CABALLERO IS NOT A HOUSEHOLD NAME, BUT EVEN BOONE KNOWS HE'S BETTER THAN VOLPE

Now... can we just make him the starting shortstop?

Jose Caballero may not be the guy selling jerseys in Times Square or starring in Yankees hype videos, but right now he’s playing like the shortstop the Bronx actually deserves. Anthony Volpe? Well, he finally got a breather after 46 straight games, and Caballero took his chance to remind everyone that sometimes the “backup” is the better option.

In St. Louis, while the Yankees were busy sweeping the Cardinals into irrelevance, Caballero quietly became the weekend’s MVP. He went 5-for-11, tossed in two multi-hit games, worked two walks, drove in a run, and stole four bases just to make sure the Cards knew what speed really looks like. His highlight? A blistered 96.1 MPH single off Miles Mikolas that stretched the Yankees’ lead to 3-0—proving he can handle real heat, not just sneak hits off soft-tossers.

But Caballero isn’t just about hitting. The man is a Swiss Army knife with a glove—plus defender everywhere, and at shortstop he’s got the range, instincts, and guts to make plays that Volpe could only dream about during his rookie hype tour. Add in the fact that Caballero leads the American League in stolen bases this year, he’s fearless, disruptive, and the kind of baserunner who makes pitchers lose focus and fans lean forward.

Meanwhile, Volpe’s career arc has gone from “future savior” to “future question mark.” The Yankees thought they were getting a cornerstone shortstop, but what they actually got looks more like a utility infielder in disguise. Three years in, the myth is unraveling—Volpe just isn’t that guy.

And now, Caballero steps in, plays lights out, and exposes what Yankee fans already suspected: Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone backed the wrong horse. Volpe was supposed to be the answer. Caballero is proving he’s the solution.

The verdict? Simple: Caballero > Volpe. The Yankees just have to admit it.

STRENGTHENING THE YANKEES STARTING PITCHING IS IMPORTANT NOW!

Another day, another trade rumor that actually makes way too much sense for the Yankees—who, at this point, have Max Fried impersonating a rotation ace surrounded by a collection of duct-taped arms and question marks. 

The need for the Yankees to strengthen their starting pitching is beyond obvious. So, why not keep floating these intriguing trade proposals out there? Who knows, maybe someone in the Yankees’ front office will stumble across one of them—because let’s face it, they’re certainly not busy making smart baseball decisions lately.

Enter Conor Liguori of Athlon Sports, who recently suggested the Yankees pursue a deal with the Dodgers. His idea? Send right-hander Landon Knack to the Bronx in exchange for shortstop Roderick Arias, the Yankees’ No. 6 prospect, and first baseman T.J. Rumfield.

As Liguori explains, "In this trade, the Dodgers remain patient with developing one of the Yankees’ top prospects, Arias, whose projected ETA to the MLB level is 2027. The 20-year-old began 2025 at Single-A Tampa and posted a .728 OPS with 13 home runs and 37 steals at the same level last season. Rumfield has flashed legit power, already launching three home runs with a .580 slugging percentage in just 14 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this year.”

And hey, this isn't the first time smart, realistic pitching targets have come up—Bobby Miller and even Miles Mikolas have been tossed into the rumor mill lately. These aren’t pie-in-the-sky fantasies; they’re logical moves the Yankees should be considering.

Fans are tired. The team’s stagnation is infuriating. A deal like this won’t solve every problem—but it’s a heck of a lot better than waiting around for the front office to stop twiddling their thumbs.

PITCHING IS AN URGENT MATTER FOR THE YANKEES!

Let’s just be honest: the Yankees’ starting rotation is a mess right now. You know it, I know it—and yeah, you’re probably sick of me harping on it over at Bleeding Yankee Blue, but it’s still mind-blowing that the Yankees front office saw the same storm coming and still chose to do... absolutely nothing.

Now here we are, midseason, scrambling for reinforcements. The rumor mill is spinning fast with potential trade targets, and one interesting new name that’s popped up? Miles Mikolas of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Athlon Sports recently made the case:

“If the Yankees intend to save their season, they must call the Cardinals about veteran starting pitcher Miles Mikolas. Mikolas, a two-time All-Star and one of the league’s more dependable innings eaters, makes plenty of sense for the Yankees. His durability alone—he’s started at least 30 games in every full season since 2018, and he pitched in nine of the Cardinals’ 60 games during the shortened 2020 campaign—should instantly appeal to a Yankees team missing Gerrit Cole (season-ending elbow surgery) and Luis Gil (lat).”

And honestly, they’re right. Mikolas makes sense on paper and in reality. He’s been consistent, durable, and knows what it’s like to pitch under pressure. That’s exactly the type of arm the Yankees could use to stabilize this rotation and keep the bullpen from being run into the ground every night.

The big question, of course, is whether a deal is actually possible. Mikolas is in the final year of a three-year, $55.7 million contract. That makes him both appealing and affordable as a short-term solution. But this is a trade scenario, and the Yankees can’t be choosy when they’re clearly in a bind.

The Yankees do have prospects to offer—some good, some really good. One name that always gets thrown around in these situations is Spencer Jones. Personally, I’m not sold on the idea of shipping him out, but hey, it all depends on the return.

What’s certain is that upgrading this rotation needs to be a priority, not an afterthought. A reliable starter like Mikolas could make a real difference and ease the load on a bullpen that’s already overworked and overstretched.

Honestly, I hadn’t even thought about Mikolas until I read that Athlon piece yesterday—but now? I’m all in on the idea. It makes sense. It’s realistic. The only question left is, who do we give up to get him?

Stay tuned.

DO THE YANKEES HAVE THE MAGIC TOUCH?

Source: NY Times

Gleyber Torres to the Tigers earlier this week was a bittersweet move. He'd be hot, but then he was not and his defensive acumen is extremely weak. So as position players leave and new ones enter through the Stadium turnstile, the question I have for all of you as we move toward our last few days of 2024, do the Yankees have the magic touch for what's ahead in 2025? Or do they need more?

Besides moving ahead with key acquisitions for first base, outfield and starting pitching, the Yankees have some bull pen needs to round things out. Last season, the Yankees bull pen had the magic touch until it didn't. This year, there can be no holes, no flaws if they want to be all in. According to SI.com, "The free agent market for relief pitching always moves slow on an annual basis but should begin to heat up once January and February roll around." Who can bring that magic to the Yankees?

The Yankees added right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz in a trade with the Reds which sent Jose Trevino to Cincinnati. They also picked up Devin Williams from the Brewers in a trade that sent Nestor Cortes to Milwaukee. The Yankees will get Jonathan Loáisiga back as well come February. But they need likely more depth to get the finish line first.

According to Newsweek, "New York could look to add more to the bullpen, with St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley being the top option potentially available. The Yankees could attempt to center a trade around Marcus Stroman, although St. Louis has reportedly declined a Stroman for Nolan Arenado deal." Analysts say that adding Helsley and perhaps his teammate Miles Mikolas could give the Yankees what they need. In fact, that could be the exclamation point. 

"Helsley is a two-time All-Star and the reigning Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year. He will be a free agent after this season. Helsley is one of the few players in the league who could give the Yankees an actual decision to make at closer. Devin Williams is also a two-time All-Star and a two-time Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year. Having both guys in the bullpen would make the Yankees nearly untouchable in close games. Mikolas is also a two-time All-Star. He had a down year last season, but the Yankees could hope to help him reach his All-Star form again," reported Sporting News.

Magic Touch or confidence? I think it is a bit of both. And with that bit of both, the Yankees can be the team to beat in 2025. Let's see what the New Year rings in and then see how things progress leading into a very much anticipated Spring Training. And let's hope that Aaron Boone doesn't mess things up. 

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