PATH FOR THE YANKEES TO SIGNING IMAI JUST TOOK AN INTERESTING TURN

Since last week I have been on a major Tatsuya Imai watch. It hasn't subsided and now that there are rumors surfacing now about more teams that may no longer be in play, it makes the Yankees potential path to signing Imai even more fascinating. I said last week, I just want to see who he signs with.

Last week Imai said he didn't want to play for the Dodgers. He wants to play against them and beat them to win a championship. Ever since I have been hooked because I just love that attitude. I have been trying to avoid all headlines teasing about Imai and his Yankee connections, and I was actually doing a good job until recently. I am not looking to get emotionally attached to the idea he wears pinstripes....but I am seeing more and more headlines.

Yesterday, Sports Illustrated hinted that the Yankees may not be as crazy of a destination as I thought, check it out HERE. Two of Imai's other potential suitors MIGHT be out of the race. Buster Olney posted on X over the weekend.

I'm not going to hold my breath because anything is possible. The Giants have been looking to make a splash since they lost out on Aaron Judge and what better way to try to compete with the Dodgers? It's an interesting idea, Imai could sign with a division rival and have more opportunities to play against and beat other Japanese players. It's an angle that could work.

There's also still the Blue Jays. I get it, they just signed Dylan Cease to a seven year $210 million dollar commitment, but adding a second starter could really reinforce the Blue Jays abilities to get back to the postseason. They add another arm, and they really could be dangerous, to everyone not just the Yankees. If they want to make a real investment another pitcher with a potent bat will only help their chances of playing baseball in November again.

There's a team that can't be overlooked and we haven't heard as much about and that's the Mets. We could see another faceoff between Cohen and Steinbrenner. The Mets realistically need multiple arms to retool their roster after a disappointing 2025 season where starting pitching did not meet expectations. The Mets need arms that can get them deeper into games and as disappointing as last season was, I don't see them sitting back and playing it cool.

So this could be another team to watch. Cohen has deep pockets, and he's already proven he's not afraid to dig into them. He's not looking for another disappointing season, so Imai could be just the move he has on his radar. I could see it happening.... this has the stink of the Mets all over it.

The Yankees have not made a splash in the NPB market since Masahiro Tanaka, so this could be the opportunity, but I am still not going to give my hopes up. Is the path to signing him getting less crowded? My gut tells me no but.... I'm still watching attentively.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES CREEP INTO "FAVORITE" STATUS FOR TATSUYA IMAI

Yankees fans, rejoice—or at least pretend you know what’s going on. Word is the Bronx Bombers have emerged as one of the favorites to land three-time NPB All-Star Tatsuya Imai. And yes, relax, you’re not alone: most of us needed Google to figure out who this guy is, too.

Imai, a 27-year-old righty for the Saitama Seibu Lions, has been lighting up Japan since 2018. He’s made three All-Star teams, carries a career 58–45 record with a tight 3.15 ERA, and he’s officially being posted on November 19. After that, MLB teams will have 45 days to woo him—or he packs his bags and heads back to Japan.

MLB Network’s David Vassegh has already tossed the Yankees’ name into the rumor tornado, grouping them with the Phillies, Blue Jays, Mets, and Padres. Apparently, according to Vassegh’s “Japanese friends”—his words, not mine—the Yankees are right in the thick of it.

The competition makes sense: all these teams desperately need arms for 2026 and beyond. And Imai’s arsenal is the type that front offices drool over. We’re talking a fastball up to 99, a biting slider, and a changeup that makes hitters look like they forgot their glasses. Control used to be an issue, but he’s sharpened that up—so much so that he just posted a 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. Not bad… though, let’s be real, NPB hitters aren’t exactly the same beasts lurking in MLB lineups.

The elephant in the room? Kei Igawa PTSD...for me at least. Big, glowing, neon PTSD. Yankee fans don’t need another reminder that not every Japanese pitcher is the next Tanaka; sometimes you get the guy who makes you dive behind the couch every fifth day.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are watching the Dodgers printing money, collecting Japanese stars like they’re Pokémon cards—Ohtani, Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki—and they seem to think they can just… copy-paste that blueprint. Here’s the catch: the Dodgers actually spend money. The Yankees? They talk about spending money and then they get a guy like Frankie Montas. Totally different.

Stay tuned. This could get interesting. Or it could get very, very Yankee. We shall see.

HOG DODGERS BAG ANOTHER JAPANESE PHENOM

Well, well, well. It seems the Los Angeles Dodgers have done it again. Just when you thought they couldn’t possibly stuff any more Japanese talent into their overflowing roster, they’ve gone and snatched up Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old Japanese pitching sensation whose fastball casually cruises past 100 mph. Yep, the Dodgers are basically the piggy bank of MLB, hoarding all the shiny coins, and now they’ve added Sasaki to their already sparkling collection. They're hog slobs.

In a move that surprised absolutely no one, Sasaki took to Instagram to announce his intentions to sign with you guessed it the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Sorry, Yankees, Marlins, Red Sox – you guys never really had a shot. The Dodgers, sitting pretty on the West Coast, holding all the cards, are now the undisputed kings of MLB.

Remember those good old days when the Yankees and Red Sox had that heated rivalry, battling it out for the likes of Hideki Matsui, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Masahiro Tanaka? Yeah, that’s ancient history. Back then, the East Coast was all the rage. Now? It’s clear as day – the Dodgers are the new dynasty, and the East Coast teams are left picking up the scraps.

Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and now Roki Sasaki – it’s like the Dodgers have a direct line to Japan, or maybe a magnet that pulls in every top-tier Japanese pitcher. What’s that? San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays were also in the mix? Cute. But let's be honest, they were just there to fill out the roster of potential suitors.

Sasaki’s Instagram post was all humble gratitude, thanking his supporters and expressing his excitement about wearing the Dodgers uniform. He called it a tough decision, but let’s face it, how tough could it really be when the Dodgers come knocking? It's LA, baby! Dammit!

And let’s not forget all that agent chatter about small-market teams – yeah, that clearly went straight out the window. LA is massive, much like NY, but with better weather and fewer existential crises about whether the team will make it past the postseason.

So here we are, with Sasaki joining Ohtani and the gang, setting up the Dodgers for even more domination. They came to win, and they’re here to win for a long, long time. The rest of the league? Well, you might want to start scouting the next generation of international talent, because the Dodgers are playing on a whole different level.

Good for Roki. Good for the Dodgers. But let's be clear, the Yankees have done terrific things this offseason, so it's time to focus on them now that this guy went west.  

Let's go Yanks! I smell a World Series rematch!

JIM BOWDEN KNOWS WHERE ROKI SASAKI'S SIGNING

Jim Bowden just couldn’t help himself. 

Bowden went there. Bowden went all in like he’s playing poker with Monopoly money and loving every second of it. While other baseball insiders are stumbling around like they’ve forgotten how to tie their cleats, desperately trying to get the latest scoop on Roki Sasaki, Bowden is out here throwing fastballs of his own. And boy, did he just throw a heater with his latest prediction about Sasaki joining the Yankees. It’s so aggressive, it’s almost like Bowden's trying to sign him himself.

Bowden, the maestro of bold takes over at The Athletic, is out here waving off the Dodgers like they’re yesterday’s news. In Bowden’s world, Sasaki is either headed to the Yankees or the Padres. Why? Well, here’s the gem of logic Bowden blessed us with: "His favorite player growing up was Masahiro Tanaka, which would lead me to guess he was at least somewhat of a Yankees fan. He considers Yu Darvish a godfather-type influence, and the Padres veteran mentored Sasaki during Japan’s championship run in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Therefore, for no other reason, I’ll predict he signs with either the Yankees or San Diego."

Bowden’s putting his chips on the table, all because Sasaki looked up to Tanaka and has a bromance with Darvish. That’s it. That’s the nugget. Sure, it sounds great in a “baseball is just a big buddy movie” kind of way, but come on, Jim! Signing contracts isn’t exactly like picking your best man for a wedding.

Yes, Tanaka was Sasaki’s childhood hero, clocking in 78 wins during his Yankees days. And Darvish? He had a decent run with the Padres in 2024, with a 7-3 record and a 3.31 ERA, despite only pitching 81.2 innings. But are those the deciding factors here? It’s like saying you picked your college because they have a great mascot.

