OSWALD PERAZA WILL BE THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Oswald Peraza should have never been traded. Ever. But the Yankees, in their infinite front-office “wisdom,” doubled down on Anthony Volpe — and one day soon, they’re going to regret it.

Here’s the reality: someone in the Bronx decided Volpe was “elite” before he ever proved it. High school stats don’t win you games in the big leagues, and Major League Baseball isn’t some Disney Channel coming-of-age movie. Us fans are finding that out the hard way.

Peraza worked his tail off for years. He earned his shot. But the moment Volpe walked in, somebody upstairs decided his face was more marketable and his “story” was shinier. And just like that, Peraza — the better player — became expendable. The Yankees basically traded him away for a bag of baseballs. That’s front-office malpractice.

Now Peraza’s speaking out — and he has every right to.

“When it comes to wearing the Yankee uniform, it’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also a lot of responsibility,” Peraza told reporters. “All I could do was play baseball. It all comes down to opportunity. In the minors, I played every day, saw pitchers over and over, made my adjustments. Up here, I never had that chance.”

Translation? The Yankees never gave him a fair shot.

Peraza deserved better. He was signed, developed, and groomed by this organization… and then left to rot on the bench while the Yankees shoved Volpe down our throats as “the future.” He wasn’t valued. He wasn’t trusted. And eventually, he was tossed aside.

 
Now, here’s the kicker: Peraza has better tools than Volpe. Scouts rave about his plus defense — smooth actions, soft hands, a strong arm, and elite instincts. He’s fast, he’s smart on the bases, and his bat has real pop. Multiple evaluators have said Peraza’s physical tools are “louder” than Volpe’s, meaning the ceiling is higher. And so if you are listening to anyone in the Yankees organization saying that Volpe is better, they're lying to you.

Even Aaron Judge basically hinted earlier this season that if Peraza had been allowed to play consistently, we’d have seen a breakout year. But did the Yankees listen? Of course not. They were too busy polishing the Volpe hype machine.

And that, right there, is the Yankees’ downfall.

Volpe’s a likable kid, sure. But he hasn’t proven he can be an everyday difference-maker. Meanwhile, Peraza’s out the door — and you know what I hope happens? I hope he torches the Yankees every chance he gets. Not out of spite, but because it’ll expose just how badly this front office fumbled the bag.

The Yankees didn’t just trade away a top prospect. They traded away their own common sense.

IN SOME WAYS PETE GRAY WAS BETTER THAN ANTHONY VOLPE

In 1945, Pete Gray gave Major League Baseball one of the most remarkable “you can’t make this up” seasons in history. Playing for the St. Louis Browns, Gray hit .218—not Hall of Fame stuff statistically, but when you factor in that he did it with one arm after losing his right arm in a childhood accident, the man becomes baseball folklore. Born Peter Wyshner, Gray wasn’t supposed to be there. He wasn’t supposed to chase down fly balls in center field, leg out infield hits, or gun down runners. But he refused “no” as an answer. The war years had thinned the league’s talent pool, opening a door for him, but make no mistake—he shoved his way through it and made the majors on grit and sheer stubbornness.

The Browns signed him for $4,000 after buying his contract for $20,000, and on April 17, 1945, he debuted against the Detroit Tigers. A month later, in Yankee Stadium, Gray delivered a storybook moment—five hits and two RBIs in a doubleheader sweep over the Yankees. He’d play 77 games that season, mostly in left and center, and prove to the world that determination could close the gap between impossible and reality.

Now, let’s fast-forward to Anthony Volpe—Aaron Boone’s coddled pet project and the Yankees’ “elite” shortstop who, at the moment, is batting .219. Yes, that’s one point higher than Pete Gray’s 1945 average. The difference? Pete Gray was missing an arm. Volpe has two, and somehow they both come up empty at the plate far too often.

Volpe was a star in high school—Delbarton School, New Jersey. 2019 New Jersey High School Player of the Year. Strong glove. Speed. Solid bat. All fine and dandy… but that was six years ago, and high school trophies don’t mean much when you’re skipping college ball and getting vaulted straight into the pressure cooker of playing shortstop for the New York Yankees.

And here’s the problem: the kid wasn’t ready. He’s still not ready. He carries himself like someone who’s had everything handed to him, because—surprise—he has. When he makes a mistake, you see the palms go up, the face of disbelief, as if the baseball gods themselves are to blame. Accountability? Only if you count scripted postgame answers that sound like they were approved by a parent.

A month ago, the mask slipped. Meredith Marakovits asked Boone about a Volpe error, and Boone—visibly irritated—got up, looked her straight in the eye, and mouthed, “He’s effin’ elite.” Translation: “This is the company line, get with it.” 

Sorry, Aaron, but the rest of us aren’t buying the gaslighting. The Yankees already shipped off Oswald Peraza—a better defensive shortstop—just to keep Volpe’s spot warm. And for what? To watch him swing like he’s trying to hit flies off a picnic table?

Pete Gray fought through life with one arm, beat impossible odds, and lived his dream. Volpe, with every advantage a baseball player could want, is being anointed for mediocrity. Pete Gray earned his shot. Volpe’s getting a victory parade for holding a batting average you could get by closing your eyes and hacking.

 

Yes, in some ways Gray was better than Volpe. And a lot of it has to do in the fact that he earned his keep, despite the doubters.  For Volpe, he's losing favor among fans and yet the Yankees "Gaslighting" front office refuse to fold because they would have egg on their face if they admitted making a mistake.

What does that say about the Yankees? What does that say about the front office’s warped, spin-heavy “everything’s fine” culture? Simple. Pete Gray’s story was about grit. Anthony Volpe’s is about gifts. And one of those actually belongs in Yankee Stadium history.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

PERAZA IS DITCHED BY THE YANKEES

 Well, it finally happened. The inevitable. The predictable. The eye-roll heard 'round the Bronx.

Oswald Peraza is gone. Shipped off. Vanished from the Yankees’ plans like common sense in their front office. According to Jack Curry of YES, the Yankees have officially traded Peraza to the Los Angeles Angels for outfield prospect Wilberson De Peña and some international bonus pool money. Translation: the Yanks gave up a major league-ready infielder for lottery tickets and spare change. Bravo.

Yankees have traded Oswald Peraza to the Angels.

— JackCurryYES (@JackCurryYES) July 31, 2025

This was never going to end any other way. From the moment Anthony Volpe arrived with his media hype, his shiny smile, and Aaron Boone’s undying affection, Peraza was toast. The kid never had a chance. The Yankees never gave him consistent at-bats, never let him settle in, never even really looked at him unless it was to pinch-run in the seventh inning of a 9-2 game. He was a name on the roster sheet—never a real plan.

Let’s be real here. Peraza had no options left—literally and figuratively. The Yankees could no longer send him to the minors, and clearly had no desire to actually play him. So off he goes, while Volpe, who continues to play shortstop like he’s allergic to making routine throws, remains the golden boy. Why? Because Aaron Boone has a crush. That’s it. That’s the analysis.

Peraza, once one of the Yankees’ top prospects and a strong defender with real upside, was treated like the backup character in Volpe’s hero story. He was the “Other Guy” in every narrative. And now, he’s the “Former Yankee.”

The Yankees can spin it however they want—“we needed to clear roster space,” or “we’re getting international flexibility,” or whatever jargon they pull from their cashmere-lined excuse generator. But the truth is ugly: I hate this. They mishandled a legit prospect. They wasted him. They got nothing close to fair value. And they did it all to keep playing favorites even if they aren't good.

SEAN CASEY'S JUST AS CLUELESS AS BOONE WHEN IT COMES TO VOLPE

Let’s not sugarcoat it: The New York Yankees are crumbling like a stale pretzel in the sun. This isn’t just about a team playing poorly—it’s about an empire collapsing under the weight of its own ego, its bad decisions, and its relentless marketing machine. The worst part? They’ve dragged a kid—Anthony Volpe—along for the ride, and now he’s faceplanting in real time.

You almost feel bad for him. Almost.

Here’s a kid who didn’t play college ball, who got fast-tracked through the minors like he was on an Amazon Prime conveyor belt. Why? Because some analytics geek scribbled down a Derek Jeter comparison on the back of Volpe’s high school graduation program, and the Yankees ran with it like it was gospel. We didn’t invent that comparison—the Yankees, the YES Network, and the media machine did. They were desperate for a new face. And Volpe? He was local... New Jersey. He was marketable. He was the “safe” choice. Never mind that Oswald Peraza—an actual top prospect—was standing right there, major-league ready.

Nope. That didn’t sell enough jerseys.

So what did the Yankees do? They chose the white kid from Jersey over the Dominican shortstop already on the rise. That’s not an accusation—it’s an observation of how this franchise works when branding matters more than baseball. Peraza had the skills, but Volpe had the narrative. And now that narrative is unraveling faster than the Yankees’ season.

Let’s get to the cold, brutal reality: Anthony Volpe is not elite. He’s not a prince in pinstripes. He’s not even a particularly good major league player right now. What he is? A kid who got sold a bill of goods by an organization that was more concerned with creating the next Derek Jeter than letting a young player become something real. And us fans were sold the same bill of goods.

And 2025? This might be the worst offensive season we’ve ever seen from a supposedly “franchise cornerstone.” He’s not treading water. He’s drowning. Volpe is lost at the plate, swinging through breaking balls like he’s never seen one before. (.176 against them this year, and dropping.) This isn't just a slump—it’s a full-blown baseball identity crisis.

Oh, but wait. Here comes Sean Casey, official Boone mouthpiece and word-salad chef extraordinaire, to sprinkle some more delusion on top of the pile.

“Anthony Volpe is going to be just fine,” Casey said on his podcast. “Nobody works harder than he does.”

Cool. And? Do you get an RBI for punching in early? A Gold Glove for having a “great routine”? If working hard was the goal, every guy hustling on a minor league bus to Altoona would be in the Hall of Fame, dummy. 

This isn’t high school gym class—this is Major League Baseball. Working hard is expected from every player. But the Yankees keep pushing this idea that Volpe’s effort makes up for his actual play. Newsflash: He’s getting worse. His defense? Regressed since his Gold Glove rookie campaign. His bat? A glorified wind machine. He believed the hype, and who can blame him? The Yankees handed him the keys to the kingdom before he learned how to drive.

And the organization? They’re too stubborn to admit they got it wrong. They won’t trade him, bench him, or even move him down in the order—because doing so would mean admitting they made a mistake. And heaven forbid Brian Cashman ever admit to one of those.

This is what makes it all so pathetic. Not just the bad baseball. Not just the lost games. But the fact that this team—the once-proud Yankees—has become a marketing firm in pinstripes. They sold us a hero, and now that the hero can’t hit a slider, they just tell us to clap harder.

Anthony Volpe isn’t a villain. He’s the symptom of a bigger disease. He’s the result of a franchise that prioritizes hype over development, PR over performance, and optics over outcomes. They wanted a Jeter 2.0. What they got was a well-meaning kid caught in a storm he never created—but one he’s not surviving either.

And Aaron Boone? Still trotting him out there every day like it's 1999 and we're all just too dumb to notice. Boone loves Volpe like he’s his long-lost nephew, and Sean Casey just joined the BBQ. It’s a weird little club of delusion, and the fans? We’re just left watching the wreckage.

I’m not spending a dime at Yankee Stadium while this clown show of a front office continues to pretend everything is fine. It’s not. We were sold a dream, and we woke up to a .212 batting average and a collapsing dynasty.

It didn’t have to be this way. But the Yankees chose the face, not the future.

And now we're all paying the price.

EUGENIO SUAREZ RUMORS HEATING UP BIGLY

The Eugenio Suárez-to-the-Yankees rumor mill is spinning faster than a Judge moonshot—and honestly, it's about time. The Yankees have had a glaring infield problem since checks notes December, and just like every other year, fans spotted it first while Brian Cashman was off somewhere trying to reanimate the corpse of Josh Donaldson’s career.

Now it’s mid-July, DJ LeMahieu is done, Oswaldo Cabrera’s bandaged up, and Oswald Peraza might as well be in witness protection. Not because he's worse than Anthony Volpe (spoiler: he's not), but because the Yankees apparently value marketability over metrics. The kid doesn’t sell jerseys, so he’s out. Classic Bronx front-office logic.

Enter Eugenio Suárez—the big bat from the desert who's apparently just as fed up with losing as Yankee fans are with Boone’s bullpen decisions. During his All-Star media duties, Suárez didn’t shy away from flirting with the Bombers:

“It’s a team that wants to win,” he said. “They’re hungry still. If I got over there, I would do my best and try to help them win the World Series.”

Let’s go, king. Pack your bags.

Stat-wise, Suárez is dropping bombs like it's 2019: 31 homers already, with a clean .277/.332/.587 slash line and a slugging percentage that screams “carry me to October.” He's the kind of guy the Yankees should’ve had locked in six months ago—yet here we are, again, scrambling at the trade deadline like it’s a last-minute group project.

Of course, nothing in Yankee Land is simple. To get Suárez, Cashman’s going to have to make some magic happen without touching the Big Three prospects: Spencer Jones, George Lombard Jr., and Cam Schlittler. And if he trades one of them, expect Yankee Twitter to light its torches by sundown.

But even if they land Suárez, here's the cold truth: this team isn't winning a World Series—not because of talent, but because of leadership. Boone’s in-game strategy still looks like he’s playing MLB The Show on autoplay. And the bigger problem? No one’s holding him accountable.

Suárez might bring some much-needed juice to the infield, but unless something major changes upstairs, this season's ceiling still feels like a second-round exit and a “we’ll get ’em next year” press conference.

VOLPE NEEDS TO FACE REALITY

Maybe this all isn't real. Volpe's like the Milli Vanilli of the Bronx.

Let’s be clear about one thing: if you’ve been coming to Bleeding Yankee Blue since 2010, it’s not just because you love the Yankees (though of course you do). You come for the fire. The fury. The unapologetic Bronx-born rage when things go sideways—and oh boy, are they sideways now.

Look, we get it. Aaron Boone has a borderline romantic obsession with Anthony Volpe. It's less a manager-player relationship and more a Nicholas Sparks novel. Their relationship is strange and uncomfortable at this point in my opinion.

Boone sees a gritty, photogenic kid in pinstripes with the hope he will "break out". But this isn't me watching my 12-year-old pitching for his travel team... it's the major leagues and Volpe got a fast pass while, in my opinion, he really needed more time to grow. Us fans are struggling watching this quote "shortstop" with a .217 average and the range of a traffic cone try to become a major leaguer. It's a terrible experiment.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Volpe is playing bad baseball. Period. His bat’s gone quiet, his glove’s gone soft, and somehow... he’s still starting every day. Meanwhile, DJ LeMahieu—an actual major league veteran who’s paid his dues—is getting benched like he forgot to tip the valet. When Boone was asked about DJ’s reaction to his benching, the skipper admitted DJ “wasn’t thrilled.” No kidding.

Boone says this is "just the situation we're in.” But newsflash: it’s only the situation because Boone made it that way.

He could move Volpe to the bench. He just won’t. And if you ask Boone about sitting Volpe, the excuse? "Well, who else do we have?" Uh, Oswald Peraza, anyone? You know, the guy who actually plays elite defense? Sure, he’s not exactly lighting up the scoreboard either—but let’s be honest, it’s not like Volpe’s batting .320. He’s barely treading water at the Mendoza Line while Peraza is duct-taped to the bench for... vibes?

And let’s not ignore the elephant in the locker room: marketing. Volpe looks good on a billboard. He’s a Jersey kid. Polished, polite, and PR-ready. It doesn’t matter if he goes 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a pop-up to the pitcher—as long as his name moves jerseys at the team store, he’s apparently untouchable.

That’s not baseball. That’s branding. And fans aren’t stupid.

Volpe’s recent comments only confirm what we feared: he’s been completely absorbed by the Yankees’ media machine. Here he is, in The Athletic, talking like a corporate intern:

“I know it might sound crazy, but I feel good... I’m confident we’re getting toward that… I’m really confident every time I step up to the plate.”

Come on, man. That’s not honesty. That’s pre-programmed nonsense. The guy sounds less like a ballplayer and more like a self-help audiobook. Meanwhile, the fans are sitting at home, watching error after strikeout, wondering if anyone in the front office even owns a television.

And now, the worst part: fans are giving up.

I hear it every day: "Casey, why do you even bother? Nothing’s gonna change. They’ll keep running Volpe out there and gaslighting us into thinking he's the future."

Well, maybe. But Bleeding Yankee Blue wasn’t built on shrugging our shoulders and calling it a day. We’re here to rage. We’re here to demand better. Because Yankees fans deserve better.

So we say it again, louder this time: Dump Volpe. Dump Boone. Clean house.

Enough with the coddling. Enough with the optics. The Yankees aren't a lifestyle brand—they're supposed to be a baseball team. Time to act like it.

NOT REALLY AN UPGRADE AS IT IS JUST MORE OF THE SAME

Well, well, well… look who finally decided to do something about the infield. Too bad that “something” feels like tossing a wet sponge at a five-alarm fire. After months — months! — of Bleeding Yankee Blue screaming from the rooftops that this team’s infield was a house of cards held together with bubble gum and blind faith in Anthony Volpe’s “potential,” the Yankees, in true last-minute, panic-button fashion, have made a move.

Except, it’s the wrong move. Again.

Jeimer Candelario — yes, that Jeimer Candelario — has been scooped up on a minor league deal. Not exactly the cavalry riding in, huh? This is the same Candelario who just got kicked to the curb by the Cincinnati Reds, and for good reason. The man’s been battling injuries like it’s his second job and is hitting a not-so-glorious .207 over the last 134 games. If you're trying to plug a leak in your boat, maybe don’t grab the bucket with holes in it?

But hey, what else would we expect from Aaron Boone’s Yankees? This is the same guy who plays Volpe every day while Oswald Peraza collects dust on the bench. Newsflash: Peraza is probably the better all-around infielder, but Volpe gets the VIP treatment despite his .222 batting average — and we’re supposed to keep pretending that’s normal?

This has been the Bleeding Yankee Blue gripe since last December. We begged. We warned. We said, “Hey, Cashman, the infield is a mess, and you’re doing nothing.” Crickets. Now it’s July, and the "big move" is grabbing a guy off baseball’s clearance rack. Candelario isn’t an upgrade — he’s a Band-Aid with no adhesive. And just like always, Boone will blindly slot him into the mix, analytics will say it’s fine, and no one will actually stop to watch the game and realize it’s not working.

Meanwhile, trade season is heating up and actual options are out there — Eugenio Suárez, Luis Urías, Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario — names that might actually contribute something meaningful. But instead of swinging for one of those, the Yankees went for Candelario, who has the excitement level of cold toast.

At this point, it’s painfully obvious: the Yankees have a leadership problem, an analytics addiction, and a manager who couldn’t lead a duck to water. Boone plays favorites, Cashman clings to broken strategies, and nobody seems to understand the value of grit, consistency, or letting talented guys like Peraza actually play.

This team doesn't need more spreadsheets. It needs guts. Hustle. A manager who makes decisions based on what he sees, not what a computer tells him. 

But until that day comes, fans like my buddy Joe are boycotting the Bronx. As Joe put it, sipping his beer on the 4th of July, “I’m not paying a dime to watch that loser team until Boone is gone and they stop running this franchise like a fantasy league.”

Amen, Joe. Amen.

And to the rest of you — we told you so.

REAL TALK OF A DEFENSIVE UPGRADE AT THIRD FOR THE YANKEES

Can someone check the calendar? Because it’s July, and somehow we’re still having the same “Yankees need to upgrade the infield” conversation we had back in March. At this point, it’s not just a roster flaw—it’s a running gag. The front office knows it. The fans know it. Your grandma probably knows it. But instead of fixing it, the Yankees are stuck in this weird holding pattern, trying to squeeze the last few drops of usefulness out of DJ LeMahieu and giving Oswald Peraza just enough playing time to keep his baseball instincts from evaporating.

It’s a sad state of affairs when the media is doing a better job identifying this team’s needs than the decision-makers in the Bronx. Honestly, just let Peraza play consistently already. Yeah, his bat hasn’t exploded yet, but that comes with reps. Give him a real shot—sink or swim. Worst case? He hits like Austin Wells, who somehow still punches in every day despite an OPS that screams “bench me.” I swear, if I have to watch Wells flail through one more lifeless at-bat, I’m filing a formal complaint. .217 and counting. It’s pathetic.

Now the rumor mill is cranking again, and here comes a familiar name: Ke’Bryan Hayes. The Pirates third baseman is back on the Yankees' radar, and I’ll admit—it’s intriguing. Defensively, he’s a freak. Human vacuum cleaner at third. Gold Glover.

 

Leads all third basemen in Defensive Runs Saved. If defense wins championships, this dude’s a cornerstone.

But then you look at his bat... yikes. His OPS is hanging out in the basement with Austin Wells’ batting average. You can't ignore that. The Yankees already have enough offensive black holes—do they really need another?

Still, you can’t deny Hayes fits a real need. He’d shore up the left side of the infield like concrete, and there’s a sweet sentimental angle too—his dad is Charlie Hayes, the same Charlie who caught the final out of the ’96 World Series. That’s baseball poetry. Between Ke’Bryan and Cody Bellinger, this could be a “sons of Yankees legends” summer revival tour.

The Pirates might bite if the Yankees dangle enough juicy prospects. The question is—does Cashman have the stones to make a real move? Or are we just going to keep patching holes and praying for miracles? Or do we just stay?

Yankees fans are out here watching the same broken record spin on repeat. It’s time for action. Time to stop pretending the infield is “fine.” It’s not. Make the trade. Shake things up. And for the love of Mo, stop playing Austin Wells. 

PABLO REYES IS GONZO

Pablo Reyes is officially a free agent again, and the Yankees barely blinked. After getting the ol’ DFA treatment to make room for Giancarlo Stanton’s return, Reyes went unclaimed on waivers and chose to hit the open market — where he’ll now join the long line of players who’ve been chewed up and spit out by a Yankees front office that treats its “expendables” like yesterday’s batting practice balls. Yes, it’s a business. But maybe, just maybe, a little dignity wouldn’t kill anyone.

Reyes wasn’t flashy, but he was serviceable. The guy made the Opening Day roster after a solid spring and stuck around for over two months — despite getting tossed into the lineup like a leftover side dish. He logged just 34 plate appearances, mostly filling in wherever someone needed a breather: second, third, even a cameo in right field. His .194 average? Not great. But how do you expect anyone to stay sharp when they’re being used like a backup umbrella?

Meanwhile, Oswald Peraza — also out of options — was the other choice when the roster crunch came. And while he’s younger and still technically labeled a “prospect,” he’s done little with the bat to earn the benefit of the doubt. Yet, here he is, still hanging on. The Yankees killed his value by never playing him. Stay tuned on what happens to him next.

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Anthony Volpe. How is it that Volpe, who has looked completely overmatched at the plate more often than not, gets the full golden boy treatment? Reyes gets the boot, Peraza barely plays, and yet Volpe is untouchable. Why? Because he was hyped up as the next Derek Jeter before he ever took a big-league swing? At some point, the Yankees need to stop treating “potential” like it’s a security clearance. The numbers are the numbers, and Volpe’s bat has been… let’s be generous and call it a “work in progress.”

Reyes isn’t a star. He’s a journeyman trying to hang on. But the way these fringe players get cast aside — with no real shot and even less transparency — says a lot about how this organization operates. Loyalty is a one-way street in the Bronx. Unless your name is Anthony Volpe, apparently.

THE YANKEES SHOULD HAVE NEVER LET GLEYBER TORRES WALK

As the head honcho here at Bleeding Yankee Blue, allow me to humbly report that I was right. The New York Yankees should not have given up on Gleyber Torres. Period. End of story. Send the apologies in writing, Cashman.

Remember all that noise from the front office, the stat-heads, and the Volpe fan club about how Gleyber was expendable? That he didn’t “hustle enough”? That we had “better infield options”? Yeah, how’s that working out?

Let’s check in on our infield in 2025:

• Jorbit Vivas? Ghosted.

• Oswald Peraza? Still finding his way, when he's allowed to play.

• Oswaldo Cabrera? Sitting on the IL after his ankle turned into confetti.

• Jazz Chisholm? Playing out of position again because Boone doesn’t know how to manage a Little League lineup, let alone a Major League one.

Meanwhile, Gleyber Torres is over in Detroit grinding. And I mean grinding. In his first 54 games as a Tiger, he's rocking a .269 avg, five homers, 30 RBIs, and a sparkling 122 OPS+. That’s not just decent—it’s solid, reliable, postseason-bound baseball. He’s not just thriving; he’s thriving without the pressure of being micromanaged by Aaron Boone and benched because he’s not the golden child.

Look, maybe it was Brian Cashman who decided Torres had worn out his welcome. Or maybe it was Boone, who seems to favor guys with nice smiles and empty stat lines over legit talent. Gleyber wasn’t a clubhouse pet. He stood his ground and I respected that about him. He knew he belonged. And that made him expendable in the eyes of this front office, which continues to mistake "youth movement" for "chaotic infield roulette."

And the funniest part? The Detroit Tigers might actually go deep into the playoffs this year. That’s right—Detroit. While the Yankees are once again sleepwalking their way through Boone’s playbook of bullpen misfires and seventh-inning meltdowns.

Gleyber Torres will get the last laugh.
And guess what?
So will Bleeding Yankee Blue.

Because we told you so.

CASHMAN'S LATEST MOVE IS A HEAD SCRATCHER & A LOG JAM ALL-IN-ONE!

If the Yankees didn't pick up any A's players for the next decade or so I really wouldn't mind. They haven't had a lot of luck dipping into the A's pool, and the latest move of picking up CJ Alexander on a waiver claim is pretty bizarre.

I'm all about depth, and that's exactly what this move is. But two weeks ago we said BRIAN CASHMAN IS LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK TO UPGRADE THE YANKEE ROSTER because his mission was for a right-handed infielder. A right-handed infielder doesn't sound hard but, this year it is. So I guess that is why we have a lefty....to stash down in Triple-A.

But for whatever reason, the Yankees feel it is necessary to use a 40-man roster spot on Alexander. He's only had four hits in his 25 plate appearances. The Yankees have had some bad luck in the infield this year with the habitual missed time from DJ LeMahieu, but also Jazz Chisholm and most recently losing Oswaldo Cabrera due to an ankle fracture. It never hurts to have some backup but is this a log jam in the making?

Right now Pablo Reyes and Oswald Peraza are ahead of Alexander on the big-league depth chart in terms of backup infielders, so how is Alexander supposed to crack the roster? It feels like a huge task to achieve unless the Yankees are getting ready to DFA one of the other guys? 

It feels like another log jam right now. Even if there is a solution coming to all of this, it is just another classic example of Cashman going dumpster diving in hopes of capturing lightning in a bottle. The Yankees have needed upgrades for a while, we've known it, and Cashman has told us what he's looking for.... but this just doesn't add up.

There are 50 days until the MLB trade deadline - this isn't the move that upgrades the Yankees. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

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.

ANOTHER 3RD BASE OPTION BECAUSE WE ARE FALLING OVER OURSELVES FOR CONTENT

Let’s begin with what we already know—because it’s been screamed into the baseball ether more times than Boone’s been ejected for arguing balls and strikes. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is coming back, and the Yankees are planning to plant him at third base. 

DJ LeMahieu? He’ll be staying at second, where he’s aged into the kind of defensive wizardry that deserves its own statue. The man’s 36, has the range of a shortstop, and has been so good at second, it’s almost criminal to consider moving him. Plus, it's probably smarter at this point.

But just because the infield is set doesn’t mean all of us sports writers can’t have a little hot stove fever in June for the hell of it. Why not toss out a wild name or two and see what sticks? Enter Connor Norby, Miami Marlins third baseman, and recent subject of speculative trade fun courtesy of Jacob Mountz over at Yardbarker.

Now, Mountz makes a decent case—and here comes the obligatory actual quote for the folks who still care about facts:

“In his 2024 rookie campaign, Norby hit .236 with nine home runs in 176 at-bats for the O’s and Marlins, displaying some promising power potential. This season, his power has wavered after returning from injury, but he is beginning to excel as a contact hitter. Norby is slashing .276/.319/.425 with three home runs in 127 at-bats since his return. However, more recently, Norby has shown signs of turning a corner.”

Not bad! In fact, those are numbers you’d absolutely consider if the Yankees had, say, a black hole at third base, a carousel at second, or were playing Peraza at both simultaneously just for laughs. But that’s not the case here.

Here’s where I admit something: when the Yankees are rolling, it gets tough to stir the content pot. I’m that curmudgeonly guy shouting at people to get off the metaphorical Yankee Stadium lawn. I critique. I second-guess. I still don’t know how Aaron Boone wakes up each morning, walks past a mirror, and says “Yep, I should still be managing this team.” The guy couldn’t manage a drive-thru, let alone a pitching staff.

But when the team is good—or, heaven forbid, off for a day—we all turn into wish-casting lunatics. We suggest trades. We dream up bold moves. It’s part of the fun. Even though third base is clearly Jazz’s job at this point. I mean, it's out there and on record. Even though DJ isn’t going anywhere at 2nd. Even though Oswald Peraza is sitting on the bench wondering if someone’s going to fake an injury so he can finally get a couple starts.

So, do we need another speculative piece about a guy like Connor Norby? Of course not.

But is it still kind of fun to think about? Absolutely. That’s baseball. And hey, shoutout to Mountz—he did the work, laid out the numbers, and stirred up the what-if machine. Norby may not be headed to the Bronx, but the idea of it is the kind of harmless summer daydreaming that keeps baseball fun even when your team doesn’t need fixing.

My take? Yankees don’t need Norby. They’re flush with infielders, the lineup’s humming, and unless Brian Cashman has a serious “look at this shiny new toy” moment, nothing’s changing.

Still… keep dreaming, folks. It’s what we do.

Carry on.

WHO'S GETTING KICKED OFF THE DANCE FLOOR ONCE JAZZ RETURNS?

I have a guess.

So, the million-dollar question floating around the Bronx right now: When is Jazz Chisholm coming back? And when he does, who gets bumped off the dance floor?

Well, folks, here comes the twist in the infield shuffle. Jazz is scheduled to start a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset today against Akron, playing—you guessed it—third base. Yep, the same position he had literally never played as a pro until the Yankees decided to toss the Marlins’ flashy center fielder into the hot corner blender last summer and see what came out.

Now, Oswald Peraza? The guy’s been holding down third like a human vacuum cleaner. He’s making web gems look routine. But here’s the rub: If you can’t hit, Boone doesn’t see you, except if you're Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells. And right now, Peraza’s bat is swinging a ghost—he’s hitting .165 with three homers in 34 games. That’s not exactly a resume-builder when the front office is itching to slot in the guy, they actually paid real money for.

Here’s where the Yankees logic train starts to sound like it’s running on square wheels:

• Oswald Peraza: Elite defense, struggling bat.

• Jazz Chisholm: Electric athlete, injured since April 30 with an oblique strain, learning third again.

• DJ LeMahieu: Former batting champ, now 36 and trying to remember what offense feels like (batting .206 through 11 games) but still has a gold glove reputation and a contract that screams “please don’t bench me.”

So, naturally, what’s the plan? Play Jazz at third—despite the fact that it's not his natural position—because DJ looks better at second. Makes sense, right? No? Just nod.

And poor Peraza? The writing’s on the Yankee Stadium wall in pinstriped Sharpie. Boone isn’t playing him enough to let him develop, and the Yankees have approximately 413 infielders vying for about three spots. Someone’s got to go. 

Bottom line: If Jazz’s oblique holds up and he starts moonwalking around third base like he belongs there, Boone’s got his built-in excuse to phase out Peraza. Best defender or not, the Yankees are running a depth chart, not a meritocracy.

So, stay tuned. Jazz might be ready by next week. And once he moonwalks in, someone else is gonna get moonwalked right out and I see the writing on the wall.

SUPPORT FOR PERAZA FROM THE GREAT AARON JUDGE

Bleeding Yankee Blue has been banging the “Let Peraza play every day” drum like it’s the encore at a rock concert, and for good reason.

Now to be fair—yes, fair, even though we’re frustrated—Volpe is seeing more pitches and learning to adjust. He's flailing with a purpose. Meanwhile, Oswald Peraza? He’s getting yanked around like a piñata at a toddler’s birthday party.

Peraza’s been doing his best to fill in the gaps, but let’s be honest: the poor guy’s been treated more like a patch than a plan. And the whispers are getting louder: has the window already closed on him before it ever really opened?

“He’s gone from top prospect — even starting a game in the 2022 playoffs — to well-regarded talent to someone the organization clearly doesn’t expect big things from,” Brendan Kuty wrote for The Athletic. “And he hasn’t proved them wrong yet.”

Ouch. But can we really expect him to prove anything if the Yankees keep treating his playing time like a game of musical chairs?

Through 76 at-bats this season, Peraza is slashing an icy .158/.229/.303. That’s not going to get him a plaque in Monument Park, but let’s remember—he’s also not getting consistent reps. You can’t expect a guy to light it up at the plate if he’s getting benched the second he blinks wrong.

The Yankees, ever the impatient suitors, are already eyeing third base upgrades like someone scrolling Zillow during an argument. But while the brass crunches numbers and scans trade rumors, there’s at least one person who believes in Peraza: the Captain.

“Give him a chance to play every single day, good things are going to happen,” Aaron Judge said recently, reminding us why he wears the ‘C’ with class.

And Peraza? He’s trying to soak it all in, even if he’s more spectator than starter these days.

“I’m getting a lot of experience,” he said earlier this month. “But if I’m not playing every day, I’m watching the game. A lot of my teammates are superstars, and I talk with my teammates every day.”

Even the coaching staff sees something brewing. James Rowson, the Yankees’ hitting coach, has spotted tangible improvements in Peraza’s swing mechanics.

“You’re in that position where you’re able to get behind the baseball and drive through it,” Rowson said. “You can see when the ball strikes the barrel, you can tell it’s square and there’s room for it to go. I think he’s getting to that point where he’s doing that more consistently.”

Translation: the tools are still there. The talent is still real. What’s missing? Opportunity.

So here’s the deal, Boone—stop treating Peraza like a placeholder. His glove is gold-glove caliber and his upside is still sky-high. Play the man. Let him build confidence. Let him struggle a little, learn a little, and then—just maybe—thrive a lot. You don’t rediscover a “top prospect” by parking him on the bench.

Bleeding Yankee Blue’s been right about this from the start. Give Peraza the runway and watch him take off.