BOONE NEEDS TO STOP FORCING VOLPE ON US FANS...

Meanwhile, maybe Volpe has a tiny bit of trade value these days hitting .260 that we can finally get rid of him by the trade deadline. Alot to talk about, huh?

I mean, Anthony Volpe's batting average is finally climbing, and predictably, the Yankees are treating it like validation. It isn't.

A hot stretch at the plate doesn't erase what fans have watched for months—an increasingly unreliable defensive shortstop who continues to make mistakes at the most important position on the infield.

If anything, Volpe's recent offensive surge has given Brian Cashman exactly what he needs: an opportunity to sell high before the rest of baseball remembers why his value dropped in the first place. That's my hot take. Get rid of this kid while we still can.  The Yankees' front office has spent the better part of three seasons trying to convince everyone that Volpe is the franchise shortstop. Every slump is met with another vote of confidence. Every error is brushed aside as part of the learning process. Every brief offensive streak is treated as proof that the organization was right all along.

At some point, enough is enough. The Yankees aren't rebuilding. They're supposed to be chasing championships. Instead, fans continue to watch a player who was advertised as a Gold Glove-caliber defender struggle with routine plays, inconsistent throws, questionable decisions, and defensive lapses that simply cannot happen from a Major League shortstop.

The most frustrating part is that there is already a better defensive option on the roster. Jose Caballero.

Yet Aaron Boone continues to move Caballero all over the diamond while stubbornly keeping Volpe planted at shortstop. Caballero... Third base. Outfield. Anywhere but the position where many fans believe he could immediately improve the Yankees' defense.

It's hard not to wonder what exactly Boone is trying to accomplish. Keeping Caballero in the lineup while refusing to let him play shortstop doesn't solve the Yankees' biggest defensive issue. It simply moves a quality defender away from the position where he could have the greatest impact.

Nobody is fooled by the revolving door of defensive alignments.

If Caballero is one of your best infield defenders, and he is, then let him play the premium infield position. Instead, Boone appears completely committed to Volpe, regardless of the results.

Whether it's loyalty, belief in Volpe's long-term potential, or simply refusing to admit the organization may have overestimated him, the Yankees continue doubling down while fans watch the same mistakes happen over and over again.

Yes, Volpe has raised his batting average. Good. That's his job. But to me, that still doesn't outweigh the defensive problems. A championship-caliber shortstop has to save runs just as often as he creates them, and too often Volpe has done the opposite.

That's exactly why the Yankees should capitalize while his value is trending upward. Several clubs around baseball could still view Volpe as a young player capable of reaching the ceiling that made him one of baseball's top prospects.

The Seattle Mariners immediately stand out as a logical partner. They are constantly searching for more offensive production and have the pitching depth to make an intriguing deal. The Yankees could target starter Bryan Woo or right-hander Logan Gilbert if Seattle believed Volpe could become its long-term answer in the infield. Either arm would immediately strengthen a Yankees rotation built to contend now.

Another intriguing match is the Miami Marlins. They're in a position to gamble on young, controllable talent while continuing their rebuild. The Yankees could inquire about left-handed ace Sandy Alcantara. Volpe's pedigree may still carry weight with an organization looking toward the future.

Would those deals require additional prospects? Absolutely. But that's exactly the point. Volpe's value may never be higher than it is today. His batting average has people talking again. The Yankees should take advantage before another stretch of defensive miscues reminds everyone why so many fans have lost confidence in him as the everyday shortstop.

This organization has spent years trying to force Anthony Volpe into becoming the face of the Yankees' infield. Maybe it's time to stop forcing the issue. Maybe it's time to let Jose Caballero play the position he plays best.

And maybe it's finally time for the Yankees to admit that Anthony Volpe simply isn't the answer at shortstop.

I'm done with this front office and this kid they are forcing on us. The worst mistake since trading away Jay Buhner.

ALEX RODRIGUEZ JUST CALLED OUT THE YANKEES...

And the example he gave? Anthony Volpe.

Yup, here we go again, because you already know how much I can’t stand Anthony Volpe being cemented at shortstop.

First of all, he never should’ve been there to begin with. And yeah, I’m going to say what everyone dances around: it feels like someone in the Yankees’ scouting department knew his dad, made a few friendly phone calls, and suddenly this kid was pushed to the front of the line. Let me be crystal clear before anyone loses their mind — this is just my opinion. I have no proof. No sources. Zero evidence. Just a gut feeling.

Because otherwise, none of this makes sense. How does a guy who didn’t exactly dominate the minor leagues become the Yankees’ unquestioned shortstop? Not compete for it — own it. Like, it was handed to him. He wasn’t some can’t-miss MiLB monster. Yet here we are pretending this was inevitable.

And now? Now Alex Rodriguez is saying it out loud — and for once, he’s dead right.

In a WFAN Sports Radio interview, A-Rod called out Anthony Volpe as a symptom of the Yankees’ completely broken hitting philosophy. And he didn’t sugarcoat it.

“The organization has fallen in love with him, but at some point the numbers don’t lie, right?” Rodriguez said.

Then came the part the Yankees hate most — the receipts.

“You have 167 strikeouts [in 2023], 156 [in 2024] and 150 [in 2025], and here’s a young man that the biggest way he can impact winning is with his number one tool: his legs.”

Exactly. Speed is supposed to be the selling point. Pressure. Chaos. Movement.

Instead?

“Here’s a young man who has over 50 stolen bases in the minor leagues, he stole 18 last year, and it’s hard to impact winning when you’re striking out 150 times and you’re hitting .212.”

That’s not hate — that’s math. And math doesn’t care about prospect rankings or feel-good stories.

Rodriguez didn’t stop there. He widened the lens and dropped the real indictment.

“So I think if you zoom out, it’s an organization hitting philosophy that is absolutely broken, and until they fix it, I don’t think they win big.”

That’s the whole thing, right there. This isn’t just about Volpe. It’s about an organization that falls in love with its own narratives and refuses to adjust when reality punches back.

But here’s where I’ll go even further than A-Rod: they’re not just using Volpe wrong — New York is wrong for Volpe. This city doesn’t have patience for on-the-job development, and the Yankees keep trying to turn shortstop into a training seminar. Boone coddles him nightly, mistakes get explained away, and the standard keeps sliding.

It’s sad. It’s embarrassing. And it’s wasting time.

Want a real fix? Trade him. Miami needs bats. The Yankees need stability. Give me Sandy Alcantara and take the experiment with you. We don’t need or want Anthony Volpe. What we need are players who already know how to play the game — not guys learning it under the brightest lights in sports.

And don’t worry, Brian Cashman will emerge in a few days to explain how Alex Rodriguez “doesn’t understand the inner workings of the Yankees’ front office.” He’ll be wrong. Again.

This is no longer a serious franchise. If you don’t believe me, look at what they’ve collected over the past few weeks. Not one immediate impact player. Not one difference-maker. Just more bodies for a roster that desperately needs solutions.

We don’t need a better minor league system.
We need a competitive major league team.

And whether people like it or not, Anthony Volpe has become the perfect example of everything the Yankees are getting wrong.

That's it.  Call me a hater, and you tell me where I am really wrong here. I'm not. Sorry.

BRIAN CASHMAN'S OBVIOUS MOVE IS WAITING....

This team cannot stay the way it is and expect to be champions next season. We all know that, but the Yankees are not anxious to add pieces that are necessary and blow the existing budget into oblivion. The Yankees are not the Dodgers looking to throw money around and defer it so they need to do something here to acquire the talent.

So, what can (and should) the Yankees do here? There's a solution here, but it might not be the most popular one. The Yankees want to bring Cody Bellinger back. They SHOULD bring him back, and they know it is not coming cheap. They should spend that money regardless but if they get him back, they can still address some of their log jams and liabilities.

The Yankees don't NEED the outfield scenario they have now, and it needs to be resolved. There is no sugarcoating this one, Cody plus Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge, Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones stashed down in Triple-A is just a self-inflected screw up the Yankees need to correct...and now. Someone has to go.

In the last week, the Yankees have trade scenarios mentioned with the Miami Marlins, HERE and HERE. The Yankees could use some additional strength in their starting rotation without adding more large contracts and need to shed some outfield weight, because it all doesn't fit. A package centered around Jones for Sandy Alcantara could work or a Dominguez for Edward Cabrera could also work. Obviously, Alcantara would be the splashier move but that also means the Marlins would probably want Jones to start with and that could be a sore spot for many fans.

I will be the first to say I am not of the same mind as Casey, or many other fans I have talked to. I know everyone wants Spencer on this team now, but there is a reason why he is almost 25 and still in the minors. He's spent more time in Double-A then he should at his age and his 19 home runs in Triple-A has been impressive, but the 36% strikeout ratio is not. He's not ready.... but on the other hand Dominguez is just average after being overhyped. He's nothing to write home about, he's not a great fielder but he's been serviceable.

The Yankees can't keep Dominguez and Jones in limbo forever. They need to make a choice because doing that allows them to add other pieces, they do need without all of the extra money on the free agent market. Thinning out the outfield is where this starts....

Cashman needs to find the right trade partner and rip the band-aid off. It's overdue.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

CASHMAN WON'T ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE YANKEES...

Cheap, cheap, cheap. 

If Brian Cashman were a bird, he’d be a bargain-bin parrot squawking “familiarity!” every offseason. The man treats the free-agent market like it’s a clearance rack at a yard sale: “Who can help the Yankees win—but only if they’re dented, dusty, or someone we already know so I don’t have to, you know… scout?”

Let’s be real: there is no master plan in Cashman’s office. There’s barely a Post-it note. And with Hal Steinbrenner clutching his checkbook like the Yankees are one bad quarter away from holding a bake sale, fans are stuck listening to the same tired sermon: “We’ll be competitive.”
Competitive with who? The Toledo Mud Hens?

We’ve got a shortstop who plays like a malfunctioning Roomba, two top starters rehabbing like full-time hospital residents, and Max Fried stranded on an island staring at the ocean like he’s trying to Morse-code for help. Meanwhile, the Yankees are out here praying Cam Schlittler is the next secret weapon—as if that’s a strategic plan and not blind optimism dressed in pinstripes.

And poor Aaron Judge. The man is aging like fine wine—except the Yankees are storing him in a paper bag under the sink. No rings, no support, just an MVP dragging around a roster held together with discounted duct tape. It’s the biggest waste of generational talent since someone let Mike Trout live in permanent baseball purgatory.

The Yankees franchise isn’t serious. It’s complacent. It’s hesitant. It’s allergic to pulling the trigger on actual stars. And fans? We’re not annoyed anymore—we’re exhausted. The Yankees keep kicking the can down the road, and at this point the can has more dents than their infield.

And now the latest nonsense? Cashman isn’t chasing Sandy Alcantara or Tarik Skubal. No. He’s poking around the idea of bringing back “Old Yankee Face” Michael King because—of course—he’s familiar, and he requires zero imagination.

MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch even laid out the parade of mediocrity: Trent Grisham accepting his qualifying offer, Tim Hill back, Ryan Yarbrough returning… the whole “Cashman Special Value Menu.” Not one superstar. Not one bold move. Just three guys who sound like they’d be great at assembling office furniture.

Hill? Solid. Grisham? Fine. Yarbrough? A science experiment Cashman thinks will make him look like a mastermind. Not one of them moves the needle—unless the needle is pointing to “meh.”

Then there’s King, the latest rumor. Had a nice season in San Diego, sure—3.10 ERA, 277 strikeouts, missed time but still solid. But San Diego is not the Bronx. Coming back to New York and repeating that isn’t a guarantee—it’s a coin flip, and Cashman loves a gamble if it lets him skip paying real money.

Meanwhile poor Max Fried is probably in his living room staring at the ceiling thinking, “How do I escape this roster of bubble gum, thumbtacks, and budget decisions?”

So here we are, careening toward the Winter Meetings, praying that Cashman finally makes a real splash. But we all know how this shakes out: some broken-down bargain pieces, a shrug at the podium, and the annual sermon: “The market was tough… we tried… but we really like our group.”

Yeah. We’ve heard it. We’ve lived it. We’re tired of it.

Cheap. Familiar. Not competitive.
Your 2025 New York Yankees, ladies and gentlemen.

Pathetic.

COULD SANDY ALCANTARA BE A YANKEE SOON?

Would the Yankees ever grow a spine, sack up, and actually trade for Sandy Alcantara? You remember that rumor, right? It was the hot, steamy, headline-dominating fling of last offseason… then it popped back up at the deadline like an ex who “just wants to talk.” And what happened? Nothing. Zip. Classic Yankees.

Part of the holdup is the Marlins convincing themselves they’re “competitive.” Sure. And I’m a Gold Glove second baseman. Miami, sweethearts, you don’t have a chance. It's adorable that you think you do, but no — you don’t.

Now here’s where it gets fun: Sandy Alcantara is exactly the kind of pitcher the Yankees pretend they’re bold enough to go get. He’s built for the Bronx. Power arm, bulldog attitude, and he’s proven he can carry a staff. But for a trade like that to happen, the Yankees would need to… brace yourself… sack up and move Anthony Volpe. Yes. I said it. Yes. I will die on this hill.

Package Volpe, add a couple minor leaguers, get Sandy, and call it a day. But will they? No. Because the Yankees are desperate to fix their mistake instead of admitting they made one. Volpe is the IKEA dresser with three missing screws — you keep trying to force it together while pretending it’s “fine.” Spoiler alert: it’s not. Volpe is trash, they picked wrong, and the scout who pushed that decision should be told to kick rocks in cheap cleats.

Anyway, back to sanity.

MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM dropped this on November 30 where former GM Jim Bowden said he thinks Alcantara to the Yankees is legit.

“I also think Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins has a legitimate shot of getting traded to the New York Yankees... I know they’ve had a lot of discussions; I think if the Yankees decided they would give up Spencer Jones—think of this for a minute—they trade Spencer Jones for Alcantara.”

Bowden is great when you need entertainment. Sometimes he even makes sense. But then he spirals into fantasyland, like when he insists the Yankees need Kyle Tucker. Buddy… if the Yankees re-sign Bellinger, that conversation ends. Full stop. Bellinger is the better fit in that scenario, period.

And Spencer Jones? Really? The Yankees waited two years for this kid to turn into a skyscraper that plays baseball, and Bowden wants to ship him off like an unwanted houseplant? Calm down, Jim. There are other creative paths to Alcantara that don’t involve gutting the future.

Nick Deeds from MLB Trade Rumors threw some ice water on everything, writing on November 28 that the Marlins expect to keep Alcantara:

“Alcantara, in particular, is someone that the organization ‘expects’ to still be in Miami on Opening Day.”

Deeds isn’t wrong — Sandy won a Cy Young in 2022, and even though he posted a 5.36 ERA over 31 starts last season, the Marlins aren’t going to sell low unless they absolutely lose their minds. And honestly? That’s fine. Rumor season is rumor season. Wake me up when someone actually does something.

But here’s the reality: the Yankees absolutely must upgrade their pitching. Mandatory. Required. Non-negotiable. Getting Max Fried was beautiful — chef’s kiss — but the rotation isn’t done. Not even close.

We can’t keep pretending Luis Gil is going to throw 180 innings without exploding. We can’t assume Cam Schlittler’s 2025 wasn’t a cosmic fluke. And we definitely can’t stroll into the season thinking, “Eh, good enough.”

WE. NEED. ONE. MORE. STARTER.

And Alcantara?
Yeah, he’s the guy.

Stay tuned — or more accurately, stay angry.

YANKEES ARE GEARING UP FOR SANDY

The trade deadline is creeping up faster than a 2-0 fastball, and the Yankees have two glaring needs that even blindfolded fans can see: a starting pitcher and an infielder who can actually hit above .220. At the top of the pitching rumor mill? None other than Sandy Alcantara, who’s been flirting with Yankees speculation more than Aaron Judge flirts with the short porch.

Now, let’s talk turkey. Alcantara isn’t just some random name off the waiver wire. The guy throws gas — averaging 97 mph — and comes fully loaded with a four-seamer, a sinker, a nasty slider, a deceptive changeup, and a curveball that makes hitters rethink their life choices. He’s also just 29, not outrageously priced ($17.3 million this year), and if you squint hard enough, you can still see flashes of the Cy Young winner he once was.

Of course, there’s a catch. He’s coming off Tommy John surgery, and since his return in 2025, he’s lugging around an ERA north of 7 like it’s carry-on luggage. The strikeout numbers are down, the walks are up, and there’s enough inconsistency to make any GM hesitate for a second. But not long — because in Yankee Stadium, risk is just another flavor of opportunity.

Let’s be honest: Max Fried and Carlos Rodón have been lights-out this season — both 2025 All-Stars — but October doesn’t come with participation trophies. The Yankees need more depth, more dominance, and more durability to survive the playoff gauntlet. And Sandy? He just might be the boom-or-bust piece that tips the scales.

Plus, with the Marlins neck-deep in a rebuild, you can bet they’re not going to sit on Alcantara like he's a long-term piece. If they’re smart, they’ll cash out now before his value becomes a rehab case. That’s where the Yankees step in — kings of the "we'll fix him" philosophy. They've done it before. They’ll do it again.

So buckle up. If the Yankees land Alcantara and plug that infield gap before the deadline, the rest of the league better hope the Bombers forget how to hit. Otherwise? It’s October in the Bronx — and business is about to pick up. That's my take.

COULD SANDY ALCANTARA TO THE BRONX BE A REALITY?

Look, credit where credit's due—the Yankees have been making some solid moves lately. They’re not a total mess. The vibes are trending in the right direction, and when you’ve got someone like Max Fried leading your rotation, life gets a whole lot easier. Fried takes the mound and, more often than not, the Yankees walk away with a W. That’s what an ace does—he gives you a real shot every five days. But hey, you know what would make things even better?

More pitching.

Yep, I said it. Starting pitching is baseball’s version of real estate: location, location, location… and a little depth wouldn't hurt either. Which is why the latest buzz around Sandy Alcántara is worth turning up the volume on.

FanSided’s Zach Pressnell tossed out the idea this week that the Yankees should make a serious run at Alcántara before the trade deadline. And frankly? He might be on to something.

“New York needs to go out and get a starter before the trade deadline and it seems like it's only a matter of time before the front office gains a sense of urgency and pulls off a deal," wrote Pressnell. “The first name at the top of their wish list should be the aforementioned Alcántara.”

He’s not wrong. Alcántara may not be a sure thing right now, but his ceiling is skyscraper-high. Remember, he inked a five-year, $56 million deal in 2022 and immediately turned around and won the NL Cy Young that same year. The man was untouchable.

Now yes, 2023 was a disaster for him. Tommy John wiped out his season, and 2024 didn’t exactly start off hot either. He’s currently sporting a rough 6.69 ERA—but let’s pump the brakes before we panic. Since June started? He’s rocking a 2.74 ERA. He’s stopped giving up crooked numbers, consistently getting into the sixth, and slowly looking like the Sandy we remember.

So, let’s dream for a second. Picture this rotation in September: Max Fried, Luis Gil, Sandy Alcántara, Ryan Yarbrough, Clarke Schmidt.

That’s not just depth—that’s October fuel.

And let’s not forget, we at Bleeding Yankee Blue were already on the Alcántara train. Back on March 7, we wrote about the bold call:

“If the Yankees are serious about making a deep October run, they need someone who can dominate in the playoffs and take the pressure off Cole.”

It was ESPN’s Eric Karabell that predicted this conversation here—Sandy pitching a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game and then slipping into pinstripes 10 days later. Far-fetched? Maybe. But we’ve seen stranger things. Remember David Cone’s arrival? 

Bottom line: the Yankees are trending up, but if they really want to go from good to great, the next move is obvious. Go get Sandy. Add one more horse to the stable, and this October might look a whole lot more promising.

Stay tuned—Brian Cashman’s phone better be fully charged.

IS AARON JUDGE HELPING TO MAKE PLAYER ACQUISITIONS?

It’s almost comical at this point. 

Every time I dive into Yankees news, there’s another report suggesting that Aaron Judge is somehow involved in roster decisions. That’s right—the same guy who’s supposed to be leading on the field is now apparently dabbling in front-office work. Why? Because the Yankees, an organization that once prided itself on cold, calculated dominance, have turned into a feel-good clubhouse where friendships and loyalty take precedence over winning.

Let’s be real: the Yankees went into spring training looking like contenders. They made solid offseason moves, got people excited, and then—boom! Giancarlo Stanton’s elbow flared up, Gerrit Cole got hurt, Luis Gil joined him on the shelf, and suddenly, the rotation depth vanished. How bad is it? Carlos Rodón is the Opening Day starter. Let that sink in. That’s the guy they’re handing the ball to as the face of the rotation. It tells you everything you need to know about how quickly this team’s "strong" roster fell apart.

Enter Judge, who, if reports are accurate HERE, and HERE, has his sights set on Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara. Now, Alcántara is the real deal—a true workhorse who logged 228.2 innings with a 2.28 ERA in 2022. He’s everything the Yankees need: durable, dominant, and exactly the kind of pitcher who can carry a staff. But there’s a problem. He’s under contract until 2028, and prying him away from the Marlins won’t be cheap. It’s going to cost top-tier prospects, and this is where things get interesting.

If the Yankees want Alcántara, they’ll need to part with guys like Jasson Domínguez, Austin Wells, or—please, let this happen—Anthony Volpe. And if you’re still under the illusion that Volpe is some future cornerstone, I have a bridge to sell you. The Yankees propped this kid up like he was Derek Jeter 2.0, but in reality? He’s a kid playing dress-up. 

To me, he looks out of place, he talks like a teenager who just met his heroes, and he plays like someone who knows he’s overhyped but won’t admit it. If trading him gets Alcántara, you don’t think twice. You pack his bags, book the flight, and send him on his way with a fruit basket.

But here’s where things get murky: Judge being involved in this process, if true, is a problem. He’s too close to it. He’s friends with these guys. You really think he’s going to advocate for trading Volpe? Of course not. Feelings will get in the way. The same way they did when he publicly defended Aaron Boone, calling him a good manager because he “fights” for the players. News flash: fighting for the players and being a competent manager are two completely different things. Boone is a glorified babysitter who claps a lot, makes terrible in-game decisions, and somehow keeps his job because he’s a nice guy. That’s the Yankees' problem—they’ve gone soft.

Meanwhile, other teams are going to swoop in and make moves while the Yankees sit on their hands, waiting for "the right deal." The longer they wait, the more leverage the Marlins gain. And yes, Alcántara, if he proves he’s healthy only means the bidding war will intensify, and the Yankees will be left watching another team grab the ace they desperately need.

So, what’s the plan here? Hope that Rodón magically transforms into an ace? Pray that Cole’s arm heals faster than science allows? Stick with Volpe because feelings matter more than rings? If the Yankees actually care about winning, they need to act aggressively. Move Volpe, make the trade, and stop playing games. And if that means ignoring whatever sentimental input Judge is offering, even better. This is baseball, not a buddy movie. The Yankees used to be ruthless—it's time to get back to that, or they’ll continue to be a team that talks big in March and folds by October.

THE YANKEES CAN'T HESITATE WHEN IT COMES TO THE STARTING ROTATION

The Yankees are in a rough spot, and when key players like Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton go down, the priority has to be fixing the problem—because that’s what the fans deserve, especially after last year’s World Series loss. But let’s be real: the Yankees shouldn’t have even been in the World Series. That team wasn’t particularly strong, and their manager was even worse.

That’s in the past, though. Right now, we’ve got a whole new set of problems. Brian Cashman is already laying the groundwork for inaction, claiming there’s not much available. "We'll just evaluate what's available, and this time of year, very little is available," he told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com on Tuesday. "Normally, the more significant opportunities don't exist until the trade deadline."

So, let me get this straight—we're gonna wait. So, what happens when we're 12 games back, desperate for reinforcements, and we just sit tight and wait for the trade deadline? By then, it could be too late.

I've already made the case for Trevor Bauer—he's affordable and still an elite pitcher—but the Yankees refuse to even consider him. Not good. 

But what about other options? There’s been plenty of talk about Sandy Alcantara, with speculation that the Yankees could make a move for him by the deadline. Maybe that’s what Cashman was alluding to, but the Yankees need urgency now, not later.

The question is: what would it take to get Alcantara? Ismael Hernández de Dios of AIBat suggests trading Will Warren, Spencer Jones, and 19-year-old infielder George Lombard Jr. to Miami. Trading away Jones, especially after his impressive spring, would be ridiculous. The Yankees should be developing talent for their own future, not just shipping it off. But here’s the bigger issue—Cashman isn’t even making calls. Why? Who knows.

As Essentially Sports put it best:

"The New York Yankees cannot afford to hesitate. Hesitation could indeed have cost the Yankees everything. Just look at what is left of the rotation. Carlos Rodón is available. He posted a 3.96 ERA in 2024 but still has not regained his All-Star form. In addition, the New York Yankees has Clarke Schmidt. Despite a respectable 4.64 ERA in 2023, he lost the charm and got just a 2.86 ERA in 2024. There is a scope with Marcus Stroman, who struggled with injuries in the past and played very effectively in 2024."

And sure, Max Fried is a great pitcher, but this is his first season in New York. Expecting him to put up a 20-5 record with a 2.35 ERA is unrealistic. That’s an insane amount of pressure to put on him.

The bottom line? The Yankees' rotation right now is mediocre. And instead of taking action, they’re just hoping things work out. That’s a terrible strategy. This team needs help, and pitchers are available... they just don't want to do anything.  

HERE COMES SANDY ALCANTARA?

Concern and panic surround the Yankee rotation these days.  And now, just like the wacky offseason, rumors and predictions are swirling.  The latest comes from Newsweek who is predicting that the Yankees will make a trade for Sandy Alcantara, a guy that would be not only an easy fix, but a one day long term pitcher.  Newsweek writes:

"The Yankees could get the best of both worlds by trading for Sandy Alcántara from the Miami Marlins. Alcántara last pitched in 2023 when he posted a 4.14 ERA in 28 starts for the Marlins. A year prior, though, he made 32 starts and posted a 2.28 ERA en route to winning his first National League Cy Young Award. In his last three seasons, Alcántara has averaged 5.2 bWAR.

Trading for Alcántara makes a lot of sense for the Yankees. It solidifies another dominant arm at the top of the rotation alongside Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón."

Notice that last part about being alongside Cole. That's right, the article was written before Cole's injury which makes Sandy even more important today. The trade, as predicted by Newsweek would be to give up Will Warren, Everson Pereira and Marcus Stroman.  But with Luis Gil out, the idea of keeping Stroman would become more important and so, the personnel in this trade would likely have to be upgraded in some capacity.

But there is no question this trade idea makes sense.  For the Marlins, they play for nothing these days, but would they part with a guy like Alcantara who is so valuable to any team though? We need to see.

It is interesting. We recently wrote about Sandy in BOLD PREDICTION SUGGESTS SANDY ALCANTARA WITH BE IN PINSTRIPES. Let's see what happens.

THE YANKEES NEED TO GIVE THIS STAR A SHOT AT REDEMPTION!

We aren't playing games that matter yet....and we are already in trouble. There's no silver lining here, folks. Missing time from Luis Gil AND Gerrit Cole (especially Cole) is BAD news. With any luck, we should get some news on Cole today....but even if it is the best case scenario, the Yankees are not out of the danger zone just yet.

I said last week, some MLB insiders say the Yankees won't make the playoffs, you can check that out HERE. I laughed it off, because I love when the Yankees are underestimated and the Yankees made improvements to the roster so it felt silly to just write them off. Here we are not even a week later and I feel uneasy. If the worse case scenario shakes out and Cole needs Tommy John surgery the pitching staff suddenly looks scarier, because we are going to need to rely on Marcus Stroman even more than we already are right now.

I'm just not okay with that idea. Not even for a nanosecond. The reigning American League champions can't go down this path and expect to get back to a World Series. We need back up. We already talked about both of these guys but we need either Sandy Alcantara or Trevor Bauer. At this point everyone already knows the Yankees will be desperate so Miami will ask for a king's ransom for him. Bauer on the other hand....well assuming his current contract in Japan can be worked out, that is cheaper.

When Bauer was in the thick of it I didn't weigh in on his situation. Now that his legal battle is behind him I am just annoyed with MLB. He's been black balled, and considering how generous they have been with their second chances for others, I am tired of the hypocrisy and it's time Bauer gets his redemption. If the star players in the ASSTROS cheating scandal can get a pass, and even leadership behind the scenes can too, then Bauer should too.

And he's ready. My X feed went crazy with this.

Obviously, we can't get him for $0 but league minimum is $760,000. That is pocket change for Hal Steinbrenner, regardless of how high payroll already is. At that amount, he's the added security we need because we can't rely on anyone else (especially Stroman) to get back to the World Series if Cole is out. That's a dumb risk to take for pocket change and he's getting a second opinion on Tommy John surgery.....so I'm not feeling optimistic about this.

Brian Cashman said "we'll do what we have to do" but if he doesn't add some proven pitching depth to this team, then he's not doing what promises. We need a proven pitcher, and Bauer is still dominant. He proved that by pitching well in Mexico and Japan (and Japan isn't an easy league to pitch in) so someone needs to give this guy another chance in MLB. It might as well be us!

I want another championship, it's as simple as that. If cheaters that disgraced the integrity of the game can be "forgiven" and gifted a second chance then so can Bauer, PERIOD. Hal and Cashman need to pull their heads out of their butts and make it happen!

MAKE THE CALL!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

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WE KNOW HOW TO FIX THE YANKEE ROTATION PROBLEM FAST!

BOZO MANFRED PUNISHES BAUER EVEN THOUGH THERE'S ZERO CHARGES AGAINST HIM

WE KNOW HOW TO FIX THE YANKEE ROTATION PROBLEM FAST!

With Gerrit Cole down and the specter of surgery looming, the Yankees are staring at a massive hole in their rotation. Max Fried steps up as the ace—rightfully so—but after that? Chaos. Carlos Rodón is a roll of the dice, Luis Gil is still banged up and possibly for the season, Clarke Schmidt is as durable as a paper straw, and Marcus Stroman arrives in the Bronx with a chip on his shoulder. This is a mess, plain and simple.

The New York Post captured Cole’s unease: “Asked if he was worried about having to undergo surgery on the same elbow that caused him to be shut down for much of the first half of last season, Cole said, ‘I’m concerned. I’m hoping for the best.’” Last year, it was elbow nerve inflammation and edema. This year, it's déjà vu with worse stakes. For a team that aced the offseason, this is a brutal twist.

So, what’s the move? Brace yourselves—I’ve got a suggestion that will get Bronx cheers and Bronx cheers: Sign Trevor Bauer.

Bauer is set to return to Japan’s DeNA BayStars in 2025, but why not bring him back stateside now? Yes, it’s an unpopular idea and with a BayStars contract, I really don't know how that would work. But here’s the truth: Bauer was effectively blacklisted from MLB over allegations that didn’t hold up, and the league’s so-called investigation was anything but thorough.

Yankees legend David Wells has no problem with a Bauer comeback he said this is 2024. The New York Post wrote this and had Wells quoted saying, “He was a hell of a pitcher. He should go in. I mean, look at all these guys in the past who crap all over themselves and get in trouble. And they got second, third, fourth chances.” He’s not alone—Bauer’s former Dodgers teammate, Mookie Betts, called him a “great guy.”

Like it or not, Bauer can still pitch. He’s dominated in Japan and Mexico, and more importantly, he wants to win. And guess who else wants to win? The Yankees. Judge. Cole. The entire Bronx Zoo. Sitting on their hands until the trade deadline to chase someone like Sandy Alcantara? Bad strategy. (Read BOLD PREDICTION SUGGESTS SANDY ALCANTARA WITH BE IN PINSTRIPES for more on that,) By then, they might be so deep in the standings that a blockbuster move won’t even matter.

Here’s the plan: Max Fried takes the Opening Day start, Bauer slides into the No. 2 slot, followed by Rodón, Schmidt, and Stroman. Suddenly, that rotation doesn’t look so grim. Cole can take his time healing while the Yankees stay competitive.

Rolling into the season without Cole or Bauer is a recipe for disaster. The Yankees have to be aggressive, not timid. Signing Bauer might ruffle feathers, but guess what? Winning does too. Will it happen? Who knows. But should it? Absolutely.

You’re welcome, Yankees fans.

THE GERRIT COLE INJURY IS DISTURBING

The Yankees' injury list is already staggering, and now it looks like their ace is going down. This is turning into an absolute nightmare. You have to seriously question the Yankees' medical team at this point. How does this keep happening? And what the hell was Aaron Boone thinking when he confidently stated that all the physicals were clean at the start of spring training? It feels like a jinx. Just keep piling on the bad news, why don’t you?

Gerrit Cole is reportedly dealing with an elbow issue in spring training.

The Yankees' ace took the mound for his second spring training start on Thursday in an 8-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. It was a disaster. He got rocked, giving up six earned runs in just 2.2 innings. And now, Jon Morosi is reporting that Cole is “undergoing diagnostic tests on his throwing elbow.” His injury status should become clearer in the next couple of days, but let’s be real—this is already setting off alarm bells across the Bronx.

This isn't even the first time we've had to deal with this. Cole had elbow issues last spring training, too. That turned out to be nerve inflammation, which he blamed on getting “a little too hot a little too quick” during his preseason ramp-up. The Yankees paid for it—he missed the first 75 games of the 2024 season. Even after that, Cole still put together a solid campaign, finishing with a 3.41 ERA across 17 starts. But now we’re back in the same nightmare scenario: Cole’s elbow is acting up again, and there’s no telling how bad it is this time.

This situation is beyond concerning. It’s disturbing. The Yankees can’t afford to lose Cole for an extended period again, but the way things are trending, they might not have a choice. The idea of trading for a top pitcher suddenly feels urgent. I just mentioned the prediction about trying to acquire Sandy Alcantara, (READ HERE) and sure, that’s a pipe dream. But something has to be done. Guys like Carlos Carrasco need to step up, and fast. And now, while we wait to find out what’s really going on with Cole, it looks like Max Fried just became the de facto ace of this staff and I am great with that.

It’s worrisome. It’s frustrating. And once again, the Yankees find themselves dealing with an injury crisis that could derail the entire season before it even begins.

BOLD PREDICTION SUGGESTS SANDY ALCANTARA WITH BE IN PINSTRIPES

Sandy Alcantara on the trade market? That’s the kind of news that should make the Yankees sit up and pay attention. True aces don’t become available often, and when they do, smart teams pounce. The Yankees should be first in line.

Alcantara isn’t just a good pitcher—he’s a great one. In 2022, he wasn’t just dominant; he was a throwback to a different era. He made 32 starts, posted a 2.28 ERA, and threw an absurd 228.2 innings—more than any other pitcher in baseball. In a league where starters get pulled at the first sign of trouble, Alcantara didn’t just go deep into games—he finished them. He led MLB with six complete games in 2022, winning the NL Cy Young Award unanimously. That’s not just ace material; that’s workhorse, franchise cornerstone material.

Then came Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss the entire 2024 season. A setback? Sure. A reason to pass on him? Absolutely not. History tells us that plenty of pitchers return from Tommy John even better than before. The Yankees, a team that desperately needs innings and a high-end starter behind Gerrit Cole and company, should be all over this. With Gil out, it just makes sense, especially if he's out all year, which, appears to be a possible scenario.

Look, the trade deadline will be here before we know it, and who knows where the Yankees will be in the standings by then. The beauty of trading for Alcantara great, but what will it cost? He’s under control through 2026 for just $56 million total, with a $21 million club option for 2027. That’s ace-level production at a mid-rotation price, something the Yankees should want to figure out.

If he were a free agent, Alcantara would command a deal well north of $200 million. Instead, he’s locked into one of the best contracts for a frontline starter in baseball. That’s why the Marlins will demand a lot in return. But for a Yankees team looking to finally break its very long championship drought, giving up premium prospects for a proven ace (or even Stroman) is exactly the kind of move they should be making.

Look, right now, the Yankees’ rotation has too many questions and not enough answers. Luis Gil’s injury was a major blow, and Marcus Stroman’s contract situation means the Yankees have an incentive to limit his innings to keep his $18.5 million vesting option for 2026 from kicking in. Meanwhile, Carlos Rodón is hot and cold and Clarke Schmidt, while promising, hasn’t yet proven he can handle a full season as a reliable No. 3 starter.

Enter Alcantara. Even coming off Tommy John, his upside is massive. If the Yankees are serious about making a deep October run, they need someone who can dominate in the playoffs and take the pressure off Cole. That’s why ESPN’s Eric Karabell made this prediction:

"RHP Sandy Alcantara and his 2.90 ERA pitch a scoreless second inning in the All-Star Game — and 10 days later he is on the Yankees."

That’s a dream scenario. But it’s also realistic. The Yankees have the farm system depth to make a deal, and while it would cost them, acquiring an ace at a discount price is exactly the kind of move a championship team makes.

The bottom line is the Yankees should want Sandy Alcantara. He’s an elite pitcher, a proven workhorse, and exactly the type of arm that could push them over the top. If Miami is willing to listen, Brian Cashman should be making calls right now.

Because one thing’s for sure—Sandy Alcantara would look perfect in pinstripes.

DAVID SAMSON'S RANT AGAINST JETER OMITS THE PART WHERE THE MARLINS ARE ACTUALLY BETTER NOW

David Samson is a whiny bitch.  That's how I see it.

Look, I don't want to make this a Marlins thing, but let's face the facts.  When Derek Jeter got the Miami Marlins reigns, even I was critical of him and the decisions he was making.  He was removing some of the stables of the ballpark, getting rid of the "DJ" vibe that was there. 

Getting rid of that horrendous piece of artwork out in center field, and when a Marlin hit a homer, the marlin would move around that piece of art, and everyone would be excited.

He even showed Jeff Conine, Mr. Marlin the door.  Jeter was making changes for that team to bring a more corporate feel to it. He wanted people to take the Marlins seriously. He was trying to erase the joke of the Marlins that was the Loria / Samson era. He wanted to prove to everyone that he was a serious owner.  And there's one more thing he did... he started to bring in young talent, talent that few heard of, but the idea was the build a solid pitching staff... and a young, energic and talented roster that could one day make a run.   

In February 2022, he left the organization, and we all started to see a Derek Jeter that was the Yankees Derek Jeter again. But this time he was more open... he was friendly, smiling, joking and showing off his beautiful family.  Derek Jeter looked like he was finally at peace with his decision to leave the Marlins and embrace the Yankee fans that loved him forever.

I was one of the harshest critics of Derek Jeter with the Marlins, until I saw his documentary and actually started to understand what made this man operate.  How his mind worked. How he wouldn't let people in because he was a private person.  I finally understood it, and I embraced it too.  I got it.

If you don't know who David Samson is, all you need to know is the Marlins were never good when Samson and Jeffrey Loria were running the team.  For Samson and Loria, the team was a money grab. They were terrible owners, always had been. It was right around 2013 when I started hammering these guys about not being serious owners. Read LITTLE WOMEN for more.

These days David Samson is a broken-down podcaster. He was fired from the Marlins when Jeter moved in. He's jealous of Jeter, he clearly doesn't understand business. He clearly didn't understand what Jeter's plan was to turn the team around. He didn't get any of it. And so because of that, he hammered Jeter in a podcast and was NEVER CHALLENGED about it.

The New York Post writes:

"...he was very critical of Jeter’s tenure as minority owner and CEO of the Marlins.

“[Jeter] was able to bring in all his own people and he thought that everything that I did was bad,” Samson said. “So he erased anything I had done. And figured he could do [George] Costanza, which is opposite day. Anything I did, he did the opposite and assumed it would work.

“He assumed that he could get a bigger TV deal. He assumed he could get a big naming rights deal, that he’d get tons of season-ticket holders, that he would make the team a winning team. And after four years, I think he realized that being a shortstop and being an executive are two totally different things. … And I think he realized quickly that being a pitchman for Subway was probably going to be more up his alley than running the team every day and being accountable for that.”

So let's break it down.  Samson didn't know what he was doing as one of the guys running the Marlins before Jeter, and so it makes sense that Jeter would want to change things.  

I guess Samson is butt hurt by that, but the reality is the Loria/Samson era never worked for that team.  Jeter made strict changes and being opposite of Samson would make perfect sense to me to be honest. In other words, it didn't work their way, how about do it another way.

Samson goes on: “After the team was sold to Derek Jeter, I would have stayed on, I had a contract to stay on,” Samson said. “I got a text alert from ESPN.com that I’d been fired. I called Derek and said, ‘Hey, I just got an alert. Am I actually fired?’ He said, ‘Oh yeah, I didn’t get to you. I’m sorry.’”

Now let's unpack this... 

Samson was annoyed and hurt he didn't get fired with a face to face with Derek Jeter. Samson is a millionaire, hardly in a situation where he needs any one-on-one time. If Samson didn't see the writing on the wall the day Jeter took over, he's delusional.  What respect does Samson need for a face to face.  Does he realize that in big business, when you are a top dog and get fired, it's usually an attorney that calls you? You don't get a face to face. What world does Samson live in?  

Samson's a big boy... that move by Jeter and the new Marlins staff was strategic... that's business, deal with it.

But wait, Samson cries more:

"Derek Jeter was the perfect person to buy a team because he didn’t use his money,” Samson said. “And he had someone in the name of Bruce Sherman who let him do anything he wanted with absolutely no accountability. And if you can get that kind of job, you might as well go get it.”

The most idiotic quote of the interview.  Jeter's a genius.  If you can get major investors to buy a team and allow you to control the team, YOU JUMP ON IT. It might be the 1st part of Jeter's genius when it came to taking over as CEO of the Marlins.

What Samson, or Dan Le Batard and John Skipper (where he was interviewed) failed to point out is that the Marlins, thanks to Derek Jeter's leadership in Miami has changed the game.  I mean, have you seen the Marlins lately?

The Marlins are in second place in their division, just 7 games out behind the Braves.

Luis Arraez is hovering around .400.  Jorge Soler already has 22 homers.  Their pitching staff is young and solid, led by Sandy Alcantara.  They have better player, but they have better YOUNG players. My point is the moves Jeter made that Samson never understood are paying back for the Marlins team right now.  

The Marlins are not bad, or worse because of Derek Jeter.  They are actually better since Jeter made the changes and MUCH better than when Samson ever ran the team.

The fact that Le Batard and Skipper never bothered to challenge Samson may be the worst part of this whole thing.  Samson was allowed to rant and not be checked. Pathetic.

Look, as Yankee fans, we were disappointed when Jeter wanted to be an owner for the Marlins. But looking back, he knew exactly what he was doing, he was building the Marlins Future, something tool Samson never did.  For Samson, for Loria, the Marlins was their piggy bank.  He wasn't hoping for a championship, he was hoping no one would notice he was literally lining his pockets with a mediocre team.

But you can't say that about Jeter.  In fact, for me, I would suggest that Jeter did more for the Marlins from 2017- 2022 than Samson EVER did.  And that's the bottom line.

Sour grapes, Samson? Yup. I think so.