Bowden’s out here making contract negotiations sound as easy as ordering off a fast-food menu, but we all know it’s a tad more complicated than that. Is it fun to imagine Sasaki signing with the Yankees or Padres? Absolutely. Is it likely? Well, that’s another story. But hey, Bowden’s having a blast, and we’re all just along for the ride. 

Stay tuned—there’s more drama to unfold, and Bowden will surely be right in the thick of it, stirring the pot.

SASAKI SWEEPSTAKE TEAMS GETTING MORE EXCLUSIVE...

Kind of.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic claims the Yankees are one of the main teams in the hunt for Rōki Sasaki, along with the Dodgers, Padres, Cubs, Rangers, Mets, and maybe the Giants. Classic Bowden move—throw half the league at the wall and see what sticks. God love him.  Don’t get me wrong, Jim’s a good baseball guy, but let’s not confuse him with Nostradamus. Does he really know where Sasaki’s headed? Doubtful. But hey, the Yankees are in the conversation, and that’s good enough for now. In reality, you didn't need me to tell you that, just Google it.

Look, Rōki Sasaki isn’t your run-of-the-mill international signing. He’s a once-in-a-generation talent—a flamethrower who could make your team a contender or your rivals weep. Yankees fans are clinging to the fact that Sasaki grew up idolizing Masahiro Tanaka. At least I am and I know it means nothing. I mean, does that really mean Tanaka’s sliding into Sasaki’s DMs with pep talks? Maybe. Or maybe Tanaka’s just living his life while I wildly speculate.

The Yankees have stiff competition, though, and let’s be honest: this isn’t 2009 when the team could just back up a Brinks truck.  Sasaki’s tied up in international bonus pool rules and Joel Wolfe, Sasaki’s agent, says market size doesn’t matter, so there goes that Bronx swagger edge and even the Mets.

But is the Big Apple too big? Wolfe recently stirred the pot, telling SportsNet New York, “A small- or mid-market team might be more beneficial for [Sasaki], as a way to start his MLB career in a softer environment.” Okay, Joel, we see you. Basically, Sasaki might not want to deal with New York’s tabloid circus and high-pressure fans right out of the gate. Fair enough—but are we really supposed to believe he wants to start his career in, like, Milwaukee?

Even if Sasaki does have a soft spot for Tanaka and pinstripes, the Yankees are up against some heavy hitters. The Dodgers, Padres, and Mets have plenty of appeal to make things interesting. But let’s be real: until Sasaki’s holding up a jersey at a press conference, this is all just a fever dream and Jim Bowden knows it... Damn you Jim!

So, Yankees fans, keep your cool. It’s fun to imagine Sasaki in pinstripes, but don’t let Jim Bowden’s musings have you picking out parade routes just yet. And Jim? Thanks for the speculation—it’s great for the clicks.  

Love ya!

YANKEES ARE MAKING BIG STEPS TOWARD ROKI SASAKI

Yankees picked up Paul Goldschmidt on a no-brainer 1 year contract and now have been working it when it comes to Roki Sasaki too. Cashman is on fire.

The New York Yankees are putting on an offseason clinic, flexing their muscles in ways that should make every other MLB team nervous, and now they’re gunning for the crown jewel of international talent: Roki Sasaki. Yes, that Roki Sasaki—the Japanese phenom whose fastball is so electric, it probably needs its own passport.

Landing Sasaki would supercharge an already star-studded rotation, giving the Yankees an embarrassment of riches on the mound. Imagine Fried, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Sasaki all sharing a clubhouse. That’s not a rotation; that’s a Hall of Fame exhibit in the making.

But here’s the twist: throwing buckets of cash won’t cut it this time. Thanks to MLB’s international signing rules, Sasaki can only receive money from each team’s international pool, so the Yankees can’t just flex their wallet. Instead, they’re flexing their charm and savvy—and boy, are they playing the game.

