boone doesn’t even write the damn lineup. He said it best:

“I do feel like they hired a few too many rocket scientists to try to like make the lineup, instead of just like letting a former player or a guy that has more experience write the lineup.”

Rocket scientists. That’s what this has come to. Algorithms over instincts. Spread-sheets over soul. Welcome to the era of spreadsheet baseball, where Aaron Boone is the puppet, and the Yankees front office is too arrogant to admit they’ve created a monster with no brain and no guts.

This team is over-managed, over-paid, over-hyped—and underachieving. Every single year. And yet, Aaron Boone is still employed. Why the fuck is Aaron Boone still the Yankees manager? No one seems to have an answer. Not Brian Cashman. Not Hal Steinbrenner. Not the baseball gods. Nobody.

This infield disaster is just a symptom. The real disease? A clueless manager, a gutless front office, and a franchise more concerned with optics than winning. AND THEY MADE THE INFIELD PROBLEM THEMSELVES. Torres is a leader over there in Detroit. Good for him!

Until there's a change, the Yankees aren’t winning a damn thing.

Not with Volpe booting routine grounders at short.
Not with Jazz flailing at third.
Not with DJ being coddled at second.
And definitely not with Boone managing like it’s a beer league softball game.

Enough is enough. Wake the hell up, Yankees.  

By the way, Torres is batting .284 with 9 homers, 43 RBIs and an OPS of .823. Cashman's a moron.

REAL TALK OF A DEFENSIVE UPGRADE AT THIRD FOR THE YANKEES

Can someone check the calendar? Because it’s July, and somehow we’re still having the same “Yankees need to upgrade the infield” conversation we had back in March. At this point, it’s not just a roster flaw—it’s a running gag. The front office knows it. The fans know it. Your grandma probably knows it. But instead of fixing it, the Yankees are stuck in this weird holding pattern, trying to squeeze the last few drops of usefulness out of DJ LeMahieu and giving Oswald Peraza just enough playing time to keep his baseball instincts from evaporating.

It’s a sad state of affairs when the media is doing a better job identifying this team’s needs than the decision-makers in the Bronx. Honestly, just let Peraza play consistently already. Yeah, his bat hasn’t exploded yet, but that comes with reps. Give him a real shot—sink or swim. Worst case? He hits like Austin Wells, who somehow still punches in every day despite an OPS that screams “bench me.” I swear, if I have to watch Wells flail through one more lifeless at-bat, I’m filing a formal complaint. .217 and counting. It’s pathetic.

Now the rumor mill is cranking again, and here comes a familiar name: Ke’Bryan Hayes. The Pirates third baseman is back on the Yankees' radar, and I’ll admit—it’s intriguing. Defensively, he’s a freak. Human vacuum cleaner at third. Gold Glover.

 

Leads all third basemen in Defensive Runs Saved. If defense wins championships, this dude’s a cornerstone.

But then you look at his bat... yikes. His OPS is hanging out in the basement with Austin Wells’ batting average. You can't ignore that. The Yankees already have enough offensive black holes—do they really need another?

Still, you can’t deny Hayes fits a real need. He’d shore up the left side of the infield like concrete, and there’s a sweet sentimental angle too—his dad is Charlie Hayes, the same Charlie who caught the final out of the ’96 World Series. That’s baseball poetry. Between Ke’Bryan and Cody Bellinger, this could be a “sons of Yankees legends” summer revival tour.

The Pirates might bite if the Yankees dangle enough juicy prospects. The question is—does Cashman have the stones to make a real move? Or are we just going to keep patching holes and praying for miracles? Or do we just stay?

Yankees fans are out here watching the same broken record spin on repeat. It’s time for action. Time to stop pretending the infield is “fine.” It’s not. Make the trade. Shake things up. And for the love of Mo, stop playing Austin Wells. 

DJ LEMAHIEU TO THE BRAVES...

 This scenario is interesting to say the least.

Look, it's my opinion that DJ LeMahieu has been good since coming back. Not vintage DJ—you know, the hit machine who made pitchers question their life choices—but definitely serviceable, even sneakily solid. He’s holding down second base with the grace of a guy who’s done it before (because, well, he has). And honestly, I’m good with that.

While a chunk of Yankee fans have already emotionally moved on from DJ like he’s an ex they pretend not to miss, I’m still riding with him. Could he be better? Sure. But considering he’s coming back from injury, he’s actually giving us a lot to work with. The glove still works, the bat’s waking up, and he’s not hurting the team. That's a win in my book.

