JOEY GALLO THE PITCHER? IT COULD BE HAPPENING!

It's been almost a year since Joey Gallo told the world he intended to continue his MLB career as a pitcher. I laughed (and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still laughing) at the idea thinking it would never happen but he's still trying to make it happen and I'm still paying attention.

I really got tired of talking about Gallo when he played for us. He frustrated the hell out of me so when we got rid of him I was excited to never talk about him again. I guess he has proved me wrong no matter what happens with his new pitching quest because here I am talking (and trying not to laugh) about this. 

Gallo just turned 32 in November, and he is trying to reinvent himself. He's posted enough videos on X of him pitching to garner some attention from not only me but also some scouts. According to Jon Heyman, he's caught the eye of several teams.

So Spring Training is happening, and teams have actually made an effort to go watch him at a showcase. I never thought this would happen, even after seeing some videos but apparently, anything really is possible. His videos were good enough to catch the interest of scouts. I will give him some credit, he did used to have a good throwing arm so maybe he can harness that somehow and reinvent himself? He's posted content, and he's trying. We've all seen worse.

So could someone take a chance on him? Anything is possible. Hell, since the Yankees want to run out the same team they had last season they could be crazy enough to one up it and go back to 2022. I hope not, because as much as we need a stronger bullpen I'm not ready to experiment on Gallo 2.0. If he wants to try to channel his Shohei Ohtani skills and be the once hitter that also pitches then good for him! Just do it away from the Bronx, please.

I will never poo on anyone's goals, so credit to Gallo for trying. However, I'm not sure where this can really go. I did say anything is possible before.....and for me that could include Gallo finding a way to  strike himself out. I guess we'll see if this grows legs and goes anywhere.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

LET THE YANKEES BULLPEN BLOW UP BEGIN!

Of the many things that just didn't go right last season, the bullpen was no exception. In hopes that we don't have to relive that experience again, we can rejoice in a brief moment knowing the bullpen is getting a giant makeover. I wonder what the final reveal will look like.

It should be a big change. The Yankees have three 2025 bullpen arms on the free agent market headlined by Devin Williams (Thank goodness for that), Luke Weaver and Jonathan Loaisiga in addition to five non-tendered arms. Now as long as Williams stays far away there should be some big changes coming.

The Yankees non-tendered Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Effross, Ian Hamilton and Jake Cousins, and minor league reliever Michael Arias ahead of the deadline to offer players contracts for 2026.  The Yankees need a major bullpen upgrade heading into next season because we cannot afford to have another repeat of what we just watched.

It's amazing how our offense had high rankings last season like first in runs, home runs and slugging percentage but our bullpen was at the bottom of the dumpster. A season prior the Yankees were sixth best to finishing at 23rd in the majors with a 4.37 ERA. It was a night and day difference that left me screaming at my television night after night.

On the surface, it sounds like a lot of men to replace in the bullpen but it's an addition by subtraction. Especially since I will no longer have to watch Leiter Jr blow a game and won't have to read about him being left off a postseason roster for a third straight season. 

So now Brian Cashman gets to focus on a full scale reclamation project and we get to sit back and hold our breath in terror. Now we just hope that they don't add a bunch of guys that the analytical nerds completely tarnish somehow. It's too bad they didn't release these guys a couple of days ago then they could’ve added some more rule 5 eligible players. 

I guess I have a dose of cynicism today. I'm glad we cut some dead weight, but Cashman's track record doesn't inspire a lot of confidence these days. Now he has plenty more reclamation prospects out there to claim. Let's just hope he doesn't chase after Joey Gallo who is making a comeback as a pitcher. That would be the next terrible nightmare......

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SUDDENLY THE YANKEES ARE SUGGESTING VOLPE IS HURT?

I don’t buy it. Not for one second. The Yankees want us to believe that Anthony Volpe has been quietly dragging a busted shoulder around since May, and that’s the reason he’s no longer starting at shortstop. Convenient, right? This is classic Yankee gaslighting—protecting the golden child at all costs, while insulting every fan’s intelligence in the process.

And I’ll be honest, it’s gross. Not just because the Yankees are spinning a fairy tale, but because this whole saga spits right in the face of José Caballero, who has been clearly the better ballplayer. Caballero fields better, runs better, hits better—and guess what? He doesn’t need a PR machine and a billboard campaign to validate his spot on the roster. But instead of giving him the job outright, we get the Yankees’ coddle-fest for Volpe, complete with an “oops, he’s been hurt all along” bedtime story.

The Yankees never admit mistakes. Ever. They would rather bury themselves in layers of excuses than own up to the reality that Anthony Volpe isn’t the guy they promised us. They plastered his face on buses, jammed him onto every scoreboard montage, and branded him the next Jeter before he’d earned it. And now, when it’s clear he’s not measuring up, they’d rather invent a cover story than face the music.

Let’s rewind: back in May, Volpe supposedly dove and hurt his shoulder. Boone admits they MRI’d him, found a “partial labrum tear,” and still trotted him out there every day. Months go by, and only now—now—we’re suddenly hearing that he’s been battling through pain since spring? Please. If he was truly that hurt, the Yankees would’ve shut him down earlier. Instead, they kept running him out there, watched him flail at the plate and butcher plays in the field, and only after he got benched did this injury magically resurface. It’s not an explanation. It’s an alibi.

Aaron Boone shares that Anthony Volpe has been playing through a partial labrum tear:

"Nothing that we think is going to land him on the IL or nothing that he can't continue to play through" pic.twitter.com/RfSDrQwX5j

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) September 11, 2025

And then there’s Boone. Oh, Aaron Boone. If there’s one thing more embarrassing than the Yankees’ obsession with Volpe, it’s Boone’s creepy devotion to him. Boone talks about Volpe like he’s a prized child in a school talent show. Every slump is excused, every error downplayed, every strikeout brushed aside with, “He’s learning, he’s battling.” It’s uncomfortable at this point—like Boone can’t let go of the fantasy that Volpe is destined to be his success story. Boone can’t quit him. In fact, Boone’s relationship with Volpe feels less like a manager-player bond and more like a dad clapping too hard at his kid’s piano recital. Enough already. Manage the team, not your adopted son.

Here’s the part that stings the most: the Yankees got too invested. They fell in love with the narrative. Hometown kid. First-round pick. Poster boy for the “Baby Bombers 2.0” dream. And once they went all-in, there was no turning back. Volpe could bat .190 and boot routine grounders, and the Yankees would still tell us he’s “grinding through it.” They don’t want a shortstop; they want a marketing campaign.

But fans aren’t stupid. We see what’s happening. So I assume that Volpe will be hidden now, tucked away under the guise of injury so the team can reboot him next year with a “fresh start” spin. The Yankees will act like 2025 never happened, as if fans didn’t boo, didn’t groan, didn’t witness the mediocrity. Spoiler: we remember. Yankee fans always remember. Ask Joey Gallo how long it takes to shake a bad reputation in the Bronx.

So sure, Volpe just got his second cortisone shot of the season. Sure, Boone insists he’s been grinding through it since May. But I’m not buying the sainthood package. My opinion of course. I see a kid who was a great high school player, hyped into a franchise savior by an organization desperate for its next Jeter. The Yankees didn’t just draft Volpe—they married him. And like every bad marriage, they’re now too embarrassed to admit it was a mistake.

Volpe isn’t the problem alone—the Yankees are. They’re so terrified of being wrong that they’ll keep coddling, keep protecting, keep spinning excuses until the whole thing collapses. And Boone? Boone will keep patting him on the head, feeding us the same tired lines about “growth” and “battling,” like we can’t see the truth with our own eyes.

Anthony Volpe may or may not be hurt. What I know for certain is that the Yankees’ credibility is on life support. And unless they stop treating Volpe like a sacred cow and start treating him like any other player who has to earn his job, the fans’ patience will run out.

We don’t forget bad players. We don’t forget organizational failures. And we sure as hell don’t forget when the Yankees treat us like fools.

BOONE'S BRAIN HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

You ever watch someone fail so hard at their job that you genuinely start to worry they might be doing it on purpose? That’s where we are with Aaron Boone. At this point, it’s not just poor decision-making or lying to the press and fans—it’s just stupid. Yes, I said it. Stupid. And the latest example of Boone’s misguided nonsense? His defense of Anthony Volpe in the face of very real, very deserved fan frustration.

Let’s set the scene: Yankee fans boo when they’ve had enough. Period. We’re not clapping politely in the Bronx. Joey Gallo got booed into the next time zone, and rightly so—he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. And now, like déjà vu dipped in pinstripes, Volpe is getting the same treatment. He’s not producing. He’s not improving. And he’s certainly not “the guy.”

But does Aaron Boone listen? Nope. He holds a weird, almost unsettling loyalty to Volpe—like he’s guarding some dark Yankee secret. It’s beyond favoritism. It’s delusion. Boone was asked about fans booing Volpe and, in a moment that may go down as the dumbest soundbite in Yankees managerial history, he responded with this gem:

Aaron Boone uses his shirt to explain why he's not worried about Anthony Volpe getting booed pic.twitter.com/31Qfv3Kl4D

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 30, 2025

“Look, I bet you every guy on this shirt’s been booed here,” he said, pointing to his shirt... which had pictures of Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth, and Lou Gehrig on it.

Boone tried to equate Anthony freaking Volpe—who couldn’t find the strike zone with GPS—to three of the greatest players to ever breathe in Yankee Stadium air. Jeter? The Captain. Ruth? The Sultan of Swat. Gehrig? The Iron Horse. And then there’s Volpe: the struggling, erratic shortstop who’s only “legendary” for lowering fans’ blood pressure by getting benched. Volpe is in the Gallo category.

It’s not even funny anymore. It’s offensive.

Boone went on to wax poetic about how “everyone gets booed,” including Mariano Rivera. Yeah, Mo got booed. After he gave up runs. In the major leagues. In the World Series. Volpe gets booed for botching routine ground balls and hacking at pitches like he’s trying to kill a mosquito with a tennis racket. There’s a difference. A big one.

And look, it’s not Volpe’s fault he was crowned the future King of the Bronx before ever proving he belonged. That’s on the Yankees. That’s on their “trust the projections” analytics team that thought he was going to be Ozzie Smith. Instead, he’s barely hanging on as Jack Wilson with worse instincts.

What’s worse is Boone’s press-conference gaslighting. He acts like we—the fans—are crazy for being upset. Buddy, we’re not asking for Volpe to be perfect. We’re asking for competency. And when we don’t get it? We boo. That’s the Bronx. Deal with it.

Even MLB insider Joel Sherman had acknowledged the Volpe problem the ohter day. His recent report said, “No one should be surprised if they add one more bat before the deadline, preferably right-handed with the ability to play shortstop.” Translation: the Yankees know. The press knows. Everyone except Boone knows.

And it’s not like the team hasn’t made moves. They brought in Amed Rosario. They traded for Jose Caballero. Why? Because Volpe is a liability, plain and simple and I am positive they are "keeping an eye on it". If he keeps playing like he has—spoiler alert: he will—Joe Maddon’s suggestion makes perfect sense: send him down. Let Caballero, who actually has baseball instincts, take over. He's fast, smart, right-handed, and doesn’t look like a deer in headlights every time the ball is hit his way. And yes, Caballero can play, unlike Volpe. 

Bottom line: the Yankees made the wrong bet. Boone made it worse. And now, we’re all stuck watching Volpe flail and Boone spin the kind of nonsense that makes you wonder if he’s managing with a Magic 8-Ball.

And while we're on the subject: Boone isn’t a Yankee legend either. Let’s stop pretending. He hit one big home run in 2003. Great. Did we win the World Series that year? Nope. Yet the Yankees play that home run like it was Gettysburg. Boone was a moment, not a movement. And the only thing more tragic than his presence in Yankee lore is the fact that we now have to watch him protect Volpe like a bodyguard at a boy band concert.

Honestly, they should just bunk together at this point. Call it Camp Clueless.

I love the Yankees. I live and breathe this team. But this? This ain't it. This is some weird cosplay version of Yankee greatness where accountability died and mediocrity gets a standing ovation. And if this front office, this manager, and this shortstop are the future?

Then maybe the fans should start booing a little louder.

THE YANKEES ARE STILL PAYING HICKS, FYI

 

Let’s take a moment to appreciate just how spectacularly dumb some MLB contracts are. Not just the Yankees—though they’ve practically perfected the art of burning piles of cash—but MLB owners in general. These guys hand out long-term deals like candy at a parade, then act shocked when the player disappears into the Bermuda Triangle of mediocrity.

Case in point: Aaron Hicks. Remember him? Barely. He was last seen as a warm body in an Angels uniform—briefly—before L.A. cut him loose on May 2, 2024. Now, in 2025, he’s not on a roster, not in a dugout, not even in the conversation. But guess what? He’s still getting paid. Because the Yankees, bless them, locked him into that hilarious seven-year, $70 million deal that runs through this season. Thank you, ESPN, for reminding us just how painful that contract still is.

Hicks once flashed talent. Started hot. Then he collapsed like a wet paper towel. Couldn’t hit. Couldn’t field. Couldn’t handle the Bronx. Just ask Joey Gallo or Devin Williams. Pressure makes diamonds—or in some cases, makes guys forget how to swing a bat.

He had a flash-in-the-pan moment in Baltimore too—blink and you missed it—and then drifted off to Anaheim, where careers go to die apparently. Now he’s out of baseball entirely, but still has a direct deposit hitting his account every month. The Yankees are paying him to do nothing. The rest of us? Just shaking our heads.

And people wondered why I cheered when we dodged the Juan Soto 15-year financial death trap. Sure, Soto’s a stud at the plate, but 15 years? That’s not a contract—it’s a sentence. Steve Cohen can gloat all he wants about snatching him from the Yankees, but enjoy writing those checks in 2037, my guy.

Here’s the thing: MLB owners need to stop acting like fantasy team managers hopped up on Mountain Dew. Very few players are worth locking down for a decade. Aaron Judge? Sure. That guy grinds. But most of these dude's fade. Fast. Complacency sets in, and suddenly you’re stuck paying millions to someone golfing in Florida.

Hicks is just the latest cautionary tale. A once-promising player who fizzled—and is now cashing checks to do nothing. 

It’s fascinating. It’s pathetic. It’s baseball.

UPDATE OF CLAYTON BEETER RIGHT HERE

Let’s be honest: the Yankees’ pitching hasn’t exactly been striking fear into the hearts of hitters lately. Sure, Carlos Rodón looked sharp in his last outing, but with him, it sometimes feels like we’re always one gem away from a dud. And while Max Fried has been nothing short of sensational, he can't do it all himself.

But here’s a name to keep an eye on: Clayton Beeter. Yep, remember him? The righty who came over from the Dodgers in the Joey Gallo trade—easily the best part of that deal. Beeter’s been on the shelf with a shoulder impingement since spring training, but we’re finally getting signs of life, and they’re encouraging.

Originally thought to be a rotation piece, the Yankees wisely pivoted and slotted him into a multi-inning relief role this season. With his explosive fastball and wicked slider, he’s built to blow past batters in short bursts—and goodness knows, the bullpen could use a little extra firepower right now.

Beeter only made 15 appearances across all levels in 2024 thanks to that shoulder hiccup, but when he’s healthy, the stuff is electric. In the bigs last year, his ERA sat at 4.91—not ideal—but don’t let that fool you. He struck out a ton of batters he faced, which is no fluke. And in the minors? He was lights out: 7 scoreless innings, 12 strikeouts, zero walks. That’s video game-level dominance.

He’s currently on a rehab assignment, and while there’s no firm date circled for his return, the fact that he’s back throwing is great news. If he can stay on track, Beeter could be a real difference-maker in a bullpen that’s begging for consistency.

So, here’s hoping he keeps trending in the right direction—because a healthy Beeter might just be the bullpen boost this team’s been waiting for. 

Let’s go, Clayton.

A TRADE PROPOSAL THAT BRINGS PITCHING TO THE YANKEES...

Because you know... that's what they need right now.

The Yankees’ rotation is a mess—full stop. There's no sugarcoating it. Carlos Carrasco is there, and while I love the guy's story, he's in the rotation. That's all you need to know.  The starting pitching has been inconsistent, unreliable, and flat-out unwatchable at times. It’s not just the rotation either—the entire staff is struggling to keep this team afloat.

With the trade deadline on the horizon, Brian Cashman has no choice: he must address the rotation. Now.

Forget chasing big-name aces with bloated price tags. The smarter move may be targeting a younger, controllable arm with upside. That’s where Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller comes in.

Newsweek’s Zach Pressnell floated a hypothetical deal that could bring Miller to the Bronx:
Yankees get: RHP Bobby Miller
Dodgers get: OF Everson Pereira, LHP Brock Selvidge

On paper, it’s a reasonable swing. Miller, once a top prospect in L.A., has shown flashes of brilliance—posting a 2.79 ERA in 9 2/3 innings this year at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was once ranked as the Dodgers’ No. 2 overall prospect. The talent is there. The question is: can he handle the Bronx?

We’ve seen this story before. Big market pitchers wilt under the Yankee spotlight. Sonny Gray never found his footing. Devin Williams is struggling. Joey Gallo? His career cratered here. L.A. is a big stage, but New York is a different beast. Would Miller survive the scrutiny, the pressure, the chaos?

Still, this kind of move would make sense. I have always believed that the Yankees have been open to moving Everson Pereira (THE YANKEES ARE DOING THAT THING AGAIN...), and this could be the type of calculated risk they need to make—especially when the current rotation plan includes hoping for miracles from Carrasco and duct tape.

Personally? I’m not holding my breath that this exact deal happens. But it should. Or at least something like it. Because this team needs arms—yesterday. Cashman can’t afford to sit idle while the season slips away. The Yankees need pitching help A.S.A.M.F.P., and it’s time to stop playing it safe.

CASHMAN'S ABOUT TO SHIP OUT PERAZA

Oswald Peraza is giving everything he has, and for that, he deserves our respect. Sure, he's stumbled, but he’s a hard-working, dependable player and—dare I say it—a better defensive shortstop than Anthony Volpe. But let’s be real, that doesn’t matter to the Yankees. Peraza doesn’t have the "face," he’s not the marketable golden boy they want, and that’s why his ticket out of town is practically stamped. How do I know? Because Brian Cashman drops breadcrumbs, and they’re the poisonous kind.

Cashman recently said Peraza is having a "good camp" in his eyes and admitted that the former top prospect is still in the mix to make the team. But then, when asked about Pablo Reyes, Cashman called the utility man the "predominant" right-handed bat. Translation: Peraza is already a number 2 guy on the depth chart, which is as good as a pink slip in this organization.

And right on cue, the Yankees trotted out the puppet of puppets, Aaron "No Championships" Boone, to reinforce the message. Boone, doing his best parrot impersonation, said of Peraza: “Struggled a little bit over the last week or two offensively after a good start [to camp] offensively. I think he’s been really good defensively. I’ve loved how he’s looked at third ... but it’s been up and down a little bit offensively."

You know who else is "up and down" offensively? Anthony Volpe. The golden boy batted .208 this spring in 17 games. Peraza? .174 in 19 games. Both are putting up Joey Gallo numbers, so what exactly is Boone’s point? At this stage, it’s a roll of the dice if we were choosing between those 2, but the Yankees have already decided who gets the benefit of the doubt. Spoiler alert: it’s not Peraza. Just like poor Dominic Smith, Peraza is spinning his wheels in a game that’s already been decided. Smith opted out, got the hell out of there... he knew the writing was on the wall. 

So, what happens now between Reyes and Peraza? The Yankees will pretend to let it play out, but the reality is, they’ve picked their guy. And it’s Reyes—I can feel it. If the final decision is between those two, Peraza is in trouble.

Look, I don’t want to prematurely ship Peraza off—he’s my guy. But much like Gleyber Torres before him, the Yankees hold certain players to a standard of perfection while letting others skate by because their minds are already made up. Reyes this Spring is the better player this is true, but Peraza has enormous heart and can get there. 

The truth? Peraza, the player with no options left, is probably gone. And when he succeeds elsewhere, just remember it didn’t have to be this way.

ZERO JOEY GALLO IS ABOUT TO REINVENT HIMSELF

Well, well, well. Would you look at that? Joey Gallo has been exposed—again. But hey, I’ve been saying this for years. It wasn’t until he stumbled into the bright lights of the Bronx that everyone else finally caught on. Funny how that works, huh? The guy was never a good hitter, but put him in a big market, and suddenly, people started noticing what I’ve been screaming about forever.

The last time we checked in on Gallo, he was desperately clinging to a spot with the Chicago White Sox. And—shocker—that didn’t work out. After going 2-for-20 in spring training (which, for Gallo, is basically on brand), striking out 11 times in nine whole games, the White Sox decided to do what the Yankees and Dodgers already figured out: cut bait and move on.

But wait, the saga doesn’t end there. In true Joey Gallo fashion, he took to social media to announce a bold new career pivot: he’s done with the outfield. Now, he’s going to be a pitcher. 

That’s right, folks. The guy who couldn't hit a baseball is now trying to throw one past major league hitters. The White Sox, hilariously enough, were not interested in this experiment, so now he’s on the lookout for a team willing to take on "Project Gallo: The Mound Edition."

 
Now, to be fair, Gallo did pitch in high school—back in 2012. And yes, he threw a no-hitter for Bishop Gorman in some Easter Classic game. Impressive… for a teenager. But let’s just be real here: that was over a decade ago. High school glory days don’t exactly translate to getting major league hitters out.

Look, I have to give the guy some credit—the confidence is unmatched. I mean, he’s already cemented himself as one of the worst hitters I’ve ever seen, so why not reinvent himself as a pitcher? If nothing else, I appreciate the entertainment and believe it or not, I admire it. 

Stay tuned—this train wreck ain’t over yet.

VERDUGO STILL OUT THERE WITH THE HOPE TO FIND A HOME

Alex Verdugo’s time with the Yankees was a bit of a rollercoaster—flashes of brilliance, a solid presence in the clubhouse, but ultimately, a second-half slump that left his future in limbo. It’s surprising that no team has scooped him up yet. For a brief moment, there were whispers that the Pirates might make a move, but that chatter quickly fizzled. And now? He’s still waiting, still trying to work his way back to the majors.

Could the Yankees take another look? It seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened. If they’re looking for a bat to take some pressure off Giancarlo Stanton, Verdugo’s name should at least be in the conversation. At the end of last season, Verdugo was candid about his struggles, acknowledging that 2024 wasn’t his best showing at the plate:

“I know it wasn’t my best personal year on offense... I think there would be [the possibility] that maybe one day we can come back—if it’s not next year, maybe it’s another year. But I would like to come back and just show the type of player that I really am. I think we’ve seen it defensively, seen it at times offensively, but I’m usually a lot more consistent.”

Verdugo isn’t wrong. His defense was solid, with Fangraphs crediting him with a plus-seven defensive runs saved mark. But offensively, he struggled down the stretch. In the post season, he managed just a .208 average (10-for-48) and struck out to end Game 5 of the World Series. As Matt Ehalt of the New York Post put it:

“The Yankees, though, kept giving Verdugo chance after chance, and he started all 14 postseason games, batting .208 (10-for-48) and striking out to end Game 5 of the World Series. While his bat disappointed, Verdugo did provide above-average defense... A reunion with the Yankees has not been in the cards.”

But in today’s league, is a .208 postseason average really that bad? The White Sox just signed Joey Gallo, a guy with a career batting average hovering around .194, to a new deal. So, there has to be room for Verdugo somewhere, right?

Whether it’s a minor league deal or a late spring training signing, Verdugo deserves another shot. He’s still a major league player, still a guy who brings value, and by all accounts, a great teammate. That’s got to count for something, doesn’t it?

MAYBE IT'S GOOD THAT STROMAN'S STICKING AROUND...

Imagine this: The Yankees, in a wild bid to shake things up, trade Marcus Stroman for a banged-up Nolan Arenado. Then, right on cue, Luis Gil—projected to be a linchpin in the rotation—goes down with an injury. And then, we don't have Stroman to fall back on.  In short, maybe we're in a better place today knowing Stroman is still a Yankee.

So, what happened to Luis Gil? Well, he was cruising through a bullpen session when he felt a bit of tightness in his right shoulder. Now, he's off for an MRI, and Yankees fans everywhere are holding their breath.

This is a tough break, not just for the team but for Gil himself. After have a great last season, he was penciled in as a potential top-three starter in the rotation. His electric stuff and fearless mound presence was going to be great. The Yankees were counting on him, and frankly, he deserved another great year. Now, all we can do is hope for the best and wish him a speedy recovery.

Now, with Gil possibly sidelined, the Yankees' pitching depth is starting to look a little thin. Clarke Schmidt, another rotation hopeful, has also been slowed by back discomfort. It’s like the rotation plans were drawn up on a whiteboard, and someone keeps hitting the eraser.

Enter Marcus Stroman.

Stroman came into spring training as something of an odd man out. The Yankees’ rotation seemed set, and his role was unclear. But in baseball, as in life, things can change in a hurry. Now, with the Yankees facing a potential gap in their rotation, Stroman could find himself thrust into a starter role, I mean, ask him... he IS s starter after all.  He’s been vocal about it, and now he might just get his wish. 

But could the Mets come calling? They are also dealing with their own injury headaches. Could they make a call to the Yankees and inquire about Stroman? Sure, it feels like a long shot, but stranger things have happened. I mean, if Joey Gallo can be an All-Star again, anything is possible.

However, with the Yankees' own rotation looking like a game of Jenga right now, it’s hard to imagine them letting Stroman go. They need him now more than ever.

For now, all eyes are on Gil’s MRI results. Here’s hoping the kids gets good news. He’s too important to this team and too talented to catch another bad break.

Stay tuned—there’s never a dull moment in the Bronx.

JOEY GALLO'S STILL GOT IT APPARENTLY

The fact that we’re still talking about Joey Gallo in 2025 is nothing short of a miracle. Seriously, how does this guy keep making headlines? And why do I keep talking about him? The world may never know.

When the Yankees signed him, I knew it was a disaster waiting to happen. Gallo is like a human wind turbine—constantly generating air with all his strikeouts but not producing much else. And yet, baseball executives continue to be hypnotized by the idea that, someday, maybe, possibly, he’ll stop whiffing at everything. Spoiler alert: he won’t.

His latest destination? The White Sox. A minor league deal and an invite to spring training, according to reports. Yes, Chicago has decided to roll the dice on a guy who hit .161 with 10 home runs last season in Washington. And let’s not forget his time in The Bronx—where he posted a glorious .159/.291/.368 slash line, mashed 25 home runs, and struck out 106 times in 233 plate appearances. That’s almost impressive—like a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat, except instead of rabbits, it's strike threes.

I know Babe Ruth once said, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game,” but I don’t think he meant exclusively striking out. At this point, Gallo is basically a baseball-themed horror movie—every time he steps up to the plate, you know what’s coming, but you still have to watch.

Let’s put things in perspective: he has 1,292 career strikeouts and just 208 home runs. That’s like going fishing, casting your line 1,300 times, and catching 200 fish. Would anyone call that a success? No. That’s just a guy who refuses to admit he’s bad at fishing.

And yet, teams still line up for him. Why? Because front offices are still obsessed with the long ball. The problem is, with Gallo, you have to endure about 30 strikeouts before he finally runs into one. Who has that kind of patience? Not me. Not you. Not anyone with eyeballs.