According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees flew cross-country to Los Angeles on Thursday to meet with Sasaki in person. While Japanese players historically lean toward West Coast teams like the Dodgers and Padres, the Yankees have a few tricks up their pinstriped sleeves. For starters, they’ve got a rich history with Japanese stars. Remember Hideki Matsui, the World Series MVP and beloved “Godzilla” of the Bronx? Or Masahiro Tanaka, who dominated for years and became a fan favorite?

Here’s where it gets even better: Tanaka himself is reportedly part of the Yankees’ pitch. As a legend in both Japan and New York, he’s a perfect ambassador to convince Sasaki that Yankee Stadium is where dreams—and championships—come true. Oh, and rumor has it Sasaki is a big fan of Tanaka, so this move could be the ultimate ace up the Yankees’ sleeve.

Sure, the Mets, Dodgers, and Padres are all in the mix, but let’s face it—the Yankees are on a mission to own the offseason and leave the competition eating their dust. With Sasaki in their sights, the Bombers are showing the world that they’re not just contenders; they’re dynasty-builders. And if they pull this off, the rest of MLB better watch out—because the Yankees are just getting started.

YANKS INCHING CLOSER TO ROKI SASAKI!

Cashman is on fire!

Get ready for some big news, Yankees fans! The Bronx Bombers are officially in the hunt for a future ace, and it’s none other than Japan’s young phenom, Roki Sasaki! That’s right, the Yankees have secured an in-person meeting with the 23-year-old sensation, and they’re the FIRST team to make a move. How exciting is that?

Sasaki, a rocket-armed right-hander who can top 100 mph with ease and has a splitter that leaves batters shaking, is quickly becoming one of the hottest names in baseball. And here's the kicker—he’s still considered an international amateur! That means no team can outspend the others with big bucks; all they can offer is a few million dollars from their international free-agent pool. So, it's not about the cash—it's about the opportunity!

Yankees GM Brian Cashman couldn’t contain his excitement about the possibility. He said, “He’s obviously a tremendous talent. It’d be nice to have Yankee Stadium be his home, but the decision will be up to him. All we can do is share everything and anything that we can about ourselves and what we provide.” The Yankees are doing everything they can to make a great impression, but the ball’s in Sasaki’s court.

Now, will the Yankees land Sasaki? Well, no one really knows. It’s too early to say, but they’ve got a real shot. Cashman did mention that even though the Yankees are doing their best to make a case, they’re not sure what Sasaki values most in choosing his next team.

And here’s a fun little wrinkle—while it’s unclear if former Yankee Masahiro Tanaka will be part of the recruiting process, Cashman didn’t rule it out. Tanaka just signed with the Yomiuri Giants, so his availability could be a bit tricky, but who knows? Maybe Matsui?

Bottom line? 

The Yankees are all in on this one, and they’re ready to roll out the red carpet for Sasaki! Keep your fingers crossed, because the Bronx could be home to yet another electric arm!

TANAKA SIGNS WITH THE GIANTS

OK, OK, not those Giants, those Giants!

A former Yankees fan-favorite has found a new home. I personally can’t help but smile when thinking about Masahiro Tanaka and his time in the Bronx.  But now after going back to Japan and playing for the Eagles, he is now playing for the Giants.

The Japanese right-hander, who was as steady as they come for the Yankees from 2014 to 2020, has signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). If you’re wondering, yes, the Giants are basically Japan’s version of the Yankees—big city, big media market, and a whole lot of championships (22, to be exact). If there’s anyone who knows how to pitch under bright lights and relentless expectations, it’s Tanaka. Tokyo Dome? Child’s play for a guy who handled Yankee Stadium.

Tanaka’s career has been a full-circle masterpiece. He started with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, where he spent 11 seasons combined, debuting at just 18 years old and winning Rookie of the Year in 2007. Fast forward to 2013, and he was simply untouchable, going 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA (video game numbers) and earning MVP honors. That led him straight to New York, where he quickly became a workhorse and a postseason hero, giving us Yankees fans years of clutch performances and calm, stoic dominance—always with the vibe that he could handle anything and then back to Japan with the Eagles.

And now he continues, headed to the Giants. Tanaka was one of those players you just appreciated—the guy you trusted on the mound no matter the moment. Yankees fans will always tip their caps to him, and we’ll be rooting from afar as he writes his next chapter.

Go get ’em, 

ALL EYES ON DODGERS VS YANKEES - GET READY!

Even if you won the whole $468 million jackpot this weekend, Shohei Ohtani wins more and takes a bigger pot. He has 700 million reasons why and has the baseball world buzzing. Now, I just can't wait to see how this shakes down.

Get ready, the Dodgers come to Yankee stadium June 7-9th next season and it is going to be a must watch event. Ohtani and the Dodgers rolls into town to play against Juan Soto and the retooled Yankees, you couldn't imagine this any better... or could you? Actually, I think you can.

The Yankees are going ALL IN this year. Soto was just the start. The next "need" to address is going to be the pitching and it's coming. Even the foolish present-day Yankees know you can't lose as much pitching as they did in both the Rule 5 draft and their trades and NOT replenish it. Pitching is coming, but now we just wait and see who.

The Yankees are ALL IN on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He's the next target, and if the Yankees get him that old Death Star is officially waxed and no longer dusty. We all know Hal Steinbrenner is NOT like his dad George, but even he knows this is a business. The faltering Yankees needed to rebuild their brand. The Yankees aren't just a baseball team, they are an attraction in one of the brightest cities in the world. These aggressive moves are long overdue.

So, Yamamoto is the next piece of the puzzle, and we will see what comes from his visit on Monday. There are rumors that Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka might help with recruiting efforts. This is a big deal; the Yankees are pulling the big guns out. I just hope it works.

So back to that summer series against the Dodgers....it could be even bigger. Can you imagine Ohtani and Soto in the lineup AND Yamamoto pitching for the Yankees? This has HUGE profitability written all over it. Those bleacher tickets are already pricey enough, but get ready the price for that series would be higher without a doubt.

By the way, anyone who thinks baseball is a dying American sport... just look at the details of Ohtani's deal. Baseball is a alive and well, his new contract proves it. Bobby Bonilla is jealous! Get ready folks, the Dodgers and Yankees series is going to be epic!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

 

JUDGE SAYS YANKS AIN'T DONE WITH BIG SIGNINGS, BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ANALYTICS AUDIT?

I'm thrilled about getting Juan Soto in pinstripes.  I actually even feel good about Alex Verdugo believe it or not. The entire outfield has transformed for the better.   Now, we do need pitching, but there's time.  In a recent quote from Aaron Judge, the Yankees do not appear done.

“We’ve made some big moves the past couple of days and looking forward to making a couple more, but it’s gonna be a fun season I think for Yankee fans,” Judge said Thursday morning on Fox 5’s “Good Day New York.

Now Yankee fans? It's true, we deserve it.  2023 sucked. We're mad... many of us cannot stand Aaron Boone at the helm, so grabbing Brad Ausmus was a great idea for a bench coach.  Obviously, Soto in pinstripes for 2024 is amazing, but what happens after 2024?  In other words, are we extending this guy? Is he gonna leave? Did we trade away Drew Thorpe for nothing?  Look, we want a great 2024 season this is true, but we want many years of competing at the highest level and actually winning a championship.  That's the goal.  

Yamamoto will be a big piece the Yankees cannot mess up.  The Mets are going after him hard, but we have the numbers, meaning, guys like Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka are giant past acquisitions and they have to help in this venture.  We need this guy. 

I am happy that Aaron Judge can hint as he is. It seems that he's happy and of course that eases the minds of us Yankee fans, but let's keep our eye on the prize... we have to get these guys and win.  It's literally the biggest goal of a professional team.  We as fans finally forced Cashman's hand to make changes with our players... he is, but let's face it, it means nothing if they don't fix the problems in the analytics room, which, as I stated the other day NEVER HAPPENED.  

