THE FALSE REALITY OF WHAT MAKES CASHMAN GREAT

Something is seriously wrong with Aaron Boone.

But the Yankees don’t just have a manager problem. They have a general manager problem too. And before the Brian Cashman defense squad starts printing Hall of Fame plaques, let’s revisit a little thing called history — something Aaron Boone clearly treats like optional reading.

The Yankees dynasty wasn’t born the second Cashman sat in the GM chair. That’s revisionist history wrapped in pinstripes.

The foundation of the dynasty was built by Gene Michael — “Stick” Michael — from 1990 through 1995. He was the stubborn architect who refused to trade away the young core when everybody else wanted shiny new toys. No Derek Jeter deal. No Mariano Rivera deal. No Andy Pettitte tossed away for some fading veteran. Stick protected the future while the rest of baseball played checkers with Yankee prospects.

Then came GM Bob Watson in 1996. The pieces were already in place. The engine was built. Watson helped guide the Yankees to a championship while the Core Four era officially arrived.

By the time Brian Cashman took over in 1998, the Yankees were essentially a luxury sports car with the keys already in the ignition. From 1998 to 2000, they dominated baseball — but pretending Cashman created the dynasty from scratch is like giving the guy who watered the lawn credit for building Yankee Stadium.

That’s why many people around baseball — and many Yankees fans — view 2009 as Cashman’s one undisputed championship. Why? Because that team had George Steinbrenner and his fingerprints all over it. And how did the Yankees win that title?

By opening the vault like a casino owner on New Year’s Eve.

CC Sabathia.
A. J. Burnett.
Mark Teixeira.
Nick Swisher.

The Yankees didn’t “develop” their way to that title. They went on a shopping spree that looked like George Steinbrenner had discovered unlimited credit. And to Cashman’s credit, it worked. But since then? A whole lot of headlines, analytics buzzwords, and October disappointment.

Which brings us to the recent Brandon Tierney-Aaron Boone exchange — a conversation that accidentally exposed why Boone always sounds like the last guy in the room to realize the fire alarm is real. Brandon Tierney was wrapping up the interview and talking about the Yankees’ roster depth and urgency this season when Boone decided to launch into a full infomercial for Cashman.

Boone called Cashman a Hall of Famer.

Tierney, probably wondering if he accidentally switched studios and wandered into a Yankees PR meeting, before politely pushing back.

Because here’s the reality: Hall of Fame executive? Based on what exactly? One championship in the last 16 years? An endless parade of expensive contracts that aged like milk in July? Constant playoff exits? A roster-building philosophy that too often feels like fantasy baseball run by a hedge fund intern?

That’s not greatness. That’s surviving in New York while owning an unlimited budget. Cashman is not a hall of fame GM.

Boone, of course, doubled down.

“He’s great at it, BT. He’s really good at it,” Boone said.

And that’s when Tierney hit the brakes.

“Great’s a little bit of a stretch. 2009’s been a minute, Booney.”

Correct. Completely correct.

The Yankees haven’t been starving for resources. They haven’t been rebuilding in a small market. They haven’t been operating with limitations. This is the Yankees. The standard isn’t “pretty good.” The standard is championships. Parades. Rings. October dominance.

Instead, Yankees fans have gotten aging rosters, bloated payrolls, analytics experiments, and postseason exits that arrive faster than Boone’s postgame line about how “the guys battled.” And Boone just kept talking — which is usually where Boone gets himself into trouble. He talks like a guy trying to finish an essay five minutes before class. More words don’t make the argument smarter.

Tierney ended the segment perfectly: “Go get a win.”

Exactly. Not 700 regular-season wins. Not another Wild Card appearance. Not another analytics seminar about launch angle efficiency. Win a championship.

That’s the job. If Cashman wants Hall of Fame talk, win another title. If Boone wants praise as a Yankees manager, stop managing October games like they’re spring training experiments in Tampa.

Until then, Boone can keep defending Cashman all he wants. Maybe he’s brainwashed. Maybe he’s loyal to a fault. Maybe he genuinely believes what he’s saying.

But one thing he definitely isn’t?

Right.

THE LOCKOUT IS LOOMING & A FAMILIAR FACE COULD TAKE CENTER STAGE IN NEGOTIATIONS!