Now, just when things start to stabilize, here comes ClutchPoints with a juicy little trade pitch from Zachary Howell that made me do a double take:

Yankees get: Ozzie Albies
Braves get: DJ LeMahieu + the Yankees #5 prospect, Roderick Arias

At first glance? Sounds spicy. Albies is a three-time All-Star, after all. But let’s slow our roll.

The Braves aren’t trading Albies unless the wheels absolutely fly off in Atlanta and they find themselves buried in the NL East. Even then, it’s a stretch. They’re not in the business of handing out discounts on star players just because you included a top-5 prospect and offered DJ like a coupon.

Now, Albies hasn’t been his usual self this season—he’s batting .224/ with just six dingers. Not ideal. But he’s started to show signs of life since being moved lower in the order. And let’s be honest, the short porch at Yankee Stadium could do wonders for his swing. Many believe so. It's the kind of scenery change that might actually work.

But Newsweek chimed in with this line to try and build an argument for moving DJ, “The New York Yankees have a need in their infield, specifically at second base.” Respectfully? That’s nonsense. 

Second base is not the issue right now. LeMahieu’s been just fine there. The Yankees have actual holes to plug—second base isn’t on that list in my opinion.

Look, this trade could happen in some wild alternate universe where the Braves rebuild and the Yankees suddenly get aggressive. But let’s not push DJ out the door just because someone got creative with the trade machine.

For now? I’m cool with DJ. He’s steady. He’s a pro. He’s doing his job. And in this Yankees lineup, that’s saying something.

LEMAHIEU GOT ROBBED, BUT BOONE'S REPUTATION DIDN'T HELP

Victim managing is no way to manage.

Let’s get one thing straight: to everyone watching — from the bleachers to the broadcast booth — DJ LeMahieu’s liner down the right-field line looked fair. Not “maybe fair,” not “kind of close,” but fair enough to warrant a double, a shot at a rally, and maybe even a win. It touched the white.

Except… First-base umpire Jeremie Rehak, standing right there ruled it foul. And as much as I’d love to roast him for it, part of me thinks — annoyingly — that he actually had the best angle. Frustrating, right?

Still, umpires blow calls all the time. That’s part of baseball’s charm and curse. The Yankees challenged immediately, and replays looked convincing to the entire population of Earth except for the replay crew back in New York, who apparently needed a Zapruder film to overturn it. They said “not enough evidence,” and that was that.

Now, here’s where things take a turn — enter Aaron Boone, stage left.

Boone — ever the Shakespearean tragedy of a manager — absolutely lost it. And to be fair (no pun intended), he was right to back his guy. If that ball stays fair, DJ is on second, and the Yankees have life. But Boone is also carrying around the baggage of being Baseball’s Premier Umpire Annoyer.

He’s been tossed 41 times in his career — many for chirping about balls and strikes, the kind of stuff that makes umps roll their eyes before you even open your mouth. So when Boone did what Boone does — threw his gum like an angry toddler and popped off — the umps didn’t hesitate. Out he went.

And honestly? I get it. You act like a clown enough times, don’t be surprised when the circus follows you around.

Yes, the umpires missed one. Yes, the replay system failed. But Boone didn’t exactly do himself (or the team) any favors. His constant need to play Captain Defender overshadows the fact that maybe — just maybe — he should be more focused on managing the actual team rather than burning calories arguing with blue.

The umps may have lost the Yankees a key opportunity, but Boone’s reputation made sure he didn’t even get the benefit of the doubt. At this point, the dude could ask what time it is and get tossed for arguing with a sundial.

Maybe it’s time he stopped trying to win ejections and started trying to win ballgames.

Yankees lose, 2-1.

CASHMAN'S LATEST MOVE IS A HEAD SCRATCHER & A LOG JAM ALL-IN-ONE!

If the Yankees didn't pick up any A's players for the next decade or so I really wouldn't mind. They haven't had a lot of luck dipping into the A's pool, and the latest move of picking up CJ Alexander on a waiver claim is pretty bizarre.

I'm all about depth, and that's exactly what this move is. But two weeks ago we said BRIAN CASHMAN IS LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK TO UPGRADE THE YANKEE ROSTER because his mission was for a right-handed infielder. A right-handed infielder doesn't sound hard but, this year it is. So I guess that is why we have a lefty....to stash down in Triple-A.

