Showing posts with label marcus semien. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marcus semien. Show all posts

Monday, March 2, 2026

THE YANKEES HAD A CHANCE TO TRADE VOLPE & THEY FAILED!


It certainly took a hot minute for this nugget to come out, but now that it has it is both fascinating and infuriating at the same time. Over the winter, the Yankees had the opportunity to trade Anthony Volpe and actually get a guy that could field and hit his weight for average....but they foolishly backed down.

You have to have a paid subscription to see this, but check it out HERE. It's certainly compelling. The Yankees and Red Sox were both talking to the Texas Rangers about Corey Seager. The Rangers were willing to make a move and are still in process of reworking their finances. They are still dealing with significant operating losses and are trying to reduce payroll and moving Seager would've helped. The Yankees need a shortstop upgrade, and the Rangers are looking to shed some payroll....on paper it looked like a match.


Internally, Marcus Semien and Seager were also not getting along with some clubhouse drama mentioned in reports. They helped the Rangers win the World Series but things behind the scenes had reached a breaking point. It ultimately led to the Rangers keeping Seager and trading to the Mets instead because the Yankees were not willing to meet the Rangers trade request. There a wide range of rumors out there about what and who the Rangers were looking for but it sounds like the Yankees were not willing to negotiate.

And so here we are.....still with awful Volpe. So now we know the Yankees are willing to acknowledge that Volpe is not the answer but they are hoping for a miracle and a deal to fall out of the sky that isn't going to happen. The are of the negotiation isn't there right now. So we'll be seeing Volpe soon.



And hoping that Volpe's conversation with Bucky Dent moves mountains and creates a divine miracle, read more HERE. It's year four of the Volpe experiment and instead of a capable shortstop like Seager we get VolpE the error machine. I'm really hoping that Jose Caballero plays so well that the Yankees just can't find room to play Volpe....here's hoping the baseball gods hear me.

Volpe just isn't the answer. He was "supposed to be" but it didn't work out. The Yankees are trying to fit a square peg into a round whole. The sooner they stop doing that and realize Volpe NOT playing is what is best for the team, the better chances we have at winning.


--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj







Wednesday, May 21, 2025

WARREN IS FINDING HIS GROOVE


Will Warren is still figuring things out — and that’s perfectly fine. At just 24 years old, he’s in the early stages of his journey, and like many young pitchers, he’s had to take a few lumps along the way. Last season wasn’t easy; he struggled to find consistency and ended up being sent down to Scranton. But this year, the story’s starting to shift.

With Gerrit Cole on the shelf and Luis Gil out of action, Warren wasn’t gently eased into a role — he was thrown into the fire. Circumstance pushed him into the rotation, and rather than sink, he’s starting to swim.

On Tuesday night against the Rangers, Warren delivered 5.2 scoreless innings in a 5-2 win. He was efficient and sharp, racking up a career-high 10 strikeouts for the second straight start. Over 101 pitches, he allowed just five hits and one walk. His final strikeout — against Marcus Semien — capped off a statement performance.

Manager Aaron Boone tried to take some credit for keeping Warren in to face Semien. “I liked the matchup, liked how he was still throwing the ball,” Boone said. Alright, Boone — sure. But let’s be honest: with the way the rotation’s been stretched thin, Warren was pitching either way. Don’t make it sound like this was part of some grand plan.

The truth is, Warren is earning his place. The Yankees clearly see potential in him, and now we’re starting to see flashes of that turn into production. He’s always had the stuff — the slider has been a calling card since his prospect days, and now his four-seam fastball and change-up are catching up. The difference now is confidence. He’s not just throwing pitches — he’s pitching with conviction.

Aaron Judge summed it up nicely: “He’s going to be a big piece for us down the road.” And it’s hard to disagree. Drafted in 2021 and debuting professionally in 2022, Warren is still early in his development. But with each outing, he’s showing that he’s not just filling in — he’s growing into something more.

Let’s see where it goes. The tools are there. The belief is building. And right now, Will Warren is giving the Yankees something to believe in.



Thursday, December 2, 2021

RUMOR: YANKEES ARE INTERESTED IN MORE THAN ONE SHORTSTOP


It's back to the drawing board for the Yankees. Brian Cashman said that that shortstop was an area of need that would have to be addressed but the Yankees are still without a shortstop. It's frustrating when you see some of the big names sign with other teams, so now that some of the big names are gone....how is Cashman going to fix the shortstop problem?

There are still options out there, just not as flashy as before. The Yankees could still go after Carlos Correa even though I hate the idea because I can't stand him and since Corey Seager just got a ridiculous 10-year, $325 million deal Correa will be even more expensive. So, who else are the Yankees looking at? Names they've already been linked to.


1. Isiah Kiner-Falefa
The Rangers surprisingly spent a lot of money after signing Marcus Semien and Seager and they also have a surplus of middle-infield prospects so they are shopping Kiner-Falefa. The Rangers are also going to lose second and third round draft picks next year so trading Kiner-Falefa for some prospects might make more sense for them in the long run. On paper, the Rangers and Yankees line up for another trade. Kiner-Falefa is only 26 and is under arbitration control through 2023. He doesn't have a lot of power, but he did have a .271 BA last season and was successful in 20 out of 25 stolen base attempts last season. The Yankees could definitely use some speed on the bases and he can play third base which would give the Yankees some additional flexibility.


2. Andrelton Simmons
No surprise on this one, the Yankees have been interested in Simmons for a while now. The Yankees tried to get the Minnesota Twins to trade him at the deadline so now they could just sign him to a short term deal which they seem to prefer. Simmons could be a serviceable stopgap, he has won four Gold Gloves in his 10 year career. He is an elite defender and finished last season with 16 Outs Above Average and would be the solid defender that the Yankees have been missing. If the Yankees do choose to go with Simmons they would have to be comfortable with a great fielder and a guy that isn't going to be a big offensive contributor. That may be hard to accept considering how much the Yankees have struggled with offense in recent years. Simmons also is a traditional everyday shortstop and has no experience playing other positions which does not offer the Yankees any flexibility.

Do either of these guys excite me? No, not really but neither does Clown Correa and I'm glad the Yankees didn't match Seager's stupid crazy 10-year deal from the Rangers. Cashman is gonna have to do something here, but we will have to wait and see what that is. 


--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

Monday, November 29, 2021

WHO IS UPSET THAT THE YANKEES LOST OUT ON SEMIEN? DON'T BE.


Honestly, I had every intention of writing a rumor piece, because let's face it there are TONS of rumors out there right now. We are ALL following them. Problem is a lockout is looming and the amount of signings that are about to happen could be mind boggling. Nobody wants to write a rumor piece only to find out that the rumor you are talking about already happened before your article is published. THAT is super embarrassing.

So as you are reading this now, know that this was written Sunday afternoon and posted Monday. A lot can happen between now and then, like Marcus Semien signing a SEVEN year deal with the Texas Rangers. I already wrote about him earlier in the week and since then, he's signed. Some people I know aren't particularly happy about it.

But why? I'm not saying Semien isn't talented. He had a good year and finished third in the MVP race this season. In fact, he's the only player with two top three MVP finishes in the last three seasons. It's no wonder why teams are interested but, is he worth a seven year deal? 


The answer is NO. He's 31 now and if the Yankees are going to entertain another long term contract Semien doesn't make sense. The Rangers obviously were ready to spend big on a guy that has been consistent for a good streak and try and build back their team that has been on the bottom of the AL West for too long now. Semien is a good player, but at 31 he isn't worth a seven year deal now.

Would I have given him a seven year deal two or three seasons ago? Maybe. Especially when you consider that the Yankees gave a seven year deal to injury plagued Aaron Hicks who has been far less productive. The Yankees already have long term deals with Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole, Semien is not the guy I spend big bucks on for a long time.


The Rangers made a splash that doesn't make sense for us, and for those who are screaming impatiently for Hal Steinbrenner to make a move....relax. It will happen, but that wasn't the right move to make. It needs to make sense.

And right now we all need to remember a lockout is on the horizon. The Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in two days. Get ready for a crazy storm of signings because they are coming. Some of you may not remember the last lockout but this could greatly change the game and the players know that.

Hold on because it's going to be a bumpy ride. In the mean time, if you are stewing about the Semien signing.....stop.


--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

Thursday, November 25, 2021

THANKFUL FOR THE THANKSGIVING RUMORS!


HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL! I hope this finds you well and I hope you are spending time with your friends and family this year, especially after the shitshow that 2020 was.

Can you believe that 2021 is almost over? This year went by fast, and now I sit and think about what I am thankful for and wonder about what the future holds. A bunch of baseball free agents are wondering the same thing, too. Not for the same reason of course, but this is a time for reflection for all of us.

So as we sit and wonder what comes next, the baseball world waits and wonders what is going to happen with this crazy shortstop free agent market. We are all curious, and so is Marcus Semien. We sit back and wait to see if the Yankees will make a move on shortstop, but according to NJ.com HERE, Scott Boras is still crazy Boras and is shopping for a hefty contract for Semien north of $200 million, which is more than what myself and other writers were predicting.


We know Boras always aims for the moon, but now we wait and wonder if the Yankees were interested in Semien because he would be a more affordable option. His price tag is lower than what Clown Carlos Correa is asking for and Corey Seager also but word on the diamond is RUMOR: YANKEES ARE NOT SPENDING BIG BUCKS ON A SHORTSTOP so do the Yankees consider the asking price to be too high?

We all know the Yankees can afford anything they want, but that doesn't mean they will spend big money. So we wait and see what happens now that the Collecting Bargaining Agreement expires in less than one week. Semien is hopeful that the market doesn't collapse and the likely lockout does not negatively impact his future contract and the Yankees hope the market changes and that maybe they can swoop in and make a splash after all. Only time will tell.


So as we sit and hope for a quick agreement for a new CBA let's be thankful for what we have now. I'm thankful that my family loves baseball and introduced it to me at a young age. I am thankful to have this holiday with friends and family. Last but not least, I am thankful that you all take the time to read us.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!




--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

Monday, November 22, 2021

RUMOR: YANKEES ARE NOT SPENDING BIG BUCKS ON A SHORTSTOP


One thing we know about shortstop is that Gleyber Torres won't be playing it again in 2022. The Yankees have said it, but now we sit and wait to see who the Yankees put at shortstop instead.

And as we sit, we wonder about potential names the Yankees will chase. What about Corey Seager? Or Marcus Semien? Then there is Carlos Correa who I can't stand but someone is going to pay him and I just sit back and hope that it won't be the Yankees. We can't forget that the Yankees have been tied to Trevor Story also. But....what if it's NONE of these names?

That could be the case, at least that is what both the New York Post AND the NY Daily News have reported. We are in the Hot Stove season so why not speculate? What if the Yankees don't go for one of the big dogs on the market? It might not be a bad thing.


The Yankees already have long term deals on the books with Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, a stupid contract with Aaron Hicks and the Yankees are interested in keeping Aaron Judge long term. None of these big name short stops are going to sign for a short term deal so if they are serious about a long term deal with Judge, an expensive shortstop deal doesn't make sense. Sure, they are the Yankees and they can "afford it" if they want to....but that doesn't make it a good idea.

The Yankees are high on Oswaldo Peraza and Anthony Volpe, two of their best prospects and believe they are close to major league ready. The Yankees don't want another big deal that blocks their path to the majors and could still upgrade their shortstop with a shorter stop gap.


Let's face it, an upgrade from Torres at shortstop wouldn't be very hard. The Yankees had interest at the trade deadline for Andrelton Simmons who offers reliable defense but not much offense. Another name that I think the Yankees may consider is Chris Taylor, but he still has some defensive concerns as well. Not as bad as Torres, but still a concern. I think the Yankees will consider a less obvious path here because they are thinking about future financial commitments.

I am interested to see who the new Yankee shortstop will be, because I am not convinced it is a big name. After all, Cashman likes to bargain shop and we've seen it for a while now AND a big name shortstop only means they would be buying more future payroll inflexibility.



  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
     BYB Senior Managing Editor
    Twitter: @nyprincessj



Wednesday, October 27, 2021

SEAGER, CORREA & THE YANKEES SHORTSTOP RUMOR MILL REVISITED

Source: CBS Sports

How are you enjoying the World Series? Are you rooting for the Braves? Not a fan, but the Yankees did sweep the Braves the last time they made it to the Fall Classic—way back in 1999. That was when the Yankees were consistently good, like dynasty good. But that was a long time ago. We had a great shortstop back then and since Derek Jeter retired, we haven't had consistency in that position. Sure the Yankees had Didi Gregorius and I liked him, but we let him test out free agency, so perhaps the Yankees didn't like him that much. Which leaves us where we are right now. Without a consistent middle infielder who offensively and defensively adds value to the team. And that's where we begin the rumor mill story.

Corey Seager: a hot bat in Los Angeles, the 27-year-old is a free agent and is among a number of shortstops available this off-season. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan per The Michael Kay Show, Seager could be a Yankee come 2022. "The former NL Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star and World Series Champion has a career .297 batting average with 104 home runs, 364 RBI and a .870 OPS. However, an argument could be made that his defense isn’t always there and for a team who just watched Gleyber Torres struggle mightily defensively all season until ultimately getting moved to second base, perhaps the Yankees will elect to value defense at that position more than offense," reports Yahoo Sports. We need defense—next candidate. 

Carlos Correa: Now don't shoot the messager. I am not a fan either. But he is a premier shortshop and could bring a lot of power to the position.  But the New York Post is spot on here—"If not for the scandal, Correa would look like a potentially terrific fit for the Yankees. He clearly embraces the big stage, as exemplified by the postseason numbers — a .273/.346/.522 slash line and 18 home runs — that he brought into Tuesday night’s Game 1 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park." If Correa was the Yankees' only option this winter, then maybe you overlook 2017, but he's not—next candidate.

Marcus Semien: Toronto Blue Jay's second baseman can also play shortstop and could be a fit for the Yankees given his incredible 2021 season. "He’s coming off a breakout campaign, posting a .265/.334/.538 slash line and a career-high 45 home runs and 102 RBIs, making his first All-Star team in the process," reported ESPN Seattle. But he could get some interest from the Mariners, and he is from the Bay Area, so there will be competition. Yet what better Divison to play in than the AL East and what better team than the Yankees. 

Source: NY Post

Let's not forget the Yankees can home grow their shortstop too. As the Post reminds us, the Yankees could go with who they have in "Gio Urshela, Andrew Velazquez and Tyler Wade out of respect for those youngsters and divert more resources to their pitching staff or first base." But, then we are back where we started. Unless Velazquez or Wade can morph into a Jeter?

Look the Yankees can't fix everything but they have to make some moves to offset this multiyear slump without a World Series bid. 1999 feels like a lifetime ago. The dominance of the Yankees back then was fierce and deep. I want that again. You want that again. So, let's go Yankees—assemble that team, and if that means getting a shortstop, then there are plenty to choose from—so get after it!



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

Thursday, September 30, 2021

GERRIT COLE CAN SAY 'SAYONARA' TO THE CY YOUNG NOW


I don't put a lot of emphasis on individual awards because I keep my eye on the real prize....a World Series trophy. But even though most of us are super focused on winning the series against the Blue Jays and making it into the postseason, some are also focused on the Cy Young award.

The two favorites for the AL Cy Young are playing in this series and baseball is focused on Jays starter Robbie Ray and our own Gerrit Cole. We watched Cole pitch last night, and we will see Ray pitch tonight against Corey Kluber. If Ray pitches a better game then Cole did....he may be the standout favorite.


It would be nice to see Cole win the Cy Young, but that's something you have to earn and two of his last three starts have been clunkers now. He's struggled in some big games and he did again last night, too. Aside from the stats, here is a good visual for proof.


We could all tell early on, Cole was not on his game and the Blue Jays sat back and capitalized on his mistakes. He did finally settle down after the first couple of innings but by then the damage was done. Cole threw 19 pitches in a two-run first inning and 13 of those pitches were four-seam fastballs. The Blue Jays made contact with 7 of them and put 6 in play including a ball that was right down the middle to Marcus Semien who did not miss. Bo Bichette also had a big night with two home runs including the go-ahead run to win the game. You cannot pitch middle-middle to the Blue Jays and walk away unscathed. They are too good offensively.

Cole's final line for the night looked like this: 6 IP, 5 ER, 6K and 2 HR. Cole allowed 7 extra-base hits last night. He gave up the most extra-base hits on his four-seamer in ANY game he's ever pitched. The Yankees scored 5 runs, that should be enough to win a game. The offense did not fail Cole this time. They have in the past but this time the offense bailed him out when they tied the game and he failed the team by putting them behind in the first place. 


Cole is our ace and we need to rely on him especially in these big games as we fight for postseason berth. He said last night he would be ready to pitch the last game of the season on short rest if needed. The question here shouldn't be "will he be available?" it is "should we trust him and take that risk?" Two of his last three starts have not been good.

We want and need to see Cole pitch well, but that hasn't happened lately and because of that I think he can kiss any hope of a Cy Young award goodbye. Hopefully we haven't kissed the postseason goodbye, because right now that's the ONLY thing that matters and the gap is closer now that the Blue Jays and the Red Sox won last night. 



  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
     BYB Senior Managing Editor
    Twitter: @nyprincessj
 

Thursday, September 24, 2020

WILL DJ LEMAHIEU FINALLY GET THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES?

There are two things that I really want to see happen for DJ LeMahieu, and I mean I REALLY want them for him. I wish I had control over them. Maybe if I "WILL" for them to happen enough it will happen....like manifesting destiny for him? Sounds good in theory at least.

My first wish would be for the Yankees to lock this guy up and give him the big contract that he deserves. Other teams will be happy to give it to him but, we need him here more. That could very well happen and I hope it does. We've only been talking about it for a while now....but that's just the start.

So in addition to his nice new Yankees contract that I am manifesting for him, I really want to see him get the AL batting title this year. Baseball is a team sport, and I am never one to focus on just one person but I think this is long overdue. He says he's not thinking about it (read his words HERE) but I WILL.

At the end of the day the best accomplishment is a World Series ring, and I agree with that but....I am still ticked off about last season. Hard to imagine that almost a year ago is when THE BASEBALL WRITERS SNUB LEMAHIEU! and he didn;t get the MVP consideration he deserved. We all knew Mike Trout was great, so that was a no brainer. I still can't stand that Alex Bregman the dirty cheater was included and then there was Marcus Semien. No disrespect to Marcus but....why not LeMahieu?

I still can't believe after everything he did for the Yankees last season, he wasn't even in the final three. The Yankees wouldn't have been that successful if he didn't have the year he had. He went from utility man that didn't even have a clear cut role at the beginning of the season to the Yankees most valuable player and an All-Star.


So after being snubbed last season, I want this recognition for him more than he does! So LeMahieu is in "contention" for the batting title against Tim Anderson who also deserves to be a part of that conversation. Let's face it, not many of us really thought that the White Sox were going to be on top of the AL Central and he's a big reason why. I take nothing away from his .353 batting average, and I take nothing away from his successful season so far. Anderson has been amazing and he deserves the same attention....I'm just REALLY pulling for LeMahieu.

In 2016 LeMahieu won the National League batting title when he was with the Rockies, and we would all like to see him do it again as a Yankee. He's a leader on this team and he is a spark plug for us. I want to finally see him get the recognition he deserves.

I know we always say to "Keep our eyes on the prize" and focus on our next ring but....I want him to have the World Series ring AND the batting title. That would make it even sweeter.


--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

Thursday, November 7, 2019

THE BASEBALL WRITERS SNUB LEMAHIEU!


Sometimes you just need to rant. It's why this website was created after all....this all started with a rant. Some of you have been here ever since. You keep coming back (thank you!) so here we are almost a decade later, so why change now? I guess we can call this sticking with what has worked for us.

So I am going to rant. What am I going to rant about? DJ LeMahieu and The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), because they made a mistake. I never complain about the writers. In fact, I don't think I have ever mentioned them before. But this time, I really think they are flat out wrong.

On Monday I was working out at the gym with my husband when I got an alert pop up on my phone. Awards season is here, and I get excited about that. But this time I wasn't excited, I was mad. The American League MVP award candidates are: Mike Trout, Alex Bregman and the Athletics’ Marcus Semien.


COME AGAIN? No DJ LeMahieu? But....Marcus Semien makes the cut?! I admittedly blurted out "Are you shitting me?!" How on earth is Semien a finalist but LeMahieu gets SNUBBED? Yes, I am calling it a snub. Nothing against Semien but, that's just crazy.

Look at this season, LeMahieu is a big reason WHY the Yankees were so successful. We weren't quite sure how he was going to fit on the roster or how effective he would be transitioning to the AL East and he surprised us all. He was the Yankees MVP. Thanks to a boatload of injuries, he went from utility man to a starring role. He finished the season with 26 home runs (his previous career high was 15) and drove in 102 runs AND was fourth in the AL with a .327 BA. Oh and he was an All-Star! 


We all know Trout is Trout....he's a beast and we all know this. He's "the best player in baseball" and hit a career best 45 home runs this season despite hitting the Injured List. Bregman also hit 41 home runs, had 112 RBIs, and helped his team get to the World Series. I get his nomination. I don't get Semien's nomination beyond his stats. Sure he played in all 162 games and had 33 home runs but....MVP finalist?! Come on. LeMahieu's batting average was 42 points higher (.327 BA), he had 10 more RBI's (102) but because he didn't play in all 162 games and hit 7 fewer home runs than Semien he isn't nominated?

Has the BBWAA lost their minds? Is this the "if you hit less than 30 home runs you do not qualify" type of club? The award is called the Most Valuable Player. What additional value did Semien give to the A's that LeMahieu didn't give to the Yankees? The A's finished second in their division and lost the Wild Card game, the Yankees won their division and made it to the American League Championship series. That's value, folks!


The BBWAA doesn't understand what "valuable" means in the context of this award. Maybe when they understand they will all at least be voting for the same thing. Even if LeMahieu wasn't THE MVP this season he earned the nomination. He was SNUBBED plain and simple and the BBWAA got this one completely wrong.

 The MVP that won't be LeMahieu will be announced November 14th....we'll have to wait and see who wins. Okay, rant over. I feel a little better. Sort of.






--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @NYPrincessj