SCOTT BORAS DOESN'T LOSE OFTEN - BUT HE DID THIS TIME!

It's not often that Scott Boras loses...so when he does I like to celebrate it. I celebrate it even more when his loss comes at the hands of the Yankees. But let's take it a step further.....when it comes to Cody Bellinger he has a history of getting it WRONG.

Look, I am happy that the Yankees got Cody back. We NEEDED him. Without Cody, this team would be doomed right now. I just didn't want the Yankees to massively overpay for him, especially after Boras got cutesy at the Winter Meetings and cited poetically about how Cody had EIGHT interested teams. Well it turns out, that was a big fat Boras lie. The amount of interest wasn't exactly what Boras spinned it to be (shocking).

So here we are. Cody is a Yankee again for five years at $162.5 million. No crazy seven year contract that Boras wanted with an annual average of $37 million a season. Even the Yankees told Boras a six year offer was "a pipe dream" read more HERE. It was take it or leave it....and if there was a better offer than the Yankees out there then Cody should take it.

This isn't the first "fail" Boras had with Cody. Remember back to the 2023-2024 offseason, MLBtraderumors predicted Cody would get a 12 year deal worth $264 million HERE, The Yankees were even picked as the favorite, but Cody's actual contract fell VERY short of that at three years $80 million with the Cubs with an opt out. That opt out is what brought him here. Talk about a MASSIVE difference in between expectations and reality.

That's two BIG losses for Boras when it comes to Cody. It sucks for Cody, but maybe this is a good lesson to show him that he should stop relying so much on Boras. He's not getting the job done for him at least. Boras MAY hit a milestone of $1 billion in contracts for his clients this winter but it might give Cody  something to think about if he choses to exercise his opt outs in his new contract. It might be time for a new agent who isn't completely delusional in his market expectations.

I am happy Cody is a Yankee again. I've wanted it all winter and have been talking about it constantly, but that doesn't mean I have to root for Boras too. He's failed to achieve his own goals for Cody twice now. I think it's time for Cody to take a good long look in the mirror and realize Boras hasn't served him as well as he had hoped....and to lose his number for good. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SCOTT BORAS & THE YANKEES ARE PLAYING A DANGEROUS GAME OF CHICKEN!

This could be a defining moment for the Yankees winter. All eyes are on Scott Boras, Cody Bellinger and the Yankees...and after Saturday's news dropped it doesn't sound promising.

According to Buster Olney HERE contract negotiations are "at an impasse." The Yankees have offered a five year deal with "at least" a $30 million average annual value which they believe is competitive. However, Boras and Cody are asking for a seven year deal and the rumor mill says Cody wants closer to $37 million a year. Did the Yankees make a competitive offer?

That's what everyone is debating. If you look at what the market has already commanded, it is definitely speaking. Pete Alonso signed a five year $155 million deal with the Orioles and Kyle Schwarber signed a five year $150 million deal with the Phillies. This is where the market gets tricky. Based on what Alonso got, one can argue that Cody got a fair value, but then there is Schwarber. A guy that has mostly served as a designated hitter the last two years signed a deal that is supposedly similar to the offer the Yankees made to Cody? Hmmmm.

That's where this gets hard. If Schwarber's offer is similar to what the Yankees offered Cody the Yankees might need to ask themselves just how badly do they want Cody back. Do I think they need to go seven years? No, and as bad as I want Cody back I am not loving the idea of signing him for seven years. However, the Yankees may need to go that sixth year and give him a slight increase on an average annual value basis. It's not unreasonable.

At this point, the Yankees are supposedly shifting gears and approaching the rest of their offseason like Cody won't be coming back. At this stage, the Yankees assume the market has gone cold. Maybe it has....we'll see but they are not going to bid against themselves.

Remember, at the Winter Meetings, Scott Boras got cutesy with a poetry attempt and hinted that there were eight teams interested in Bellinger. Who knows if that's true or if Boras was fibbing on that BUT that is definitely how Boras operates so embellishing the truth on that is not out of the realm of possibility.

Boras is now and has always played a good hand of poker. He said Cody had interest in as many as eight teams....but that could realistically also mean one or two. There's a fine line between flat out lying and bluffing. It's how Boras operates and gets the best deals for his clients so I never underestimate him. Right now the Yankees are calling Boras' bluff and I just hope it turns out in their favor.

I don't know how this is going to pan out but what I DO know is the Yankees won't have another 94 win season with regular outfield playing time with Trent Grisham in center field and Jasson Dominguez in left field. Hell, the Yankees shouldn't even gamble with Spencer Jones either. They need stability out there, and that's exactly what Cody brings.

Cody is a big part of the Yankees plans for a successful run this season. Our rivals have all made improvements while we have not. The Yankees can't stand firm here. A game of chicken is not the answer. Someone needs to blink here and get this done. 

If it doesn't happen I am going to lose what little sanity I have left.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WILL SANTA DELIVER CODY BELLINGER TO THE YANKEES THIS WEEK?

This has been such a lackluster holiday season for Yankee fans so far. While the Mets continue to sign ghosts of Yankees past we sit around waiting for something exciting to happen. Something besides Yankees signing minor league castoffs...because that's all we have right now.

That could all change IF we could get Cody Bellinger back. But Cody's rumor mill has more ups and downs in it than I can even keep up with these days. No one really understands what his asking price is, and that became even more obvious when Yankees insider Jack Curry made an appearance Yankees Hot Stove on YES Network.

It's no secret Cody wants a multi-year deal with high annual value, and since he has Scott Boras as his agent that's exactly the kinds of deals he gets for his clients. The Yankees want Cody back but....there has been zero traction. According to NJ.com HERE, NO TEAM, has come close to the asking price for Cody. That could be good news for us....but that could be bad as well.

Back in November, MLB Trade Rumors posted their predictions for free agent signings, with Cody's prediction of 5 years and $140 million. The Mets and the Dodgers are in the mix for Cody, and we all know the Dodgers have no problems spending big money with deferrals and Steve Cohen threw his money around last winter only to not make the playoffs. He's looking to rebound this season.

If Cody's market isn't hopping right now, teams have plenty of time to wait and let it develop. With Kyle Tucker in the mix, Boras will likely want to see what he signs for to set the market and then let it play out from there. While we may be in a hurry for traction, we could be waiting a while for resolution. 

At this point, the Yankees really need to make some moves. If the Yankees don't make some moves and our rivals get stronger it's going to be a disaster. The Yankees were one of nine teams to surpass the $241 million base threshold and now have to pay $61.8 million in luxury tax penalties now. The Mets and Dodgers have a lot more to pay than that and they are not shying away from spending money....so I guess we will wait and see just how cheap Hal Steinbrenner is.

The outfield is an area of need for the Yankees. I've already said this before but the Yankees have Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez as backup options and neither of those are good enough. We've already seen Dominguez and Jones has struggled enough that he just made it to Triple-A this season....and he''' be 25 years old in May.  

Is Brian Cashman even working? It doesn't feel like it. I was really hoping for Cody under the tree this winter. It doesn't sound like he will be here for Christmas but I will still be happy if he's in pinstripes by Spring Training.

We really need some holiday magic around here...

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SCOTT BORAS HAS REACHED A NEW LEVEL OF CRAZY!

Winter would be very tame if there was no super agent Scott Boras. An offseason with no Boras would not be as entertaining but he would annoy less people. Boras is baseball's most powerful agent but he's also really freaking strange.

Boras is many things. He's sought after by many players, especially all of the big names but also hated by many fans. He's a smooth talker that can convince owners to open their wallets and spend the big bucks because they NEED his players. He's the schmoozer and entertainer that has done so well at it that we all have grown to despise him and now he's added one more quality....he's also a bizarro wannabe poet.

In case you missed it, Boras wants us all to know just how many suitors Cody Bellinger has and he did it in poetic fashion, read more HERE. He got cutesy at the Winter Meetings yesterday. Now that the Phillies have locked up Kyle Schwarber, he's doing what Boras does best....trying to drive up Cody's price.
"It's not for me to JUDGE, but great players see RED if they have a big bat YANKED out of their lineup," Boras said. "I haven't MET a team that DODGES a five-tool player. To PHIL the center field need is a GIANT step towards the playoffs. North and South, outfielders that fly with power, they're rare BIRDS. In the offseason, there's a lot of startup to organizations, and for that reason, there's a lot of ANGEL investors that are looking for very versatile outfielders. So other than that, Belli doesn't have much interest."

When I read that, I thought I was back in English Literature class creating sonnets and haiku's or something. That's just weird and on a whole new level of crazy. So going off of Boras' poetry session the Yankees, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, Phillies, Giants, Orioles and Reds are all in on Cody. I don't think the Phillies are as IN on Cody as Boras wants us to believe now that they have a deal with Schwarber. Again, this is what Boras does he drives up the price.

I don't see the Reds here, Cody is going to a big market with bigger money and the Angels are kind of funny too. Bigger market but just not realistic. This could easily come down to the big three once again....the Yankees, Mets and Billion dollar Dodgers. The Mets could be more aggressive now that they have lost out on Edwin Diaz and the Dodgers just have to spend money like they are in Congress.

How much does Cody want to be a Yankee? I guess we will have to wait and see. There's one thing that no other team has....the nostalgia that the Yankees have for the Bellinger family. It's a legacy connection. Like father Clay Bellinger, like son Cody. I know this isn't a guaranteed lock by any means but Cody enjoyed his time here just like his dad. 

This comes down to Hal Steinbrenner. He lost big last winter....does he want that to happen again? That would be a hard pill to swallow. Boras is just being Boras, but trying to make this cute is creepy even for his standards. 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

BELLINGER IS KEEPING US ALL GUESSING

I hate the games within the game. Baseball used to be simple: pitch the ball, hit the ball, pray the bullpen doesn’t spontaneously combust. But thanks to Scott Boras—Baseball’s Self-Appointed Emperor of Drama—we now have offseasons that feel like hostage negotiations run by a guy who thinks he’s starring in Succession.

Let’s get one thing straight: Scott Boras absolutely wrecked the sport’s sanity. Oh, he’s phenomenal at getting his clients rich. Nobody disputes that. If you’re a player and you want a gold-plated jacuzzi installed in your contract, Boras is your guy. He will squeeze every owner until they’re begging for mercy and signing checks with shaky hands. But if you're a fan? Forget it. Boras has turned free agency into a months-long opera where every aria ends with, “Sources say he’s considering all 30 teams.”

He’s great for his players, sure. But for baseball? He’s like putting greased wheels on a runaway shopping cart and rolling it down a hill.

Look at Pete Alonso. Boras pushed him so hard last year he practically emerged from negotiations like a bag of overworked laundry—wrinkled, mishandled, and marked “fragile.” By the time the dust settled, Alonso could only swing a one-year deal with the Mets. Why? Because Boras dragged him through a circus so long that teams just watched from afar, sipping coffee and whispering, “Yeah… we’re good.”

Then Alonso said “enough,” walked himself back to Queens, and delivered a monster season—because he took control. Not Boras. Alonso saved Alonso.

Now we pivot to Cody Bellinger, whose offseason story already feels like it was co-written by Boras and a malfunctioning Instagram algorithm.

Let’s run down what we actually know:

• Bellinger is a free agent.

• He was a Yankee.

• The Yankees would like him back.

• That’s it. That’s the whole plot so far.

And then he posts a photo of himself in a blank, logo-less hat—basically the baseball equivalent of entering the Witness Protection Program—and now we’re left squinting at social media like it’s a Dan Brown novel. Anytime Boras is involved, everything feels like a coded message:
Is he hinting at something? Is he trolling? Are we supposed to “decode” the hat?

Meanwhile, the Yankees—masters of slowness, champions of hesitation, pioneers of dragging things out until other teams actually finish their business—continue to “monitor the situation.” Cashman says he wants Bellinger back. And sure, he says it with conviction… but he said he wanted pitching for the last five years and somehow still ended up signing guys who need immediate Tommy John brochures printed for them.

Other teams—the Dodgers, the Mets—are already lurking with actual intent. You know, that thing the Yankees used to have before Cashman started approaching offseasons like a man shopping for a winter coat but refusing to buy one until spring arrives.

And here’s the kicker: Bellinger isn’t some middle-of-the-road gamble. The guy mashed in 2025:
.272 average, 29 homers, 98 RBIs, 89 runs across 152 games.
At Yankee Stadium? He basically turned the place into his personal amusement park:
.909 OPS, 18 bombs in 80 games.

Defensively? He was great—center field, left field, right field, first base. Plug him anywhere and he excels. He was good for the Yankees, great for the Bronx, and honestly one of the rare Cashman acquisitions that didn’t require an apology letter later.

But here we go again:
Boras playing chess while pretending it’s 4D underwater reverse chess.
Cashman sitting there staring at the board like the pieces might move on their own.
Yankees fans waiting like we’re in line at the DMV.

Will Boras inflate Bellinger’s market into the stratosphere? Probably.
Will Cashman drag his feet until the Dodgers or Mets swoop in? Wouldn’t shock a soul.
Will this turn into another offseason where the Yankees act like they have all the time in the world while every other team is out there actually doing things? Almost certainly.

So now we wait.
And wait.
And wait some more.

All because Scott Boras loves long, dramatic offseasons…
And Brian Cashman loves moving at the speed of a chilled glacier.

Baseball deserves better.
The Yankees need Bellinger.
The Bronx wants Bellinger.

But will this front office actually beat Boras’ game for once?
Or will they get played—again?

Pull up a chair. The circus is in town.

JUAN SOTO SAYS IT'S "NOT EASY". NO ONE CARES.

You know what’s worse than overpaying for a car that breaks down the moment you drive it off the lot? Handing out a near billion contract to a guy who suddenly forgets how to play baseball the moment the ink dries.

Juan Soto is the latest poster child for why long-term mega contracts are often the dumbest financial moves in pro sports. One great season—or even a few—gets a guy generational wealth, and the team gets... a sulking outfielder who looks like he’d rather be anywhere but Queens.

Steve Cohen, baseball’s biggest spender, made the ultimate bet when he pulled Soto out of pinstripes and plopped him into Citi Field. And so far, it's gone about as well as trying to light a cigar in a hurricane. The Mets are stuck with a guy who isn’t hitting, never stole bases, can't play the field, and now apparently can’t crack a smile either.

In a recent interview with Ken Rosenthal, Soto poured his heart out, saying:

"It’s not easy at all... after you make a commitment for this long, it takes you time."

Cry me a river, Juan. You’re not a rookie switching from Triple-A to the show—you’re a superstar (allegedly) making nearly half a billion dollars. You don’t get “adjustment time.” You get expected results.

And now Soto sits in the outfield, looking like a man who just realized he moved into the wrong house and can’t get a refund. Tough. That’s the business. You took the deal, you cashed the check—now you earn it.

The Yankees, to their credit, saw this coming. Their front office deserves a standing ovation for dodging this trainwreck. Letting Soto walk may go down as one of the smartest decisions in their history. Meanwhile, Steve Cohen is lighting his money on fire and watching it burn from a luxury suite.

Soto’s been a disaster defensively. Advanced metrics? Don’t bother. He’s a black hole in right field. The Mets didn’t pay that much money for “a tough adjustment” or “finding comfort”—they paid for MVP-level production. Instead, they paid for a pout.

And let’s not pretend Soto is the victim here. His agent, the ever-savvy Scott Boras, worked his magic, hyping Soto into the stratosphere. And why wouldn’t he? Every extra zero on the contract means another boat for Boras. But now the party’s over, and it’s Soto who has to show up every day and prove he was worth it.

Spoiler alert: he’s not.

Cohen should be furious. If he had any sense, he’d call Soto into his office and say, “Look, we need to talk. You’re not living up to what we paid for. We can’t go 14 more years like this.” And he’d be right. There’s no room in a billion-dollar baseball plan for sluggish feet, weak at-bats, and “sad boy” energy.

Bottom line? This is a business. And in business, if you don't deliver, you're out. Juan Soto better wake up and play like someone worth the historic contract he signed—or Cohen should start asking for a serious renegotiation. Because right now, Soto looks less like a cornerstone of the Mets’ future and more like an anchor dragging them straight to the bottom of the NL East.

Get it together, Juan. Or get ready to be remembered not as the next great Met, but as the most expensive mistake in baseball history.

TAINTED BREGMAN HARDLY A GAME CHANGING PLAYER

Well, well, well, the Boston Red Sox have officially lost their minds. Again. In case you somehow missed it while avoiding all things dumb and desperate, Alex Bregman has somehow landed himself a three-year, $120 million contract with the Sox. That’s right—Boston, a team that has missed the playoffs for three straight years, decided that the best way to turn things around was to throw an obscene amount of cash at a guy no one else wanted. Brilliant.

Let’s break this down, shall we? Bregman was the last big-name free agent left standing, and not because he was some hidden gem that teams just forgot about. No, no, no—he was sitting on the shelf collecting dust because Scott Boras, baseball’s most insufferable agent, spent the entire offseason making everything about himself and demanding an absurd contract that no one in their right mind was willing to pay. But then the Red Sox, in their infinite wisdom, decided, “Hey, let’s be the suckers who cave in!”

Seriously, Bregman was supposedly getting offers in the six-year, $170 million range, but no team wanted to touch that nonsense. Wonder why? Could it be because he’s still tainted from that little cheating scandal that helped define his career? You bet. Read HERE. Could it be because he’s not exactly the superstar he once was? Absolutely. But Boston, ever the beacon of wise decision-making, just had to overpay for a guy that the rest of the league had already passed on.

And let’s not ignore the “brilliant” structure of this deal. Bregman has opt-outs after the first and second years, making this a glorified pillow contract. If he actually plays well, he can bounce early and cash in elsewhere. If he flops? Well, congratulations, Red Sox, you just signed up for a massively overpriced headache.

Oh, and according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Bregman will be playing second base for Boston. Because, sure, that’s what they need—an aging, overpriced infielder instead of building a team with actual depth and longevity. Never mind that they have top prospect Kristian Campbell waiting in the wings. Who cares about the future when you can recklessly throw money at someone whose best years are probably behind him?

So, Red Sox fans, enjoy your new “star.” Enjoy watching your front office overcompensate for years of mismanagement by throwing absurd amounts of money at a guy no one else wanted. And most of all, enjoy another season of being overhyped, overpaid, and ultimately irrelevant. Because this move? It sure as hell isn’t bringing a championship back to Boston. 

Maybe get the garbage cans out too. Try that.

HOME IS IN ALONSO'S HEART BUT BORAS & GREED HAS BLOWN THAT

Time is running out for Pete Alonso, one of MLB’s top free agents, and guess what? He still doesn’t have a contract for 2025. Why? Because his so-called agent, Scott Boras, is busy making it all about himself instead of actually doing his job and securing a deal for his client. And of course, the Mets—because they can never get out of their own way—are right in the middle of this ridiculous mess.

Alonso wants to stay in New York. He’s made that clear. But Boras? Oh no, he’s playing his usual games, holding out for a monster contract while completely ignoring what Alonso actually wants. Typical. Boras is the same guy who treats free agency like some kind of reality show where he’s the star, and the players? Just pawns in his game. It’s disgusting. At this point, it’s hard to tell if Boras even cares where Alonso plays as long as he can squeeze every last dollar out of the situation—for himself, not Pete.

Meanwhile, Mets owner Steve Cohen is proving, yet again, that having a billion dollars doesn’t mean you know the first thing about running a baseball team. At Mets Fan Fest, he all but admitted that the front office is incapable of making a deal happen. “I don’t like the structures that are being presented to us. They are very asymmetrical against us,” Cohen said. Translation? He doesn’t like Boras' ridiculous demands, but he also doesn’t have the guts to make a real offer that keeps Alonso in Queens. Instead, he’s giving the fanbase the same old “Well, we tried” excuse. Please.

Evan Roberts, an MLB analyst, put it best: “Pete Alonso told Scott, ‘I want to go home, and you better make it happen.’ Now Scott is testing the last bit of power he has left. He’s saying, ‘We’ve given you everything, Mets, now close the deal.’ Alonso will sign a contract, and shortly after, Scott Boras will be fired. He’s going to be fired because he failed Pete Alonso.” And he’s 100% right. This isn’t just about money; this is about loyalty, about doing right by a guy who has given everything to the Mets. Instead, he’s stuck in the middle of a power struggle between an incompetent front office and a greedy agent who doesn’t care about him.

At this point, Alonso deserves better. If I were him, I’d sign with any other team offering a reasonable deal and then make sure to absolutely obliterate the Mets every single time he steps up to the plate against them. Let them feel the pain of losing a franchise cornerstone because they couldn’t get their act together. And as for Boras? Fire him. Yesterday. He’s ruining Alonso’s career, and he’s terrible for baseball as a whole. The guy is more interested in his own ego than actually helping his clients.

Pete Alonso should be the face of the Mets for years to come, F Soto. Instead, he’s stuck in free-agent limbo because of Scott Boras' selfishness and the Mets’ eternal incompetence. It’s a joke. And when it all blows up? The only people to blame will be the ones who let it happen.

SCOTT BORAS RUINED ALONSO

Pete Alonso should be at the center of the baseball world right now. He’s a premier power hitter, a fan favorite, and someone any team looking for a big bat should be pursuing. Yet, here we are, deep into the offseason, and Alonso remains without a deal, caught in the chaos created by his agent, Scott Boras.

At one point, the New York Yankees were reportedly interested in Alonso. It made sense—they needed more offensive firepower, and Alonso, with his ability to crush home runs and handle the New York market, seemed like a natural fit. But before negotiations could even begin, Boras stepped in and did what he does best: overplay his hand.

Boras slapped an absurd $150 million price tag on Alonso, a number so high that the Yankees immediately backed off. Rather than engaging in talks or trying to work out a reasonable deal, the Yankees pivoted to other options, setting their sights on players like Josh Naylor and Paul Goldschmidt. The message was clear: They weren’t going to waste time dealing with Boras’ inflated demands.

And who can blame them? Boras has long been known for pushing the market to its limits, but there’s a difference between negotiating hard and completely sabotaging your client’s opportunities. This isn’t about getting Alonso the best deal—it’s about Boras making himself the center of attention.

The worst part about all of this? Alonso isn’t the kind of player to make outrageous demands. By all accounts, he’s not being greedy—he simply wants a fair contract that reflects his value. But thanks to Boras, teams aren’t even considering him, fearing the circus that comes with dealing with the super-agent.

Now, instead of being at the heart of a bidding war, Alonso finds himself in a frustrating situation with the Mets. Negotiations have dragged on for weeks, and even Mets owner Steve Cohen has admitted that these talks have been more exhausting than the ones surrounding Juan Soto. That’s saying something.

Boras’ stubborn approach has only made things worse, creating unnecessary roadblocks and delaying what should have been a straightforward process. What should have been a relatively smooth contract discussion has turned into a drawn-out mess, leaving Alonso in limbo while other players secure their futures.

Despite all the drama, there are now reports that Alonso is closing in on a deal with the Mets. While the exact details remain unclear, it’s rumored to be a three-year contract—something that sounds much more reasonable than the ridiculous numbers Boras was floating around.

If this deal gets done, it won’t be because of Boras’ negotiating genius. It will be because Alonso is a talented, realistic player who just wants to play baseball. It will be because the Mets recognize his value and want to keep him in New York. In other words, it will be in spite of Boras, not because of him.

This isn’t the first time Boras has created unnecessary chaos, and it certainly won’t be the last. But at what point do his clients start questioning whether he’s actually helping them?

Agents are supposed to work for the players, not the other way around. Yet, with Boras, it often feels like his clients are just pawns in his endless quest to inflate the market and boost his own reputation. He’s supposed to be making Alonso’s free agency easier—not turning it into a sideshow.

Alonso deserves better. He’s a top-tier slugger, a clubhouse leader, and someone who should have been one of the first players off the board this offseason. Instead, thanks to Boras, he’s had to endure unnecessary delays, lost potential suitors, and watched other players get the contracts that should have been available to him.

If Boras keeps this up, he won’t just be hurting Alonso—he’ll be hurting his own reputation. At some point, players will start to realize that sometimes, an agent’s ego isn’t worth the headache.

The bottom line? It’s time for Boras to stop playing games and start doing his actual job: securing the best deals for his clients, not himself.

F STEVE COHEN & F SCOTT BORAS!

They are just doing Pete Alonso dirty. Two of the worst villains in the saga of Alonso. They have ruined him, his rep and his potential future in the MLB and they should be ashamed of themselves.  And the Mets. Leave it to this franchise to fumble their homegrown star because they spent all their money on Fat Juan Soto. And leave it to Scott Boras to make everything about himself instead of, you know, actually getting his client paid.

Pete Alonso rolled into the offseason expecting a well-earned payday—somewhere in the $200 million range.Who knows if that's too high, but I know one thing, the Mets low balled him offering a measly three-year, $70 million offer, with deferred money, no less. Translation: an insult. Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays kicked the tires, but Boras cock blocks because of course he wants top dollar.

And now, the real drama begins—because it turns out Alonso might be done with Boras’ antics. According to New York radio host Evan Roberts:

"Pete Alonso said to Scott, 'I want to go home, and you better make it happen,' and now Scott is trying the last tiny pit of power he has to say, 'We've given you everything, Mets, now seal the deal.' Alonso will soon sign a contract, and soon after... Scott Boras is going to get fired. He's going to get fired because he's failed Pete Alonso."

Ouch. But honestly? It's deserved. Boras had one job: get his client the best deal possible without making it about himself. Instead, he turned it into the Scott Boras Show, just like he always does, and left Alonso hanging. And the Mets? Their refusal to pay Alonso what he's worth comes down to the fact that Steve Cohen, billionaire or not, doesn’t have infinite money—especially after dropping a Brinks truck on Soto. 

Look, Alonso has been the heart of this team. He’s put in the work. He’s given his time. And a three-year, $70 million deal? That’s a joke. He deserves better—both from his team and from his so-called "super-agent."

Time to clean house, Pete. The Mets won’t pay you, and Boras sure as hell isn’t helping. Sign somewhere else, go shine and leave Boras out of it! You deserve better.

RUMOR: YANKEES & METS ARE FIGHTING OVER ANOTHER FREE AGENT!

The Yankees lost Juan Soto to Steve Cohen's Mets....are they about to lose out on another free agent? It looks like this is going to be fight number two. Can the Yankees come out on top this time around? There's a lot of rumors floating around out there.

There's a lot of mixed ideas floating around out there. I've seen "insiders" say that since Cohen busted open his piggy bank on Soto, he may not want to spend as lavishly on Pete Alonso. The Yankees need a first basemen, the Yankees are naturally tied to everyone anyways so why not Alonso, too? But honestly, it's freaking Cohen. He just spends more than three quarters of a BILLION dollars on Soto. You can't go big on Soto and then skimp on the rest of the roster at that kind of investment. The Yankees went all in when they rented Soto for a year, and it didn't work out....so the Mets can't cheap out on this. Plus, they sold Soto on their so-called commitment to win. Cohen has deep pockets; he's not maxed out after Soto, so I don't buy this theory.

At this point, Cohen is ready to win another free agent battle. He has stated that he wants Alonso back but expects him to test his market. He hopes to be there in the end and bring him back. Likewise, Alonso has said he wants to be a Met for life, read more HERE. If I am in his shoes, I might want to return to the Mets after the Mets made a big splash with Soto. Supposedly, Alonso and Scott Boras are trying to test the market to give Alonso a five plus year deal around $200 million. With the Yankees interested, it only makes his market hotter so I don't see him needing to take a hometown discount to stay with the Mets and again Cohen is so far past loaded that this is chump change for him.

It's interesting to see the Mets and Yankees rivalry revived already and they haven't even hit the field yet. I felt like the Yankees had a better chance at getting Soto back than they do with signing Alonso. Both sides clearly want to reunite, so in the end I think that is what send him back to Queens. I can't say I am mad at it, I get it. The Yankees have other options. We lost out on Soto and we are fine so losing Alonso shouldn't sting as bad.

I'm fine with losing this free agent battle with Cohen, too. This one just feels like more of a natural fit. In the end, as long as the Yankees win on the field where it matters most I couldn't care less about how many free agents flock to Queens instead.

I guess I am turning over a new leaf.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE REVENGE OF SCOTT BORAS!

Is Scott Boras back on top again? Yes, but let's not confuse that with any sort of likeability factor. Last winter I had a lot to say about Boras. I definitely had my fun stirring the pot because, he just had an underwhelming winter for his clients. The massive contracts that were predicted for his big star clients never panned out. I laughed, and celebrated because let's face it....it's so easy to really dislike the guy and he just failed.

In June we said SOTO READY TO LET BORAS "DO HIS THING" EVEN THOUGH HE'S SUCKED AT IT LATELY.  We wondered if the baseball world finally had enough of Boras and his crap and that's why his big free agents didn't sign anywhere close to what they were projected to make. Suddenly, Boras had lost his touch. Jordan Montgomery was so disappointed in his deal, he ended up firing Boras! I said the market clearly didn't value his clients the way he did. He looked out of touch with baseball.

Fast forward a year later and everything has changed. Is it a comeback? I'm not sure if it's a comeback or just a rare gem of a client like Juan Soto. He's the white whale every team wants to land after Soto had multiple chances to sign a very profitable extension but turned them all down. Now Scott Boras is back to doing Scott Boras things.

Those Boras things right now, include an epic battle believed to be narrowed down to The New York Mets won the Soto Sweepstakes. Boras did a good job trying to suck every last dime out of both of these New York teams. It is like the revenge of Boras, back from sports agent failures of the past. Now negotiating a deal for his client worth around three quarters of a BILLION dollars. This is more than Shohei Ohtani money, folks. Suddenly, I can't say he sucks like I did at the beginning of the year.

In the end, Mets, win on more money and yes years than the Yankees, and if you're Boras, that's the goal right?

I do believe that Boras is back in a big way. He sucked last winter, but he doesn't right now. At the end of the day, this deal is done it is a new record and Boras and Soto get the last laugh.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

MORE JUAN SOTO RUMORS & "MLB INSIDER" CONFUSION!