Forget about the pit you feel in your stomach right now with Anthony Volpe back in the big leagues. It's about to get really real. The thrill of the regular season is still heating up, but the real drama is going to unfold off the field this winter. Buckle up, this is the start of a very long lockout with a twist that could come out of left field.

The season is still young, but we are already talking about the end of the season. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires December 1st and Major League Baseball and MLB Players Association (MLBPA) met face-to-face Tuesday to give opening presentations for negotiations, read more HERE.

The league will pursue both a salary cap AND a salary floor, something that players have firmly opposed, including Bryce Harper openly criticizing it most recently when he cursed out MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, check it out HERE.

Even though talks have started, progress on the proposals probably won't be significant until after the season ends. If an agreement can't be reached by March, schedule adjustments for 2027 will need to be made. In a lockout, no transactions can be made so that means no trades or free agent signings. I still remember the last lockout which was 99-days right on the heels of a pandemic. That irritated me beyond belief when Sonny Gray was whining like a baby about money while the rest of us were dealing with our own lockdowns and hardships. That was bad, this could be even worse. 

The anticipated lockout is only in talks, but it already has the attention of Congress. It is rumored that a lockout would cause an intervention from politicians and President Trump would be possible. The last thing I want is congress or the president meddling with America's favorite pastime, but it's possible that politics and baseball could collide in a new way.

In case you hadn't heard, one of my favorites Mark Teixeira is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas' 21st Congressional District in 2026. By the way Mike O'Hara....if you are out there buddy, LOOK Tex is relevant again unlike Greg Bird! Sorry, I couldn't resist the throwback to old times when we traded zingers. Anyway, Tex is a former member of the MLBPA's executive subcommittee so if he wins his race, he could play a pivotal role in negotiating a new deal. Interesting thought to see him go from one of the MLBPA members, to someone who could potentially bring both sides together in a different capacity.  

I've had several people tell me not to worry about this now because "It's too early" but this is going to be a negotiation unlike any other. Baseball as we know it could look VERY different here soon. Things are gonna get ugly....and this is just a warmup for what's to come.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

DID JASSON DOMINGUEZ FALL VICTIM TO THE YANKEES OVERHYPE MACHINE?

The answer is yes, but please continue reading.

Why haven’t the New York Yankees won a World Series since 2009?

Because blaming the players alone is the laziest take in baseball—and also the wrong one.

Yes, players have to perform. If you wear a big-league uniform, excuses don’t come standard. But let’s stop pretending the Yankees’ long championship drought is just a matter of underachieving athletes. The common denominator here isn’t the clubhouse—it’s the front office. Specifically, the decision-makers who keep betting big on spreadsheets while ignoring the messy, inconvenient truth that baseball players are human beings.

We’ve seen this movie before. Bad casting, bad evaluations, and blind faith in numbers that look great in theory and crumble in reality. Joey Gallo wasn’t an accident. He was a front-office decision. And he wasn’t alone. These moves all trace back to the same source: Brian Cashman and the machine around him.

Back in 2007, Cashman famously said the Yankees had “three years” to rebuild the system and chase another title. Well, congratulations—the system got rebuilt. Multiple times. The championships? Still stuck in 2009, collecting dust next to the old DVDs.

What did thrive during that time was the hype machine.

Stephen Parello of Yanks Go Yard laid this out perfectly when he walked through the Yankees’ long history of prospect inflation. Remember when Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy were supposed to save the franchise? Or when Eric Duncan was untouchable? Then came Jesús Montero—anointed as the next superstar with mythical scouting grades and zero follow-through. Parello forgot to mention the killer B's in Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman, but he didn't really need to, it's more of the same.

But then the Yankees did finally win in 2009—and notice how that happened: by opening the vault for CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and A.J. Burnett. Not hype. Not hope. Proven stars.

Fast-forward to now, and the pattern hasn’t changed—only the branding has. Today’s names are Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, and Jasson Domínguez. The jerseys sell. The slogans hit. The expectations explode.

Domínguez is the clearest example. A talented kid, no doubt—but the Yankees slapped “The Martian” on him and let the marketing department turn him into something he never asked to be. Even Joel Sherman called it out, noting that the nickname alone created absurd comparisons to Mickey Mantle—comparisons no other organization actually believed. That wasn’t scouting hype. That was New York hype.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth: hype is profitable in the Bronx and you are all being fooled. If 100 fans buy a jersey, the team wins financially before the player ever takes a swing. If the kid struggles? He’s the problem. If he succeeds? The front office pats itself on the back and pretends it was genius all along.

Volpe might be the most glaring dilemma yet. Three years in, tons of merchandise sold, and very little return on the field. Internally, the Yankees know it. Publicly, they’re crossing their fingers and hoping surgery magically turns projections into production. But spreadsheets don’t heal players. And humans don’t reboot like software.

This isn’t “self-hating fandom.” This is realism—the same realism Bleeding Yankee Blue has preached for years. The Yankees’ definition of success has shifted. Second place is acceptable. “Almost” is good enough. As long as the money flows, urgency doesn’t exist.

That’s the real rot. So yes, players deserve blame when they fail. But who puts them there? Who overhypes them? Who markets dreams instead of building winners?

The front office.

And until that changes—until the GM is gone, Boone is shown the door, and the organization remembers that banners matter more than branding—the Yankees will keep selling hope instead of championships.

Don’t fall for it. This isn’t a dynasty in waiting.

It’s a business model built on “close enough.”

GOLDSCHMIDT IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

 Since Mark Teixeira rode off into the Bronx sunset in 2016, the Yankees have treated first base like a game of musical chairs—with the music off-key and nobody quite sitting comfortably. That's not a slight against Anthony Rizzo, it's just a fact. We all knew what Rizzo was... and he wasn't Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt, a seasoned slugger who may be closer to 40 than 30, but clearly didn’t get the memo that he’s supposed to be slowing down.

At 37, Goldschmidt isn’t just surviving in pinstripes—he’s thriving. Maybe it’s the bright lights of New York. Maybe it’s his decade-and-a-half of experience in the majors. Or maybe he’s just tired of being underrated. Whatever the reason, the guy’s been a consistent force in the Yankees' lineup early this season, toggling between the leadoff and cleanup spots like a veteran DJ spinning hits at Yankee Stadium.

“He’s gotten off to a good start, which never hurts—you always want that,” manager Aaron Boone said.  The numbers don’t lie. Goldschmidt, as always, kept it humble.

“It’s nice to get hits and the team’s been playing well,” he said. “I’ve felt pretty good, but still a long season to go. For me, just try to show up every day and prepare and work hard and have good at-bats and try to help us win. I try to keep it simple, whether I’ve been struggling or having some success, just keep that same mindset. Go out there and play hard and try to win.”

Classic Goldschmidt—more substance than sizzle. But make no mistake, his bat is doing plenty of talking. This resurgence comes on the heels of the worst season of his career, a rare blip for one of the steadiest stars of his generation. But this hot start isn’t just a redemption arc—it’s another chapter in a Hall of Fame resume.

And not to get ahead of myself, but Goldschmidt’s case for Cooperstown is quietly compelling. He’s got the MVP, seven All-Star nods, and a peak performance stretch that stacks up with anyone from his era. His career WAR might fall just shy of the Hall of Fame elite, and I hate talking about WAR, but his impact on the field—both with the bat and as a clubhouse presence—makes him a serious contender for enshrinement.

So, if you’re wondering how the Yankees managed to plug their most glaring positional hole with a guy pushing 40, just look at Paul Goldschmidt. Age is just a number—his batting average, on the other hand, is the one worth watching.

THE BIRD FLIES THE COOP - AGAIN! WHERE'S MIKE O'HARA?

I'm taking a walk down memory lane right now. If you've been reading us for a long time you may remember how much support I used to give to Mark Teixeira. You may also remember how critical I was of this Greg Bird guy. Oh and how much Mike O'Hara and I used to playfully banter back and forth about them. If you remember any of that....WOW you have been reading us for a long time and thank you.

So Mike - I KNOW you are out there still. It's been awhile so I figured I would make your ears burn again. Instead of calling you I am sending out a TEX message (bad joke, I know) and hoping to wake you up from that nap you've been taking. All things you said in BIRD: STILL MY GUY. Since we live so far apart now I figured I'd search for ya on the blogosphere.

But you know, speaking of your guy Greg Bird - more bad news there. I wanted to check in and make sure you are okay because your guy Bird was set free again today, check it out. 

Inside the Pinstripes writes:

"...the first baseman’s release on Wednesday. Bird has spent the entire season with the RailRiders up to this point, struggling in his return to the Yankees’ organization after signing a minor league deal in early April.

Bird appeared in 59 games, hitting .218/.325/.354 with six home runs and 22 RBI."

Are you okay? Asking from a genuine place here because now both of our guys are gone. Yours just happened to be dumped by the Yankees twice now.

So now maybe no one will remember either of us. Actually, maybe they will because we were pretty entertaining back in the day when we stood by our men. Neither of our guys panned out and maybe Bird flies away and joins another team somewhere. I even wish him well because I never wanted to see him fail but I'm also ready for the Yankees to move on from Bird. No need for another reunion.

But seriously, I saw the headline today and had a good laugh. So this is me checking in and dropping a line to say hello. Lots of history with both of these players. Lots of good times at good old BYB. Who knows, maybe we will find a new Bird and Teixeira to banter about.

Good times. Don't be a stranger, Mike!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

LOCKOUT LEADS TO LANDING OF MATT OLSON

Now as you all know, we are waiting. And while waiting we can be speculating right? During a lockout like the one we are all experiencing, general managers are prohibited from talking or making trades involving players on the 40-man roster with opposing teams. But as The Athletic suggests, we as fans aren't prohibited from chatting it up and over the last several weeks, we have speculated, we have shared our thoughts and you have shared yours. The talk on the street, from fans, reporters and other insiders believe that once the lockout ends, the Yankees strike. And their first move is for first baseman Matt Olson.

Source: CBS Sports

According to SI.com, "On January 18, Jim Bowden of The Athletic floated a possible trade scenario that could see the Yankees land Olson. In this proposal, the Yankees offer their No. 3 prospect in shortstop Oswald Peraza, promising young pitcher Luis Gil (No. 4 ranked prospect), and maybe throw in right-hander Randy Vasquez (No. 20 ranked prospect) and/or righty Beck Way (No. 22 ranked prospect)." Woah. That is some kind of trade. All of those prospects for 27-year-old lefty bat? Will that be worth it?

"Olson’s left-handed power bat is the perfect fit for the short porch in Yankee Stadium. This move would also help provide balance to a right-handed heavy lineup by inserting Olson in the middle of the order," reports SI.com. 

Source: Associated Press

A couple of weeks I floated the idea of Freddie Freeman to swoop in and free the Yankees of their pennant drought. Recall my words in the post, FREEMAN COULD FILL THE BIG SHOES TEIXEIRA LEFT BEHIND! "Seems like the first base facelift has been a trend for the Yankees. Before bringing in Tex in 2009, the Yankees brought in Jason Giambi to replace Tino Martinez who replaced Don Mattingly. Since Teixeira, it has been a revolving door at the corner and if the Yankees act quickly and think beyond shortstop, they could have themselves a franchise player who could bring in a championship in the next couple of seasons or sooner." Swap out Freeman for Olsen? The A's notoriously look to keep their payroll lean, so they may be more apt to trade with the non-division Yankees and find happiness with lower salary rookies.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Olsen brings a heavy bat and two gold gloves along with youth; the kind of impact player that can consistently put the ball in play on this Yankee roster. Olson needs to come in swinging in order to shake up the clubhouse and help this lifeless team gain some momentum in 2022. Will it happen? The Yankees are expected to make a big move as soon as the lockout lifts. This could be the first of a few transactions that the Yankees make in pursuit of a championship. Landing Olson could be a playmaker and game changer for the future of this team. 

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

MLB'S FIRING OF KEN ROSENTHAL PROVES MANFRED'S GRUDGE IS AN ATTACK ON JOURNALISM

Ken Rosenthal was fired from MLB Network. Not because he's bad at his job. No. They fired him because he has been critical of the way Rob Manfred is handling the MLB. And you know what? Rosenthal is right! Rob Manfred has destroyed the game!

Clutch Points writes:

"Firing somebody due to his opinion is definitely not a good look, especially in a Major League sport. MLB Network did a horrible job here by letting go of him and Rob Manfred should also be ashamed not only because of the bad product that he puts out in the world but also for allowing this to happen. Some of the rules that he has implemented in today’s game are simply not made for the MLB and have certainly ruined the game."

Manfred is like a dictator. A man with control over his entire conglomerate of MLB and killing anyone who doesn't think the same. It's harsh, but it's true. But here's the thing. When it comes to opinions, that's what makes this country great. Ken Rosenthal wasn't lying about what Rob Manfred was doing in his ruining of the MLB, he was stating fact and then offering an opinion after that. And guess what... Rosenthal is not off base. He's allowed to hate the way Manfred runs things. That's because he's not wrong. We all hate it.

Puckett's Pond writes:

"We as fans would love to see him gone, with multiple petitions popping up across the internet have asked for his firing, and the players despise his lack of love of the game and maltreatment of the sport as a whole, but despite that, he’s not going anywhere.

This means baseball is headed for a dark place, and unless Manfred grows a spine soon, he’ll be the one leading the charge towards the end of America’s Pastime. Get ready Twins fans and baseball fans in general: Things will get ugly, and it’s all because of Manfred and his owner overlords."

For Manfred, it's all about the business. And sure, I understand the MLB is business, but it's a game meant to be played at a baseball game's pace. Speeding up the game is for the networks and real fans hate that. We like walking the batter intentionally on 4 straight pitches. We hate having a runner on second in extra innings. It's stupid! It's not real baseball... it's TV manufactured.

And this goes back to Rosenthal. What the hell did he do? Suggest MLB changes and Manfred ideas were ruining what baseball is all about! He's right! 1000%.

Look at what Ken Singleton tweeted, courtesy of the New York Post:

"Ken Singleton, the former three-time All-Star who retired from YES Network in 2021, also was displeased with the news.

“Ken Rosenthal has been an excellent writer and reporter on all things baseball since covering the Orioles years ago in Baltimore,” Singleton tweeted. “For the MLB Network to let him go is terribly shortsighted and reduces the credibility of the whole product.”

And Covering the Corner writes:

"This is the only thing you need to know today: the owners will not stand for criticism from their own media mouthpieces n the lockout. If Ken Rosenthal can be fired for criticism, how safe are the positions of any other lesser-known reporting staff? There are only so many times that one can dive into the archives and talk about the best “gifts” that each team has received and not become a parody of one’s self."

We stand with Kenny over here at BYB. This is journalism and what the editorial pages are built on. If you can't say what you believe as a respected journalist, all while reporting the news, what the hell's the point of any of this?

Manfred is a clown. His cronies are oompa-loompa's and he has disgraced the game since the day he showed up. He needs to go and it became quite clear to me the day the Houston Astros got nothing for cheating the league, and he was seen paling around with the Astros owner. 

You're caught dick!

This isn't about the fans folks. MLB is about the money and owners and the power and whatever they all can do collectively to make money and sucker us fans out of it. They do not care about us. This is why I have slowly moved away from being such a huge MLB and Yankee fan. Because corporate greed has latched on worse than ever and Manfred is the worst of them all.

If FOX Sports and the Athletic were smart, they should protect and let Kenny Rosenthal do whatever he needs to stay and spew hard opinions against Manfred and the league. I would tune into that for sure.

I leave you with this: 

"It’s understandable why Manfred would be upset at what Rosenthal wrote; it made him look bad. A decent leader would have forgotten about it two days, if not two hours, after he read it. Instead, he held a silly grudge, and it’s an unfunny joke that Rosenthal, a shoo-in to be honored someday with the BBWAA Career Excellence Award from the Hall of Fame, got dumped.

Perhaps the real sympathies should be directed at the hard-working reporters who remain at MLB Network, because the decision to dump Rosenthal did their reputations no favors. Major League Baseball executives, particularly original network president and CEO Tony Pettiti, have insisted since the beginning that they want MLB Network to be editorially credible and they would not interfere with the journalistic duties of the correspondents.

Then, because the commissioner cannot accept that criticism comes with his job, the network goes and dumps the popular and respected Rosenthal for what were accurate rebukes? The perception is not fair, but Manfred’s actions implicitly suggest that the reporters who remain are in lockstep with how the commissioner’s office wants the league covered. At the very least, they now know what the consequences are for being critical of the boss."

That comes from Boston.com, and the most important part of this entire story. The firing of Rosenthal is an attack on journalism and opinion in journalism.  The journalists and reporters at MLB? Be ready to not speak the truth. Be ready to be State TV. Be ready to have no real passion and no real reason to be on the air other than being a puppet. Why? Because your boss sucks and only cares about making money, not making baseball memories.  

MLB loses. They lost the day Manfred took over and they are losing worse than ever when Rosenthal got fired.

We at BYB had one rule when I started this Yankee fan site. My writers are to speak their OPINIONS. They are allowed to disagree with the boss. That's me. They are allowed to speak their mind, have a harsh opinion, and attack, as long as they know that when there is push back by fans and players, or even journalists, they have to fight their battles. They say it, they own it. 

David Cone and Suzie Pinstripe got into a scuffle a few years back. Jeana and Mike O'Hara have gone back and forth about Mark Teixeira... and I've had beef with all of our writers once of twice since we started in September 2010. I remember fondly bitching out Curt Schilling on Twitter as well. What a tool.  But here's the thing about journalism and opinions.... you know why it works? Because a rant is healthy. A rant... opinion is important in the public forum. And for Manfred to come forward and say goodbye to Rosenthal tells me one thing... he's a clown with no balls and thin skin, plain and simple.

And speaking of clowns... BYB has put out some products for sale.

Manfred the Clown is on sale now on TeePublic.

We are also making an MLB shirt which reads: MLB: Manfred Lacks Balls.  (In many Colors!)

Both will be live soon so be sure to check them out and see if you can find something nice to wear!

I'm so over Rob Manfred. Anyone who doesn't understand how much of an attack this is on journalism is out of their minds. This is bad.  

In closing, understand this. Ken Rosenthal is respected. He has respect from us all and will be fine with the Athletic and FOX Sports... but trust me when I tell you... freedom in journalism took a hit. And it's not good! It's just not!

FREEMAN COULD FILL THE BIG SHOES TEIXEIRA LEFT BEHIND!

Source: Danny Wild/USA Today Sports, via Reuters

My family and I are big Mark Teixeira fans. We loved him, even though he was slow to rise from his winter slumber, not making dent in his average until early June. We loved him defensively at first base and he was good for the clubhouse too. Now the Yankees have another opportunity to bring a power bat and gold glove to a lineup that really needs an ignition, just like it did when they signed Teixeira. This time it could be Freddie Freeman.

Source: Associated Press

"By adding Freeman, the Yankees would be getting a force in the middle of their lineup for many years to come, as well as a gold glove caliber first baseman on defense. Signing Freeman could potentially be a franchise altering move for a Yankees team that is in desperate need of a facelift after coming up short in the postseason over the past five seasons. Freeman also has a strong reputation for being a clubhouse leader as well," writes SI.com. Ironically, it was five years ago that the Yankees Teixeira said goodbye to baseball and retired. Could the Yankees make good by bringing in the NL MVP to the 2022 team?

Seems like the first base facelift has been a trend for the Yankees. Before bringing in Tex in 2009, the Yankees brought in Jason Giambi to replace Tino Martinez who replaced Don Mattingly. Since Teixeira, it has been a revolving door at the corner and if the Yankees act quickly and think beyond shortstop, they could have themselves a franchise player who could bring in a championship in the next couple of seasons or sooner. 

"If long-term money issues are scaring the Braves off from making Freeman a lifelong Braves star, Cashman should swoop in ASAP and make a deal. We’re talking about a left-handed slugger that plays excellent defense, takes walks, hits for power, makes contact and is a leader. It would be the perfect Yankees signing," reported NJ.com.

Source: NJ.com

Many say that the Yankees believe they have their shortstop in the system in either Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe or perhaps both. So spending big money on short could be something they bypass and bring in a fixer-upper instead to fill the middle infield. 

Would Freeman want to come to the Bronx? "The belief is he wants to stay. But if Atlanta doesn’t go to at least six years at $180 million, would he be receptive to exit? The Yankees and Dodgers, in particular, would be ready to pounce. It would be easier for the Yankees to emphasize defense at short with someone like Andrelton Simmons if they could land Freeman’s lefty bat," reports the NY Post. 

Source: Dodger Nation

It would be a great move for the Yankees to bring in Freeman—a power bat with great defense and terrific chemistry. Freeman could be the next great first baseman to come to the Bronx and with him the possibility for a championship. Freeman could fill the big shoes that Teixeira left behind. Now the Yankees just have to make that a reality. 

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

BREAKING: DODGERS ARE "TEAM GLUTTON" NABBING SCHERZER & TURNER

Don't come crying to me telling me the Yankees spend for every top free agent or heavy hitter. The Yankees haven't made those kind of signficant moves since Sabathia, Burnett, Swisher and Teixeira came over in 2009. I mean sure... back then we won it all, but that was the last time we grabbed everything out there.  

Yes, as we ease up to the trade deadline we were able to snag Rizzo and Joey Gallo, but it was done smartly and surgerically as not to go over the luxury tax. Now I'm hearing alot of rumblings that the Yankees aren't finished, but I seem to think they're close to done. I mean sure, I want Trevor Story, but I don't know how the hell they can pull that off at this point. We will have to see. 

Meanwhile the big fat freaking Dodgers just snagged 2 more all-stars like they are pulling money and the Yankees old playbook out of Magic Johnson's ass. It's pretty incredible. Here's the latest... 

Max Scherzer and Trea Turner are gonna be Dodgers... and here it is:

BREAKING: MAX IS GOING TO LA

Dodgers are ‘finalizing’ a deal for Max Scherzer AND Trea Turner in exchange for four prospects, per @JeffPassan pic.twitter.com/Jsvp1xjm0Y

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 30, 2021

Now, just a short time ago there was a rumor that Trevor Bauer and Corey Seager were traded in this deal, but that appears to be false. 

And that goes back to my point. The Dodgers are "Team Glutton"... grabbing evrything in their sight, monopolizing the league for their own... and it annoys the shit out of me.

Hey... they're doing what takes. You have to admire that I guess... I just hate it.

NO ONE IS SURPRISED ABOUT HICKS, BUT DOES ANYONE MISS TAUCHMAN?

 

Do you remember this?
"I definitely see myself hitting 30 plus. That's what I want to do and that's what I believe I can do. If I get 500 plate appearances, I'm definitely going to hit my mark with those numbers." - Aaron Hicks

I do and I liked the enthusiasm, but just like we said in CAN AARON HICKS HIT 30 DINGERS? he's never healthy. Here we are in a new season and Aaron Hicks is injured AGAIN. It's a disappointment for sure but, it's predictable. We knew it was coming and we would need a backup plan but now that backup plan that we once had ISN'T predictable.

We always knew that If and when Hicks went down that we had Mike Tauchman waiting in the wings and he could fill in. That is until the elephant in the room finally showed up because while I was PREDICTING THE ODD MAN OUT it became clear that Tauchman just didn't fit on this roster. The Yankees had to make a move, and now he's gone. What's done is done and while some of us may miss Tauchman, it does nothing to help this situation we have now with needing the right person to fill in while Hicks is out. Missing Tauchman right now is pointless and he's not exactly killing it with the Giants, either.

And how long will Hicks be out for? Who knows right now but if Hicks does indeed need surgery for his wrist, read more HERE he could be out for most of the season. That is really hard to swallow right now. I hope that isn't the case, and maybe it's not as it could be BUT....we've seen this injury before. Remember what happened to Mark Teixeira? Yeah, same injury folks. He never came back to be the productive guy we needed him to be. Maybe I am a little haunted by that. I get that everyone's body is different and blah blah blah....

But this is Hicks we are talking about. He's made of glass and doesn't have a good track record at all. The facts don't lie, here are games played per season:
2018 - 137 games
2019 - 59 games
2020 - 54 games (Pandemic shortened 60 game season)
2021 - 32 games so far

And this is the guy that Brian Cashman gave a 7 year / $70 million contract to. He's our new Jacoby Ellsbury. That may be a bit harsh but it's how I feel right now. Sure $10 million average annual value sounds like a decent deal for the Yankees....but at seven years that's a long time to pay for a guy that hasn't proven that he can play 130+ games a season.

And now we have to get creative in the outfield while we play the 'wait and see' game with Hicks and hope for some good news. I hope Ryan LaMarre will be the sparkplug we need but I'm tired of rolling the dice and hoping we get lucky. Do I want to see Estevan Florial play in the Bronx? Absolutely! Problem is I really don't think he is ready. He was just promoted and needs more time in Triple-A.

Hicks latest Injury is just more proof that the Yankees really need to overhaul their player development team because outside of a few small notable exceptions, they have missed the mark. I hope we get good news on Hicks, but honestly....I will never feel comfortable with Hicks in the outfield without fitting him for his own personal suit made out of heavy duty bubble wrap. Even that doesn't make me feel super confident.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj

THAT'S A WRAP, TEX!

Source: ESPN

One of the greatest home run calls John Sterling ever made was for one first baseman who I still miss. Bellowing in my head every so often is, "You're on the Mark Teixeira!" which makes me laugh and brightens a somewhat mediocre day. During the first marathon I completed, I continued to call out to spectators as I adorned my Yankee cap, "You're on the Mark Teixeira!" And on certain evenings, my son and I find a Youtube to commemorate the call. But, today, Mark is dropping the mic much like he dropped his cleats in 2016. Teixeira is saying goodbye to his broadcast job and baseball, for good... for now.

"I will be spending more time on business and personal opportunities that have materialized over the past year, and simply won’t have time to work for the network. These opportunities include moving my family back to Texas, finishing my bachelor’s degree at Georgia Tech, as well as focusing more time on investing and philanthropy," said Teixeira as reported by NJ.com.

Source: Associated Press

Teixeira submitted his resignation to ESPN officials on Tuesday, a position he held since the latter part of 2017, following a great stint with the Yankees. His last day with ESPN will be February 28, 2021.  He brought his unique flavor and opinions to his position, certainly adding some much needed charisma to the team at ESPN.

"After leaving the game, Teixeira hasn’t been afraid to speak his mind as a TV analyst, sometimes taking shots at the Yankees and other current players, like he did in September, when he called out closer Aroldis Chapman for throwing at the head of Tampa Bay Rays infielder Mike Brosseau," reported NJ.com.

With all of the gloomy news looming around the "what ifs" with DJ LeMahieu, this story, demonstrates how a player turned baseball analyst can choose his path and reinvent himself. Aaron Boone said in a press conference Tuesday that DJ set himself up well. I think Tex has as well and I wish him happiness as he explores new opportunities including finishing his degree. You're on the Mark, Teixeira and you always will be for me. Thanks for giving myself and fans a lot of happiness over the years. Good luck!

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

DIDI GREGORIUS ON YANKEES RADAR FOR MORE THAN ONE REASON

Last winter, Didi Gregorius gambled and took a one year deal so he could re-establish his value. He had a good season, and any other year he would be entering free agency with a potential for a big payday. But this is 2020, and the pandemic has changed everything. 

There are three shortstops available this winter that will be attractive to teams that will be looking for upgrades. We know Didi is one of them, but Andrelton Simmons and Marcus Semien are also on that list and it will be interesting to see if the Yankees are interested in Didi....or any of the others.

It was hard for a lot of fans to see Didi leave. He became a fan favorite and now there are rumors out there that he may reunite with the Yankees again. Mark Teixeira thinks the Yankees should bring him back, read more HERE. But he also thought the Yankees were going to lose to the Cleveland Indians in the postseason and that Luke Voit should be traded even though Voit is a cheaper option for the Yankees who are rumored to be looking to cut some payroll. I don't know if Teixeira is right about this prediction or not but if he is, I wouldn't be upset about it.

This season was tough for many reasons, but I am not convinced that Gleyber Torres is a long term option for shortstop. I think he is better at second base, but Didi thinks the Yankees will stick with Torres. "I don't think they would want me back in New York, to be honest, right now," Gregorius said Friday when asked about a reunion with the Yankees. "I think Gleyber (Torres) is the future shortstop."

And even if the Yankees were interested, he may want to stay in Philly. On Friday, Didi had some opinions that some of us also share including me. Didi was asked to compare some differences between Aaron Boone and Joe Girardi and his answers were interesting.

"The biggest difference? They’re both good managers. For me, the only thing I see different is Joe goes more with his instincts – that’s what I think – and Boone goes more with analytics. That’s what the team is doing now most of the time. I always tell people I understand the analytics part of the game, but you’ve also got a take the heart of the player. You can’t measure that on paper or anything."

And I think he is right. I can't stop thinking about Boone's blunder in Game 2. Using Deivi Garcia as an opener to pull him for J.A. Happ didn't work at all. He overcomplicated it....and baseball is already complicated enough. There was no real reason to pull Garcia yet. Boone pulled Garcia to get Happ's lefty arm in and it was all based on analytics....analytics that didn't work. The instincts and the analytics should go together, and that's what Boone doesn't get.

So Didi is in a tough spot at no fault of his own. These are unprecedented times, and this will be an unprecedented offseason. Didi earned a good contract, but we will have to see where the market falls, and if Didi's statement changes the Yankees mind at all.

I would welcome Didi back with open arms, I guess we just wait and see what happens. I'm sure he's caught the attention of many teams, not just the Yankees.

  --Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

     BYB Managing Editor

    Twitter: @nyprincessj