But for whatever reason, the Yankees feel it is necessary to use a 40-man roster spot on Alexander. He's only had four hits in his 25 plate appearances. The Yankees have had some bad luck in the infield this year with the habitual missed time from DJ LeMahieu, but also Jazz Chisholm and most recently losing Oswaldo Cabrera due to an ankle fracture. It never hurts to have some backup but is this a log jam in the making?

Right now Pablo Reyes and Oswald Peraza are ahead of Alexander on the big-league depth chart in terms of backup infielders, so how is Alexander supposed to crack the roster? It feels like a huge task to achieve unless the Yankees are getting ready to DFA one of the other guys? 

It feels like another log jam right now. Even if there is a solution coming to all of this, it is just another classic example of Cashman going dumpster diving in hopes of capturing lightning in a bottle. The Yankees have needed upgrades for a while, we've known it, and Cashman has told us what he's looking for.... but this just doesn't add up.

There are 50 days until the MLB trade deadline - this isn't the move that upgrades the Yankees. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

GLEYBER TORRES IS THRIVING, Y'ALL

Gleyber Torres bet on himself — and it’s paying off like a loaded slot machine in Vegas. Meanwhile, back in the Bronx, Aaron Boone is too busy braiding friendship bracelets for Anthony Volpe to notice the giant infield-sized hole he helped create. For the longest time this season the infield has been a mess between juggling 2nd base and 3rd. 

Meanwhile for Torres, he's now firmly planted in the heart of the Detroit Tigers’ lineup, is hitting a clean .275 with a .795 OPS and five homers — and those numbers might actually understate how good he’s been. His expected batting average? A gaudy .301, good for the 91st percentile in MLB. Translation: if baseballs had slightly better manners, Torres would be raking even more. That’s not luck — that’s skill plus patience, the kind you develop when you're trying to prove everyone wrong.

The best part? He's matured. He’s owning his shortcomings, working to improve, and not blaming the shadows or a pebble in the grass. At 28, he’s got time and motivation. That's what you get when you believe in a player.

Too bad the Yankees didn’t.

Instead of backing a proven bat like Torres, Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman effectively handed Gleyber a MetroCard and told him to swipe out. And for what? So, he could glue DJ LeMahieu’s creaky knees to second base, juggle Peraza around the diamond and continue his daily devotional to Anthony Volpe — a man who’s still searching for a consistent bat and, let’s be honest, looks like he should be in Double-A biology class, not playing shortstop for the Yankees.

Oh, and one more thing: the Tigers — yes, those Tigers — are 2.5 games ahead of the Yankees in the standings. Much of that has to do with Torres. That's not just salt in the wound. That’s an entire salt truck backing over the infield.

So here we are... Gleyber is thriving, Detroit is smiling, and Yankees fans are left wondering why the Yankees decided to give up on a 28-year-old with pop, guts, and upside, just so he could keep playing infield musical chairs with guys who are either past their prime or still figuring out which cleat goes on which foot.

THAT YOAN MONCADA RUMOR THAT CONNECTS HIM TO THE YANKEES

The rumor mill never sleeps—especially when the New York Yankees are involved. Baseball’s most headline-hungry franchise could be linked to a Little League shortstop in Idaho, and somehow it would still dominate the back pages. But in this case, the buzz actually makes sense.

Despite a logjam of infielders, the Yankees’ 2025 options have delivered more mediocrity than magic. DJ LeMahieu is slow, but improving, Oswald Peraza has yet to seize his moment, and Jorbit Vivas hasn’t quite made the leap. It’s a crowded room—but nobody’s standing out. And with the trade deadline lurking like a Bronx summer thunderstorm, you can bet Brian Cashman is snooping around for reinforcements.

One name rising through the whisper network? Yoan Moncada. Yes, that Yoan Moncada—once hailed as a future superstar, now quietly piecing together a solid season with the Angels. The switch-hitter is batting .228/.333/.478 with five home runs, and more importantly, he’s healthy, motivated, and on an expiring contract.

“Yoan Moncada, a switch-hitting infielder in a contract year, fits the mold of a cost-effective rental,” wrote Alexander Wilson of Empire Sports Media—and he might be onto something.

Moncada’s primary home is third base, which just so happens to be a sore spot in the Yankees' lineup. Sure, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is on the mend and brings some swagger and versatility—but asking him to shoulder the entire load down the stretch is a gamble, not a game plan.

The beauty of Yankees rumors is that they never die—they evolve, swirl, and grow louder with every passing week. And while some are smoke and mirrors, Moncada to the Bronx has the rare scent of something real: low-risk, high-upside, perfectly timed.

After all, what’s a trade deadline without a Yankees twist?

ANOTHER 3RD BASE OPTION BECAUSE WE ARE FALLING OVER OURSELVES FOR CONTENT

Let’s begin with what we already know—because it’s been screamed into the baseball ether more times than Boone’s been ejected for arguing balls and strikes. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is coming back, and the Yankees are planning to plant him at third base. 

DJ LeMahieu? He’ll be staying at second, where he’s aged into the kind of defensive wizardry that deserves its own statue. The man’s 36, has the range of a shortstop, and has been so good at second, it’s almost criminal to consider moving him. Plus, it's probably smarter at this point.

But just because the infield is set doesn’t mean all of us sports writers can’t have a little hot stove fever in June for the hell of it. Why not toss out a wild name or two and see what sticks? Enter Connor Norby, Miami Marlins third baseman, and recent subject of speculative trade fun courtesy of Jacob Mountz over at Yardbarker.

Now, Mountz makes a decent case—and here comes the obligatory actual quote for the folks who still care about facts:

“In his 2024 rookie campaign, Norby hit .236 with nine home runs in 176 at-bats for the O’s and Marlins, displaying some promising power potential. This season, his power has wavered after returning from injury, but he is beginning to excel as a contact hitter. Norby is slashing .276/.319/.425 with three home runs in 127 at-bats since his return. However, more recently, Norby has shown signs of turning a corner.”

Not bad! In fact, those are numbers you’d absolutely consider if the Yankees had, say, a black hole at third base, a carousel at second, or were playing Peraza at both simultaneously just for laughs. But that’s not the case here.

Here’s where I admit something: when the Yankees are rolling, it gets tough to stir the content pot. I’m that curmudgeonly guy shouting at people to get off the metaphorical Yankee Stadium lawn. I critique. I second-guess. I still don’t know how Aaron Boone wakes up each morning, walks past a mirror, and says “Yep, I should still be managing this team.” The guy couldn’t manage a drive-thru, let alone a pitching staff.

But when the team is good—or, heaven forbid, off for a day—we all turn into wish-casting lunatics. We suggest trades. We dream up bold moves. It’s part of the fun. Even though third base is clearly Jazz’s job at this point. I mean, it's out there and on record. Even though DJ isn’t going anywhere at 2nd. Even though Oswald Peraza is sitting on the bench wondering if someone’s going to fake an injury so he can finally get a couple starts.

So, do we need another speculative piece about a guy like Connor Norby? Of course not.

But is it still kind of fun to think about? Absolutely. That’s baseball. And hey, shoutout to Mountz—he did the work, laid out the numbers, and stirred up the what-if machine. Norby may not be headed to the Bronx, but the idea of it is the kind of harmless summer daydreaming that keeps baseball fun even when your team doesn’t need fixing.

My take? Yankees don’t need Norby. They’re flush with infielders, the lineup’s humming, and unless Brian Cashman has a serious “look at this shiny new toy” moment, nothing’s changing.

Still… keep dreaming, folks. It’s what we do.

Carry on.

JAZZ CHISHOLM: TEAM GUY!

Look who’s almost back. That’s right, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is inching closer to a return, and I, for one, am thrilled. Not just because he’s electric on the field and makes things happen, but because he gets it. He’s a team-first kind of guy—and in a clubhouse that’s finally clicking, that matters.

And let’s give some rare credit to Aaron Boone for not overthinking things. DJ LeMahieu is finally heating up at second base. Why mess with a good thing? DJ’s settled in, the glove is sharp, and the bat’s waking up. So, Jazz coming back to play third? Chef’s kiss. Logical, practical, and, dare I say, the exact move a team with playoff aspirations should make.

Now let’s rewind for a moment—remember when Chisholm strained his right oblique back on April 29 against the Orioles? That stung. Oblique strains are tricky, and the early estimate was four to six weeks on the shelf. But here we are, almost right on schedule, and the recovery is looking solid.

Jazz has officially entered the rehab phase of his comeback tour, suiting up for the Double-A Somerset Patriots in a game against the delightfully named Akron RubberDucks. But the most important part? He’s getting reps at third base. It's what the Yankees want. That’s where Jazz is headed.

“This week is about getting him comfortable again,” Boone said. “I want him working over at third.” Is it a bit of an experiment? Sure. But it’s also a clear sign that the Yankees aren’t just hoping Jazz fits in—they’re planning around him.

And how does Chisholm feel about the shift? Like a pro, of course.

“Boone told me he really wanted me at third,” Jazz said in a chat with Max Goodman. “I’m a team guy. I’m here to win a ring, not argue about where I play.”

Music to my ears.

The guy’s got flash, fire, and that all-important ‘W’ mentality. He’s not coming back to make a scene—he’s coming back to make a difference.

So yeah, it’s official. The comeback is on. Third base has Jazz hands all over it. And I’m here for every second of it.

Let’s go.

WHO'S GETTING KICKED OFF THE DANCE FLOOR ONCE JAZZ RETURNS?

I have a guess.

So, the million-dollar question floating around the Bronx right now: When is Jazz Chisholm coming back? And when he does, who gets bumped off the dance floor?

Well, folks, here comes the twist in the infield shuffle. Jazz is scheduled to start a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset today against Akron, playing—you guessed it—third base. Yep, the same position he had literally never played as a pro until the Yankees decided to toss the Marlins’ flashy center fielder into the hot corner blender last summer and see what came out.

Now, Oswald Peraza? The guy’s been holding down third like a human vacuum cleaner. He’s making web gems look routine. But here’s the rub: If you can’t hit, Boone doesn’t see you, except if you're Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells. And right now, Peraza’s bat is swinging a ghost—he’s hitting .165 with three homers in 34 games. That’s not exactly a resume-builder when the front office is itching to slot in the guy, they actually paid real money for.

Here’s where the Yankees logic train starts to sound like it’s running on square wheels:

• Oswald Peraza: Elite defense, struggling bat.

• Jazz Chisholm: Electric athlete, injured since April 30 with an oblique strain, learning third again.

• DJ LeMahieu: Former batting champ, now 36 and trying to remember what offense feels like (batting .206 through 11 games) but still has a gold glove reputation and a contract that screams “please don’t bench me.”

So, naturally, what’s the plan? Play Jazz at third—despite the fact that it's not his natural position—because DJ looks better at second. Makes sense, right? No? Just nod.

And poor Peraza? The writing’s on the Yankee Stadium wall in pinstriped Sharpie. Boone isn’t playing him enough to let him develop, and the Yankees have approximately 413 infielders vying for about three spots. Someone’s got to go. 

Bottom line: If Jazz’s oblique holds up and he starts moonwalking around third base like he belongs there, Boone’s got his built-in excuse to phase out Peraza. Best defender or not, the Yankees are running a depth chart, not a meritocracy.

So, stay tuned. Jazz might be ready by next week. And once he moonwalks in, someone else is gonna get moonwalked right out and I see the writing on the wall.

THE THIRD BASE HOLE IS JUST A MINOR SETBACK, NOT DEFCON 1

Normally, when we toss around trade ideas, there’s at least a whiff of logic involved—something that benefits both teams. But this latest proposal? This might be the most absurd, caffeine-fueled fever dream in the history of trade speculation.

Let’s unpack the madness.

ClutchPoints floated the idea that the Yankees should send George Lombard Jr, Spencer Jones, and Ben Hess to the Blue Jays for… Bo Bichette. Yes, the same Bichette who is a solid athlete, a two-time All-Star, and currently slashing a respectable .288/.335/.420—but who’s also on an expiring deal and would need to change positions to even fit on the Yankees' roster.

This is less a trade proposal and more of a cry for help.

Lombard is the future of the Yankees infield. Jones is a potential star outfielder. And Hess? Another live arm with serious upside. Giving all that up for a rental shortstop with declining power and a soon-to-be-monstrous price tag is like trading your Apple stock for a handful of magic beans.

Yes, the Yankees have a hole at third base. No, it’s not the end of the world. Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas can hold the fort while Oswaldo Cabrera recovers. It’s not ideal, but it’s also not DEFCON 1. Let’s stop pretending the Bronx is burning. Also, by the way, with DJ LeMahieu playing well, by the time Jazz Chisholm comes back, DJ will just move to third. Easy Peasy.

And can we cool it with the clickbait? Back in the day, trade rumors had a whiff of credibility. Now? Half the suggestions online feel like they're made up. Like someone skimmed a depth chart.

Bo Bichette is a good player. No disrespect. But trading the entire farm system for him on a rental by the trade deadline? That’s not team-building—that’s fantasy baseball after three beers and a dare.

To ClutchPoints: we’re calling BS. Love you guys, but let’s aim higher. Or at least, let’s aim for realism. That's called journalism.

JAZZ'S INJURY WORSE THAN EXPECTED & THE YANKEES AREN'T PREPARED

Hey gang. I hate to rip on my Yankee organization as much as I have been, but this has nothing to do with the individual players. In fact, I feel bad for the players. They aren't given what they should be given. The Yankee front office and manager have been pretty much the worst, and I will not stop banging the drum hammering their incompetence and oblivious decision making, until they are gone. They are not a serious franchise. Which brings me to Jazz.

When Chisholm got hurt last week after fouling off a pitch against the Orioles, the Yankees tried their best to stay calm. “It’s probably just a tweak,” they said, clinging to optimism like it was 2009. Unfortunately, the MRI machine doesn’t care about hope. The results? Three separate oblique strains. Not one. Not two. Three. That’s basically a jackpot you don’t want to hit. Recovery time? Four to six weeks minimum, and that’s the “let’s pretend this will go perfectly” estimate, which the Yankees always do because they forget that players are human beings and players need recovery time. 

Realistically, it could be longer — and anyone who’s ever pulled an oblique tying their shoes knows this is no quick bounce back. In fact, Dr. Elise C. Bixby, a sports orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone, dropped some truth bombs on The Injury Report podcast that made Yankees fans audibly groan into their morning bagels.  This came from Pinstripes Nation.

“Most people don’t realize how essential the obliques are until something goes wrong,” Dr. Bixby said. “They’re not just core muscles; they’re critical for rotation, which is everything in baseball — whether you’re swinging a bat or throwing from second base.” Translation: without obliques, you’re basically a decorative lawn gnome.

And Jazz’s injury? Worse than most. “We typically see one localized tear in the internal oblique,” Bixby continued. “Jazz has three different areas affected.” That’s not a strain — it’s a symphony of pain.

But let’s be clear: this isn’t Jazz’s fault. Injuries happen in baseball. They’re unfortunate, unpredictable, and part of the game. What isn’t part of the game — or shouldn’t be — is a front office pretending they didn’t see this coming. The Yankees knew the infield was a few scuffed cleats away from disaster, and they did… absolutely nothing.

They didn’t reinforce the infield. They didn’t add meaningful depth. They didn’t plan for contingencies; in fact, they were cheap. They rolled into the season with a depth chart that might as well have been scribbled on a cocktail napkin...with crayon. And now, here we are: Jazz is shelved, the offense takes a hit, and the panic button is being frantically pounded. And when I say that, I mean internally, they are throwing shit at the wall, blaming each other. Out in public, they're telling us that everything is great. Why? Because they're liars. Why else would that puppet Boone be the manager?

So, who’s supposed to fill the void? Why, a 37-year-old DJ LeMahieu, limping back to the team like the Ghost of Yankees Past. Don’t get me wrong — DJ is a fan favorite and a warrior. But pretending he’s going to be the infield savior is some top-shelf delusion. The man hasn’t played since the iPhone 8 came out. He’s coming off a long injury layoff, and at this point, he should be eased in — not thrust into crisis mode.

But this is what happens when the Yankees front office operates like they’re managing a beer league softball team. No plan B. No foresight. Just vibes and trust in Aaron Boone, whose managerial strategy seems to boil down to: "Let’s see what happens," and "It's Right in front of us."

Some analysts will tell you the Yankees infield looks good on paper. Sure — if you ignore the part where half of its injured, the other half is inconsistent, and DJ’s leg is held together by hope and kinesiology tape.

Bottom line: this falls squarely on the Yankees brass. They didn’t reinforce when they had the chance. They didn’t make the moves everyone knew they needed to make. And now, they’re praying DJ LeMahieu can be 2020 DJ again. Spoiler: he probably won’t be. 

The bottom line is this; unless the front office wakes up, neither will the Yankees’ postseason hopes.