THE YANKEES FAILED OSWALDO CABRERA

There are Yankee moves that make you scratch your head. Then there are Yankee moves that make you wonder if anybody in that front office actually remembers what building a baseball team is supposed to look like.

Designating Oswaldo Cabrera for assignment falls into the second category.

The Yankees DFA’d Cabrera Wednesday to clear a 40-man roster spot for Clarke Schmidt. Technically, that’s the transaction.

But this is bigger than a roster spot.

This is about how the Yankees continue to treat certain players like disposable parts while seemingly giving others every opportunity imaginable to prove they belong.

And Cabrera deserved better.

This is a guy who did whatever the Yankees asked him to do.

Third base? Sure. Second? No problem. Shortstop? He’d do it. Outfield? Give him a glove. Sit on the bench for a week and then suddenly get thrown into the lineup somewhere he hadn’t played in a month?

Oswaldo Cabrera would smile and say, “Let’s go.” Was he a superstar? Of course not. That’s not the point.

Cabrera was exactly the kind of player championship teams need — a versatile, energetic utility player who understood his role, never complained and was willing to do just about anything to help the New York Yankees win.

And after battling back from that horrific ankle injury, Cabrera went to Triple-A and hit .288 with a .790 OPS this season.

His reward? DFA. Beautiful.

Meanwhile, we continue to hear about Anthony Volpe. 

CC Sabathia recently talked about Volpe’s “perseverance and determination,” and look, I understand CC’s point. Volpe didn't quit when the Yankees finally sent him to Triple-A. He worked. He made adjustments. He learned second base even though he didn't want to. He hit the baseball down there.

Good for him. Seriously. But perseverance cannot become another excuse for pretending the previous four years didn't happen. Volpe entered this latest opportunity with an 85 wRC+ across parts of four major-league seasons. This year, before his demotion, he was hitting .240/.325/.322 with one home run in 56 games.

At some point, Major League Baseball has to be about major-league production. And let's also stop rewriting the reason Volpe came back.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. hurt his thumb and went on the injured list. The Yankees suddenly needed another second baseman. José Caballero had already stepped in at second, but Caballero's value to this roster is his ability to move around the diamond.

So Volpe got the call. That's roster necessity. That's different from the Yankees suddenly deciding Anthony Volpe had conquered Triple-A and earned his triumphant return to the Bronx.

Maybe Volpe has figured something out. Who knows. I really don't care anymore.

The Yankees' fascination with making Anthony Volpe happen has gone on long enough that fans have every right to question why the standards appear different depending on whose name is on the back of the uniform.

Because that's what bothers me about Cabrera. Oswaldo Cabrera earned the right to be useful to this team. He accepted every role. He played everywhere. He came back from a devastating injury. He produced in Scranton. And the Yankees still decided he was expendable.

The Yankees decided preserving their pitching depth and keeping their other roster possibilities open was more important than keeping Cabrera on the 40-man roster.

That's their right. But fans have the right to call it what it looks like, too. Another good Yankee gets squeezed while the organization continues bending over backward to find roles and opportunities for players it has decided are part of the plan.

That's the problem. It's not that Anthony Volpe shouldn't have been recalled when Jazz went down. The roster situation made the move understandable.

It's that Oswaldo Cabrera seemingly never received the same runway.

One player gets patience. Another gets DFA'd. One gets talked about in terms of determination and development. The other does everything asked of him, fights his way back from a gruesome injury, hits .288 in Triple-A and gets shown the door.

Oswaldo Cabrera wasn't Aaron Judge. Nobody ever claimed he was. He was something every good baseball team needs. A good Yankee. A useful Yankee. A selfless Yankee.

And once again, the Yankees somehow found a way to make that guy the expendable one. Maybe another organization claims Cabrera and actually appreciates what he brings to a roster.

I hope they do. Because Oswaldo Cabrera earned his opportunity. The Yankees just decided someone else deserved it more. And we've seen that movie before.

YANKS OCTOBER BOUND—BUT IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THE CHAMPAGNE

The Yankees are officially headed back to October, and yes, I’m happy about it.

They clinched a playoff spot beating the Twins, turning a late 2-1 deficit into another one of those nights when the lineup suddenly wakes up and remembers it’s allowed to score runs.

José Caballero got the Yankees started with a solo homer in the third and later tied the game with an RBI single in the eighth. Ben Rice followed with a two-run single, and then Aaron Judge finally delivered the swing everyone had been waiting for.

Judge launched a three-run homer to finish off a six-run eighth inning. It was his first home run since returning from the injured list—and hopefully the first sign that the big man is finding his timing exactly when the Yankees need him most.

Austin Wells added another homer in the ninth, while Will Warren gave the Yankees 5⅔ strong innings and allowed two unearned runs. It was a good win, a big comeback and a well-earned postseason berth. By the way, Wells? Batting .180... hardly a threat.

Also, I have one question: Should we really be pouring champagne?

I mean, come on, gang. Be happy. Shake hands. Play some music. Maybe crack open a cold one. But goggles, plastic-covered lockers and a full champagne celebration because you secured a playoff spot?

What are we doing here—handing out participation trophies?

These are the New York Yankees. Reaching the postseason is supposed to be the expectation, not the final accomplishment. They’re still chasing Tampa Bay in the American League East, and that should be the focus.

Win the division. Avoid the Wild Card round. Put yourself in the strongest possible position to make a real October run.

Then you can pop the cork.

For now, congratulations. The Yankees are in.

Now go win something. That's what the fans want.

LOMBARD GOES GRAND. VOLPE GETS ANOTHER LIFE

George Lombard Jr. gave Yankee fans the moment of the night.

With Spencer Jones working a two-out walk to help load the bases, Lombard stepped up and crushed an opposite-field grand slam — the first of his career and the Yankees’ first grand slam of the season.

The kid continues to impress.

Jones deserves credit, too. Two walks, patience at the plate and another contribution from a young player who looks like he belongs.

And Will Warren? Six strong innings, one run and eight strikeouts. Exactly what the Yankees needed.

Then came the news that made me roll my eyes.

Anthony Volpe is coming back.

With Jazz Chisholm Jr. suffering a thumb sprain, Volpe will rejoin the major league roster Thursday. And apparently we're going to force this experiment into second base now?

Why?

José Caballero is already here. He can play second. Let him.

I simply don't care about the Anthony Volpe experiment anymore. He had his opportunity. It was a long time. The Yankees finally sent him to Triple-A, Lombard took over at shortstop, and the kid has brought energy and excitement.

Why are we still trying to manufacture opportunities for Volpe?

At some point, stop trying to prove you're right about a player and just play the guys who give you the best chance to win.

This is the kind of organizational nonsense that makes it hard for me to root for this team sometimes.

Lombard is giving you something special. Don't screw it up.

STOP BLAMING CABALLERO. THE YANKEES COULDN’T SCORE

I’m seeing a lot of attention being thrown at Jose Caballero after the Yankees got embarrassed by the Angels Monday night.

Yes, Caballero made an error. Yes, it was ugly. But can we please tell the whole story?

When Caballero botched the potential double-play ball in the sixth inning, the Yankees were already losing 6-1. His mistake allowed another run to score and made it 7-1.

So, explain something to me. How exactly did Jose Caballero lose this game? Were the Yankees suddenly going to score six runs if he fielded that ball cleanly?

Because they didn't. They scored one run the entire night.

One.

Spencer Jones hit a solo homer in the fifth inning. That was it. The Yankees finished with six hits, didn't draw a walk and went quietly against Angels rookie Walbert Ureña, who gave them seven innings of one-run baseball.

And let's remember what happened before Caballero's sixth-inning error.

Elmer Rodríguez had already put the Yankees in a 4-0 hole. The Angels made it 5-1 in the fifth. Then Michael Fulmer's errant pickoff attempt helped another run score.

It was 6-1 before Caballero made the error everybody wants to talk about.

That's context. Caballero deserves criticism for playing sloppy defense. Absolutely. He'd probably tell you the same thing. But blaming him for a 10-1 loss is ridiculous.

The Yankees didn't lose because their shortstop booted a ball while they were already getting blown out.

They lost because they couldn't hit. They couldn't score. And they couldn't give themselves even the slightest chance to win.

You don't beat anybody scoring one run.

Stop looking for a convenient scapegoat. Jose Caballero didn't lose this game. The Yankees offense did. Get over it.

YANKEES BEAT THE HELL OUT OF BOSTON—AND THIS ONE MATTERED

Now that looked like a Yankee team ready for October.

The Yankees didn’t just beat Boston Sunday. They embarrassed them, 16-1, taking three of four in the Bronx and winning the season series 7-6. That also gives New York the all-important tiebreaker over the Red Sox. And suddenly, the Wild Card picture looks a whole lot better.

Will Warren picked the perfect day to pitch his best game of the season, going seven-plus innings and allowing just one run. Then there was Heliot Ramos, a guy Yankee fans have been waiting on since he arrived. Ramos finally delivered, crushing a three-run homer for his first bomb in pinstripes.

After that, Boston basically waved the white flag.

Austin Wells went deep twice, Paul Goldschmidt homered, José Caballero homered and the Yankees turned the eighth inning into batting practice. Boston eventually had an infielder pitching. That's when you know you've beaten the hell out of somebody.

The Yankees are now four games ahead of Boston for the top AL Wild Card spot, and because they own the tiebreaker, that advantage feels even bigger.

Look, one series doesn't erase every concern we've had about this team. But it's almost September. Boston came to town. The games mattered.

And the Yankees kicked their ass. I'll take it.

LOOK WHO'S CREEPING UP THE AL EAST!

This is getting interesting.

The Yankees beat Toronto 3-1, have now won nine of their last 13, and suddenly they're just three games out of first place in the AL East. Yes, these Yankees. Go figure.

Spencer Jones stayed hot, launching his seventh homer and going deep for the second straight game. Toronto even challenged it after Jones admired his work for a moment. Nice try. Still gone.

Cam Schlittler wasn't exactly cruising, but he battled through traffic and made pitches when he needed them. José Caballero added a sacrifice fly, Brent Headrick escaped a late jam and David Bednar finished it off for save No. 30.

But forget the individual numbers for a second. The Yankees are simply playing good baseball right now — and they're gaining ground.

That's what makes this 10-game homestand so important. They're home, they're hot and first place is suddenly sitting right there within reach. This is the major opportunity. Let's hope Boone doesn't mess this up.

Don't just make the AL East race interesting. Go take the damn thing.

CASHMAN PROTECTED LOMBARD. WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU DONE FOR THIS TEAM?

I keep seeing these ridiculous takes about the Yankees’ trade deadline:

“One of Brian Cashman’s best moves was not trading George Lombard Jr.”

Seriously?

Protecting your best young player isn't some brilliant front-office achievement. That’s Cashman’s job. You know what else is his job? Finding another way to make the Yankees better.

If a team demands Lombard, say no. Then call somebody else. Offer different prospects. Take on money. Get creative. 

Cashman has an entire organization at his disposal. The choices aren't trade Lombard or go home.

This Yankees’ deadline leaves us in a familiar place: Cashman made moves, including Heliot Ramos and Luis Garcia Jr., but did he actually do enough to turn this team into a championship favorite?

That’s the problem. He did not. Cashman always seems to go through the motions. Make the calls, make better calls. Ask about the big names. Tell everyone the prices were too high. Protect a prospect. Make a few secondary moves. Do something meaningful.

Deadline over. And we did this last year too.

In 2025, Cashman brought in Ryan McMahon, David Bednar, Camilo Doval, Jake Bird, José Caballero, Amed Rosario and Austin Slater. There was plenty of deadline excitement then, too.

And where did it get us? Doval, Bird and Slater are already off the team. We didn't move the needle. That’s why I don't want to hear about Cashman “winning” another deadline because he didn't make a stupid trade.

Not making a bad trade isn't the same thing as making a great one. Keep Lombard. Absolutely. But then GO GET SOMEBODY ELSE. Someone meaningful.

We are the New York Yankees. Cashman has prospects, major-league players and enormous financial resources to work with. Eventually the standard has to become championships again—not congratulating Brian Cashman because he managed to protect one of his own best prospects.

But that’s not genius. That's just part of the job.

ENOUGH WITH THE MINI-GAMES. JUST PLAY BASEBALL

Maybe I'm showing my age here, but I'm getting tired of watching baseball games turn into something that feels like a night playing Borderlands 3 on the Xbox One.

If you've played Borderlands 3, you know what I'm talking about. You're moving through the actual game, trying to accomplish the main objective, and suddenly there are these little side missions and mini-games distracting you from what you were doing in the first place.

That's basically what Major League Baseball has become.

Pitch clock. Batter clock. Warnings. Violations. Who looked at whom? Was the hitter ready? Was the pitcher ready? Did the umpire warn him? Did somebody take too long getting to first base? Can we trick the pitcher into starting his motion? Can we manipulate the clock?

Enough already.

The object of the game is to win the damn baseball game.

And lately, the Yankees seem a little too interested in winning the mini-game.

José Caballero has become the poster child for this stuff. He's constantly pushing the pitch-clock rules to the edge, trying to use timing to his advantage and testing exactly what he can and cannot get away with. And now we've reached the point where Aaron Boone is once again arguing with umpires over how the rules are being enforced.

In Saturday's 5-4 Yankees win over Atlanta, Caballero was hit with another pitch-clock violation. Boone defended him afterward, arguing that Caballero hadn't received the warning he was supposed to get before the violation was called. Caballero eventually walked anyway, but the situation still became another production.

And that's where I'm lose interest. Could Boone technically have a point about how the rule was enforced? Sure.

Could Caballero technically have a point about how MLB has handled the enforcement of his routine Maybe. I don't care anymore.

That's the problem. We're spending way too much time debating the technicalities of the mini-game instead of talking about baseball.

This isn't what I want the Yankees focused on. I don't want them trying to outsmart the pitch clock. I don't want Caballero trying to squeeze every possible advantage out of when he looks at the pitcher. I don't want Boone spending half his night screaming about warnings and seconds and interpretations.

Beat the other team. Hit the baseball. Catch the baseball. Throw strikes. Run the bases. Score more runs than the other guys.

That's baseball.

Look, I'm old school. I understand the game has changed. Analytics aren't going anywhere. The pitch clock isn't going anywhere. Baseball wants games moving faster, and that's fine. But there's a difference between adapting to a rule and becoming obsessed with exploiting it.

Caballero has made this pitch-clock routine part of his game, and MLB has clearly noticed. The league hasn't simply ignored it, either. His timing tactics have created controversy before, and enforcement surrounding his behavior has already become a story this season.

At some point you have to ask: Is all of this actually helping the Yankees win? Because that's the only question I care about.

It's like spending 25 minutes playing some ridiculous side mission in Borderlands 3 while forgetting you were supposed to be saving the damn planet. Congratulations. You figured out the mini-game.

Meanwhile, there's still an actual game to win. And that's what bothers me about the Yankees sometimes. This organization has become fascinated with finding tiny advantages. Matchups. Percentages. Rest schedules. Pitch counts. Clock manipulation. Every little analytical edge gets dissected like somebody at MIT is trying to split an atom.

Sometimes baseball isn't that complicated. And with Caballero, I'm officially tired of the pitch-clock act. He's an energetic player. He's aggressive. He brings an edge.   But this?

It's annoying now.

When your little battle with the pitch clock starts creating distractions for yourself, your manager, the umpires and even the hitters around you, maybe it's time to stop trying to prove how clever you are and get back to playing baseball.

The Yankees don't need to outwit the clock. They need to outplay the opponent.

Because nobody gets an extra win in the standings for winning an argument with an umpire.

There isn't a column for Pitch Clock Gamesmanship. Forget the side missions. Forget the mini-games. Put the controller down and stop screwing around with the clock.

Just play freaking baseball.

BOWDEN FLOATS A BLOCKBUSTER & I HATE HOW I LOVE IT SO MUCH

The MLB trade deadline is almost here, and that means one thing: mock trades are flying everywhere. This latest one comes from former MLB executive and current insider Jim Bowden, who proposed a blockbuster that would send shockwaves through both the American League East and Central.

Yankees receive:

• Ryan Jeffers (C)

Twins receive:

• Anthony Volpe (SS)
• Camilo Doval (RHP)

On paper?

I can't believe I'm saying this...

I kind of love it.

Let's get one thing out of the way. Jim Bowden has become famous for proposing trades that rarely happen. Every deadline he throws dozens of ideas against the wall, and historically, very few become reality. So no, this isn't a report that the Yankees and Twins are discussing this exact deal. It's simply Bowden identifying a trade he believes both organizations could realistically agree to.

And honestly? This is one of the better ideas he's had. The Yankees have made no secret of their need to improve behind the plate.

Ryan Jeffers has quietly developed into one of the better offensive catchers in baseball. He brings legitimate power, gets on base, and has experience handling a pitching staff. He's exactly the type of player who could lengthen New York's lineup heading into October. Jeffers has also been widely connected to the Yankees as the deadline approaches.

Then there's Anthony Volpe.

As much as Yankees fans want him to become the long-term answer at shortstop, we're now several seasons into his big-league career, and consistency has remained elusive. He is not what the Yankee scouts said he would be. Some flashes, but the offensive production simply hasn't matched the expectations that came with being one of baseball's top prospects.

If Brian Cashman believes George Lombard Jr. is the future—or another internal option is close—it becomes much easier to consider moving Volpe in a deal that fills an immediate need. After all, we still have Jose Caballero.

Now, from the Twins' perspective, this isn't just giving away a catcher. It's acquiring a former top prospect who still possesses Gold Glove-caliber defense, athleticism, and years of team control.

Anthony Volpe would immediately become part of Minnesota's young core and gives them a player they can build around if they believe a change of scenery unlocks his offensive ceiling.

Adding Camilo Doval makes sense, too. Yes, Doval has struggled to find consistency since arriving in New York, but the raw stuff remains electric. Triple-digit velocity doesn't disappear overnight, and a fresh start could benefit both player and organization. His value has slipped in New York, making him a logical change-of-scenery candidate.

For Minnesota, that's two controllable players in exchange for a catcher approaching free agency.

But this trade comes down to one question: Are the Yankees willing to give up on Anthony Volpe?

That's a massive decision because Aaron Boone is in love with the kid and the Yankees front office will not admit they messed up with this kid. If Volpe eventually becomes the All-Star many projected, this trade could haunt New York for years. For me though? I don't see it. I think Volpe is actually as good as it's gonna get.

But maybe, just maybe the Yankees believe they've already seen his ceiling—and Jeffers helps them make a legitimate World Series run—it's a gamble worth considering. Championship windows don't stay open forever.

And so, you're asking me, would I pull the trigger? Yeah. I probably would.

Ryan Jeffers fills arguably the Yankees' biggest offensive weakness while giving them another legitimate middle-of-the-order threat for October. Minnesota gets a controllable everyday shortstop with upside plus a hard-throwing reliever who could thrive with a fresh start.

It's balanced. It's aggressive.

And for once...Jim Bowden may have actually come up with a trade that makes a lot of sense.

The funny part? Bowden is rarely right when it comes to predicting deals.

But damn... I love this one.

TRADING LOMBARD FOR ABRAMS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE

The Yankees have a shortstop problem. That much is undeniable.

What they do not have is a George Lombard Jr. problem.

That distinction matters as trade speculation begins connecting the Yankees to Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams. One proposal suggests there is a “pathway” to a deal if the Yankees construct a package involving Anthony Volpe AND Lombard.

That pathway should be barricaded immediately.

Abrams is an outstanding player having a spectacular season. Through July 27, he is batting .297 with a .367 on-base percentage, a .573 slugging percentage and a .940 OPS. He has 27 home runs, 82 RBIs and 114 hits. Among National League players, he ranks first in slugging, third in OPS and first in RBIs.

Those numbers are precisely why Washington would demand a staggering return.

The Nationals are not holding a clearance sale. Reports indicate that they are willing to listen, but they are not actively shopping Abrams. In a painfully thin shortstop market, Washington has every reason to demand an enormous overpayment for a 25-year-old All-Star performing like one of baseball’s premier offensive players.

That is where this proposal falls apart. Abrams is excellent, but the proposed price is ridiculous. The argument against trading for Abrams is not that he cannot play. He clearly can.

The argument is that the Yankees should not use their best opportunity to solve shortstop for the next decade as payment for someone else’s shortstop.

Lombard is only 21 years old, has already reached Triple-A and remains the most important position-player prospect in the Yankees’ system. He returned from the injured list in July and immediately collected nine hits in his first 17 at-bats, including four extra-base hits. Lombard has put himself into the major-league conversation.

That is not the type of prospect a smart organization includes merely because another team has made its asking price absurd.

Lombard is not an expendable lottery ticket buried in Class A. He is already knocking on the door. He possesses the athleticism, defensive ability, plate discipline and developing power to become the dynamic shortstop the Yankees have spent years trying to find. He's better than Volpe. The Yankees drafted him, developed him and moved him aggressively through their system. Now that he is approaching the majors, they are supposed to hand him away?

No.

Lombard should be considered off-limits. And the difference is the Volpe experiment has run its course. Volpe is a different conversation.

The Yankees have given him considerable time, patience and protection. At some point, potential must turn into sustained major-league production. New York cannot continue treating its shortstop position as a development laboratory while attempting to win a championship.

Volpe returned from shoulder surgery in 2026, but the organization’s public discussion has already shifted. José Caballero has entered the picture; Lombard is approaching the majors and questions regarding Volpe’s long-term grip on the position have become impossible to ignore.

There is nothing wrong with including Volpe in trade discussions. A change of organizations might benefit him, and the Yankees need to stop allowing draft status, popularity or past expectations to dictate their current decisions.

Volpe can go.

Lombard cannot.

Packaging the two together would be especially foolish. Volpe would be included as a distressed major-league asset while Lombard supplied the actual value Washington desired. The Yankees would essentially surrender their future shortstop to compensate for their present shortstop’s failure to establish himself.

That is backwards roster construction. The bottom line is the Yankees need to be smart. The proper solution is not to trade Lombard for a different long-term shortstop. It is to find someone capable of stabilizing the position for the remainder of 2026 without blocking Lombard in 2027 and beyond.

The Yankees need a rental.

That player does not have to be better than Abrams in a vacuum. Few available shortstops are. He needs to be a better acquisition for the Yankees because he would provide competent shortstop play without costing the organization its future.

Now look, the rental market is admittedly thin. MLB has described Abrams as the clear top shortstop potentially available because players such as Jeremy Peña, Zach Neto and Francisco Lindor are even less likely to be moved.

A thin market, however, is not permission to make a reckless trade. For me, the best answer is in the organization. There is also a possibility Yankees management appears reluctant to acknowledge:

Lombard himself might be the best shortstop option.

Bottom line, we need to move Volpe. Acquire a rental. Use Caballero if necessary. Promote Lombard when he is ready which is soon.

But under no circumstances should Brian Cashman trade George Lombard Jr. to solve a position Lombard is being developed to occupy.

The Yankees need a new shortstop now.

They should not sacrifice their next great one to get him.

THE STATE OF MY YANKEES RIGHT NOW

The Yankees keep winning just enough to convince everyone that everything is fine.

It isn't. And the loss yesterday just screams to me that we are flawed.

That's the dangerous part of this season. The victories have become a disguise, masking problems that haven't gone away—in fact, they're becoming more obvious with every passing week. The standings may still look respectable, but anyone watching this team every night knows they're crawling through the summer rather than charging toward October.

Championship teams don't survive on hope.

Right now, the Yankees are missing Aaron Judge indefinitely with a rib stress fracture. Giancarlo Stanton remains sidelined without a clear timetable. Cody Bellinger is now hurt as well. Suddenly, what was already a top-heavy lineup has become painfully thin, forcing role players into everyday situations they were never meant to carry.

The numbers tell the story. The Yankees have piled up 900 strikeouts this season. That's not simply an ugly statistic—it reflects an offense built around home runs with very little margin for error. When the ball isn't leaving the yard, innings disappear in a hurry. Productive at-bats become rare. Rallies die before they ever begin.

The front office knows it.

Bob Nightengale's latest trade deadline report makes it crystal clear that Brian Cashman isn't looking for one missing piece. He's looking for several. The Yankees are aggressively searching for catching help, reportedly with Minnesota's Ryan Jeffers on their radar. They're also pursuing another late-inning reliever, with interest in Mason Miller, while continuing to shop for another offensive bat.

That isn't the shopping list of a complete baseball team. It's the shopping list of a roster with glaring weaknesses. And yet one glaring weakness continues to be ignored.

The shortstop position.

At some point the Yankees have to admit what everyone else already sees. They cannot realistically win a World Series without competent production at shortstop. That position touches every game. It anchors the infield defense, extends innings offensively, and stabilizes the entire club.

Instead, the Yankees continue pretending the problem doesn't exist.

Maybe it's organizational pride. Maybe it's stubbornness. Whatever the reason, refusing to acknowledge the obvious doesn't make the weakness disappear.

Adding a legitimate shortstop wouldn't magically solve every issue on this roster. But it would give this team its best chance to win. That's what championship organizations are supposed to do—address obvious flaws before those flaws eliminate them in October. The catching situation isn't much better.

For weeks it's been a revolving door of inconsistent offense and questionable production. Between the Volpe errors, the Caballero attitude at short, it's over for me. That's precisely why Cashman needs to be searching for help before the deadline. We need to be competent and go deep in the postseason.

Then there's the bullpen. The relievers have been asked to shoulder enormous workloads because the offense too often fails to create breathing room. Every close game becomes another high-leverage night. Every series becomes another test of endurance. Eventually, even elite bullpens crack.

That's why adding another late-inning arm isn't a luxury—it's becoming a necessity.

And then there's Aaron Boone. This is where the conversation becomes uncomfortable. Nobody is saying Boone is a bad manager, well I am, but the truth is he's considered "good" because of his winning record. But being "good" isn't the standard in the Bronx. It's like padding your numbers so you end up with a plaque in monument park.

Tiki Barber recently said it perfectly: Boone is a good manager. But he's not a great manager. Why? Because great managers win championships.

That's the measuring stick. Boone has presided over talented Yankee teams year after year, yet the endings always seem familiar. A strong regular season. A playoff appearance. Then the same tactical shortcomings surface when every decision matters most.

Whether it's bullpen management, lineup construction, in-game adjustments, or simply creating urgency, the Yankees always seem one step behind when October baseball demands excellence. The organization continues to reward consistency instead of greatness.

If the Yankees simply wanted someone to guide them into the postseason every year, they've certainly gotten their money's worth. But Yankee fans weren't raised on participation trophies. They were raised on championships.

The frustrating part is that none of these issues are new. We've discussed the strikeouts. We've questioned the lack of offensive depth. We've watched the revolving door behind the plate. We've begged for stability at shortstop. We've seen the bullpen stretched beyond reason.

Every season the problems receive temporary bandages instead of permanent solutions. Then October arrives. Then the Yankees fall short. Then the cycle starts all over again.

The trade deadline may improve this roster around the edges. Another catcher. Another reliever. Another bat. Those additions certainly help.

But unless this organization finally addresses its most glaring flaws—and unless the leadership both in the front office and in the dugout begins demanding more than simply reaching the playoffs—the outcome feels painfully predictable. The Yankees may continue winning games throughout the summer.

But they're not convincing me that they're built to win the last game of the season.

And until that changes, Yankee fans will continue watching the same movie every October.

Different year. Same ending.

WHY ARE THE YANKEES NOT TAKING THE SHORTSTOP MESS SERIOUSLY?

 There comes a point when "trust the process" stops sounding like a strategy and starts sounding like an excuse.

The Yankees are apparently content rolling into August with Anthony Volpe and José Caballero handling shortstop. Why, because that's what they have because they picked wrong. 

That's cute.

But here is the problem. The Yankees only job is trying to win a World Series—and we need an upgrade.

Volpe has become the baseball equivalent of that broken treadmill everyone keeps promising they're going to fix. Every week it's, "Just give him more time." More time for what? His .663 OPS says plenty already. Right now, he's not playing like a Major League shortstop. He's playing like someone who belongs on the Scranton shuttle until he remembers how to hit a baseball.

Then there's José Caballero. I used to like him. I hate his ego. It doesn't match his batting average.

Yes, you have to admire confidence. Unfortunately, confidence doesn't count in the box score. Caballero struts around like he's Derek Jeter while producing numbers that barely separate themselves from Volpe's. His swagger is Hall of Fame caliber. His bat? Not so much.

Yet somehow this is the plan.

According to reports, the Yankees aren't expected to pursue a legitimate shortstop because they're all-in on George Lombard Jr., the organization's prized prospect. And to be fair, Lombard has earned every ounce of praise. The 21-year-old has been outstanding in the minors, flashing power, playing excellent defense, and posting eye-popping numbers while climbing the ladder. He absolutely looks like the future.

Fantastic.

Can he teleport into Yankee Stadium tomorrow? Because that's the timeline the Yankees should be worried about. News flash, Brian: your shortstop position has been on fire for months, and not in the good way.

This is where Yankee fans like me lose their minds. Because the Yankees have been watching the same movie since April, pretending every bad at-bat is somehow the one before the breakthrough. Fans have been screaming for change for months. They're not asking for perfection. They're asking for someone who can consistently hit a baseball. We need urgency.

At some point, enough is enough.

Brian Cashman has spent years acting like every trade deadline is a high-stakes chess match where everyone else is playing checkers. Meanwhile, the Yankees keep leaving obvious holes untouched while hoping internal solutions magically become stars overnight. Sometimes they do. More often, they don't.

This deadline feels like another test of whether Cashman recognizes what's staring him in the face—or whether he'll once again convince himself that standing pat is somehow a bold move.

If the Yankees walk away from this deadline without addressing shortstop, don't expect fans to politely applaud the organization's patience. Expect the Bronx to explode. Why not get a rental at SS, bring up Lombard and trade away Anthony Volpe for a bag of balls? Show that you care about winning.

Honestly? Us fans? We deserve better and that ridiculous Yankee front office deserves every ounce of criticism they get. Championship windows don't stay open forever. Neither does fan patience. For God sakes, Judge is being wasted on this team.

Here's my bottom line. If Brian Cashman can't—or won't—fix what's been obvious for months, then this trade deadline won't be remembered for the moves he made.

It'll be remembered for the move he refused to make. Like he does every year.  Spare parts and hope.  

Jesus... that's no way to win a championship.

THE YANKEES AREN'T PLAYING BASEBALL ANYMORE, THEY'RE PLAYING THE SYSTEM

There was a time when baseball was about instinct. You dug into the batter's box. You trusted your eyes. The pitcher trusted his stuff. The umpire called what he saw, whether you liked it or not. Sometimes you got squeezed. Sometimes you got the call. You argued. You dusted yourself off. You played the next pitch.

That's baseball. What we're watching now? That's something else entirely. The Yankees aren't playing baseball anymore. They're playing games.

Not the kind that belong between the foul lines either. They're playing with the pitch clock. They're playing with the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System. They're playing the margins, the loopholes, the technicalities... and somehow, we've been convinced that's "innovation."

No. It's manufactured baseball.

And the more I watch it, the less it resembles the game so many of us fell in love with.

José Caballero has become the poster child for this new baseball culture. He's become famous for stretching the pitch clock until the very last heartbeat, baiting pitchers into frustration, drawing reactions instead of simply competing. It's become theater. The latest controversy even produced a hot-mic moment where Caballero protested, "You're picking on me," after being penalized under new enforcement guidance surrounding pitch-clock behavior. Instead of talking about a great defensive play or a clutch hit, everyone was talking about clock management and umpire interpretation. That's not exactly the highlight reel Cooperstown was built on.

Then there's ABS.

The Yankees proudly jumped into the robot umpire era with both feet. Caballero became the first player in Major League history to challenge a ball-strike call by tapping his helmet, and the Yankees have openly discussed treating the challenge system as another strategic weapon. Aaron Judge even admitted the club spent extensive time preparing for it before the season began. The organization has embraced the technology as something to exploit whenever the opportunity presents itself.

And that's exactly my problem. When your competitive edge comes from mastering gadgets, timers and review systems instead of mastering baseball itself, you're drifting away from what made this sport timeless. Yes, the rules allow it. That's not the point.

The point is that every minute spent figuring out when to tap your helmet, how to manipulate the pitch clock, or how to gain an administrative advantage is a minute spent thinking about everything except the next baseball play. You're not present. You're calculating.

You're gaming the system instead of beating the guy standing sixty feet, six inches away from you.

That's a dangerous habit. Because shortcuts have expiration dates.

The Yankees may think they're ahead of everyone else because they're the first to embrace every new wrinkle MLB introduces. Maybe today they are. Maybe tomorrow too. But eventually every club catches up. Every team learns the same tricks. Every organization hires analysts to find the same loopholes. And when everybody knows the tricks...

What do you have left? Baseball. Real baseball. The kind that can't be programmed. The kind where pitchers have to execute. Hitters have to adjust. Fielders have to make plays. Managers have to trust their instincts instead of waiting for another technological lifeline.

That's when we'll find out who can actually play.

I've said it before: baseball has always evolved. Night games. Instant replay. Analytics. Some changes help. Some don't. But somewhere along the line we've confused playing smarter with playing the system. They're not the same thing. One makes you a better ballplayer. The other makes you better at navigating the rulebook. The Yankees have become fascinated with the second one.

But the bottom line? Sometimes baseball has a funny way of exposing pretenders. It always has.

Sooner or later, the gimmicks stop mattering. The pitch clock can't throw a fastball. The ABS challenge can't drive in the winning run. No helmet tap is going to save you in October when the crowd is roaring, the pressure is suffocating and someone has to execute.

That's when the spreadsheets get quiet. That's when the loopholes disappear. That's when baseball asks the only question that has ever mattered:

Can you play? Because sooner or later, every team has to stop playing games...

...and start playing baseball.

My take of course.

THE YANKEE SHORTSTOP POSITION HAS BECOME THE WILD WEST

Yo, Cabby... you're a .247 hitter.  Keep your mouth shut and pray to God that Volpe keeps sucking as bad as he has. Jesus!

The Yankees' shortstop situation has officially spun out of control.

What should have been a position defined by stability has instead become a revolving door of inconsistency, questionable decision-making, and, lately, unnecessary distractions. More concerning than the on-field performance is the culture surrounding it. Accountability seems to be in short supply, and that's how you end up with what feels like the Wild West in the Bronx.

José Caballero was handed an opportunity that many players spend years chasing. Instead of quietly embracing it and proving he belongs, he walked away from Monday night's benches-clearing incident talking about how "the whole league should know who I am."

That's not the mindset Yankees fans want to hear.

Act like you've been there before. Better yet, act like you're still trying to earn your place.

When you're hitting .247, making yourself the story isn't a great look. If Caballero were hitting .330, leading the league in stolen bases, or carrying the offense, maybe those comments would land differently. But that's not reality. Baseball has always had a simple rule: let your game do the talking.

Caballero's comments only reinforce the idea that he has developed an ego before establishing himself as an everyday player. Instead of focusing on becoming the Yankees' answer at shortstop, he made himself the headline for all the wrong reasons.

The irony is that he may have just hurt his own chances.

Just two days ago, so many had written off Anthony Volpe. The media was killing him. But of course, Caballero couldn't resist making himself part of the story last night.  What the hell was he thinking?

That's not leadership. That's not maturity. And it's certainly not what this Yankees team needs.

To be clear, this doesn't suddenly make Volpe the answer. I still don't believe he has shown enough to prove he can be the Yankees' everyday shortstop. Volpe sucks plain and simple, but don't tell that to Boone who is finding any way he can to put Volpe in the lineup.

But my opinion on Caballero has changed a bit. I wanted him out there every night, now I don't. Why? Cause he has an attitude that doesn't match his batting average. 

The Yankees have allowed too much sloppiness to creep into this roster. That's Boone's fault. He doesn't discipline and doesn't hold players accountable. Fundamentals have suffered. Mental mistakes have piled up. Public comments that create unnecessary attention seem to go unchecked. Somewhere along the line, discipline gave way to complacency.

Championship organizations demand accountability. The Yankees used to be that organization.

Today, they're searching for answers at one of baseball's most important positions while players argue over pitch-clock tactics and make declarations about how the league should know them. The league doesn't need to know your name. It needs to know your game.

Right now, the Yankees don't have a legitimate long-term answer at shortstop, and until they do, this revolving door of mediocrity will continue. Whether it's Caballero, Volpe, or someone acquired before the deadline, the priority shouldn't be personalities.

It should be finding a shortstop who can play winning baseball, stay out of the headlines, and let his performance speak for itself.

Because the bottom line is simple:

The Yankees don't need another personality. They need a shortstop, and Caballero should shut his piehole.

IT'S TIME TO KILL THE ANTHONY VOLPE EXPERIMENT

For years, Yankees fans have been sold Anthony Volpe. Not Anthony Volpe the baseball player. Anthony Volpe the story.

The New Jersey kid. The homegrown shortstop. The "next Captain." The heir to Derek Jeter. The future of the franchise. That's always been the product. The problem?

Eventually the commercials stop running and the games start counting. And that's exactly where the Yankees find themselves today.

The national media has finally caught up to something Bleeding Yankee Blue has been screaming for years over here: Anthony Volpe may be running out of runway. Reports are now openly suggesting that the stretch leading to the trade deadline could determine whether the Yankees continue handing him the keys at shortstop or finally admit the experiment has failed.

Imagine that. The same people who mocked anyone questioning Volpe are suddenly asking the very same questions. Funny how batting averages have a way of changing opinions.

Look, the Yankees didn't just promote Volpe, they married him. That's the mistake. Prospects fail every season. Organizations miss. Nobody gets every first-round pick right. But good organizations recognize it, pivot and move on.

The Yankees didn't. Instead, they doubled down. Tripled down. Then wrapped Anthony Volpe in enough organizational bubble wrap to survive a trip through the Holland Tunnel. Back in May, Bleeding Yankee Blue laid out a theory that many fans dismissed as crazy: certain influential Yankees evaluators appeared to become personally invested in Volpe years before he reached the Bronx. The article questioned whether relationships, internal lobbying, and the desire to validate years of scouting had replaced objective player evaluation. That was presented as opinion—but it raised an uncomfortable question about whether the organization became more committed to proving itself right than to reassessing the player honestly. Read, HOW YANKEE SCOUTS LOST THEIR WAY IN THE VOLPE RECRUITMENT.

Whether you agree with that theory or not, here's what nobody can deny: The Yankees have treated Anthony Volpe differently than almost every struggling young player they've had. Different standards. Different patience. Different excuses. Different timelines.

Every slump came with another explanation. But enough of this, the clock just hit midnight.  We are at a point where José Caballero has forced his way into more opportunities. George Lombard Jr. is knocking on the door. Aaron Boone can call it "day-to-day" all he wants. Day-to-day is baseball language for "we're running out of answers." That's what makes the trade deadline different. You can sell hope in April. You can't sell hope in late July.

Not when Aaron Judge is trying to win another championship. Every game matters. And look, this is not about hating Volpe. By every account, he's a terrific kid. That doesn't make him the right shortstop for a team trying to win the World Series.

Those are two completely different conversations.  The hardest phrase to say in baseball is "We were wrong." The Yankees don't just have to bench Anthony Volpe. They have to admit they misjudged Anthony Volpe. That's much harder. Because if Volpe isn't the franchise cornerstone they promised, then the scouts who championed him deserve scrutiny.

The executives who fast-tracked him deserve scrutiny. The front office that refused to create real competition deserves scrutiny. And Brian Cashman has to answer for why this organization stayed committed to a vision long after reality started pointing in another direction. That's why this has dragged on so long in my opinion. The Yankees weren't protecting a player. They are protecting the people who sold him.

And so, I am here today to say, end the experiment. Sometimes they're exactly what you hoped. Sometimes they tell you it's time to stop. The Yankees have reached that point. Stop. Enough with the endless patience. Enough with the "next Jeter" marketing campaign. Enough pretending tomorrow is finally going to be the day everything clicks.

Winning organizations don't cling to bad decisions because they're embarrassed. They make new ones. The Anthony Volpe experiment has gone on long enough. The Yankees don't need another month. They need a shortstop.

And if they truly believe they're built to win a championship, then they have to make the hardest move of all:

Start dealing with reality.

THE VOLPE SOAP OPERA WILL BLOW UP IN THE YANKEES FACES

Don't forget that Gleyber Torres was not resigned for pretty much refusing to move to third.  More on that in a minute.

Aaron Boone's Anthony Volpe obsession and the fact that the Yankees are all in on a personal relationship with this guy and the team dating back to his high school days has become their biggest problem... and I bet they will regret it.  Why? Cause they're stuck.  

At this point, Aaron Boone doesn't just support Anthony Volpe. He defends him with the kind of unwavering loyalty usually reserved for family members, childhood best friends, or someone holding embarrassing vacation photos. And that's where this story continues.

Because if you took a poll of Yankees fans right now—people who have actually watched every throw into the first-base dugout, every rushed decision, every routine play turned into an adventure—I would bet close to 89% would tell you the same thing:

Anthony Volpe may have been a terrific shortstop in high school. That doesn't automatically make him a Major League shortstop.

Those are two completely different jobs.

Playing shortstop in New York isn't simply about fielding ground balls. It's about handling relentless pressure, surviving daily scrutiny, making split-second decisions under the brightest lights in baseball and proving, every single season, that you belong.

Right now, many fans simply don't believe Volpe does.  but Aaron Boone can't quit Anthony Volpe, and it is my opinion that that is a direct order from our Yankees front office. Boone's a puppet anyway so...

Look, Boone's defense of Volpe has reached a point where it almost feels... personal. Whenever criticism surfaces, Boone appears almost programmed to immediately reassure everyone that Volpe is "really good." No matter what happens on the field. No matter what the numbers say. And that's become part of the frustration.

Because baseball is supposed to be a meritocracy. You earn your job. You keep your job. You lose your job if you suck. That's professional sports. That's life too by the way... that's life if you don't live in a bubble where people and personal relationships are protecting you.

Volpe often feels like the one Yankee playing under an entirely different set of rules.

Jose Caballaro is the better shortstop. We all know this. He's more athletic. He brings more energy. He's quicker. Throws stronger, hits better. Many fans like me believe he simply looks more natural at shortstop. Yet the Yankees continue treating him like he's trapped inside a spreadsheet labeled "UTILITY."

That's the danger of front offices becoming too attached to paperwork. On paper, Caballero is a utility player. On the field, plenty of people believe he's the better defensive shortstop. But organizations can become prisoners of their own evaluations. The Yankees invested years developing Volpe.

They sold him to the fan base. They marketed him. Now admitting someone else might simply be better becomes far more difficult than it should be.

Summer Coaches don't win Major League games. One of the more bizarre developments surrounding Volpe has been the constant reliance on glowing scouting reports from people connected to his youth baseball career. That's wonderful.

It also doesn't matter anymore. This is Major League Baseball and they were wrong. They sold the Yankees front office and us fans a bill of goods. Nobody gets lifetime tenure because they dominated summer tournaments. Every player becomes replaceable the moment they reach the big leagues.

The Yankees don't owe Anthony Volpe a career. Anthony Volpe owes the Yankees production, and he owes us fans an apology for taking the money and not delivering product.

Look, this whole report that Volpe reportedly wasn't interested in moving off shortstop. Whether every detail of that story is accurate almost becomes secondary. Because if a player truly refuses to play another position, professional organizations generally have three choices:

Move him. Bench him. Trade him. OR, in Gleyber Torres's case, don't resign him. 

We all forget that Torres was the coveted one and did actually have solid numbers with the Yankees. But the Yankees asked him to move positions and Torres didn't want to.  And so what happened next?  When his contract was up... they didn't bring him back.  That was a Cashman, Boone decision.  Gleyber Torres had finally found his baseball home at second base after the Yankees' shortstop experiment went sideways. Once he settled in there, he made it pretty clear he wasn't interested in playing musical chairs again. Second was his spot, and as far as he was concerned, that's where he belonged.

The Yankees, meanwhile, kept looking for ways to solve their infield puzzle. As different roster combinations came and went, third base inevitably entered the conversation. There were reports during the 2024 season that the club at least kicked around the idea of sliding Torres across the diamond.

The problem? Torres never seemed to warm to the idea. Learning a new position on the eve of free agency wasn't exactly on his wish list, and he appeared content to plant his flag at second. Whether that ultimately influenced the Yankees' decision is open to debate, but it certainly didn't make fitting the pieces together any easier. Torres is batting .280 with the Tigers this season. Volpe with the Yanks? .240.

But when it comes to Volpe, Boone tried to make it seem like it was a nothing burger, even though we all know it is.  Michael Kay poured gasoline on the story, suggesting Volpe had resisted moving to second.

Fans exploded. Then, almost as quickly, Kay walked much of it back. Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe someone reminded Kay that the Yankees also happen to sign his checks. That's my opinion.

But then Aaron Boone tried explaining it. Yup, stupid Boone was left cleaning up the controversy. Except...he really didn't at all. Instead came one of the more impressive word salads you'll hear from a Major League manager:

"He's been our shortstop, and he got hurt and had surgery over the winter. He's coming back, and we really haven't had — until Cabby walked in the door last year — a real competition-based thing there. By the way, he's been a damn good shortstop. I hate to break it to everyone, but that still is real. Has he had his struggles? Sure. But he's also played really well out there in some long stretches defensively."

Translation? Volpe was the shortstop because...Volpe was already the shortstop. Competition? Not really. Boone acknowledged Caballero existed, then immediately circled back to telling everyone Volpe has been "a damn good shortstop", which we all know is a lie.

That's become the organization's default setting. Every criticism. Every mistake. Every rough stretch. Every defensive lapse. The response is always the same. "We still believe."

Fine.

But eventually belief has to intersect with reality. And here it is, AGAIN. The Yankees wanted the next Derek Jeter. The Yankees weren't simply looking for another shortstop. A homegrown kid. A New Jersey native. Clean-cut. Easy to market. Nice face. Future captain, and oh yeah, maybe there's a personal connection to the family which will make it all so much easier.

Anthony Volpe checked every box. In my opinion, the Yankees fell in love with the story before they finished evaluating the player. Once that happens, objectivity becomes incredibly difficult. Weaknesses become "development." Mistakes become "growing pains." Poor stretches become "learning experiences." Everyone else competes. The chosen one develops.

It is the relationship that no one wants to discuss. The uncomfortable conversation almost nobody wants to have.

Volpe's rise through the organization has long been intertwined with relationships involving influential Yankees evaluators who knew him long before he became a professional player. Nobody is accusing anyone of criminal wrongdoing. But personal relationships and emotional investment absolutely have the potential to cloud objective judgment.

That's true in every business. Why would baseball be any different? If Volpe were simply another prospect without those relationships... Would he have been promoted this aggressively? Would his offensive struggles have been tolerated this long? Would every mistake be explained away?

Those are fair questions.

They're also questions very few people have the balls to ask. But here's the bottom line, this Volpe experiment failed and the Yankees have a mess on their hands. They're emotionally invested in proving themselves right instead of honestly evaluating what's in front of them.

That's dangerous. Read  HOW YANKEE SCOUTS LOST THEIR WAY IN THE VOLPE RECRUITMENT for more.  

Look, organizations that become obsessed with proving past decisions correct often ignore present reality. Many fans now believe that's exactly what's happening. Boone continues defending Volpe. The front office continues defending Volpe. The marketing machine continues defending Volpe.

Meanwhile, fans keep watching the same shitty movie. The bottom line? You need to hold the Yankees accountable. This entire experiment has blown up in the Yankees' faces. Instead of admitting mistakes, they continue protecting the investment. Fans deserve better.

Merit should matter more than narrative. Performance should matter more than friendships. Results should matter more than reputation. In my opinion, Anthony Volpe is not the answer at shortstop for the New York Yankees.

The Yankees desperately wanted the next Derek Jeter. Instead, they've spent years forcing a script that many fans no longer believe. And I truly wonder if the Yankees are regretting every minute of this, because whether you believe it or not, it is a true mess.  The Bronx franchise is crumbling because of a high schooler who infultrated a major league park because mommy and daddy knew the high school summer coach.  It's an absolute travesty and disgusting.  

Mark my words, the Yankees will not win another championship under this front office, GM and manager because they are doing their job wrong.   And until this organization starts rewarding performance over loyalty, the controversy isn't going away.

Neither is the frustration.