But hey, since I cover former Yankees, I’ll keep an eye on this trainwreck. Let’s see if Gallo actually makes the team. I’d bet yes—because baseball executives love chasing home runs the way kids chase ice cream trucks. Even when they know it’s a bad idea.

Give me a break.

HERE COMES JASSON DOMINGUEZ... I HOPE

Alright, let’s talk about the Yankees' offseason moves! Honestly, I love what the Bronx Bombers have been cooking up. From savvy signings to addressing key needs, they’ve made some great choices to stay ahead of the pack. But let me just stop right here and say: bringing Pete Alonso to the Bronx? Absolutely not. Hard pass. Why ruin this offseason?

Instead of chasing Alonso, it’s time to double down on the exciting potential of Jasson Dominguez and find a better choice for first in my opinion. The kid’s got all the tools to shine, and finally giving him a real shot? Chef’s kiss. Cashman seems to agree, saying, “I’d like to see Dominguez get his shot now. He’s young. He’s got to earn it and retain it.” Yes, Brian! Preach!

Let’s not forget: Dominguez is the Yankees’ No. 1-ranked prospect for a reason. Sure, he only played 26 games at the major league level, but in the minors last season, he put up an impressive .314 BA with an .880 OPS in 58 games. Defense? It’s a work in progress, but come on, the guy’s still young. He’s got five-tool potential written all over him.

Since Brett Gardner left after 2021, the Yankees have been on a chaotic merry-go-round in left field—Aaron Hicks, Joey Gallo, Clint Frazier, Alex Verdugo, you name it. Nobody stuck. But now? The stars are aligning for Dominguez in my opinion. Aaron Judge is back in right field, Cody Bellinger is locked in for center, and left field is wide open for “The Martian.”

If Dominguez delivers, he’s not just filling a gap; he’s redefining the position for the Yankees and helping replace Juan Soto’s production from 2024. Dominguez isn’t just another prospect. He’s the guy who could finally give the Yankees long-term stability in left field. Let’s give him the keys and watch him take off!

But seriously, Pete Alonso? Let’s not. We’ve got bigger, better plans. It’s all about Jasson now. Buckle up, Yankees fans—the future is here.

SOME BASEBALL GUYS SUGGEST STROMAN'S DAYS ARE NUMBERED IN THE BRONX

I mean, it's not too hard to come to that conclusion, but hey, let's talk about it.

I’ll admit it: Marcus Stroman wasn’t my guy at first. When the Yankees signed him, I groaned. This guy? The one who tweets like he’s running for office and talks like he invented baseball? No thanks. But then he put on the pinstripes, flashed that “I’d die for the Bronx” energy, and—what can I say? He grew on me like a late-summer mustache. Turns out, the dude really loves being a Yankee, and on top of that, he’s a stellar teammate. By midseason, I was ready to buy a Stroman jersey. That's not true, but he was fun to watch early in the Bronx no doubt.

But now? It might be time to pack up the #StroShow. Why? Because, well, Stroman absolutely fell apart at the end of the season. I’m talking Titanic hitting the iceberg levels of disaster. He didn’t just lose steam—he lost the whole locomotive. The Yankees couldn’t even trust him to pitch in the playoffs, and for a team with championship aspirations, that’s a huge neon-red warning sign.

On the Baseball Insiders podcast this week, FanSided’s Robert Murray didn’t mince words: “A Marcus Stroman trade would appear more likely than not.” Translation? Stroman’s got one foot out the door and the other on a banana peel.

Here’s the deal: Stroman, now 33, is heading into Year 2 of his two-year, $37 million contract. He’s owed $18.3 million in 2025, with a vesting option for 2026 if he throws 140 innings. That’s all fine and dandy, but after posting a 10-8 record with a 4.07 ERA—and, oh yeah, losing his rotation spot to Nestor Cortes Jr. in September—it’s safe to say the Yankees aren’t thrilled.

The real eyebrow-raiser? Post-All-Star break, Stroman was more pumpkin than pitcher, with a 3-4 record and a 5.40 ERA over nine starts. Things got so bad he was exiled to the bullpen on September 13. Trading him now wouldn’t just be about cutting losses; it’d also free up a chunk of payroll the Yankees could use to snag bigger fish in free agency.

Enter Newsweek’s Zach Pressnell, who’s got a trade idea hotter than New York in August. He suggests shipping Stroman, pitching prospect Will Warren, and outfield prospect Francisco Vilorio to the Astros for starter Framber Valdez.

“This trade works for the Yankees in two ways. First, they get another ace-caliber pitcher to pair with Gerrit Cole and Max Fried. Second, they clear Stroman’s remaining contract, freeing up money to chase Alex Bregman or Christian Walker in free agency.”

Now, will this happen? Who knows. The Yankees don’t exactly have a history of giving up on high-profile signings after one bad stretch (cough, Joey Gallo, cough). But if I’m a betting man, I’d say Stroman’s time in pinstripes is nearing its final curtain call. As much as I’ve come to appreciate him, it’s hard to ignore the writing on the wall—or the pitching stats on the scoreboard.

So, farewell, Marcus?  You came, you saw, you… kind of fizzled. But hey, at least you made me a fan. Sort of.

THE NEW YANKEE FAVORITE THAT CAN'T BE TRADED!

Sometimes you read something, and you just yell obscenities out loud because they don't make any sense! That's what I did yesterday. I am really curious to see what moves the Yankees will make at the trade deadline because they have been on fire. Literally anything is possible.... seriously, but one idea I read I'd file under EXTREMELY unlikely. 

So, something interesting caught my eye when I was reading The Athletic. They are also pondering what moves the Yankees will make. I think the Yankees have some opportunities in the infield specifically and the Athletic seems to agree also but they also included a possibility of moving Alex Verdugo! Yes, really.... you can check it out HERE.

I get that the Yankees signed him for one year and he's supposedly a stop gap until Jasson Dominguez is ready for a starting role but why the hell would you trade Verdugo? There are more upsides to keeping him on the team then there are to trade him!

The Yankees are on a good roll. They are doing better than I expected SO if they are really going for #28 this year WHY would you trade him? He's gritty and is thriving in New York! He's a solid lefty bat, plays phenomenal defense and fits in so well in that clubhouse. Seriously, this guy is a gamer and is afraid of nothing. We haven't had this kind of grit and determination in the outfield since Brett Gardner ruled the outfield and then would bang his bat on the dugout roof. Verdugo isn't intimidated by anything happening in the Bronx.

The Yankees have had a revolving door of mediocrity in the outfield since Gardner left and that's downplaying it when you consider Aaron Hicks and Joey Gallo overstayed their welcome out there. The Yankees were tied for LAST place last year in defensive runs saved and the Yankees are now at the top all thanks to Verdugo. He's robbing hitters out there consistently and he's a difference maker. Why would the Yankees want to mess with team chemistry? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I want the guy that says "I want to f***ing take everybody's hits" manning that outfield every game. He fits in with this team and he has earned his spot. The Yankees are buyers this summer not sellers. Why would they sell a difference maker?

Verdugo wants to f***ing take everyone's hit (and I love it) and I want to tell The Athletic that they are f***ing nuts!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

NEW BABY BOMBERS MAKE THE PITCHING ROSTER!

Depth is something the Yankees need, especially since they are seriously injury prone. It's exciting to see young players work hard and make the Yankee roster. And pitching is so critical, particularly with Gerrit Cole likely out until May or June. The Yankees have some new faces in the bullpen. Let's learn something about them.

"Nick Burdi learned yesterday that he would indeed start the year with New York after entering camp as a non-roster invitee. You will be hard-pressed to find a pitcher with a more unfortunate injury history than the 31-year-old who has not been able to pitch past more than a few months of a season since making his MLB debut with Pittsburgh in late 2018. Burdi’s journey has been punctuated by two Tommy John surgeries: the first in 2017 while with the Twins organization, and the second in 2020 with the Pirates," reported SB Nation. Now the injury record is concerning but what I like about him is his resilience. 

According to the New York Post, "Burdi changed his arm slot to try to alleviate what was causing the injuries and said after his outing Sunday how remarkable it is not to be in pain after every outing and to recover well." So, hopefully he will add value to this team who might be short on starting pitching depth. 

“I feel like at some point, the tides are gonna turn and the health is gonna be there,” Burdi told the New York Post. To be in this locker room, some of the guys I played with last year, we had a saying, ‘We have a jersey, we got a chance.’ To me, if someone’s gonna give me a chance, I want to make the most of it and run with the opportunity.”

Next up is Clayton Beeter who came to the Yankees as part of the deal that sent Joey Gallo out to west. I have really liked what I have seen of Beeter in the minors and this spring but according to CBS Sports, "Beeter has yet to appear in a major-league game, having collected a 3.62 ERA and 165:75 K:BB over 131.2 innings between Double-A Somerset and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2023." 

Source: NY Post

Honestly, major league baseball experience is something you earn, and he will get there, with the right opportunities. He offers long reliever depth, spending most of his time on the hill as a starter. With Luis Gil earning the last starting pitching slot, Beeter will find a home in the bullpen and provide hard throwing depth to the Yankees.

So new baby bomber pitchers will be in Houston on Thursday, with more baby bomber position players still to be selected. Those decisions are pending as Aaron Boone gets ready to take the reins of a new season. Let's hope he doesn't botch up again this year. 

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