THE BLUE JAYS CONTINUE TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE OFF SEASON

Where's Brian Cashman?

The Blue Jays are out here acting like it’s an actual offseason. The Yankees, meanwhile, are sitting by the phone waiting for Cody Bellinger to “decide,” which is another way of saying they’ve chosen timidity over urgency. This is not an aggressive winter. This is a franchise crouched behind corporate talking points, already rehearsing the press release: “We just couldn’t find a fit, but don’t worry—we really like our team.”

And sure, maybe they do like their team. The problem is fans don't. We want improvement.

The Yankees have not gone hard for impact bats. They haven’t meaningfully upgraded the defense. They haven’t addressed the rotation with any seriousness. And the bullpen? It didn’t just spring a leak—it flat-out evaporated. Whatever sense of stability fans are clinging to is built on vibes and optimism, not roster reality. This team is far shakier than it wants you to believe.

Contrast that with Toronto, who clearly understood the assignment. The Blue Jays swooped in and signed Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal with roughly 24 hours left in his posting window. No dithering. Just action. That move followed the additions of Dylan Cease and Tyler Rogers, and they’re still actively working to retain Bo Bichette. That’s three real swings taken by a team that decided being competitive wasn’t optional.

Now here’s the obvious thought the Yankees seem allergic to: Bo Bichette should be the target in my opinion.

If the goal is to win baseball games—and not just win press conferences—Bichette makes too much sense to ignore. He’s a superior offensive player, a proven performer under pressure, and a hitter who actually puts the ball in play. The Yankees’ lineup has been dragged for years over strikeouts and empty at-bats, and rightfully so. Bichette’s 14.5% strikeout rate in 2025 and elite contact profile (83rd percentile in whiff rate) would instantly lengthen the lineup and reduce the black holes that currently define it. This is everything Anthony Volpe is not at the plate, and pretending otherwise doesn’t make the math work.

And even if you fix shortstop, the rotation is also still waving red flags. Gerrit Cole missed all of 2025 after Tommy John surgery and isn’t expected back until May or June of 2026—at best. Carlos Rodón required an October procedure to remove loose bodies and a bone spur from his elbow and is likely to miss Opening Day, with a hopeful return sometime in late April or early May. That’s not a foundation. That’s crossed fingers.

Which is why Zac Gallen should be firmly on the Yankees’ radar. Yes, 2025 was a down year. But he’s a former Cy Young finalist with durability, innings, and upside—exactly the kind of buy-low, high-reward arm serious teams pursue. There were legitimate rumors linking him to the Cubs, and if the Yankees sit this one out too, it’ll be another self-inflicted wound. Passing on Gallen would be organizational malpractice disguised as prudence.

And that’s really the point of all this. The Yankees have done nothing to support this roster, nothing to elevate it, and nothing to make Spring Training feel like the start of something dangerous. It’s sad. Especially when you look north of the border and see a team that clearly understands how to compete.

The Blue Jays are proactive. They’re decisive. They’re acting like contention matters.

The Yankees? They’re waiting on Bellinger and calling it a strategy. Playing defense. Hoping nothing goes wrong. That’s not how serious franchises behave.

And right now, serious is the last word anyone should use to describe the New York Yankees.

My opinion of course.

PATH FOR THE YANKEES TO SIGNING IMAI JUST TOOK AN INTERESTING TURN

Since last week I have been on a major Tatsuya Imai watch. It hasn't subsided and now that there are rumors surfacing now about more teams that may no longer be in play, it makes the Yankees potential path to signing Imai even more fascinating. I said last week, I just want to see who he signs with.

Last week Imai said he didn't want to play for the Dodgers. He wants to play against them and beat them to win a championship. Ever since I have been hooked because I just love that attitude. I have been trying to avoid all headlines teasing about Imai and his Yankee connections, and I was actually doing a good job until recently. I am not looking to get emotionally attached to the idea he wears pinstripes....but I am seeing more and more headlines.

Yesterday, Sports Illustrated hinted that the Yankees may not be as crazy of a destination as I thought, check it out HERE. Two of Imai's other potential suitors MIGHT be out of the race. Buster Olney posted on X over the weekend.

I'm not going to hold my breath because anything is possible. The Giants have been looking to make a splash since they lost out on Aaron Judge and what better way to try to compete with the Dodgers? It's an interesting idea, Imai could sign with a division rival and have more opportunities to play against and beat other Japanese players. It's an angle that could work.

There's also still the Blue Jays. I get it, they just signed Dylan Cease to a seven year $210 million dollar commitment, but adding a second starter could really reinforce the Blue Jays abilities to get back to the postseason. They add another arm, and they really could be dangerous, to everyone not just the Yankees. If they want to make a real investment another pitcher with a potent bat will only help their chances of playing baseball in November again.

There's a team that can't be overlooked and we haven't heard as much about and that's the Mets. We could see another faceoff between Cohen and Steinbrenner. The Mets realistically need multiple arms to retool their roster after a disappointing 2025 season where starting pitching did not meet expectations. The Mets need arms that can get them deeper into games and as disappointing as last season was, I don't see them sitting back and playing it cool.

So this could be another team to watch. Cohen has deep pockets, and he's already proven he's not afraid to dig into them. He's not looking for another disappointing season, so Imai could be just the move he has on his radar. I could see it happening.... this has the stink of the Mets all over it.

The Yankees have not made a splash in the NPB market since Masahiro Tanaka, so this could be the opportunity, but I am still not going to give my hopes up. Is the path to signing him getting less crowded? My gut tells me no but.... I'm still watching attentively.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

DYLAN CEASE JUST MADE THE BLUE JAYS EVEN BETTER

Us Yankee fans? We should be calling the Yankee complaint line on speed dial! 

The Yankees are once again standing around like they’re waiting for a bus that isn’t coming. I’ve been screaming—SCREAMING—for them to upgrade their pitching, because Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón aren’t walking through that door anytime soon unless it’s for an MRI. That leaves poor Max Fried abandoned on a desert island with nothing but a volleyball named Will Warren and Luis Gil as a sidekick.

That’s not a rotation. That’s a cry for help.

And don’t tell me this franchise is “competitive” or “serious.” Competitive teams actually try. Serious teams actually look at the players who can help them win. Meanwhile, Brian Cashman is out here running the Yankees like he’s blindfolded, spinning in circles, and pointing at names on a dartboard.

Because right there — RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM — was Dylan Cease.
A gift. A layup. A flashing, Vegas-sized billboard screaming, “HEY BRIAN, THIS IS A STARTING PITCHER YOU COULD SIGN.”

And what did Cashman do?
Absolutely nothing.
Didn’t even pretend to care.

You know who did open their eyes?
The Toronto Blue Jays — a team that apparently remembers how winning works. They handed Cease a seven-year, $210 million deal, per Jon Heyman, because they actually want to improve. They looked at their already-loaded rotation of Gausman, Berríos, Bieber, and Yesavage and said, “You know what? Let’s make this unfair.”

Cease has a fire, a competitive pulse, an actual starter’s mentality — all the things the Yankees desperately need and Cashman can’t seem to identify unless the guy is 36 years old and coming off Tommy John surgery.

But don’t worry: while Toronto is assembling a pitching Voltron, Cashman is showing off his big offseason move…

Yerry Rodríguez.
Stop the presses.

It’s embarrassing. It’s incompetent. It’s Cashman being Cashman — the GM who manages to walk past every obvious upgrade like he’s shopping with a grocery list he dropped down a sewer grate.

What a joke.

DYLAN CEASE IS SUDDENLY IN PLAY

It feels like déjà vu—just like Rumorville all over again—this time fueled by Gerrit Cole’s injury. And, of course, Jon Heyman is right in the thick of it.

The Yankees have reportedly looked into at least one high-profile option to bolster their rotation. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post, New York is among nine teams that have reached out to the San Diego Padres regarding Dylan Cease. However, Athlon Sports notes that the Padres are still unsure about moving Cease, and insiders suggest it’s unlikely a deal happens before Opening Day.

So why are we even talking about this? Well, because—like I said—Jon Heyman is all over it.

At 29, Cease would be an immediate asset at the front of the Yankees’ rotation, joining Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, and Clarke Schmidt. And if there’s one thing we know about Brian Cashman, it’s that he has a track record of pulling off last-minute moves. Adding Cease would provide the kind of stability the Yankees desperately need as they head into a pivotal 2025 season.

Now, let’s get to the bottom line. If Cashman really wants to make something happen, he can. The idea that there aren’t enough quality pitchers available? That’s just not true. So, what’s going on here? There are two possible scenarios:

Cashman is downplaying the market because the asking prices are too high, and he doesn’t want to overpay.

He’s working on something behind the scenes—because let’s be real, he’s done it before.

One way or another, it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. If anything happens at all.

We will keep you posted.

YANKEES ARE LOOKING AT PAST DISAPPOINTMENTS TO FILL GERRIT COLE'S SHOES!

Man, losing Gerrit Cole hurts like hell. Listening to Brian Cashman's bleak outlook for pitching reinforcements makes it hurt even more. It's a reminder that there are few pitchers out there like Cole even on day one of free agency, let alone right now....just over two weeks before the regular season. Finding talent that matches Cole is a tough challenge even in the best of circumstances.

So now what? Cashman doesn't sounds hopeful. The free agent market isn't enticing and why would it be this late in the game? The "best" options will be a trade scenario. Younger higher-ceiling options like Dylan Cease and Michael King could possibly be available but will cost the Yankees some higher end talent. Then there's another option that should be a non-option in my book.

There's "chatter" on social media and sports publications that the Yankees could look at familiar face Sonny Gray, check it out HERE. I'd like to say while they could, it doesn't mean they should. That experiment didn't work well for us the first time and I would prefer not to re-live that again. I don't think a second go-around would end with better results.

Some players just can't handle New York, and I think that was exactly the case here. After leaving, Gray found his stride with stints in Cincinnati, Minnesota and St. Louis. Not to diminish those markets but they just don't have the pressure that comes under the bright lights at Yankee stadium. They also, don't have such a heavy analytic approach that we do, and Gray just couldn't adapt to that. 

Sometimes it just isn't a fit, and that's okay. Not to mention Gray doesn't come as cheap as Cease or King do. His resurgence away from New York did help him earn a 3 year and $75 million contract with St. Louis. That's a lot of money for a guy we watched falter here and the Yankees are already going to face stiff luxury tax penalties, they aren't looking to go deeper....and certainly not for Gray.

Adding Gray would mean he would need to be in the Yankees plans for beyond 2025. The Yankees entered Spring Training with the reality of being "stuck" with Marcus Stroman, in a similar scenario here. Higher payroll commitment for an underachieving pitcher that no one else really wanted - I'd rather not make that mistake again.

At the end of the day, there are no pitchers out there that will fill Cole's shoes. He's not someone you just magically replace. The Yankees will have to get creative to reinforce the rotation, but Gray isn't a creative option he's a disaster waiting to happen. We don't need to be THAT desperate.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

CHRIS ROSE KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT...

And by the way, I have been preaching the same thing here. The New York Yankees. Most improved team this off season and definitely capable to get to the World Series in 2025 and this time win it.

As the Yankees navigate the offseason, one of the biggest questions revolves around their next moves in the trade market. There’s been speculation that veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman could be on the block, but a deal seems unlikely for now. The free-agent market still features plenty of starting pitchers, and high-profile trade targets like Dylan Cease and Michael King are available (we wrote about King HERE), which limits Stroman’s appeal.

One rumor that surfaced recently suggested the St. Louis Cardinals as a potential trade partner, possibly in a deal involving Nolan Arenado. While that’s intriguing, I’m not convinced it’s the right move—especially when considering what players like DJ LeMahieu or Oswaldo Cabrera bring to the roster. Of course, it’s the offseason, and speculation runs wild. At this point, everything is on the table.

Now, when it comes to where the Yankees stand, MLB analyst Chris Rose had some strong opinions. He believes New York is in a great position within the American League, stating, "The rest of the American League teams that were competitive with them, in my opinion, have fallen back. Other teams like Boston have moved up a little. The Athletics have gotten better. I think the Texas Rangers have gotten better. Toronto Blue Jays have gotten better but not enough to jump over the New York Yankees. The Yankees are better than any team in the American League now."

However, Rose also made it clear that the Yankees still aren’t on the same level as the top teams in the National League. He doesn’t think they’ve caught up to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who embarrassed them in last year’s World Series, nor does he believe they measure up to the Philadelphia Phillies or Atlanta Braves.

Personally, I think the Dodgers’ spending is absolutely wild. Their front office must have financial masterminds working behind the scenes because the way they’ve structured their deals is borderline ridiculous. Meanwhile, the Yankees still have a move or 2 to make, but they’ll likely have to wait for the trade market to develop further.

All that said, I agree with Rose—and finally, someone said it. Now, can we talk about how the Mets might actually be worse off in the long run with Juan Soto?

COULD DYLAN CEASE REALLY BE IN THE MIX?

Once again, the Yankees find themselves at the center of a tantalizing offseason rumor: Could they land Dylan Cease in a trade with the Padres? While it might feel like this idea came out of left field, it’s worth remembering the last time we seriously discussed this potential pairing. 

Back in February 2024, the buzz was loud—so loud, in fact, that we speculated whether the Yankees might be willing to part with top prospect Spencer Jones to make it happen. Then, Cease landed in San Diego, and the entire conversation vanished into thin air.

But now, that chatter is bubbling back up—and credit where it’s due: this storyline has been a brainchild of FanSided. Their coverage of the Yankees’ offseason has been great, and I tip my cap to them for reviving this intriguing concept. It’s a brilliant idea, especially when you consider how quiet the Yankees have been and how often their name has been tied to Padres players like Jurickson Profar, Ha-Seong Kim, and even Luis Arráez. Imagine pulling off moves for one or more of those guys in addition to Cease. Sure, it might be wishful thinking to land them all, but working out a deal for Cease or perhaps adding Kim—a player we at Bleeding Yankee Blue love, especially with his upcoming free-agent status—isn’t out of the question.

Cease is the kind of pitcher every contending team covets. He’s a top-tier arm who’s ready to deliver in the postseason, and since he’s set to hit free agency after 2025, he’s unlikely to sign an extension beforehand. For the Padres, who are weighed down by long-term contracts and ownership turmoil, moving Cease now makes sense. For the Yankees, acquiring him wouldn’t require a massive prospect haul, and his contract would give the team financial flexibility heading into next offseason.

Sure, the Yankees don’t have an overflowing treasure chest of assets. But neither do the Minnesota Twins, who have also been linked to Cease. If Minnesota’s thin farm system and limited major-league trade chips don’t scare off San Diego, why should New York feel like they’re out of the race?

A package centered around Clarke Schmidt, Everson Pereira, and Jorbit Vivas could get the Padres' attention. Schmidt offers an MLB-ready arm to replace Cease, while Pereira and Vivas add value to San Diego’s farm system, filling voids left by players like Ha-Seong Kim and Jurickson Profar. And if the Yankees are feeling especially bold, they could revisit Spencer Jones’s name to sweeten the deal.

Look, San Diego might hold onto Cease until the trade deadline, when demand for starting pitchers peaks, but why wait? By acting now, the Yankees could lock in a frontline starter to pair with Gerrit Cole, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón while avoiding a potential bidding war in July.

Imagine this rotation in 2025. That’s a staff built to not only dominate the AL East but also to go toe-to-toe with powerhouse teams like the Dodgers for the World Series rematch we Yankee fans are longing for.

Bringing Dylan Cease to the Bronx might feel like a pipe dream, but it’s far from unattainable. With the Yankees connected to Padres players throughout the offseason and the Padres facing their own financial constraints, the groundwork is there for a deal. 

So, hats off to FanSided for sparking a great story.

WHY WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET WITH GERRIT COLE'S INJURY

I'm mad as hell right now! The Yankees hit the pause button this winter after they traded for Juan Soto. I have been screaming and begging for another good starting pitcher (not Marcus Stroman) for months now. The Yankees have stayed stagnant, and it may cost them dearly.

I didn't think the Yankees rotation was deep enough as it was. Too many question marks after Gerrit Cole and it always felt like a serious gamble to me. I don't trust anyone after Cole and not for nothing, this team has the worst injury history. Now Cole is hurt and while everyone on X seems to be celebrating about the most recent updates, I'm not. The video below is all over my X feed.

Am I the only one concerned with that comment about the Yankees doctor's opinions? Seriously, our medical staff is a joke. I don't trust anything these guys tells us. The Yankees have resources most teams would kill to have, and they can't even get a reliable and intelligent medical staff. So now that we know FOUR Yankee doctors evaluated Cole and found inflammation but no visible tear. They believe Cole could rest, rehab it and come back in 1-2 months. Great.

Yet, Aaron Boone said "he didn't know yet" if there was a tear or not since it's not always clear on first looks or second looks so that's why Cole had to jump on a plane to Los Angeles to meet with Dr. ElAttrache. So, X is all excited that a tear hasn't been found yet, but I don't think the Yankees medical staff could find one if it jumps off the x-ray and yelled "BOO!" So, X can be cautiously optimistic while I quietly tell myself that all of the inflammation may be hiding it (and I am desperately hoping I am wrong). People just don't go see Dr. ElAttrache for a casual second opinion.

The Yankees aren't out of the woods yet no matter if Cole only misses 1-2 months. That's still missed time and the Yankees have no reliable depth at this point. Dylan Cease is a Padre as of last night, so the Yankees missed out there. I'm crossing my fingers and praying for good news.... but this was my worst nightmare.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

DESPERATE YANKEES WILL BE READY TO POUNCE ON DYLAN CEASE

I wonder what the Yankees pitching situation would have been like if they actually did what they said they were going to do this offseason is make the necessary trades or free agent signings to get stability in their rotation.  Instead, they waited for Gerrit Cole to have an arm scare and then panicked and are now out there doing their best dance to try and get quality pitching without giving up Spencer Jones.  Whatever... they think too much in the moment... they aren't planners... they aren't a team that looks toward the future anymore.  It's ridiculous.  

And by the way, in their desperation, they will no doubt give up Gleyber Torres in the process.  Say what you will about Gleyber, but the guy has been one of the more consistent hitters for the Yankees.  Now it makes sense to part with him, but now I feel like they definitely will now out of desperation.  If this Cole news comes back bad, Cashman will be on notice and make some ridiculous move that we'll regret immediately.  He's lost his way.

Anyway, the latest news (rumor) about a pitching upgrade and Dylan Cease comes from Inside the Pinstripes:

"The New York Yankees could end up landing another ace soon.

New York has been linked to a handful of pitchers since signing Marcus Stroman but has opted to roll with the rotation it has...

The Yankees had a scare Monday as ace Gerrit Cole had an MRI on his pitching elbow and now there are rumblings that the club could make another addition.

Chicago White Sox star Dylan Cease has been mentioned as a possibility and the club even attempted to complete a blockbuster trade earlier in the offseason.

The two sides never were able to agree to terms, but the Yankees reportedly have made a new offer to the White Sox in the wake of Cole's injury scare, according to USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale.

"The Yankees, while awaiting news on Gerrit Cole, have re-engaged with the Chicago White Sox and made a new proposal for ace Dylan Cease, but the new offer once again did not include prized outfield prospect Spencer Jones," Nightengale said."

Now I have never been a fan of following ANY Bob Nightengale report, after all... Trevor Bauer was once going to the Mets until the Twitter universe made Nightengale apologize for just being totally stupid.  But this info makes sense. The problem is I do wonder if the Yankees will do it, and by the way, why didn't they just do it when Cole was healthy?  Seems like a smarter move to make a bigger, better championship Yankee team. Now they just appear to be desperate and it's sad.

Whatever the case, it's interesting and something we will be following closely.

Stay tuned.

SHOULD SPENCER JONES BE UNTOUCHABLE?

I feel like there are more "YES" answers to this question after his massive home run this weekend. It was a beauty for sure. But what about before the home run? What about when the Brewers wanted him this winter? Or when the White Sox asked?

I've been thinking about this a lot since this weekend. There's a lot to like about Spencer Jones so I've been on the fence about him. I think I have finally shifted to one side of the fence, but reluctantly. I could be wrong about this down the road and if I am I will gladly admit it but.... if I could get the right piece in return for Jones, I would trade him.

I know it sounds crazy, especially after this impressive home run but if I can get a GREAT starter for Jones, I'm in. Not just a decent one, but a great one. If the White Sox were still going to give me Dylan Cease for Jones than I am going to make that deal.

I do like Jones, a lot. I love his speed, I love his power, the left-handed bat and his five-tool potential. I love his start so far in spring ball but the fact is.... he's still a prospect. Even five tool prospects aren't guaranteed to pan out and the Yankees clock is ticking. Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole are in their primes, and we are only guaranteed one year with Juan Soto. The Yankees should be ALL IN, but they aren't. I still don't believe they are contenders, but if Jones can give me a good package (including a starting pitcher) to make me better right now the Yankees need to pull the trigger. 

I think Jones has a ton of potential, but I just don't trust the Yankees to transform him into an elite player. Their analytics suck and my concerns with Jones are he hits too many weak ground balls, and he strikes out a lot because he has a long swing. I know the "he's five for five in spring" argument but it's two games in spring, his minor league stats show a different story. I just don't trust the Yankees to fix his weaknesses to help us in the future. The Yankees can't afford to just wait forever.

Maybe I am just impatient, but I think after the Yankees sent our top pitching prospect for a one guaranteed year of Soto there is no going back from that. So now you make any move that could help you win in 2024. Nothing is off the table IF the offer makes the Yankees closer to a championship, and an attractive prospect like Jones could.

If the Yankees don't win this year and Soto walks, it's a tough pill to swallow. I'm not eager to trade Jones, but he shouldn't be untouchable either.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

DON'T LOOK NOW BUT YOU MIGHT SEE BLAKE SNELL IN TAMPA

Source: USA Today

I hate to admit it but Blake Snell will likely be in pinstripes before long. According to The Athletics' Jim Bowden, the Yankees are the likely team to land Snell given that the Orioles, another likely candidate for Snell, traded for Corbin Burnes. The other option, Bowden admits is that the Yankees could land Dylan Cease if the White Sox decide to engage in a trade. I think the odds are very high that we see Snell in Tampa before long as pitchers and catchers report to camp on Thursday.

"Snell led the majors in ERA, ERA+, and walks last year en route to his second Cy Young Award. His curveball was again dominant (.079 batting average against) and his improved changeup was a difference-maker (.185 batting average against)," reported SI.com.

As Snell waits for a suitor, his value and price will go down, making him more attractive to teams who are not willing to pay for a guy that is 31 and does not go deep into the game. But as CBS Sports points out, every team wants a Snell they just don't want to pay him. He throws strikes but on the flip side, he gives up walks and again does not have game depth. 

"Snell's name has seldom appeared in fresh rumors as of late, making it unclear if any resolution is near or if he might have to wait until closer to Opening Day to sign a contract," reported CBS Sports. But what if he is great this season. What if everything clicks and the Yankees are the on receiving side of that goodness. What if the Yankees take a chance?

Source: Medium

Don't be surprised if the Yankees decide to go for it and we see him in workouts in the next week or so. What will he contribute to the rotation behind Gerrit Cole? Anything goes. But first Brian Cashman needs to just bite the bullet and do it. 

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

COULD DYLAN CEASE BE BRONX BOUND?

The Chicago White Sox will be in Glendale, Arizona in two days for Spring Training. Question is, will Dylan Cease be there with them?

At this point, there are more reasons for the White Sox to trade Cease than keep him. A trade is coming, it's just a matter of when and to which team. Yankee fans selfishly want that to be us and quite honestly we NEED another quality arm badly and the White Sox know it. Over the weekend, there was a small glimmer of hope that the Yankees could make a trade happen, check it out HERE.  

The Yankees are still "Open" to trading for Cease, but a deal would not include outfield prospect Spencer Jones. Cease comes with two years of team control so it's no surprise that the White Sox want a high level prospect in the deal. Cease is going to come with a bigger price tag than Corbin Burnes did.

The White Sox are ready and willing to start their season with Cease on the mound. They can wait for the deal they want and they know it. At the end of the day though, it makes sense to move him sooner rather than later.

First, Cease's trade value may never be higher than it is right now. It could drop as soon as he starts pitching in meaningful games. I like Cease, I think he could make the Yankees stronger. Last season he ranked 10th in strikeout percentage amongst pitchers that threw at least 400 innings since 2021. He's only one season removed from his impressive second place finish in Cy Young voting in 2022 and as impressive as that was in his career, that seems like an outlier. Last season his ERA increased to 4.58 not all his fault thanks to the dreadful defense that was the 2023 White Sox. Now Cease can get a pretty trade package, but it could be less pretty later into the season.

Last but not least, the White Sox were terrible last year and won 61 games. There is no reason to believe they wont be just as bad this year.....or in 2025. The White Sox are not going to be competitive for a while. It would be wise to trade him now for some pieces the White Sox can rebuild with. Cease will not be a long term solution for the White Sox, so even though they know the Yankees (and other teams) want and need another starter, we know it is also in their best interest to move him.

I'm still holding onto hope that the Yankees still make a pitching move happen whether it is through trade of free agency. If it's not Cease I won't be devastated, but I will be disappointed if they do nothing. We need more quality arms behind Gerrit Cole. The Yankees still need more. 

Make it happen already!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

THE YANKEES HAVE A PLAN IF THEY CAN'T LAND YAMAMOTO!

The Yoshinobu Yamamoto Sweepstakes is getting real hot.  The rumor was that after the Yankees met with Yamamoto earlier in the week, he was going to make a decision "by the end of the week".  But then the next chat he had was with the Phillies... another powerhouse team always looking to improve.  That worried me, although, it is a common exercise to see what teams are offering and so, it didn't totally surprise me.  But we are on Yamamoto watch right now, and as fans we all want this guy. What we don't want is for him to turn into Kei Igawa.  That being said, I don't think that will be the case.  But what if we don't get him?  What if he goes to another team instead? Well, the Yankees have a back up plan... and I have to say, I really like it.

Inside the Pinstripes writes:

" If the Yankees miss out on Yamamoto, they will turn their attention elsewhere in their pursuit of another ace. One player whose name has come up as a trade candidate is Chicago White Sox ace Dylan Cease, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

"The White Sox are talking to clubs about Cease, but still seem inclined to wait until after (Yoshinobu Yamamoto) and company sign, believing the urgency of teams that strike out on those pitchers will only increase," Rosenthal said. "Cease, who is under club control for two more seasons, remains an obvious target for the (Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles), who are not involved with the top free agents.

"But he also is a possibility for other teams monitoring the trade market, a group that includes the Yankees..."

Now obviously the Cease idea is a trade, and the last thing we want to do is trade away guys we need, so I think ultimately, we'll need to get Yamamoto, but as far as a potential back up plan... I don't hate it.

We are on Yamamoto watch... let's go Yanks!