If you don't know what I mean, read THE FACE OF THE YANKEES ANALYTICS FLOP HAS NO ANSWERS.. Analytics nerd Michael Fishman revealed nothing, except for one very important piece of information that Yankee fans need to be angry about.  Remember when the Yankees were supposed to have an audit by Zelus to look into the Yankees books on how they operate with their players better? Well, there was no audit. The Yankees did not offer to open their books. In other words, the New York Yankees are not taking a "deep dive" into what went wrong. They aren't doing anything but flashing shiny things in our faces in the images of Soto and Yamamoto so we all forget that the Yankees front office was horrible last year.  That, my friends is the most offensive thing of this entire off season.  All of us Yankee fans know we need big players, but we also need to fix the front office.  Hal said we would, but we're not, aren't we?

I want you to think about this if the Yankees are sucking the life out of us in 2024. Because this was the most important fix of them all, but it was ignored.  Sad.

I am thrilled to welcome Soto and Verdugo to the Yankees, it's gonna be fun.  I hope we snag Yamamoto and a few more solid arms.  We need them. But none of this works if we're not given the right numbers from our analytics department, and right now it appears that isn't happening.

Be Skeptical. Ask these questions. We deserve answers.

COULD THE YANKEES ACTUALLY GET YAMAMOTO?

Source: Yuki Taguchi/WBCI/MLB Photos

What does the #18 mean to you? It means Johnny Damon and Didi Gregorius to me and likely others. The last time #18 was worn by a Yankee is was when Andrew Benintendi played for the team. But to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, #18 could mean everything. As reported by SNY, "According to league sources, the Yanks have purposefully held the number 18 for Yamamoto over the past year. That is not only Yamamoto’s number with the Orix Buffaloes, but is traditionally considered the "ace" number in Japan." So could this small gesture lure Yamamoto to the Yankees? Let's drill deeper.

Source: NY Times

"Hiroki Kuroda, a onetime NPB ace, wore 18 with the Yankees. Masahiro Tanaka wore number 18 as an ace for the NPB’s Rakuten Golden Eagles before signing with the Yankees, but took 19 in New York out of respect for Kuroda, who was still on the team," reported SNY. God I love that Tanaka! He truly gave ace-like performance as a Yankee and could Yamamoto be next?

There are several teams linked to the Japanese ace right now including the cross town rival New York Mets. But guess what? #18 is about to be retired to honor Met favorite Darryl Strawberry. According to the New York Post, "Yamamoto, by all indications, would be the right fit for both the Mets and the Yankees. Which doesn’t mean he will end up here; there’s more teams with money to spend now than there’s been since the dawn of free agency in 1976, when the numbers were still low enough that even small-market teams like Montreal and Cleveland were big free-agent players. But when the bids begin to build, assuming Yamamoto is bullish on New York, he can do what precious few have ever done: Craft a full-scale bidding war between baseball’s two fiscal monoliths."

Yet to throw another wrench into the free agency mix, there's Shohei Ohtani who the Post calls "the biggest prize on the market." Although the Yankees and the Mets for that matter are longshots for a deal with Ohtani, Steve Cohen has shown how deep his pockets can go. He even tried to throw his hat in the ring for Aaron Judge. And we know how that went down.

So could the Yankees go for it? The asking price before a bidding war ensues is $200 million. And the bidding war could also include the Dodgers, Red Sox and Giants- all who have #18 available by the way. But if Yamamoto wants to be a Yankee and the Yankees are willing to go for it, we may have our modern day Tanaka come spring. 

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

YANKEES WILL LOSE OUT TO THE RANGERS FOR HADER

The way the season has gone, and now the off-season being slow and the Yankee front office being defiant and not accepting responsibility, I don't see a lot that's gonna happen to better this team.  

I mean, I know what they're doing right now... they waited for Yoshinobu Yamamoto to post, and he did, and Cashman is now in some back room seeing how much money they have to try and get him in pinstripes. They will wheel out Hideki Matsui and Masahiro Tanaka to speak fondly to Yamamoto of the Yankees organization and then they will make a pitch, hoping to not be out bid.  

And if they can get him, that would be great. If they can't, we wasted a ton of time.  Oh, and also, one Yamamoto does not make a successful Yankee off-season. They still have a ways to go to please the Yankee fan base, trust me. Remember we can't hit!!!

