YANKEES ALREADY HAVE STARTING PITCHING PROBLEMS FOR NEXT SEASON!

We may not be strategizing for the World Series, but the Yankees brain trust already has a problem to solve in the offseason. Since the Yankees have a real problem exercising their smarts sometimes (I'm being generous) they better get started now.

The 2026 starting rotation already has too much uncertainty. There are still unknowns with Gerrit Cole's timeline for a return. He's set to start throwing off a mound this week and if all goes well he should be back around May. There's even more uncertainty with Clarke Schmidt who had Tommy John surgery back in July. He could be back late in the year, but that is still a big if. That could be around August of next season. That's a lot of uncertainty to have, even before the latest news with Carlos Rodon. 

Rodon underwent an elbow scope Wednesday to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur. He will be shut down for the next eight weeks and will also miss the first few weeks of the regular season. That's three starters starting the season on the Injured List at minimum. Now the Yankees need more depth.

The Yankees need a veteran starter with experience, so they are looking for the 2026 Carlos Carrasco but one with better results in the regular season. Not just the guy that pitches well in Spring Training to get the gig and then fall flat. HERE is the free agent list, it's a lengthy one and if I am being honest, the starting pitchers don't have me jumping out of my seat.

But, neither did Carrasco or Marcus Stroman this season, and they didn't single handedly bring us down. The Yankees need depth, they need someone serviceable to get us through the first few weeks while Cole and Rodon ramp up. Two names that I keep seeing in the rumor mill are Merrill Kelly and Chris Bassitt and while I am not loving either option, I must admit the idea of adding depth to the Yankees while making the Blue Jays weaker doesn't suck right now. They could be the new Carrasco but...there's another interesting option.

There is a real strategic option with a guy like Nick Martinez. The Reds have used him as both a starter and reliever this season with 20 of his 40 appearances as a starter. His 4.45 ERA doesn't look pretty but he had better success in a reliever role. He could help some stability while our starters are out but be a reliable arm out of the bullpen also, which the Yankees need. His 2.87 career ERA as a reliever is what should intrigue the Yankees the most.

The Yankees need to add some arms because right now the start of 2026 is already in jeopardy....in October. The Yankees brain trust needs to find an answer to this that the analytic geek in the front office isn't capable of fixing. They have a long time to start fixing it but they better get started now.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES IN FREE FALL & PLAYERS ARE ACTING WEIRD

There is no question the Yankee players are feeling it because they are not playing well. That part is obvious to anyone with two eyes and half a baseball brain. The more important question is: why are they so bad?

Let’s not sugarcoat this—the Yankees front office is an unmitigated disaster. A flaming clown car careening down River Avenue. This team bears no resemblance to the Yankees of the Derek Jeter era. Those Yankees stood for excellence. These Yankees stand around staring blankly after grounding into another inning-ending double play.

There’s no edge. No accountability. No fire. Just soft, stale baseball—and that rot starts at the top. Because when leadership is weak, when the manager is more interested in being a buddy than a boss, the product on the field suffers. And oh boy, is it suffering.

Now, I know I’m beating a dead horse here, but let me be clear: the Yankees are the horse. And someone needs to beat some urgency into this lifeless team.

Hal Steinbrenner’s silence through all of this is deafening. His stoic detachment is basically an endorsement of the chaos. If you were wondering whether Hal understands the depth of the mess, wonder no more. He doesn’t. He’s got the same clueless, deer-in-the-headlights energy as the front office he installed—and it's contagious.

Meanwhile, the players are getting weirder by the day. Case in point: Marcus Stroman. After being released—yes, released—his social media suggests he’s doing just fine, thanks. Flashing his private jet like he’s on vacation, not licking his wounds after flopping in the Bronx. 

That vibe? That “I’m good no matter what” attitude? Yeah, that’s pure Aaron Boone. It’s the signature Boone-brand delusion: accountability is optional, losing is fine, and if you suck, don’t worry, we’ll clap for you anyway.

Stroman was a bad fit from Day One. A mood-swing pitcher with a social media addiction, dropped into the biggest media market in the country like a grenade. Cashman tried to sell it as a savvy, under-the-radar steal. Instead, it blew up in his face. Stroman never belonged in pinstripes—he wasn’t built for this city, this pressure, or this moment.

And now, more uncertainty looms. Reports are swirling that Cody Bellinger may already be eyeing the exit. Can you blame him? He’s having a solid year—slashing .276/.327/.500 with 20 home runs—and holds a $25 million player option for next season. But after watching this circus unfold in the Bronx, he might prefer a one-way ticket to literally anywhere else.

Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicts Bellinger bolts and signs a “three- or four-year deal with the Giants.” Can’t say I disagree. The Giants are trending upward. Buster Posey’s calling the shots now and has already proven he’s willing to be aggressive. And unlike the Yankees, the Giants don’t treat August like nap time.

Let’s face it: why would Bellinger stay? To be a part of this? Amateur Hour featuring Aaron Boone and the All-Shrug Team?

We’re in the dog days of summer, but the Yankees are in the dead zone—flatlined in third place with no accountability, no urgency, and a manager who hasn’t had to answer a real question since 2021.

Nothing changes unless someone shakes this tree. But Boone stays, the front office hides, Hal naps, and the fans suffer. That’s the Bronx blueprint right now.

And that is the bottom line.

STROMAN GETS DUMPED

Well, obviously—obviously—it makes total sense to release a starting pitcher when your team only has, oh, two actual reliable ones left. Right? Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are carrying the rotation like it's a backpack full of bricks, Marcus Stroman is... well, was... at least a warm body, and now the Yankees have officially decided: "You know what we don’t need? Starting pitching depth."

Yes, this is sarcasm. Heavy sarcasm. Because the Yankees, fresh off the wild chaos of the trade deadline where they acquired everything except a legitimate starter, decided now thay iy was the perfect time to release Marcus Stroman.

That’s right, Stroman’s Bronx tale has officially closed. (I'm actually happy.)

After missing two months with a knee injury, Stroman returned to the mound Thursday against the Rays. He picked up the win, which sounds nice until you peek at the box score and realize he also gave up four runs on six hits in five innings. That brought his season ERA to a robust 6.23. A true masterclass in mediocrity. He finishes his 2025 Yankees season with a 3-2 record over nine starts. Or, as we call it in the Bronx: meh with a side of ugh.

Now, let’s talk feelings. Because I’ll be honest—I never wanted Marcus Stroman on the Yankees. But weirdly? I respected the guy for wanting it so badly. He wore his desire to don pinstripes like a badge of honor. He was passionate. He was fiery. He was emotional. He was also, let's face it, kinda a diva. It’s been a love/hate thing for many of us. I rooted for him because he wanted it. But I also never really trusted him on the mound. Stroman was the guy you hoped would figure it out, but deep down, you clutched your rosary every time he pitched.

And now? He’s gone. And honestly, it feels like a mutual breakup. Stroman probably didn’t want to be part of this circus anymore. The front office likely didn’t want to deal with him. And we fans? Who knows at this point.

Let’s not forget the economics here: Stroman signed a 2-year, $37 million deal with the Yankees before the 2024 season, including a conditional $18 million vesting option for 2026 if he hit 140 innings this year. Spoiler alert: he wasn’t going to hit it. And clearly, Brian Cashman decided he wasn’t even worth a bullpen seat while they attempt to duct tape this pitching staff together for the stretch run. Plus, we just got like 9 pen guys... we good.

To recap: The Yankees needed starting pitching. They didn’t get starting pitching. And then they released one of the few guys who at least technically counts as starting pitching.

The logic is flawless. Just ask the same front office that thinks “we’re better today than yesterday” even though yesterday, we had one more starting pitcher.

So, farewell Marcus Stroman. You were never boring. You weren’t quite good. But you gave us something to talk about, and apparently, that was enough—until it wasn’t.

NO "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" THAT I CAN SEE

Mission Accomplished? How about "Mission, who's starting Game 3?"

So, let’s just say it out loud: The Yankees don’t have a new starting pitcher. You can dress it up in Pinstripes and slap a hype video on it, but facts are facts. They’ve got closers. Lots of closers. Enough closers to start a whole separate bullpen league. But a starter? The thing they actually needed? Nope. Not one. Not a single real-deal, innings-eating, rotation-stabilizing starting pitcher.

And yet, somehow, Brian Cashman stood in front of cameras with a straight face and dropped the words:

“Mission accomplished.”

What is this, a bad sequel to Moneyball? Except this time, it’s Funnyball — and the punchline is us. Sure, Cashman also said,

“I know we’re better today than we were yesterday.”

Cool. But saying we’re better is like putting whipped cream on a trash can. Still garbage underneath.

Let’s review the receipts, shall we?
Gerrit Cole: still out post-Tommy John.
Clarke Schmidt: same surgery, same fate — toast.
Luis Gil: M.I.A. since February with a lat issue.

Marcus Stroman: Um
And that’s your top-end depth, folks. Behind them? A collection of “openers,” “bullpen games,” and desperate finger-crossing.

We have Max Fried and Carlos Rodon and I'm thrilled with that. But that's not gonna help anyone in a short series and the Yankees are not thinking ahead. And what’s worse — nobody in the front office seems remotely panicked about it. The Boone-Cashman tag team continues to operate like a malfunctioning GPS: absolutely convinced they know the way, ignoring every single “WRONG TURN” alert.

Enter David Samson. Now, listen — I don’t like the guy. He’s a smug little troll who used to run the Marlins and was bad at it. But unfortunately… he's right.

“They act like everything’s fine,” Samson said. “But it’s not.”
On Volpe’s defense? “No, he’s not [good out there]. You know that.”

This from a guy I’d normally dismiss as a human mosquito, but at this point, I’d rather hear him than another Boone soliloquy about grit and “playing the game the right way.” Enough already.

Volpe’s defense has been brutal. We’re past the point of “rough patch.” It’s a liability. But Boone just smirks and spins it like he’s selling timeshares. And the fanbase? We’re not stupid. We know what we’re seeing. And what we’re seeing is a front office that’s perfectly fine settling for kinda okay.

We’re 3.5 games back. Could we make a run? Absolutely. But this isn’t about just sneaking into October — it’s about winning a championship. And right now, this roster isn't built for that. 

Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners — a team with actual vision — loaded up with Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez to thicken their lineup, and Caleb Ferguson to reinforce the ‘pen. All without coughing up elite prospects. That’s how you win a deadline. That’s how you push chips in without flipping the table. The Yankees? They scrambled like it was a fantasy league draft and Cashman got auto-picked eight middle relievers.

And don’t even get me started on Michael Kay. This man — sitting high on his YES throne — tried to sell us the idea that Boone “got to the World Series” and you have to give Boone credit for that? Um, no we don't. This tool actually suggested that Boone got there with two guys who don't even have jobs this season: Anthony Rizzo and Alex Verdugo.

Excuse me? Let’s talk numbers:

 
Verdugo had 8 RBIs, and 6 runs scored in the postseason.  Rizzo? .267 average in 10 playoff games. That’s production, not irrelevance. So why is Kay acting like they were lucky fans who won a raffle to be in the lineup? They did their job last year's post season.

Kay is defending the indefensible. He’s gaslighting Yankee fans into believing that this mess is part of a master plan. He also gets paid by the Yankees, so see how that works? He's actually suggesting that Boone is a misunderstood genius and Cashman is some modern-day baseball Mozart. But it’s garbage. All of it. The Yankees front office picks wrong, sticks with wrong, and then tries to convince you that wrong is the new right. Just look at Volpe.

Let’s make this simple: You don’t win rings with vibes. You win with starters.  You don’t build a championship roster around hope and “he’s trending up.” analytics. You build it by addressing obvious, gaping holes with urgency — something the Yankees have lacked for years. But remember fans, the money’s still pouring in, so why change?

Well, here's why: fans aren’t stupid. We’re fed up. This deadline wasn’t bold — it was bizarre. It was Cashman filling a wine cellar when the roof is caving in.  So yeah, we might still make the playoffs. But what then? Another flameout while Boone shrugs and says he “liked our compete”? No thanks. I’ve seen that movie — and spoiler alert — it doesn’t end well.

This team, as constructed, isn’t winning the World Series. They aren’t built for a parade — they’re built for a press conference. And once again, us fans are left with the bill and the empty trophy case in Loserville.

WILL THE YANKEES RISE TO THE OCCASION?

I'm happy the Yankees won the series against the Braves. To say that we needed that is a massive understatement right now. The win is nice, but right now I am not exactly celebrating. I'm focused on what is happening next. I just hope I am not more focused than the Yankees are.

The Yankees are off Monday, and then the Blue Jays are waiting for them in Toronto. This is the biggest series of the season thus far. I'm not trying to make this extra dramatic, but fact of the matter is the Yankees are trailing the Blue Jays by three game in the AL East and the last time we played them we didn't show up and we were swept.

So now the Yankees need to bounce back from that last meeting. What we watched last time, can't happen again. We need everyone to bring their A+ games. We need Anthony Volpe (the guy many of us no longer believe in) to show up. We need his bat to be as alive as it was against the Braves and to not have any fielding blunders like we witnessed against the Cubs. There is no more room for regression. If he can't produce, the Yankees need to make a move. I can't listen to Aaron Boone defend him anymore. 

We need our starters to pitch deep into the game and not minimize runs surrendered. We need to see our starters continue the momentum we saw Marcus Stroman bring on Sunday. The bats also need to do their part, they need to make contact and not leave any runners on the bases stranded. We're getting into the dog days of summer, and the Yankees can't afford to sputter and limp toward the finish line.

We are only three games back, but we can't afford to pull a repeat performance and make that six back and worry about the Red Sox who are only two games behind us now. This has become more uncomfortable then it needs to be and now the Yankees need to rise to the occasion and show everyone that they are the team to beat in the American League.

I think the Yankees have been delusional, especially Baboonie thinking they are the team to beat in the American League. They aren't even the team to beat in the AL East right now let alone the American League. That can change if the Yankees make a good statement in this next series.

It's time to put up or shut up and I am tired of failures and mediocrity. Handle business, Yanks.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES CALL UP A TRIPLE-A SURPRISE TO START TODAY!

Fingers crossed, Ryan Yarbrough's right oblique strain is as mild as the Yankees say it is, and hopefully he doesn't miss a lot of time. In the meantime, the Yankees need (another) quick fix to a rotation that has been reeling from hits all season. The Yankees have made a move....

Someone else has to fill a spot in the rotation, and it's going to be Allan Winans today taking on the Reds. The Yankees claimed him from the Braves back in January and has a 7.20 ERA in eight career starts at the big league level. That part sounds scary, but since the Yankees snagged him he has quietly been dominating down in Triple-A with a 0.90 ERA over 50 innings. A 0.90 ERA this late in June is nothing to turn your nose up at. That's pretty impressive, not gonna lie. So, that earns Winans a big league call-up. If he performs well, it's reasonable to see the Yankees giving him a few turns int he rotation until Yarbrough or possibly Marcus Stroman are ready to see game action.

This will be Winan's first opportunity to start. He was called up in April when Stroman was put on the Injured List, but he didn't see any game action. Aaron Boone of course, is salivating over Winan's success down in Triple-A since then, "to be this deep in the season as a starting pitcher and have a sub-1.00 ERA, it's been really, really excellent," Boone said. "Hopefully he brings some of that up here with us (Monday)," read more HERE.

I hope that success translates up in the majors, we need all the help we can get right now. I will say, it is encouraging to hear he's struck out a career-best 10.6 batters per nine innings while limiting walks at 2.3 walks per nine innings and home runs at less than one per nine innings. He's been hot down in the minors, and I just hope he can keep it going against the Reds. At least he's pitching against the Reds and not the Red Sox or Angels right now. Timing is everything.

The Yankees have bandaged a pitching staff all season. It's definitely NOT the way to go, but we've managed so far. Let's just hope the streak stays alive.....and hope Yarbrough comes back sooner rather than later. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE BEST YANKEE NEWS YOU'LL READ THE REST OF THE WEEK IS RIGHT HERE!

I guess the dog days of summer have come early for this team. It hurts to watch this team "play" and freefall against lowly teams like the Red Sux and Angels. There's nothing "good" to report on the field right now, but it is coming soon....

The only bit of good news I am really holding onto right now is that Luis Gil is making one more step toward returning. On Saturday, Gil will face hitters on Saturday, it will be the first time he has done this since Spring Training, read more HERE.

It's an important first step, but Aaron Boone is optimistic about it. "It's still going to be a while," Boone said. "The good news is he seems to be in a really good spot. He's responded from this whole rehab process really well. Every step, whether it's once he started throwing and once he started long tossing, now getting on the mound, it's gone really well. I know he's felt really good throughout it, so hopefully that's a good sign."

So now we hope Gil continues to progress and there are no setbacks. We need another impactful arm to get us through the tough stretch and as much as I like Clarke Schmidt and Will Warren they are inconsistent, and there are too many unknowns surrounding Ryan Yarbrough's ability to remain a starter. Although I must say, I'd rather take a chance on those guys than Marcus Stroman if I HAD to.

There's no timeframe established for Gil's return but if he continues to progress a return mid-July after the All-Star break is possible. It's a piece of good news we need right now. Not much is going right in Yankeeland right now, so I will take what small nugget of good news I can get.

Getting Gil back would be a nice boost to the pitching staff and add some versatility....and we definitely need that as we get closer to the dog days of summer (and lots of wins, especially series wins). 

Fingers crossed.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

STROMAN'S RETURN MAY JUST BE A WAY TO SHOWCASE HIM BEFORE THE DEADLINE

Marcus Stroman is dusting off his cleats and getting ready to throw some baseballs again — hooray, confetti, pop the champagne. Or don’t. Because let’s be real: this team doesn’t need sentimental comebacks right now. It needs reinforcements. It needs adrenaline. It needs someone to walk into that clubhouse and scream, “WAKE UP!” And as much as I appreciate Stroman’s flair and social media savvy, I don’t think he’s that guy. But maybe, just maybe, he can help us find that guy.

Stroman is scheduled to start a rehab game on Wednesday for the Double-A Somerset Patriots. It’ll be his first time facing live hitters since mid-April, when his left knee decided it had other plans and tapped out. His last appearance? April 11 against the Giants, where he got lit up and then promptly landed on the injured list the very next day. Since then, it’s been setbacks and soreness — two of the most exhausting words in Yankees land right now.

Let’s recap the numbers. Three starts. 9.1 innings pitched.12 earned runs. ERA somewhere between “yikes” and “are you serious?”

Now, as the Yankees stumble through a freefall like a guy who just slipped on a banana peel while carrying groceries, Stroman’s return is… well, interesting. Will he be a bullpen guy? A starter? An opener? A mascot? I genuinely don’t care. The Yankees need warm bodies with functioning knees and a pulse. Inject something into this lifeless dugout, even if it’s Stroman in a neck pillow trying to throw three innings.

But let me be brutally honest here — Stroman isn’t the golden ticket to a parade down the Canyon of Heroes. He’s a piece. A chess pawn. And you know what you do with pawns when you're not going to win with them? You trade them to get a queen. Or at least a third baseman who can field and hit above .200.

If Stroman comes back and looks halfway decent — I mean, not throwing batting practice out there — it's my opinion that the Yankees will dangle him at the deadline like a juicy steak in front of a desperate contender. Somebody will bite. Someone always bites. Pitching is a hot commodity in July, especially when elbows and hamstrings across the league are snapping like dry twigs.

Look, I don’t root against Stroman. He’s been a good soldier (minus the occasional social media swirl), but this is about one thing and one thing only: winning a World Series. And if he’s not helping you do that — and let’s be honest, he’s probably not — then he needs to become someone who helps you get someone who can.

So go ahead, Marcus. Rehab strong. Look sharp. Smile for the radar guns. Just know that every pitch you throw is an audition — not for October in the Bronx, but for July 30 in someone else’s uniform.

We’re in survival mode now, folks. Let’s act like it.

WILLIAMS, STANTON, VOLPE, STROMAN NAMED IN BRAIN-MELTING TRADE RUMORS

The story comes from the Hudson Reporter. Is it true? No one knows for sure, but this is the quote that leads the article: " Four of their well-known players—Giancarlo Stanton, Marcus Stroman, Anthony Volpe, and Devin Williams—could be traded. But inconveniently, the rumors come at a time when the team is dealing with both injuries and changes in performance."

I mean, what?

Okay, I’ll just say it—I’d personally drive Anthony Volpe to the airport if it meant getting rid of him. That’s how little faith I have in the guy right now. But ironically, that probably means the Yankees won’t trade him. Because that’s how this team operates: cling to the overhyped, coddle the underperforming, and act like you’re the smartest guy in the room. And yet, here we are… floating the names of Giancarlo Stanton, Marcus Stroman, and yes—even Volpe—in actual trade rumors. What world is this?

Giancarlo Stanton to the Mariners?

According to the Hudson Reporter (not usually your go-to for hardball rumors, but let’s roll with it), the Yankees might be looking to unload Giancarlo Stanton to Seattle. Now we have seen this story before.  Read TRADE IDEA SENDS STANTON TO SEATTLE... BUT WHO WE TRADING FOR?  In the end, that article was written by Clutchpoints and there was no indication on who we would get in return from the Mariners. Look don't get me wrong, Stanton gets hurt alot, but he’s a hulking, injury-prone slugger who occasionally wakes up and crushes 450-foot homers like it’s a video game. And now that Ben Rice and a few other hitters are showing signs of life, the Yankees might think, Hey, maybe we can live without this $300 million meat statue! But there's the problem with all of this; who would take this guy at this point unless we were paying the rest of his contract? It would be alot of work for Cashman.

I mean, sure, why not? But good luck convincing anyone to take on his contract without begging Hal Steinbrenner to throw in cash, a pitching prospect, and maybe a heartfelt apology letter.

Here's another thing. Stroman might be more tradeable. Weird, right? Now here’s one that makes a little twisted sense. Marcus Stroman has a player option for 2026, but get this—he may not be healthy enough to trigger it. So naturally, the Yankees might look to trade him before he even has a chance to come back and make things more complicated.

In other words, his injury actually helps his trade value. I’m not sure if that’s clever front-office maneuvering or just dumb luck wrapped in a Band-Aid, but at any rate, blame Bob Nightengale for that theory.

But here's my favorite one. Volpe for Ozzie Albies! I mean, let's go! According to Hudson reporter, some "experts" (quotation marks required) are imagining a scenario where the Yankees flip Volpe for Ozzie Albies of the Braves.

Let’s break this down: Albies is 28, has three All-Star nods, and a contract so cheap it makes dollar pizza look like a luxury item—seven years, $35 million, with two team options. But he’s also batting .225 with five homers and just 0.2 bWAR this season, so… maybe the Braves are ready to say bye-bye and try something new. And when it comes to Volpe, I feel the same. But, the Hudson Reporter claims the Yankees "lack a solid backup at shortstop," which, I’m sorry, is just lazy research. Hello? Oswald Peraza is still very much a thing. The guy’s glove is big-league ready and if you actually gave him consistent reps—something Aaron Judge himself has lobbied for—you might even get some offense out of him. I’m not saying he’s the next Jeter, but come on, we’ve seen worse.

As for moving Oswaldo Cabrera to short? Well, the universe immediately struck him down with a severe ankle injury. Jazz Chisholm? He hasn’t played short since 2021, so let’s not pretend he’s a plug-and-play option either.

And now finally, Devin Williams. The once dominant reliever, now set up guy might be shipped to the Phillies, per a hypothetical deal suggested by Clutch Points’ Garrett Kerman. The proposed return? Outfielder Jordan Viars and righty Andrew Baker. But here's a question. Why would Philly want Williams? Well, closer José Alvarado just got slapped with an 80-game PED suspension, and he’s not allowed to pitch in October. That’s a big ol’ hole for a first-place team. Williams, despite some bumps, still flashes that Bugs Bunny changeup and could be the answer. Meanwhile, the Yankees get a young bat and a hard-throwing arm—classic deadline upside lottery tickets.

So What Does It All Mean?

Let’s not kid ourselves: some of these rumors make sense (Stroman, Williams), some are wishful thinking (Stanton), and others, like Volpe-for-Albies, make you squint and go, “Wait, are we really talking about this?” But that’s the beauty of the trade deadline—it turns everyone into armchair GMs and forces us to imagine insane scenarios that might just make our team a little better, or at least more watchable.

Whatever happens, it’s coming fast. The deadline will be here before we know it. So, buckle up, clear your Twitter feed, and prepare for a bunch of names to get tossed around like batting practice balls. Maybe—just maybe—we’ll be shocked in a good way.

But knowing the Yankees? They’ll probably stand pat and remind us how much they “believe in the guys in this room.”

Yikes.

THERE'S GOOD NEWS & BAD NEWS ABOUT MARCUS STROMAN

It's been a month since we've seen Marcus Stroman in action. He's been sidelined with a left knee injury since April 11th and was initially placed on the 15-day Injured List but we are well past fifteen days and it doesn't sound like we are going to see him again anytime soon.

So Stroman pitched Friday, and then yesterday Aaron Boone gave an update, read more HERE. Obviously, it isn't good news. Or is it? That depends on how you feel about Stroman and getting him back in the rotation. We definitely need all the help we can get, but is Stroman more of a help or a hinderance? 

The Yankees need help, no doubt about it. Brian Cashman hasn't brought any help for a team that is supposed to be defending the American League title and getting back to a World Series. So, does Stroman help the rotation more than Will Warren or Ryan Yarbrough? They certainly don't make for a competitive back end of the rotation either.

So, now what? No matter what, the Yankees need to get Stroman right. We can't just sit on him injured and hope his knee is magically fixed. So how are Boone and the medical staff going to address this? "He's got a lot of treatments on it and stuff, and he just can't kind of get over that final hump to really allow him to get to that next level on the mound," Boone said. "We'll try and continue to get our arms around it and try and make sure we get that out of there."

I'm sorry but....what? That's a lot of word salad gobble dee goop that we have come to expect from him. But really, stretch your arms as much as you like and dig away to get the knee inflammation gone. It sounds like something our trainers and medical staff would actually try since they are completely inept. It's more of the same. It's insane that a team chasing to get back to a World Series would choose to operate like this, but here we are.

So, what's the good news? I guess that depends on if you really REALLY dislike Stroman. This setback almost guarantees the Yankees that Stroman won't hit the 140 innings needed to trigger his $18 million option for next year. So, no more wasted money on him and we don't have to dread the days on when he is back on the mound just yet. 

That's the silver lining for you. It's me trying to make the best out of a bad situation....and me continuing to make fun of Baboonie and his stupid sound bites.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SHOULD THE YANKEES PURSUE TRISTON MCKENZIE?

Look, I've said it at least 30 times in 3 weeks, the Yankees need pitching help. The offense has been great, but we cannot sustain this. It's pretty simple.  Now comes a suggestion for pitching help and it's interesting.

They’ve lost Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Marcus Stroman to injuries. That’s not a crack in the rotation; that’s a full-on pitching apocalypse. So, what now? 

Once upon a time, Triston McKenzie was the next big thing. A first-round pick in 2015, he was billed as the future ace in Cleveland’s lineage of Cy Young hurlers—think CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee. Instead, he’s now the guy looking for a second (or third?) chance. As Indians skipper Stephen Vogt put it, “It was a difficult decision. It wasn't easy.” They DFA'd him. Translation: we really hoped this would work, but… yikes.

Enter MLB analyst Andrew Wright of Newsweek, who floated an intriguing idea: go get Triston McKenzie.

"McKenzie can be traded or placed on outright waivers any time prior to Friday,” Wright wrote, “and if he clears waivers, he will be free to sign with any team. A landing spot for the young right-hander? The New York Yankees."

And honestly, why not?

McKenzie, 27, isn’t exactly riding a heater—unless you count the seven runs, seven hits, and seven walks he gave up in just 5 2/3 innings this year as a hot mess. That ballooned his ERA to a bumpy 11.12. No, that’s not a typo. It's just ugly.

Still, maybe all he needs is a change of scenery. Maybe Matt Blake—the Yankees’ pitching whisperer—can unlock something the Indians couldn’t. And look, the Yankees aren’t exactly in a position to turn their noses up at anyone who can throw a baseball without spontaneously combusting.

This isn’t about McKenzie being perfect—it’s about the Yankees being desperate. They need arms. They need depth. They need something, anything, before Aaron Boone starts pulling fans out of Section 205 to pitch the seventh.

Andrew Wright may be onto something. Or maybe he’s just the only one saying what nobody in the Yankees front office wants to admit out loud: this rotation needs help. Whether you want to believe it or not.

So, Triston McKenzie? Sure. Why not? 

OUR MANAGER HAS THE VERBAL FINESSE OF A 6-YEAR-OLD

Boone gives us quotes like he's talking to his friends on the playground.

Anyway, remember back in the offseason, when it felt like a Marcus Stroman trade was just one Aaron Boone shrug away from happening? Yeah, simpler times. Now, instead of asking where he’s going, we’re all just asking when he’s coming back—preferably upright and with functioning knees.

Well, guess what? We have an update from everyone's favorite quote machine and strategic savant, Aaron “No Championships” Boone. The same guy who handles press conferences with the verbal finesse of a preschool show-and-tell. 

According to Greg Joyce (God bless him for doing the Lord’s work), Boone says Stroman is still “feeling some things” in his knee. That’s the official medical update. “Feeling some things.” Inspiring stuff.

Translation: Stroman is nowhere close to pitching again.

The Yankees, in a shocking display of common sense, aren’t about to rush him back unless he’s completely pain-free. Because, you know, trying to pitch on one leg doesn’t usually lead to Cy Young hardware—or even a respectable ERA. So yeah, we wait. It’s been a weird, frustrating ride for Stroman this year. He rolled into spring training without a guaranteed spot in the rotation, which was awkward enough. Then came the “Nah, I’m not doing the bullpen” standoff. Charming.

But baseball being baseball, everyone else’s limbs started falling off, so Stroman got the call. And boy, did he answer—with an 11.57 ERA over his first three starts. We’d make a joke, but that number kind of speaks for itself.

Now his knee is acting up, his contract is in limbo, and here's the kicker: if Stroman somehow manages to log 140 innings this season (we’ll give you a moment to stop laughing), he locks in a cool $18 million for 2026. That’s right—$18 million for a guy currently “feeling things.”

In summary: no trade, no bullpen, no innings, no timetable, and no end to the saga in sight. Stay tuned for more updates from Dr. Boone and his Schoolhouse Rock of Press Conferences.

GERMAN MARQUEZ ANYONE?

Let’s be real: the idea that the Yankees still need starting pitching almost feels like an April Fools’ joke that got out of hand. They’re in first place! They’re winning games! The offense is mashing, the defense is sparkling, and somehow, with duct tape and chewing gum holding the rotation together, they just keep rolling.

But here’s the twist—this isn’t sustainable. It never is. This is the part in the movie where the car is speeding toward the cliff and we’re all saying, “Wow, they’re handling those turns really well,” while completely ignoring the canyon ahead.

Yes, the Yankees are in first. Yes, Aaron Judge could hit a ball to Queens if you asked him nicely. Yes, Anthony Volpe is playing defense like he’s auditioning for a Gold Glove commercial. But if Brian Cashman doesn’t reinforce the rotation, we’re going to be watching Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman get wheeled out there every fifth day like overused lawnmowers.

And speaking of Stroman and Rodón—don’t act like you didn’t see this coming. I’d say I hate to say “I told you so,” but I actually love it. We knew Gerrit Cole’s injury spelled trouble. We knew Luis Gil being out would sting. And when Rodón starts giving up homers like it’s a Fourth of July fireworks show and Stroman disappears into the IL void, we’re supposed to just trust this plan?

Which brings us to the prophecy no one saw coming—Athlon Sports casually tossing out a name that actually makes sense: Germán Márquez. Not exactly the blockbuster Yankee fans dream of, but maybe—just maybe—the kind of move that wins October.

Here's what they say: Márquez is a 6’1”, 230-pound righty with a 65-58 record and a 4.42 ERA across 180 games. He made the All-Star team in 2021 and racked up a respectable 2.4 bWAR that season. Sure, elbow problems have limited him the last two years, but he’s back this season with a 4.60 ERA and a 3.09 FIP for the Rockies, which is basically like pitching on the moon with a beach ball.

Now, is Márquez sexy? No. Is he Max Fried? Definitely not. But is he a potentially smart addition that won’t cost you Spencer Jones or half your farm system? Absolutely. He’s a low-risk, high-upside rental who has playoff experience and has been asked to pitch in the Colorado chaos his entire career. A little change of scenery—and maybe a new trainer—and who knows what you could get?

Yankee fans might roll their eyes at the idea of another injury-prone reclamation project, but let's be honest: we can’t keep pretending that Carlos Carrasco is anything more than an innings-eater from 2017. And no, putting all your chips on Stroman’s groin staying healthy is not a strategy. It’s a prayer.

Come September, would you rather have Márquez starting a game that actually matters, or be relying on an opener cobbled together with guys named “who?” and “why?”

In short: Depth matters. Reinforcements matter. And while the Yankees have managed to make it this far on pure vibes, bats, and bullpen magic, the second half of the season is where things get real. If the front office is paying attention, a guy like Germán Márquez could be the kind of quietly smart addition that keeps the Yankees from burning out—and keeps fans from throwing their remote through the TV when the postseason starts.

So no, it’s not time to panic. But it is time to plan. Because this horror movie? We’ve seen it before. Let’s rewrite the ending this time.