LET THE YANKEES BULLPEN BLOW UP BEGIN!

Of the many things that just didn't go right last season, the bullpen was no exception. In hopes that we don't have to relive that experience again, we can rejoice in a brief moment knowing the bullpen is getting a giant makeover. I wonder what the final reveal will look like.

It should be a big change. The Yankees have three 2025 bullpen arms on the free agent market headlined by Devin Williams (Thank goodness for that), Luke Weaver and Jonathan Loaisiga in addition to five non-tendered arms. Now as long as Williams stays far away there should be some big changes coming.

The Yankees non-tendered Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Effross, Ian Hamilton and Jake Cousins, and minor league reliever Michael Arias ahead of the deadline to offer players contracts for 2026.  The Yankees need a major bullpen upgrade heading into next season because we cannot afford to have another repeat of what we just watched.

It's amazing how our offense had high rankings last season like first in runs, home runs and slugging percentage but our bullpen was at the bottom of the dumpster. A season prior the Yankees were sixth best to finishing at 23rd in the majors with a 4.37 ERA. It was a night and day difference that left me screaming at my television night after night.

On the surface, it sounds like a lot of men to replace in the bullpen but it's an addition by subtraction. Especially since I will no longer have to watch Leiter Jr blow a game and won't have to read about him being left off a postseason roster for a third straight season. 

So now Brian Cashman gets to focus on a full scale reclamation project and we get to sit back and hold our breath in terror. Now we just hope that they don't add a bunch of guys that the analytical nerds completely tarnish somehow. It's too bad they didn't release these guys a couple of days ago then they could’ve added some more rule 5 eligible players. 

I guess I have a dose of cynicism today. I'm glad we cut some dead weight, but Cashman's track record doesn't inspire a lot of confidence these days. Now he has plenty more reclamation prospects out there to claim. Let's just hope he doesn't chase after Joey Gallo who is making a comeback as a pitcher. That would be the next terrible nightmare......

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

AND YET ANOTHER YANKEE PITCHER IS OUT!

Alright, let’s just put it out there—what in the actual hell is happening to the Yankees? Are they cursed? Did someone anger the baseball gods? Did Aaron Boone break a mirror in the clubhouse? Because at this point, we’re running out of rational explanations for why the Yankees' roster looks like a M.A.S.H. unit before the season has even started.

You already know about Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Giancarlo Stanton—because of course, Giancarlo Stanton. But if you happened to check out my earlier piece, GEEZ, HAVE YOU SEEN THE YANKEES "INJURED LIST" LATELY? from March 4th, you’d know that the injury bug isn’t just nibbling at the Yankees—it’s feasting on them like it’s at an all-you-can-eat buffet. And now, as if we needed more, Mark Leiter Jr. joins the list! Hooray!

Leiter was supposed to pitch Thursday against the Tigers, but, oh no—he felt something in his back. And in classic Yankees fashion, the team decided to play it safe. He’s now scheduled to throw live batting practice on Sunday. So, you know what that means? Expect him on the IL by Tuesday!

And then there’s Aaron Boone. The human embodiment of “everything is fine” while the Yankees’ roster crumbles around him. Here’s what he had to say about Leiter: “It wasn’t anything huge, I think he just wanted to be safe with it.” Oh, okay. So, totally not a big deal, right? Just like all the other injuries that start as “nothing huge” and then suddenly become “he’ll be back in six months, hopefully”. Boone either has no idea what’s going on with his players or he’s just trained to downplay everything to keep us from full-blown panic. Either way, it’s exhausting.

But wait, there’s more! Because of course, there is. The Yankees are already juggling injuries to Scott Effross (hamstring strain), Jake Cousins (forearm strain), and Tyler Matzek (oblique strain). Oh, and don’t forget about Jonathan Loáisiga, who is still building back from elbow surgery and probably won’t see the mound until late May or early June.

So, I ask again—why is this happening at an alarming rate? Bad luck? A terrible strength and conditioning program? Overtraining? Undertraining? Are the Yankees holding secret underground sumo wrestling tournaments in the offseason?

It’s a vicious cycle: guys get hurt, other players “step up” and overexert themselves, and then—surprise!—they get hurt too. And no one seems to be doing anything about it! It’s beyond frustrating at this point.

At some point, someone in the Yankees' front office needs to stop shrugging and actually take a hard look at why half the team is always in traction. Until then, I guess we’ll just keep watching the injury list grow and wonder who’s next.

Because let’s be real—someone is definitely next.

WITH THE YANKEE PEN HURT, THIS GUY MIGHT BE A PRIZE

An interesting dude has just gone on waivers. As you know, the Yankees are forever in search of that elusive "lightning in a bottle" bullpen arm to carry them through the season. And now, with Opening Day right around the corner, here comes a prime candidate: Justin Lawrence, fresh off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. And with the new hair policy it might be fun... I kid. I kid.

Let’s be real, Lawrence isn’t exactly coming off a Mariano Rivera-like campaign. After a solid 2023 season in which he posted a respectable 3.72 ERA with 11 saves and 78 strikeouts over 75 innings, things went a little sideways in 2024. His ERA ballooned to 6.49, his save total dwindled to two, and his strikeout numbers took a noticeable dip. Not exactly the kind of stat line that screams “must-have,” but hey, we’re talking about Brian Cashman here—a man who never met a reclamation project he didn’t love.

Now, under normal circumstances, scooping up a guy who struggled like that wouldn’t be a priority. But these aren’t normal circumstances for the Yankees' bullpen. JT Brubaker is sidelined with three broken ribs after his unsuccessful game of dodgeball with a comebacker. Scott Effross? Out. Clayton Beeter? Nope. Jake Cousins? Also MIA. So, at this point, why not take a flier on Lawrence?

The Yankees love a project, and Lawrence is nothing if not that. His funky sidearm delivery and mid-90s fastball have their moments, and if nothing else, he’d at least provide some depth in Triple-A. That is, if he has options left—something worth checking before we go all in on this idea.

Of course, claiming him would mean someone else has to go, but who’s really counting at this stage? Cashman could shuffle pieces around, create some phantom IL stints, or simply hope the bullpen sorts itself out in April. It’s not like that strategy has ever backfired before. Oh, wait.

In the grand scheme of things, Justin Lawrence probably isn’t the missing piece that finally gets the Yankees over the hump, but with how things are shaping up in the pen, taking a shot on him doesn’t sound that crazy. After all, desperation is a powerful thing—especially when your bullpen is held together with duct tape and a prayer.

A SURPRISE BULLPEN ARM WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYES ON!

I love watching Spring Training for the surprise storylines, and we see them every year. After we re-signed Tim Hill I thought our bullpen was set and wasn't expecting any real surprises....but it looks like there may be one and the Yankees could be penciling in an unexpected name on the roster.

Now that Scott Effross is sidelined for a while (Read REMEMBER SCOTT EFFROSS? ME NEITHER), and we wait to see what happens from here it leaves another spot open, a spot that could be for Tyler Matzek. It would be a return to game action after having Tommy John surgery in October 2022 and then having his season derailed with elbow inflammation last season. It's been a long road back for Matzek.

So this is why I am excited about it. I like stories when guys work hard and get back to MLB action. It's early in Spring Training and a lot can happen between now and the end of March but he has looked good so far and he says he feels good. Aaron Boone is already singing his praises in such a short amount of time. Some folks will look at Matzek and think Brian Cashman went dumpster diving again and pulled him from the bottom of the dumpster, but this actually could be a genius move if it works out.

Before Matzek got hurt, he was lethal for the Braves. Over three seasons he pitched a 2.92 ERA when he wasn't injured. He also won a World Series with the Braves so he knows how to win and we can always use more of that experience. If the Yankees can keep him healthy, he could be a huge asset to this team. Considering he is a non-roster invitee to training camp the Yankees have absolutely nothing to lose by giving this guy a look. Obviously the talent level is there, he's been successful so there's no reason to believe he isn't capable. This is the very definition of a no risk and high reward scenario.... that could make Cashman look like a genius.

We all know pitchers get hurt all the time and as the old saying goes 'you can never have enough pitching.' This would be a HUGE win for the Yankees if Matzek is back to pre-injury form. Not to mention, if he makes the cut this gives the Yankees TWO left-handed relievers, which is always a huge bonus.

Best of luck to Matzek....I'm pulling for him.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

REMEMBER SCOTT EFFROSS? ME NEITHER

Scott Effross? Oh, right—that guy! The one who’s technically a Yankee but spends more time in a rehab facility than on a mound. Well, strap in for another chapter of the never-ending saga of "Effross vs. His Own Body." During Tuesday’s Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Effross managed to throw exactly one pitch before his hamstring decided, “Nah, I’m good,” per Greg Joyce of the New York Post.

Effross hobbled off the field with the trainer, adding yet another entry to his ever-expanding medical chart. At this point, he probably has a punch card at the Yankees’ training room—one more injury, and he gets a free ice bath.

To recap: Since being traded to the Yankees in August 2022, Effross has made a grand total of 16 appearances for New York. He missed all of 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery, then barely saw the light of day in 2024 with just 32 appearances across the majors and minors, thanks to back surgery. His body breaks down more often than a used car with a “trust me” sticker on the windshield.

And, of course, Effross isn’t alone in the Yankees’ bullpen infirmary. As Empire Sports Media perfectly put it:

"With Scott Effross expected to battle for a bullpen spot, the Yankees are in a weird spot where the backend of their bullpen is going to be tested. Jake Cousins is expected to miss Opening Day against the Brewers as a result of a forearm strain, and JT Brubaker also got hurt during the Spring Training opener after a comebacker."

Seriously, what’s going on in the Yankees’ clubhouse? Is there a cursed relic buried under Yankee Stadium? Are they hydrating with bad juju instead of water? Aaron Boone once told us all the physicals came back clean—well, either he’s got a different definition of “clean,” or the Yankees' doctors are using a Magic 8-Ball for diagnostics.

Effross’s Yankees career has been a series of waiting games. We waited through 2023, hoping he'd come back strong. We waited in 2024, only to get three measly appearances in September. Now, here we are again, waiting for him to somehow hold it together for more than an inning.

At this point, Yankees fans might want to get ahead of the curve and invest in some bubble wrap stocks. It’s the only way to protect what’s left of their bullpen.

WHAT ELSE DO THE YANKEES NEED TO DO IN AN ALREADY GREAT OFFSEASON?

This offseason, the Yankees have done a lot of good things, and I couldn’t be happier with their approach. Sure, there might be a few more minor tweaks on the horizon, but overall, they’ve put themselves in a strong position heading into the season. Until they figure out how to move Marcus Stroman, any other move is likely going to be small filling in gaps rather than making waves.

Speaking of Stroman, there’s only one trade destination that makes sense to me: the St. Louis Cardinals. The financials work out well taking on his salary would still keep the Cardinals under last season’s $183 million payroll, and they could also move on from a seemingly declining Nolan Arenado. There’s been plenty of speculation connecting Arenado to the Yankees all winter, but personally, I’m not thrilled about that idea. However, if the Yankees packaged Stroman with Everson Pereira, it might be a more attractive deal for other teams. That’s the kind of move that could grease the wheels and make things happen. I actually wrote about this in my piece titled: THE YANKEES ARE DOING THAT THING AGAIN... 

But beyond Stroman, there aren’t a ton of pressing needs. The Yankees will probably focus on smaller-scale adjustments—like adding a backup catcher. With Jose Trevino traded earlier this winter, the team brought in defense-first catcher Alex Jackson from the Reds. That means Jackson could back up Austin Wells, or the Yankees could roll with someone like Ben Rice in that role.

Another thing to keep an eye on is the Yankees’ surplus of pitching. That depth is a luxury, especially this time of year, but it could lead to some difficult roster decisions before Opening Day. Not every arm can make the big-league club, especially with some pitchers out of minor-league options. Finding spots for guys like JT Brubaker or prospect Yoendrys Gómez could work. Or someone like Scott Effross.

Alternatively, the Yankees could leverage this pitching depth to upgrade another position—perhaps at third base—or replenish their farm system by dealing a pitcher before the season kicks off. 

However they choose to play it, the Yankees are in a good place, and I’m excited to see how they fine-tune this roster before Opening Day.

YANKEE MEDICAL SLACKERS ON NOTICE AFTER RIZZO'S "SUSPECTED" CONCUSSION REVEALED

There is no question that a head injury is serious.  What I really don't get in the whole Anthony Rizzo concussion charade is why Yankee doctors did not follow through with any of it after it happened when he was really struggling at the plate, like in June... like in the beginning of July. Why did it take so long if it was serious? Why only after Anthony Rizzo came forward to say that he was a little foggy did actual physicians do anything?  Being a doctor is a pretty important job. You are making or breaking a person's life. Where were they all this time? It was only until Rizzo complained that they ran tests on him to determine his reaction time was off.  Anyone seeing that something's missing here? 

I remember when Frankie Montas comes over to the Yankees.  Of course, a physical was needed to determine if the move would actually take place, but the Yankees apparently got a clean bill of health and Frankie Montas came over to the Yankees only the suck an egg and be hurt.  And here's the kicker... HE WAS HURT WHEN HE CAME OVER TO THE YANKEES! Again... What happened in the time that the trade was verbally agreed on and Frankie putting on pinstripes are we missing here?

And pardon me for NOT believing the Yankees and this whole Rizzo charade at the jump.  As more information comes out today, I am more at ease and feeling for Rizzo, but it does not excuse what the hell our New York Yankee physicians have been doing all this time.

Why isn't there a magnifying class on Yankee medical staff?  I guess I have to ask the question that no one is asking; IS ANYBODY WORKING OVER THERE IN THE BRONX?

Here's what we know about Rizzo. The Sporting News writes (after the tweet):

The #Yankees believe Anthony Rizzo's post-concussion syndrome diagnosis originated from a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. on May 28th—he passed MLB's concussion protocol at the time and was cleared to play—Rizzo will be evaluated week-to-week... pic.twitter.com/GxvPuBnDY4

— Jennifer X. Williams (@JenXperience) August 4, 2023

"Rizzo hit the IL Thursday with a suspected concussion from a two-month-old injury, per Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

The injury is officially being called post-concussion syndrome stemming from a May 28 collision with Fernando Tatis Jr., and Rizzo will be evaluated weekly to determine his status. According to Boone, Rizzo was "complaining a little bit the last few days of some fogginess."

As a result, the team ran tests that found "cognitive impairment," which led to Rizzo being shelved for the time being.

Boone added Rizzo "went through MLB -- like all the testing -- immediately (after the Tatis collision) and then the days after to rule that stuff out past that."

Now I'm gonna tell you something. If this is that serious, why the hell are we hearing from Aaron Boone about this, because I have to tell you, if you see Boone's quote, they ran the tests and nothing was wrong.  That's why Rizzo was playing. That's why he's not been able to hit and so, I'll ask the question again...

IS ANYBODY WORKING OVER THERE IN THE BRONX?  Every fan could see trouble with Rizzo... in June... in July. No one in the Yankee front office saw it? Someone from the medical staff should be answering these questions to the press, not Boone. 

If I go to work and I don't do my job, it reflects in my review.  Are you telling me that people that have a Yankee ID to get in the building are able to continue to do their jobs even though they don't do them? This Rizzo situation is "serious" and "dangerous".  Like, what world do we live in that we waited this long?

And let's take it further.  Montas, as I mentioned was totally a lemon. Never checked thoroughly.  No one raised the red flag.  But there's more...

Carlos Rodon. Hurt to start the season. Hasn't been exactly right yet.

Lou Trivino, remember this guy? Out for the season. Elbow.

Scott Effross. Out for the season. Elbow.

Luis Gil. Out until at least September. Elbow.

Jonathan Loaisiga. Out until at least September. Elbow.

And Luis Severino. This poor guy's been battling injury for years on and off.  Here's a red alert... He can't pitch to save his life right now.  How about we get real doctors to check this guy out. Maybe he's ACTUALLY HURT.

Look, safety first for Rizzo. That's fine. I honestly don't trust the Yankees front office however when it comes to any diagnosis and relaying actual truth when it comes to our players though, and that's why I was skeptical when it came out that Rizzo suddenly was hurt.  I just assumed it was easier for the Yankee organization to say he was going on the IL, rather than saying they were resting Rizzo. Why? Because the fan base would go crazy. But hey, what do I know... I'm just sharing their entire track record when it comes to medical, their spotty pressers and the Yankees. The whole thing stinks.

By the way... a lot pitchers are hurt with a lot of elbow injuries, huh?  

What are they doing in their training that has that many pitchers out with bum elbows?  Another question I am positive they will never answer.  

It's a valid question though. It needs to be answered.

Get well soon Rizzo!

FOR SOME, THE PINSTRIPES ARE TOO HEAVY. FOR OTHERS, THEY FIT JUST RIGHT

Source: USA Today

The Yankees were very active as the trade deadline came and went on Tuesday night. At the end of the evening, the Yankees picked up much needed pitching, dropped some dead weight and ended up becoming a better team today than they were before the big trades. Brian Cashman listened to every deal, every inquiry that came in as any General Manager should, and chose his moves wisely and precisely. Not everyone can play well in New York while others thrive. And that is part of the intentionality behind recruiting the right players to fit the New York pressure and mindset. For some the Pinstripes are too heavy and for others they fit just right.

Source: Sports Illustrated

One of the last moves of the evening was the departure of Joey Gallo to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although he knew where he stood and expected the trade to happen, there is hope that he can acclimate and soar on another club. "A lot of us really feel for the situation he was in and the burden he felt and carried. I think a lot of us, myself included, very much hope he goes and kind of recaptures what we know he's capable of doing. I'll truly be rooting for him from afar,'' said Aaron Boone as reported by ESPN. The Dodgers gave up their 15th best prospect for the floundering outfielder, a 23-year-old minor league pitcher, Clayton Beeter, who is 0-3 with a 5.75 ERA this season with Double-A Tulsa, striking out 88 and walking 35 in 51⅔ innings. Yankee radio announcer Suzyn Waldman said Beeter has the potential to do great things if he can control his pitches and hopefully wear his pinstripes just right. Good move by Cashman to get something from the lifeless Gallo.

The Yankees also saw their farm-groomed pitcher Jordan Montgomery head to St. Louis on Tuesday for center fielder Harrison Bader who is actually on the IL with plantar fasciitis in his right foot. "Harrison Bader is one of the elite center-field defenders in the game,'' general manager Brian Cashman said, anticipating Bader will return in September. "So he provides a lot of lanes for us,'' reported ESPN. Montgomery on the other hand has struggled mightily this season, wearing very heavy pinstripes. "I still don't really think I've ever performed the way I should here,'' Montgomery said. "A lot better player than I've ever shown, but I think was consistent and definitely worked my hardest," reported ESPN. I am still shaking my head on this one, but hopefully, things will work out. Perhaps Matt Carpenter provided a bit of intel on Bader and if he's anything like him, we have a winner. 

The best trades happened on Monday with the Yankees picking up three pitchers including starter Frankie Montas from Oakland and heavy armed Scott Effross from the Cubs. "Effross, 28 years old, has made 61 career appearances in the majors. Across those outings, he's amassed a 2.91 ERA (146 ERA+) and a 5.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He's technically still a rookie, meaning that the Yankees could theoretically retain his rights well into the future, through the 2027 season," reported CBS Sports. Coming from big market Chicago, the Yankees are betting on him to perform well and likely fit in those pinstripes just fine. 

One interesting note is that Cashman fielded a number of inquiries on Gleyber Torres and relief pitcher Lucas Luetge, which clearly he declined. Wondered who they came from? San Francisco, Washington? I guess we won't know until there is a documentary produced about them and that gets revealed in an interview. 

Source: NY Post

I have to feel for those who can't make it in New York but at the end of the day, you have a job to do and you are being paid to perform. At some point, you need to get out of your head and produce like you know you can—clear the mechanism. There will always be those players who fit into their pinstripes and perform mightily but there are others who are weighed down by anxiety and pressure to win. New York is not for everyone but for the ones that prevail, good things come to you. Let's hope this tuned up team gels and reaches their final destination in the fall classic. 

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

QUIETLY, THE YANKS GRAB RIGHTY ARM SCOTT EFFROSS

The Yankees made a move... very quietly, without alot of fanfare. Gotta love the stealth move by Brian Cashman.  

The New York Post writes:

"With their bullpen weakened by the loss of Chad Green and Michael King — as well as the recent struggles of Clay Holmes — the Yankees added another reliever on Monday, acquiring the right-handed Scott Effross from the Cubs.

The trade came at a cost, with the highly-regarded right-hander, Hayden Wesneski, heading to Chicago...

Lately, Effross has pitched in middle-to-late-game situations and picked up his first save, so he could spell Holmes in the closer role. Holmes has now blown three of his last nine chances, including in Sunday’s loss to the Royals."

Welcome Scott. I look forward to seeing you in Yankee pinstripes.