But hitting help is for another post. This post is about Josh Hader, a guy that the Yankees should absolutely go after, but a guy that they will not get because of non-aggressiveness and them putting all their eggs in the Yamamoto basket.  Inside the pinstripes writes:

"The Rangers should be prepared to pay. Reportedly, Hader and his agent are seeking to beat the five-year, $102 million deal that New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz signed last offseason."

And in that same article? Not a mention of the New York Yankees. Why? Great question.  By the way, if the Rangers are interested and they have the team they have and they can show Hader the money, there is no question that deal is sealed.  Hader to the Bronx will not happen.

Feels eerily like every other offseason in the Bronx, don't it?

JAPANESE STUD YAMAMOTO SETS RECORD AS MLB FREE AGENCY LOOMS

It's a good time to be Yoshinobu Yamamoto right now. He's grabbed the spotlight at the right time, just before he becomes a MLB free agent and everyone is watching, eagerly.

The Orix Buffaloes ace set a record in Game 6 of the Japan Series, with 14 strikeouts and no walks over 138 pitches in a 5-1 complete-game victory over the Hanshin Tigers to force a decisive seventh game. His 14 strikeouts broke Yu Darvish's previous milestone of 13 strikeouts back in 2007. You can read more about it HERE.

This is the perfect event to add even more hype around Yamamoto's impending MLB posting by the Orix Buffaloes this winter. Yamamoto has a 16-8 record with a 1.21 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 164 innings. It is expected that bigging will start at $200 million over six or seven years which would surpass the $155 million that Masahiro Tanaka received from the Yankees back in 2014.

The Yankees need more rotation help, and they've already been connected to several names. They will always be tied to several names whether it is credible or not just because it's the Yankees. I like the idea of adding an ace to strengthen the rotation.... but are the Yankees a good fit for Yamamoto?

I definitely want him to be, but the Yankees are a hot mess right now. I am not sure the success they had with Tanaka, is realistic right now. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but the Yankees are so lost right now. I don't have confidence they won't ruin him. We've already seen the Yankees tamper and ruin some talent; Deivi Garcia was the perfect example. They tinkered with him and tried to make him into something he wasn't, and it didn't end well. We covered it in ANALYTICS FAILED DEIVI GARCIA AND NOW THERE IS PROOF!

Yamamoto will have a new league to get used to, and if the Yankees are fortunate enough to outbid everyone else and gain Yamamoto's arm in the rotation that would be huge. I just don't have faith that the Yankees won't ruin him, too. We've seen it before. 

The Yankees are too analytics driven and are too good at using them incorrectly and I don't think they are willing to change their ways. I just hope it won't damage Yamamoto....or anyone else.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKS NEED TO MAKE A BIG SPLASH, BUT WE'RE NOT AS PRESTIGIOUS AS WE USED TO BE

When the Yankees were good, they were great.  But the Yankees aren't good and anyone that's been reading the papers knows that it has everything to do with the front office, the manager and the analytics department, who should be renamed "Amateur Hour Office".  Sure, blame some players for not stepping up, but it was even Aaron Judge that took a shot at the front office saying that the players were probably given the "wrong numbers".  That's bad.

Bruce Bochy is a player's manager just like Aaron Boone, but Bochy is also a baseball man. He is wise and manages with his eyes, his heart, his gut. He doesn't use analytics as the law on the field, he uses it as a guide and that's the difference.  Boone uses the numbers for what it is and doesn't factor in many different other factors on any given day... weather, player error, the elements, the different days, the matchups, etc. Boone's a clown. 

The point is at the end of the day, when players are looking to get a big pay day and you see a team like the Texas Rangers and a loser team like the New York Yankees... who are you going to sit down at the table with the negotiate?  

The Yankees should and need to make a big splash this off-season. It's a must.  Here's the problem; Who the hell wants to come to the Yankees these days? This team has been crucified by the press and their own fan base is leaving in flocks.  Do you know a friend of mine received an email from the Yankees ticket office to re-up for the 2024 season? You know what he told them?

"Sir, with all due respect, I will not step foot in Yankee Stadium again until Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone are fired."

And you know what? That's a fan... that's fair.  If the front office doesn't want to try and fix things to give their team the best chance to win, why the hell would the fans want to be there? Look, the Mets suck too, but at least Steve Cohen's trying to figure it out. 

There are 3 names out there that the Yankees are continually connected to, but I just don't know if they can get them.

Jordan Montgomery for one. Now let's cut through it right now. The Yankees never gave this guy a fair shake. They didn't believe in him and they didn't allow him to find his groove. The Yankees front office was impatient. But you know who did give Jordan a shot? The Rangers.  So, while the rumors are that the Yankees are going to try and pursue him, what makes you think for a second that JoMo wants to come back to New York?  I think this rumor, while fair to speculate, may be the most ridiculous of them all.  

Cody Bellinger is another guy, but this guy I see coming to New York.  Cody had a great season with the Cubs.  His father Clay played for the organization.  As far as I know there is no bad blood.  Now, would the Yankees be willing to bring this guy in? Would Cody want to be in the Bronx?

Yoshinobu Yamamoto. A Japanese pitcher that's lights out.  Now look, there are many players from Japan that pan out and many that do not.  For the Yankees, it's a mixed bag between guys like Hideki Matsui, Kei Igawa and Masahiro Tanaka, but at the end of the day, Matsui is the anointed ambassador for the Yankees when it comes to Japanese players and I do believe with some help, Yamamoto could end up in pinstripes.

But look, at the end of the day, it really comes down to the Yankees cleaning up their camp.  The front office is a mess, the direction they give their players is amateur and while money fixes a lot of stuff, it has not fixed this team at all.

Yankeeland needs leaders... and we are not seeing that, especially in 2023.  Who knows what will happen in 2024, but I'm not hopeful.

IS THERE ANYTHING KYLE HIGASHIOKA CAN'T DO?

There has to be a reason that Gerrit Cole chose Kyle Higashioka as his catcher. And why teammates want to work with him. Oh, and why the lineup without him is empty. Higgy is making a big impact on the 2021 Yankees and quickly becoming a fan favorite. And guess what? He's not just a catcher.

Kye Higashioka looks to put the person he is working with first, fostering and maintaining those key relationships with his pitchers. To communicate with former Yankee pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, he began learning Japanese. To communicate with Spanish-speaking Yankees such as Aroldis Chapman and Gary Sanchez, he learned Spanish. And to blow off steam and have a life outside of baseball, he plays guitar and has picked up surfing. Why is this all-important? Kyle Higashioka is proving that in order to excel at baseball or any sport, you have to willing to put in whatever it takes and be a well-rounded individual to be at your best for your teammates. 

Just before the 2021 season Podcaster Tony Cappuccilli of Barrell Proof Sports Podcast had Higgy on his show. Cappuccilli also happens to be Kyle's high school baseball coach. The exchange provides some interesting insights into Higgy's ability to make adjustments to his weightlifting regiments to stay competitive with the bigger players out there being drafted by the Yankees at 18. This has helped his hitting along with being able to pivot as needed to be relevant and communicative with his pitchers. He shared that taking Spanish in high school enabled him to have conversations with other players who were Spanish and that immersion helped his language acquisition which enabled him to make stronger relationships with his team.

"It kind of endears yourself a little bit to the guys who speak Spanish cause it is like they know you are putting in an effort to learn their culture and to be accommodating," said Higashioka. Higgy stated that the Yankees appreciate guys who work hard and are productive which is likely why the catcher has stayed with the same organization for 13-years. 

And the proof is in the pudding. The Yankees are 6-2 when Higgy starts over Sanchez behind the plate. With Sanchez, the Yankees are 5-12. "Higashioka not only offers the Yankees’ pitchers a better receiver behind the plate — he is among the top two in framing in the game — but he is hitting. In 12 games this season, Higashioka has four homers. He’s slashing .276/.364/.759. He’s driven in six runs in 33 plate appearances. Showing signs of improvement, Higashioka has already drawn four walks — half as many as his career total coming into this season over 204 plate appearances," reported The New York Daily News. 

You have to root for guys like Higgy. He is out there giving everything he has to be a better player, from staying physically fit to building relationships with his team and the individual players who he plays next to day after day. Good for you, Higgy. Hard work pays off and you are one of the good guys who is reaping the benefits. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof