A GIL-VANIZED BULLPEN: YANKEES RECALL LUIS GIL TO SAVE THE DAY

The Yankees need backup in a big way as they continue to work through their injury plague. So the next man up is Luis Gil. Now it is time to ask yourself if that makes you feel safer or uneasy.

Either answer would be valid because you wouldn't be wrong. Let's just hope it pays off. Gil is back. He completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a relief role. His recovery journey started in the bullpen where he allows two hits, recorded two strikeouts over three innings pitched. He did enough to give the Yankees confidence to call him back up to the majors and now we hope that trend continues back in the majors.

If there was ever a time to get back into the Yankees circle of trust, it is now. Gil started the season as a starter but was plagued with injuries and consistency. Now the Yankees have a short amount of time left int he regular season and need reinforcements now that Fernando Cruz and Ryan Weathers have hit the Injured List. The Yankees need all the help they can get to make a final postseason push as they try to keep their distance from the Red Sox in the Wild Card and hopefully take the division back from the Rays.

Now the Yankees make a west coast swing with the Angels waiting starting today. After that, the Yankees will travel to take on the San Diego Padres. Now if Gil can give the Yankees some length without giving up runs the Yankees will be in a much better spot and can walk away feeling better about their continued injury woes. But that could be a big IF. I really want to see Gil come out of this with some renewed confidence and consistency to help us get over the hump. As the regular season winds down, the Yankees still have time to climb the standings but every game matters. Every appearance from Gil (and everyone else) matters.

So it's reunion time. Now we get to see what Gil can do when the pressure is on. It's time to contribute and save the bullpen as we all hold our breath and watch. Welcome back Gil, let's finish the regular season off strong.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE BLIND LEADING THE CLUELESS

Brian Cashman is out here trying to convince Yankees fans that nothing has changed — that the organization has always operated with urgency and that this current “must-win” energy is just another normal Tuesday in the Bronx. Please. Yankees fans have watched this movie for years, and we already know how it ends.

This front office has spent season after season forcing bad decisions down our throats, defending underperforming players like they’re family heirlooms instead of liabilities. Fans are constantly told to “trust the process” while overpriced veterans and struggling favorites drain the life out of the lineup night after night. Meanwhile, hungry young players with less hype and smaller contracts routinely outperform the “core pieces” everyone keeps protecting.

And this year? The Yankees’ smartest move was the one they didn’t make: handing the shortstop job to Anthony Volpe out of loyalty and marketing hype. Instead, Jose Caballero actually earned it. He brought energy, production, and looked like someone who understood the assignment. He's also just a better shortstop than Volpe... that was obvious last year. Of course, now that Caballero is hurt, Volpe magically reappears in the majors — only for Max Schuemann to step in at shortstop last night and somehow look more reliable too.

But don’t worry. Boone’s favorite "boy toy" Volpe will be back in the lineup soon enough. Count on it. And here at Bleeding Yankee Blue, we’ll be watching every at-bat like it’s game footage from a criminal investigation, because we know he should not be there.

In the meantime, here’s Brian Cashman attempting to explain that the Yankees have always been urgent. This comes from his interview with The Athletic:

“I know there’s this narrative that all of a sudden we woke up and smelled the coffee... and we know it’s a must-win year — that we’re making roster moves that reflect that, and we’ve almost found a different gear. None of that is true…

“We’re not all of a sudden acting more desperate now or with more urgency... The urgency has always been there. In this current window, we have a lot of the younger players really surging. (Caballero) is obviously surging, but we still have guys like Volpe, and obviously, Elmer Rodríguez is emerging. So if Luis Gil falters, we have a legitimate alternative that allows us to say, ‘Hey, do you just want to keep going with this?’ We felt the profile that Elmer was putting forth made it make sense to make the move. It’s kind of simple. When you have the kind of depth (we have), you can play that decision-making game easier than if you didn’t.”

The problem is Cashman sounds completely detached from reality. Yankees fans aren’t blind, and they’re definitely not stupid. We’ve watched too many seasons of the same nonsense: overhyped promises, stale leadership, bad roster construction, and October disappointment dressed up as “a process.”

This team has to win this year. Frankly, they should’ve won several times already. But as long as Aaron Boone is steering the ship like a guy using Apple Maps in a tunnel, the Yankees keep finding new and creative ways to underachieve.

Think about this for a second: Boone has piled up over 700 managerial wins and still can’t deliver a World Series title. That’s not impressive in the Bronx — it’s embarrassing. In Yankee history, banners matter. Parades matter. Rings matter. Nobody hangs a “Pretty Good Regular Season” flag over the Stadium.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth Cashman needs to hear loud and clear:

THE YANKEES USED TO BE THE STANDARD.

Now? They’re just another franchise talking about “windows,” “depth,” and “internal options” while other organizations actually win championships.

Fans are exhausted. Until this organization shows real urgency — not press-conference urgency, but actual baseball urgency — nothing changes. That means cutting ties with dead weight, admitting mistakes, and stopping the endless protection of underperformers like "Mr. .180" Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe. It also means finally acknowledging that Aaron Boone is not the guy to lead this team to a title.

So, Brian, spare us the speeches. Yankees fans don’t need another corporate spin cycle about urgency. They need results.

Because for the better part of the last six years and many more by the way, this front office has delivered a whole lot of excuses and exactly zero championships.

And people in the Bronx are done buying it.

DO BETTER.

LET'S HOPE BOONE'S INCOMPETENCE DOESN'T REAR IT'S UGLY HEAD

The Yankees look unstoppable when everything is humming. Aaron Judge is launching baseballs into orbit, the pitching staff is rolling, and the lineup card practically writes itself. In those moments, Aaron Boone’s job is easy. Smile in the dugout, clap a little, say “the guys battled,” and collect another win.

But baseball seasons are not built on easy stretches. They’re built on adversity, injuries, slumps, bad losses, and pressure. That’s when a manager earns his paycheck — and that’s where Boone continues to come up short. This is something that you need to keep you eye on and something that I have been watching extremely, obsessively close ever since Aaron Boone became the Yankees manager. Boone can't manage when things get hard! Why? Because he doesn't know how. Write that down.

A 6-0 loss to the Brewers should never have happened. The Yankees managed just three hits all night — two from José Caballero and one from Judge — while the offense looked lifeless from the first inning on. Worse yet, the timing couldn’t be more concerning because the injury list is beginning to grow again.

Luis Gil is now sidelined with shoulder inflammation after landing on Triple-A’s injured list. Boone says Gil won’t throw for at least three weeks, and any pitcher knows the ramp-up process after a shutdown can take just as long as the injury itself. Boone doesn't know what he's talking about. The Yankees may not see him for well over a month. We all know Jasson Domínguez is dealing with a shoulder sprain after being a freaking boss and running through a wall, Giancarlo Stanton is hurt again, Ben Rice day to day, and that’s before even mentioning the ongoing concerns surrounding Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón.

This is the part of the season where leadership matters.

Anybody can manage when the machine is running perfectly. The challenge comes when pieces start falling off and tough decisions have to be made. That’s where Boone’s critics, me — and plenty more — keep circling back to the same issue: he struggles when things get uncomfortable.

Too often, Boone sounds like a broken postgame press conference generator. The Yankees lose because of sloppy defense, lazy baserunning, or flat at-bats, and fans get another speech about “the grind” and how the team “just has to keep going.” Meanwhile, the same mistakes keep happening. Accountability feels optional. Urgency feels missing.

And then there’s the constant lineup roulette. One guy gets hot? Perfect time for a scheduled day off. Someone finally finds rhythm? Better move him down three spots in the order because the analytics spreadsheet said so. Boone manages like he’s terrified of disrupting a formula, except the formula keeps producing the same October ending.

Yes, Boone has over 700 wins as Yankees manager. That sounds impressive until you remember the Yankees don’t hang participation banners in the Bronx. Championships matter. October matters. And despite all the talent Boone has been handed over the years, there’s still no title to show for it.

That’s the part nobody wants to say out loud. I will.

Managing a stacked roster when everyone is healthy isn’t exactly climbing Everest. Most baseball fans could fill out a team featuring Judge, Fried, Caballero, Bellinger and a loaded bullpen and accidentally win 95 games. The real test comes when injuries hit, momentum fades, and difficult choices need to be made on the fly.

That’s when great managers separate themselves.

If Boone truly has final say over the lineup decisions like he and Brian Cashman insist, then he also owns the failures when the offense disappears, when the fundamentals collapse, and when the team sleepwalks through games they should win.

The Yankees are now clinging to first place by half a game with the Rays breathing down their necks. One bad week and that disappears completely. So no, this isn’t panic mode after one loss. But Yankees fans have seen this script before: injuries pile up, the offense gets inconsistent, Boone keeps repeating the same clichés, and suddenly a comfortable division lead becomes a dogfight.

The Yankees don’t just need a win now. They need momentum again. They need another stretch where they start burying teams instead of playing flat baseball every other night.

And Boone? He needs to prove he can actually steer the ship once the water gets rough — because smooth sailing has never really been the problem.

THE YANKEES MADE A BIG DECISION ABOUT LUIS GIL!

Another disappointing outing for Luis Gil yesterday. It's really unfortunate, because I really wanted to see him thrive and transform and find a way out of this long slump he's been in since 2024. His last start wasn't it. Gil gave up six hits in four plus innings with a lot of hard contact. It left the Yankees with no choice....

After the series ending loss to the Astros yesterday, the Yankees have optioned Gil back down to Triple-A. He was already on a short leash, but he showed us more of the same and just forced the Yankees hand. It's been a tough road for Gil since his rookie season. He hasn't been a MLB viable starter for more than a full season now. I hope they can get him back to that viable starter again but it is going to take a lot of hard work and the faster they get him back down in the minors and working on it, the better off they will be.

After Gil was sent down, the Yankees quickly made a corresponding move by calling Jasson Dominguez back up (again). This could have more to do with Giancarlo Stanton and an incoming trip to the Injured List for his calf. The Yankees are going to need another person in the outfield, and quite honestly I would like to see Aaron Judge get a partial day off by giving him a day as designated hitter against the Texas Rangers. Something else to think about though....if the Yankees want to avoid the platoon situation again and allow him the consistent at bats they need to let him play against lefties and righties. They cannot platoon him again. He needs to play everyday like he was in Triple A to allow him to get better.

So I am concerned the Yankees are going to screw that up, because let's face it they don't learn from a lot of their mistakes. But that still leaves the question of IF the Yankees are going to add another pitcher. Rolling with 12 pitchers is very risky. The Yankees don't need to add another starter right now thanks to their schedule. Honestly, they can get by until middle of May without a fifth starter but they should add another bullpen arm for some depth. Gil was going to be sent down when Carlos Rodon returns here in a couple of weeks, but unfortunately his poor performance sped up the timeline and now the Yankees need to prepare for the next best option.

So here it comes, last week I said I was focused on Elmer Rodriguez and now he could have an opportunity.... maybe. This is no way a guarantee, it fact it could be a long shot but his sinker, changeup or slider arsenal could be much more effective than Gil's changeup and flat fastball that everyone and their brother was making contact with. It's not a bad idea to give our third ranked prospect a trail run here. It feels like a smart option to give the kid the next three or four weeks to see where he is at. If we don't, it could be a missed opportunity. We need to be playing our best options and right now he could be it!

Something isn't right with Gil. The move needed to happen. Now Gil and the Yankees need to figure it out and put us in a better position in the future....with or without Gil.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

 

THE YANKEES PROSPECT YOU SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO!

No, I am not talking about Spencer Jones. It's no secret by now I am OVER that guy. Casey digs him, I don't. NEXT.

So who is next? I'm watching Elmer Rodriguez. If you don't know who he is, he's the Yankees number three prospect who opened eyes at spring training. It was easy to watch that other guy who is overhyped. The real story just might be Elmer!

In all my time here, I have a history for getting excited about pitching prospects and Elmer is my latest. I am anxiously awaiting his next start to see how he builds upon his impressive start of the season. In three starts, he has pitched 15.2 innings, struck out 13 and has a ridiculous 1.15 ERA. In his last start he threw first pitch strikes to 17 of the 21 batters he faced. Yes, that gets me excited. 

Another thing that gets me excited, is when we can stead some good talent from Boston. We did that with Cam Schlittler and Elmer could be another good pick up. Schlittler popped on the scene in a big way last season and Elmer had a good season in the minors. In 27 games last season, he struck out 176 batters and held opponents to a .192 BA. He's got a good sinker in his pitching arsenal and all good things that give me tingles. Boston drafted him in the fourth round in 2021 and traded him to us in exchange for catcher Carlos Narvaez and that could pay dividends in the future.

It's early in the season, and he has more to prove in Triple-A but you never know what the Yankees may need later in the season. If he continues to progress, he could force the Yankees hand and make it impossible for the Yankees not to give him a call up. Right now a lot has to go wrong with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon getting closer to return but there have been question marks with Luis Gil and his ability to be a reliable starter after he has regressed since his 2024 rookie season.

The Yankees have proven they are not shy about calling young studs up. We saw it last year with Schlittler, and if Elmer keeps pitching the way he is now the Yankees would be stupid not to give him a shot to help this team win the division.

Elmer's not ready yet, but he's getting closer and I like what I am seeing.
All eyes on Elmer!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

BAD BOONE DECISIONS CONTINUE TO LOSE GAMES FOR THE YANKEES

Friday night’s 5–3 loss to the Rays wasn’t just another notch in a three-game skid—it was another reminder that the biggest problem in the Bronx isn’t always on the field.

Yes, Luis Gil had a rocky debut. Fine. That happens. But the defining moments of this game didn’t come from the mound—they came from the dugout, where Aaron Boone continues to manage like he’s guessing on a multiple-choice test and proudly circling “C” every time.

This is becoming a pattern, not a fluke.

April 5: high-leverage situation, Boone rolls with JC Escarra—three pitches later, strikeout, rally dead on arrival.

April 8: a .077-hitting Ryan McMahon keeps getting chances like he’s on a lifetime achievement tour. Boone’s justification was dumb. He actually said McMahon “had been on base four times in the previous three games.” That’s the bar now? Four times in three games? For a hitter batting .077?

And then Friday—somehow worse.

Down 5–3 in the ninth, the Yankees finally wake up. Giancarlo Stanton and Amed Rosario lead off with singles. Jazz Chisholm Jr. does his job, chaos ensues, runners move—suddenly, one swing ties the game.

This is where a real manager plays chess. But we don't have a real manager. We have Boone who plays rock-paper-scissors… blindfolded.

With a righty reliever on the mound, Boone sticks with Randal Grichuk while Trent Grisham—a lefty—sits on the bench watching the season pass him by. Predictably, Grichuk strikes out on four pitches.

And Boone’s explanation? Brace yourself:
“I like the righties against Baker. Had it been two outs, I might have gone Grisham.”

That’s not just a bad answer—it’s barely an answer. It’s the kind of logic that makes you wonder if lineup decisions are being made with a dartboard.

Then came the postgame philosophy lecture, where Boone said:

“Up until the last game of the homestand, we’ve been walking a ton, giving ourselves an opportunity, just got to get some guys clicking and obviously get that big hit... We’re not hitting a ton of longballs right now, but for the most part, approach-wise, I’ve been good…it’s going to happen sometimes from the offense. They’ll get it rolling and some people will pay the price.”

That all sounds nice—if you ignore reality.

Because here’s what Boone refuses to acknowledge: when you do get those opportunities, you can’t hand them to the worst possible matchup and hope for a miracle. Walks don’t win games by themselves. “Approach” doesn’t drive in runs. The right hitter in the right moment does.

Instead, Boone keeps rolling out scenarios where JC Escarra, Ryan McMahon, or a cold righty in a righty-righty matchup becomes the guy. Not because it’s smart—but because, apparently, it “feels” right.

That’s not strategy. That’s gambling. It's a guess. You need to give your team an opportunity. He's not.

Managing this team right now is like handing someone the keys to a Porsche and watching them say, “I like my chances,” right before driving it straight into a wall. And then afterward, they explain the crash by talking about how smoothly the steering wheel felt.

At some point, you stop calling it bad luck. You call it what it is: bad leadership.

The New York Yankees aren’t losing because they lack talent. They’re losing because, in the biggest moments, the decision-making collapses because of Aaron Boone. And until that changes, October isn’t the goal—it’s a fantasy. Mark my words, even if we make it to the playoffs, Boone doesn't have the brain capacity to guide us in a short series.  Trust me.

You cannot win a championship when your manager keeps explaining losses instead of preventing them. That's the bottom line.

YANKS GET CREATIVE WITH LUIS GIL

I feel like this shouldn't be shocking news....but apparently it is for some. The Yankees are moving Luis Gil to Triple-A to start the season. Some fans on social media are shocked. Or maybe that isn't the correct word to use here. Either way, the Yankees are getting crafty.

The Yankees are in Phoenix today preparing for an exhibition against the Cubs tomorrow. When the Yankees left Tampa yesterday, Ryan Weathers was on the plane for Phoenix and Gil was left behind, read more HERE. There is an interesting strategy to this.

In the first two weeks of the season, the Yankees will have FOUR days off. Yup, you read that correctly. The Yankees do not need a fifth starter until the second week in April. In theory, this could very easily be the Yankees starting rotation during this timeframe:

3/25: Max Fried
3/26: OFF DAY
3/27: Cam Schlittler
3/28: Will Warren
3/29: OFF DAY
3/30: Ryan Weathers
3/31: Fried
4/1: Schlittler
4/2: OFF DAY
4/3: Warren
4/4: Weathers
4/5: Fried
4/6: OFF DAY
4/7: Schlittler
4/8: Warren
4/9: Weathers
4/10: Fried
4/11: Luis Gil?

So the Yankees do not need to carry a fifth starter until the 11th. No one will need to pitch on short rest, this gives Gil the ability to go down and pitch regularly and continue to work on his mechanics. He's made some recent adjustments that look like they are starting to pay off but, that has been his weakness all spring and the Yankees want to see more improvement so they feel comfortable his 6.28 ERA in four spring starts will not follow into the regular season. He has minor league options - the Yankees are simply giving him more time to get consistent before pitching in meaningful games.

I don't hate it. I guess you could make the same case that Ryan Weathers would also benefit from the same option. So why not send Weathers down? He has an 11.68 ERA, so almost twice as bad as Gil. He hasn't exactly earned a starting spot but the Yankees feel like Weathers has just had some "bad luck" in his starts whereas Gil's ill fortune was due to poor mechanics. It's an interesting argument, no matter how you look at it.

So even though Weathers has had some ugly results, the Yankees are going to stick with their gut and their "bad luck" excuses we have heard in the past. This is all just a strategy. Now we just have to wait and see if it works out. 

Gil will be back, the Yankees have enough arms and days off to get them through the first two weeks easily and it is going to work because Weathers and his bad luck won't appear when the season starts. That's what I am going with. I'm putting that into the universe to come true.

Get to work, Gil and work out the kinks!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

 

THIS YANKEES STARTING ROTATION IS HARDLY CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER

Here’s the thing—and it’s not exactly a hot take—it’s getting harder and harder to read about the Yankees’ rotation without grinding your teeth a little.

The deeper you go, the more it feels like this staff is being held together with duct tape, crossed fingers, and whatever’s left in the trainer’s room. Opening Day isn’t creeping up anymore—it’s basically here—and the rotation still feels like a group project where nobody did their part until the night before.

The latest comes via Bryan Hoch, who laid out a few end-of-spring storylines. One of the more telling ones: Cam Schlittler had a minor setback that slowed his buildup. Translation? He might be sitting around 70 pitches when the season starts. The workaround is a piggyback situation—which is a polite baseball way of saying, “we’ll figure it out as we go.” The Yankees can get away with it early since they don’t need a fifth starter immediately, but that’s more scheduling luck than actual planning.

And sure, you might also see names like Carlos Lagrange and Kervin Castro floating into the picture. Which is fine… if you’re talking about mid-July depth. Not ideal when it’s March and you’re already flipping through the emergency contacts list.

But the bigger issue is what’s happening—or not happening—with Carlos Rodón.

According to Chris Kirschner, manager Aaron Boone isn’t even sure Rodón will pitch in a spring training game before the regular season. Let that sink in. We’re talking about a frontline starter.

Rodón will throw another live BP, and Boone says he expects him back “at some point in April.” At some point? We knew he was coming back from injury, but give me some specifics please!

And that’s really the tone here. There’s a noticeable lack of urgency. Boone doesn’t come across like a manager trying to piece together a contender—he looks like someone hoping the problem sorts itself out if he just doesn’t poke it too hard.

So, what does this rotation actually look like right now?

Max Fried is the guy. He was brought in to stabilize things, and to his credit, he’s healthy and ready. No complaints there. He’s your Opening Day starter, and frankly, he has to be more than that—he has to be the adult in the room.

Luis Gil was supposed to be a key piece, but his spring has been rough. The velocity is there, but the results aren’t. Giving up seven runs in three innings isn’t a “shake the rust off” outing—it’s a red flag. At this point, you’re hearing whispers about the minors or the bullpen, which is not what you want for someone penciled into your top three.

Will Warren is stepping in and now he’s expected to carry meaningful innings right away. That’s a lot to ask from a young arm, especially when “depth piece” suddenly becomes “please save us.”

Schlittler, as mentioned, is on a pitch count. Ryan Weathers is slotted into the back end to provide “stability,” which is usually code for “just give us four innings and don’t set anything on fire.”

And then there’s the injured list, which reads like a who’s-who of who you actually wanted to rely on.

Gerrit Cole is working back from Tommy John and might return in May or June. Rodón is aiming for late April, maybe. Clarke Schmidt is even further out and might not even come back as a starter.

So yes—needless to say—this is not a championship rotation. Not at all.

Could it become one? Maybe, if everything breaks perfectly. But “everything going right” is not a strategy—it’s a wish.

And right now, this whole situation feels less like a plan and more like a hope that April doesn’t ask too many tough questions.

THREE STARTERS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH

All offseason I kept saying the same thing. Actually, scratch that—I said it last season too. The Yankees needed one more legit starting pitcher to sit next to Max Fried. Just one. Then when Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole come back, suddenly the rotation looks nasty. Add Cam Schlittler into the mix and you’ve got the makings of something serious.

But nobody wanted to hear it.

Instead, the Yankees went out and traded for Ryan Weathers, wrapped the move in a nice little bow, and Yankee social media tried to sell it like they’d just discovered the next ace hiding in a clearance bin. On top of that, everyone just assumed Luis Gil would magically snap back into Rookie of the Year form, like there’s some kind of “reset to dominance” button you press every March.

Fast forward to now—just weeks from Opening Day—and the Yankees rotation looks… shaky. And honestly, that’s not fair to Max Fried. The guy can only carry so much of the load.

Sure, Will Warren is opening some eyes this spring, and Cam Schlittler looks promising. But let’s be real for a second: promising isn’t the same thing as ready. And right now, ready is exactly what the Yankees need.

Fans love to point to the eventual returns of Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole, and yes, that will help. But the team actually has to stay afloat until they get there. If two of your five starters are consistently struggling before those guys return, things can spiral quickly.

Even Sports Illustrated writer Jordon Lawrenz is sounding the alarm with a wrote that “Three Quality Starters Isn’t Good Enough.” Funny… that sounds awfully familiar. Oh right—I’ve been saying that exact thing right here at Bleeding Yankee Blue.

Lawrenz points out that the Yankees know they have prospects like Carlos Lagrange waiting in the wings, but it’s way too early to start calling those names over Gil and Weathers. Early spring struggles happen, sure—but when it’s multiple starters, that’s when the concern meter starts flashing.

But this is the Yankees’ pattern. They don’t act before problems happen. They wait until the problem is staring them in the face… and then they react.

Let’s call it what it is: Ryan Weathers was never the answer. It was a questionable move from the start. And simply waiting around for Cole and Rodón to return is basically handing wins to your opponents and hoping you can play catch-up later.

If the Yankees want to be contenders—hell, if they want to talk about being 2026 World Series champions—the front office needs to get its act together.

But will they? Probably not.

And hey, why would they listen to me over here at Bleeding Yankee Blue?

I only called it months ago. Losers.

THE YANKEES "BOLSTER" THEIR ROTATION... MAKING IT MEDIOCRE

Desperate Cashman has done it again.

The New York Yankees actually did something — and somehow, it managed to feel even smaller than nothing. 

They “bolstered” their rotation by acquiring left-hander Ryan Weathers from the Marlins in exchange for a four-prospect grab bag: outfielders Brendan Jones and Dillon Lewis, infielders Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus. A move happened. Technically.

Weathers now slides into a rotation that currently reads like a spring training split squad: Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Luis Gil, plus Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn lurking around like spare parts. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón aren’t ready for Opening Day, which means this rotation inspires exactly zero fear — unless you’re a Yankees fan afraid of how many bullpen games are coming.

This is the part where the front office wants credit for “addressing pitching.” No. This is rearranging deck chairs and calling it nautical engineering. If the Yankees were serious, they’d sever Brian Cashman’s contract, redirect that money toward an actual impact arm, and stop pretending hope and prayer count as roster construction.

There is nothing about this move that inspires confidence. Nothing about this offseason that suggests a plan. And nothing about the Yankees right now that feels remotely serious. They have somehow become the most embarrassing participant in an offseason where teams are actively trying to win — and succeeding.

And hey, does the name Weathers sound familiar? It should. Dave Weathers pitched for the Yankees in the late ’90s. So apparently, if we’re shopping for sons of former Yankees now, why stop here? If nostalgia is the strategy, how the hell can’t they land Cody Bellinger? Cause Cashman is asleep.

This isn’t roster building. It’s franchise cosplay. 

The Yankees aren’t acting like contenders; they’re acting like an organization killing time until spring and hoping the brand carries the load.

This has been a terrible offseason. And worse — it’s the kind of terrible that suggests the Yankees no longer know how to be anything else.

AN UNSERIOUS FRANCHISE WITH A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING

It’s honestly wild watching the Yankee sports-writer industrial complex finally arrive at a place some of us have been yelling about since October. Welcome. I saved you a seat.

See, I don’t just think about right now. I think about what now does to later. Every move — or non-move — has a ripple effect. Do something today, you shape tomorrow. Do nothing today, and tomorrow shows up angry, impatient, and holding receipts. Doing nothing and assuming it’ll all magically work out is basically rolling dice in a casino and calling it “strategy.” Baseball offseasons are not supposed to be games of chance. They’re supposed to be statements of intent.

And right now, the Yankees are making a statement — just not the one you want. This is no longer a serious franchise. It’s not a bold one. It’s barely a competitive one.

You can listen to what Michael Kay chirped last week — that the Yankees’ offseason is totally fine because the players who signed elsewhere “weren’t guys they wanted anyway.” That’s the line that makes my blood boil. Why weren’t they wanted? Why is upgrading the roster suddenly optional? Why is ambition treated like a luxury item? By the way Kay, the Yankees aren't better because of that decision.  Ridiculous. Your time is up.

The most baffling move of all was extending a qualifying offer to Trent Grisham — the same Trent Grisham the Yankees practically tried to smuggle off the roster the year before. Sure, last season worked out better than expected. Fine. Golf clap. But there are better players available. And while I admire taking a calculated risk once in a while, this entire offseason has been one long shrug.

Because let’s be clear about what this team actually needs: pitching. A long-term deal for Cody Bellinger. And — say it louder — a new shortstop who can field and hit. That’s not greedy. That’s basic roster construction.

Instead, the Yankees appear content marching into the season with Max Fried, Luis Gil, Will Warren, and Cam Schlittler, fingers crossed like it’s a middle school science fair. They’re assuming Cam will be stellar again. They’re assuming Gerrit Cole comes back and immediately turns into Cy Young Gerrit Cole. They’re assuming Carlos Rodón — fresh off injury — suddenly becomes reliable regularly.

And Rodón, especially, is the ultimate mystery box. Sometimes you get dominance. Sometimes you get five runs in the second inning and a thousand-yard stare. Now he’s coming off an injury, and I’m supposed to believe this is the moment everything clicks? Based on what — vibes?

That’s how we will end up in early June in 2026, sitting in third place, with the same cast as last year and a bullpen of minor leaguers Brian Cashman can shuffle in like spare parts. Do you see the pattern yet? Because I’ve been screaming about it for months, and now — finally — everyone else is catching up.

Even Empire Sports Media, whom I respect, spelled it out plainly:

“The harsh reality of medical science and aging curves suggests the Yankees might be setting themselves up for a significant disappointment. While Cole’s work ethic is legendary, physiology is undefeated, and expecting a 35-year-old pitcher to immediately recapture Cy Young form after reconstructive elbow surgery is not just optimistic—it is dangerous.”

Exactly. One thousand percent correct.

The Yankees treat players like machines. They hoard data, worship spreadsheets, and completely ignore the human element — the soreness, the recovery, the mental grind of coming back from injury. A spreadsheet doesn’t tell you how Gerrit Cole feels when he wakes up. It doesn’t tell you what his elbow says in April. And the truth is uncomfortable, but unavoidable: we don’t know if Cole ever returns to Cy Young form. Pretending otherwise is reckless.

AIBat put it bluntly too:

“The pressure is on the Yankees management to find solutions that strengthen the team… With the start of the season drawing closer, time is of the essence.”

Yes, it’s obvious. And yes, it still apparently needs to be said. The Yankees haven’t made a splash this offseason. They haven’t even made a puddle. It’s embarrassing.

Brian Cashman talked about being “aggressive.” That was a lie. Full stop. And while I genuinely like some of the players on this roster, nobody wants a rerun of 2025 — close enough to dream, far enough to fail. Sometimes teams need a shakeup. Sometimes complacency is the real enemy.

Running it back with the same guys invites stagnation. Volpe and Wells look overmatched. Judge is aging in real time. Can we please help this man win a championship before the window slams shut? And Max Fried? He’s stranded on an island, surrounded by question marks and medical reports.

So if this sounds like panic, it’s not. It’s disappointment. Yankee fans aren’t unreasonable — they’re exhausted. They want a team that actually tries to win, not one that hides behind models and probabilities and hopes the humans behave like robots.

This isn’t how you go into 2026.
The Yankees need to be better.
That’s it.

BLACKBURN RETURNS IN THE NEWEST CHEAP CASHMAN MOVE

 The Yankees did it again. Because of course they did.

Saturday night, the team agreed to re-sign Paul Blackburn on a one-year, $2 million deal. And if your first reaction was “wait… why?” congratulations — you’re still paying attention. There is absolutely nothing worse than a franchise bringing back a player that no fan wanted, asked for, or even remembered. Blackburn checks all three boxes.

Naturally, the New York Post tried to slap lipstick on it.

According to the Post, this is why fans should calm down:

“That is of note because Blackburn offers the ability to start — which the Yankees might need early in the season as they await the returns of Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole — but also can provide innings out of the bullpen.”

Please. Stop. Just stop.

That’s not a selling point — that’s a cry for help. “He can start, or he can be bad somewhere else” is not roster construction. It’s survival mode. And it’s exactly the kind of nonsense spin you get when expectations have fallen through the floor.

Let’s be honest: this move wasn’t smart, bold, or strategic. It was cheap. And that’s why Brian Cashman loves it. Low cost, low commitment, low accountability. Blackburn has zero upside. None. 

And now he’s back. Because mediocrity apparently gets second chances in the Bronx, as long as it’s affordable.

This is what complacency looks like. Cashman isn’t chasing championships anymore — he’s managing payroll optics. And worse, he’s clearly handcuffed by Hal Steinbrenner, who continues to show he is not a serious baseball owner. Hal runs the Yankees like they’re a quarterly earnings report, not a historic franchise built on dominance. Spend just enough to say you tried. Compete just enough to sell tickets.

And Cashman? He’s comfortable with that. Which is exactly why he should resign. Today would be fine.

Now take a look at the 2026 rotation as it currently stands:
Max Fried
Cam Schlittler
Luis Gil
Will Warren
Ryan Yarbrough

If that doesn’t scare the hell out of you, then by all means — keep buying tickets and enjoy another early playoff exit. For me? I’ll always support the players. They didn’t ask for this mess.

But I cannot — and will not — spend another dime supporting this franchise as an institution. The standards are gone. The ambition is gone. And the front office thinks fans are stupid enough to believe that Paul Blackburn is a meaningful move.

They’ve ruined it.
And this signing is just another loud reminder of how far the Yankees have fallen.

WOAH! THERE'S A MICHAEL KING BIDDING WAR HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

It's almost Christmas and one team is about to get an early present. Michael King is ready to return to the AL East, now we just wait and see who he pitches for.

According to SI.com HERE, the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and the Yankees are all finalists in the Michael King sweepstakes. I really don't know how I feel about the idea of King coming back. I guess I am indifferent compared to Casey who wrote I REALLY HOPE A MICHAEL KING REUNION IS NOT IN THE CARDS. I have nothing against King, I guess I just am not itching for a reunion. I am looking for new shiny options.

On the other hand though....the Yankees NEED options. Both Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are going to miss time at the beginning of the season and let's face it you can never have enough pitching. This is true for ANY team but especially the Yankees who seem to have the most untimely injuries partnered with a very ineffective training and medical staff that exasperate everything.

King is very familiar with the Yankees so there's one plus to consider in all of this. We know some guys just can't handle the bright lights and expectations here and that is not a concern here. Also, it would take some of the pressure off Luis Gil and Cam Schlittler who could slide down in the rotation. It would also allow the Yankees to use Will Warren in more of a swingman role. There's some strategy here that could work.

As far as our other AL East rivals, this could get interesting. The Orioles are on a quest to find strong pitching after upgrading its offense with the Pete Alonso signing. King would instantly be the strongest arm in their rotation and would make the Orioles a stronger team in 2026 then they were this season. Boston on the other hand is a bit of a head scratcher. Right now, their rotation is full especially after adding Sonny Gray.

If the Red Sox do sign King, it could be part of a strategy used to then trade some of their up and coming arms for an impact bat similar to what the Orioles just did. Adding the impact bat also makes the Red Sox a stronger team which could make the battle for the AL East that much tougher. Last year it was a race between the Blue Jays and us but now this could become even more difficult on the Yankees. 

So now we wait and see what happens. Does King reunite with the Yankees or do the Red Sox have a shot at snagging the guy that grew up in Rhode Island and went to Boston college? It's not something I was interested in. Now that I see how it can change the landscape in the AL East....I'm paying attention.

Do you want King back? Comment and tell us what's on your mind.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

COULD SANDY ALCANTARA BE A YANKEE SOON?

Would the Yankees ever grow a spine, sack up, and actually trade for Sandy Alcantara? You remember that rumor, right? It was the hot, steamy, headline-dominating fling of last offseason… then it popped back up at the deadline like an ex who “just wants to talk.” And what happened? Nothing. Zip. Classic Yankees.

Part of the holdup is the Marlins convincing themselves they’re “competitive.” Sure. And I’m a Gold Glove second baseman. Miami, sweethearts, you don’t have a chance. It's adorable that you think you do, but no — you don’t.

Now here’s where it gets fun: Sandy Alcantara is exactly the kind of pitcher the Yankees pretend they’re bold enough to go get. He’s built for the Bronx. Power arm, bulldog attitude, and he’s proven he can carry a staff. But for a trade like that to happen, the Yankees would need to… brace yourself… sack up and move Anthony Volpe. Yes. I said it. Yes. I will die on this hill.

Package Volpe, add a couple minor leaguers, get Sandy, and call it a day. But will they? No. Because the Yankees are desperate to fix their mistake instead of admitting they made one. Volpe is the IKEA dresser with three missing screws — you keep trying to force it together while pretending it’s “fine.” Spoiler alert: it’s not. Volpe is trash, they picked wrong, and the scout who pushed that decision should be told to kick rocks in cheap cleats.

Anyway, back to sanity.

MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM dropped this on November 30 where former GM Jim Bowden said he thinks Alcantara to the Yankees is legit.

“I also think Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins has a legitimate shot of getting traded to the New York Yankees... I know they’ve had a lot of discussions; I think if the Yankees decided they would give up Spencer Jones—think of this for a minute—they trade Spencer Jones for Alcantara.”

Bowden is great when you need entertainment. Sometimes he even makes sense. But then he spirals into fantasyland, like when he insists the Yankees need Kyle Tucker. Buddy… if the Yankees re-sign Bellinger, that conversation ends. Full stop. Bellinger is the better fit in that scenario, period.

And Spencer Jones? Really? The Yankees waited two years for this kid to turn into a skyscraper that plays baseball, and Bowden wants to ship him off like an unwanted houseplant? Calm down, Jim. There are other creative paths to Alcantara that don’t involve gutting the future.

Nick Deeds from MLB Trade Rumors threw some ice water on everything, writing on November 28 that the Marlins expect to keep Alcantara:

“Alcantara, in particular, is someone that the organization ‘expects’ to still be in Miami on Opening Day.”

Deeds isn’t wrong — Sandy won a Cy Young in 2022, and even though he posted a 5.36 ERA over 31 starts last season, the Marlins aren’t going to sell low unless they absolutely lose their minds. And honestly? That’s fine. Rumor season is rumor season. Wake me up when someone actually does something.

But here’s the reality: the Yankees absolutely must upgrade their pitching. Mandatory. Required. Non-negotiable. Getting Max Fried was beautiful — chef’s kiss — but the rotation isn’t done. Not even close.

We can’t keep pretending Luis Gil is going to throw 180 innings without exploding. We can’t assume Cam Schlittler’s 2025 wasn’t a cosmic fluke. And we definitely can’t stroll into the season thinking, “Eh, good enough.”

WE. NEED. ONE. MORE. STARTER.

And Alcantara?
Yeah, he’s the guy.

Stay tuned — or more accurately, stay angry.