PLEASE STOP THE INSANITY! Stop the confusing rumors. I swear every day it's like the baseball world picks a new team to either excite or frustrate. Three days ago it was doom and gloom for the Yankees and now all the sudden there is hope. 

Just three days ago the vibe was THE LATEST JUAN SOTO RUMORS ARE NOT GOOD FOR THE YANKEES! Everyone was buzzing about what Boston.com and Randy Miller had to say. Well, surprise the story changed yet again yesterday and now the Yankees are being hyped up again in the Soto sweepstakes according to Jon Heyman HERE and Jeff Passan HERE. Not only do both "insiders" think the Yankees have a shot at signing Juan Soto, but they think a decision could be made by the end of the weekend. Even Scott Boras says a decision is coming.... if you can believe anything he says.

So now the Yankees have a chance even though before all we heard was the Yankees don't want to go over $600 million and certainly don't want to go 15 years. All of these "insiders" believe the Blue Jays have the highest offer on the table, but yet Soto isn't expected to sign here. Likewise, so many baseball fans have told me they believe the highest bidder will win the Soto sweepstakes, yet Soto also wants a competitive ream to surround him.

Everything is clear as mud, right? Meanwhile, the Yankees are also staying engaged with other desirable targets like Max Fried that sound like a "Plan B" option when you stack them up next to Soto but really aren't. It's just the reality when you are in the same ocean as big white whale Soto. It makes me even more frustrated though because IF the Yankees did reunite with Soto and his hefty salary request Hal Steinbrenner is likely going to tighten the purse strings a lot so Fried or a Corbin Burnes may not be palatable for him even though we need the higher end pitching too.

I am ready to get off of the Juan Soto anxiety roller coaster ride. At this point, I just want clarity on IF the Yankees and Soto are reuniting or not so we can move on with the rest of the winter priorities. No matter what the answer is, I am fine with it. I am just tired of the daily rumors that change constantly.

This winter is driving me crazy. Until Soto makes up his mind it really impacts the rest of the Yankees offseason....and I am gonna have to stop reading on these contradictory rumors so I don't lose my mind.

Make up your mind Soto! At this point, I am so indifferent and tired of reading about you!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE LATEST JUAN SOTO RUMORS ARE NOT GOOD FOR THE YANKEES!

In all of my Yankee watching years I have always said "Never count the Red Sox out" and that appears to be true now more than ever. It's been a while since they were a bit "threat" to the Yankees but....here we are Yankee family. It could be true.

We have been talking about a Mets vs Yankees showdown for Juan Soto, but that might not be the case. Boston could be a real threat to sign him and disappoint both New York teams. There's always that one mystery team or unexpected team that throws a monkey wrench in free agency chases, Randy Miller thinks the Red Sox are the real threat now, read more HERE and HERE.

I would expect a Boston publication to lean and favor the Red Sox, so no surprise there. What is surprising is Randy Miller predicting the Yankees to finish fourth in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. FOURTH? Miller doesn't think the Yankees will go to $600 million that other teams are already willing to give and he believes the Yankees won't exceed 13 years. Because of those factors, he believes the Yankees will have the least attractive offer.

It's interesting to see the Red Sox really getting some traction in the rumor mill department. On one hand I would say that it's not surprising because if anything they could just be in it to drive the price up on Soto's deal. However, David Ortiz is rumored to be very involved in Soto's recruitment. Multiple sources say that the Red Sox are dedicated to adding high caliber players and have roughly $70 million in cap space before the first luxury tax threshold. Scott Boras also said that ownership was "committed" and "wanting to secure high-level players." Now, I don't trust anything that Boras says, because he's paid to do exactly what he's doing right now....cause big waves that gives his clients (and them himself) lucrative deals. Usually I would say you know Boras is lying if his mouth is moving but the Red Sox have been out of relevancy for too long so they are hungry.

Soto himself has also said that he wants to play for a contending team that wants to win. Again, you never count the Red Sox out (ever). He also wants to play for team that has a talent pool and the Red Sox definitely have that. They have a strong farm system and three of the top ten prospects in baseball. So the Red Sox have money to recruit other players with Soto and they also have the talent within. That makes a pretty dangerous combination....and the Yankees lack the stronger farm system.

I don't know that the "Yankees fear Red Sox more than anyone else" but I'm not counting them out by any means. We would be foolish to think that the Red Sox aren't hungry enough to chase Soto and add other talent around him. They've been out of the game for far too long.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj