PAUL DEJONG IS THE YANKEES NEWEST BAND-AID SIGNING!

Okay, seriously what the HELL are we doing? The Blue Jays are out signing shiny new toys to their roster and we get the crappy insurance or depth piece scrubs that no one wants. This is what Brian Cashman can deliver with Hal Steinbrenner's penny budget.

Welcome to our new reality. While our division rivals get stronger, we just sit on our hands because Hal doesn't want to open his piggy bank. The latest proof is Paul DeJong as a freaking New York Yankee, yippee! You can read more HERE.

Again, Yippee! While we have dreamt of getting rid of Anthony Volpe, and would love to see it happen Cashman and company gives us another freaking scrub to the party. Hal said having a $300 million dollar payroll was "not sustainable" and that it would be ideal for payroll to go down, but that did NOT mean that was guaranteed to happen. The Yankees were still going to be in on big names....right.

We've all been gaslit. At this point, Tatsuya Imai signed with the cheating Houston ASSTROS, Cody Bellinger is still out there because the Yankees are playing hardball. We still need another starter and oh yeah....our bullpen is absolute crap! This season is going to be UGLY if the offseason continues like this.

Look, I know DeJong is just depth, especially while Volpe is out for the beginning of the season. DeJong is just a minor league signing with an invite to Spring Training that likely won't make the opening day roster but I am sick and tired of these lackluster depth pieces that are utter crap. I'm not saying depth isn't good....but the Yankees need to go out there and chase after the difference makers also and we aren't!

We aren't acting like the New York Yankees. This is not the picture of a hungry team trying to get back to a championship after 16 years! Now let's just add a bunch of crap depth pieces and make that bench even more crowded as we search for lightning in a bottle in hopes to complete with real powerhouse teams. It's STUPID! Two of the Yankees four bench spots are theoretically filled with Amed Rosario and J.C. Escarra so that leaves DeJong to compete with Oswaldo Cabrera, Jorbit Vivas, and Braden Shewmake for those last two spots. What a joke.

I'm beyond frustrated. I'm sick of the Yankees operating like the Athletics right now. If you want to win you have to make those big moves, also. I'm not saying make ALL of them, make strategic ones. The Yankees aren't making any and I am tired of biting my tongue!

This isn't a competitive team....this is bottom feeder all thanks to clowns Cashman and Hal!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

REPORT SUGGESTS YANKS MISSED OUT ON TATSUYA IMAI

Looks like Tatsuya Imai may have a deal, and it ain't with the Yankees. It should surprise no one.

Oh, Happy New Year by the way. I am going to be totally positive this year. A positivity that can only be created with the vision of sunshine and rainbows. But I live in the Northeast near the Bronx, and it's cold, there's snow and oh yea, the Yankees aren't improving their team. So, there's that.

In my first post of 2026, I can report that the Yanks do not have a deal with Imai. The Astros reportedly do.  Houston finalized a deal with Imai on Thursday, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan: three years, $54 million guaranteed, with escalators that can push it to $63 million and opt-outs sprinkled in for good measure. Clean. Aggressive. Purposeful. Three words the Yankees keep pretending apply to them.

Imai entered the posting system as one of the more intriguing arms available this winter, largely because he resembled recent postseason standouts Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Trey Yesavage. And because no Boras client is allowed to exist without myth-making, Scott Boras went full carnival barker and compared Imai to Yamamoto, the World Series MVP. Scott—please—everyone knows the rule: comparisons are earned after outs, not press releases. Stop. You are terrible for the game of baseball.

What made this signing sting even more was how completely it came out of left field. Newsweek nailed the confusion perfectly, writing:

“Tatsuya Imai, the 27-year-old Japanese right-hander, had until Friday to sign with a major league team before his posting window closed. But in the weeks and days leading up to that deadline, no one seemed to have much information on which teams Imai was favoring.

Almost nobody linked Imai to the Houston Astros throughout his free agency process. Once reports surfaced that he’d signed with Houston, however, the fit immediately made sense.”

That’s Astros baseball in a nutshell: silence, competence, and then—boom—an improved roster. No leaks. No posturing. Just execution.

Meanwhile, the Yankees were once again “linked,” “connected,” and “very interested,” which has become the modern Bronx equivalent of thoughts and prayers. Multiple reports suggested the Yankees were among the favorites to land Imai, hoping to bolster a rotation that desperately needs upside. And yet, when it came time to actually do something, the Yankees did what they’ve mastered this offseason—nothing.

To be fair, YES Network’s Jack Curry had already hinted the interest wasn’t nearly as real as fans believed. As usual, Curry was right. He’s been right so often that at this point Yankees fans should just skip the rumors and wait for Jack's report. He cuts through it.

However you want to spin it, the ending is unavoidable: the Astros made a real move. The Yankees did not. Houston identified a need and attacked it. The Yankees hovered nearby, admired the idea, and went back to shopping the bargain aisle.

And that’s the most deflating part. This offseason isn’t about losing players—it’s about not fighting for them. While rivals quietly get better, the Yankees keep selling patience, restraint, and long-term flexibility. Great. Wonderful. Very inspiring.

Just don’t ask how any of that helps win now.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR TATSUYA IMAI! WHERE ARE THE YANKEES?!

Here we are, in the final hours of 2025. The countdown to 2026 is on....but that is not the only clock we are watching. Tatsuya Imai must sign a MLB contract by January 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET, this is when his posting window expires. Things are developing, but are any of those developments with the Yankees?

Last week we wrote YANKEES LATEST RUMORS JUST PUT A DAMPER ON MY HOLIDAY! because Jack Curry put that spark of any meaningful Yankee moves out by dumping cold water on it. It wasn't a surprise to hear but it was still a disappointment considering Yankee fans are on pins and needles waiting for a big splash.

Now yesterday, Newsweek had THIS update. Imai is rumored to be in LA meeting with interested teams. Previous teams that were once hot and heavy in the rumor mill seem to have faded (maybe) and now suddenly it is a show down again between the Chicago Cubs and the Yankees. The rumor mill thinks it comes down to us or the Cubbies. We are both a "fit" for him.

Newsweek says the Cubs have the edge in a deal that could be worth $150 million. Who knows if that is true, but the Cubs desperately need pitching. We need an arsenal, but we could be closer to taking on the Dodgers than the Cubs. Imai wants to play the Dodgers and beat them so this is where my fantasy kicks in and says we should have the edge. Besides, the Yankees were willing to spend stupid money for Juan Soto, this is pocket change compared to what he got.

This winter has been strange, it is hard to know what to believe anymore. It is hard for me to truly believe that the Yankees are willing to make the investments needed to improve this team. Brian Cashman is missing in action and Hal Steinbrenner has to limit spending and obsess over protecting profits after giving the seal of approval on a lot of bad Cashman deals.

This is one of the deals the Yankees need to make. Sign Imai. Sign Cody Bellinger, add some relievers. Get it done already. It's what is needed to get back to being champions. Seriously....where the hell is Brian Cashman?! This franchise is losing before the season even starts!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

#YANKEES LATEST RUMORS JUST PUT A DAMPER ON MY HOLIDAY!

First and foremost - to those of you who celebrate Merry Christmas! I really hope you are unwinding, and making memories with family and friends this holiday season. I know I am, but as I have been decking the halls, shopping and food prepping I have been sitting around and waiting for the Yankees to make a move.

I have had my eyes and ears plastered to Tatsuya Imai because I really want to see where the guy that doesn't want to be a Dodger ends up signing. It's intriguing to me. There's been so much hype about the Yankees being a real contender and as much as I secretly want to see that happen and know it's not likely, Jack Curry threw some cold water on that dream Tuesday night on an episode of Hot Stove, read more HERE.

"The vibe between Imai and the Yankees does not exist," per Curry. A quote that dampers some of my Christmas cheer even though I knew that was likely all along. I was still dreaming about it though. There's something about signing the guy that SAYS he wants nothing to do with the Dodgers that excites me. Even if he doesn't mean it, just hearing such a bold statement makes me more intrigued by him. He's the guy that has a new energy that is not on our team that could be a sparkplug. So to hear Curry say the connection isn't there sucks, and it makes me hope he is wrong.

But he might not be. Over the weekend Aaron Boone revealed that the Yankees had not met with Imai and he was not sure if they would. Could that be a strategy? Sure, it could but do we really think the Yankees are being THAT thoughtful? I don't see that in the Yankees playbook. Not to mention, if the Yankees are interested they need to get that ball rolling. Imai must sign a MLB contract by January 2, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET, this is when his posting window expires. MLB teams (AND THE YANKEES AHEM) have a limited window to negotiate with him. Time is running out and fast.

It's frustrating waiting around for NOTHING. The Yankees are not engaged, not with it. They seem to be more than comfortable going into the 2026 season with the same team we had last year. You know, that team that couldn't beat the Blue Jays and climbed back into the division race because they had an easier September schedule but in the end STILL fell to the Blue Jays. Yeah, that team....Hal Steinbrenner obviously doesn't see what we see. He doesn't care to as long as the profits continue to roll in. The rest of the division has improved and we have not. Don't let the Rays fool you by the way. They are loading up with some real young talent from within and soon we are going to see what they can build and have for many years....but we cannot.

The prime years of Aaron Judge are disappearing fast and the rest of our rivals are making meaningful moves. Is Brian Cashman even working? Did he take the winter off? He's missing in action. I hope the Imai rumors are false, but even if they aren't the Yankees need to DO SOMETHING FAST!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

COULD MACKENZIE GORE BE ON THE RADAR?

 

Could MacKenzie Gore actually be on the Yankees’ radar? Supposedly yes — which is shocking, because the Yankees’ radar usually only detects ex-All-Stars from 2017 and pitchers held together with hope and duct tape.

If you don’t know Gore, you should. The kid’s a legitimately talented left-hander with guts, fire, and an arm that actually misses bats — something the Yankees treat like a luxury item. At the Winter Meetings, ESPN tossed around questions like “Which team is under the most pressure?” Jesse Rogers didn’t hesitate: the Yankees. Why? Because Toronto is out here making moves like they’ve discovered a cheat code. Their top priority now? Japanese star pitcher Tatsuya Imai.

Meanwhile, the Yankees keep saying they’re “in” on Imai, but whenever Cashman says he’s in, it usually means he’ll show up three days late with coupons and a confused look. While the Yankees are busy protecting Anthony Volpe like he’s a national treasure, the Blue Jays are building a legitimate contender. Imai is important now, and why not? They’re going for it. The Yankees are going for… well, vibes.

And suddenly, instead of being all over Imai like they claimed, the Yankees rumors are drifting toward another name — MacKenzie Gore. ESPN’s reporting it. ClutchPoints is reporting it too. Rogers flat-out said Gore is likely to be moved: “Where there is smoke, there is fire… his name came up a lot in Orlando.” Translation: he’s available and he’s good. Of course that sets off Cashman’s bargain alarm.

Rogers even said the Yankees or Orioles make the most sense. Imagine that — the Yankees making sense for a good pitcher who isn’t 38 or recently broken. Refreshing!

Gore’s résumé is actually impressive: debuted with San Diego, earned an All-Star nod in 2025, boasts a lively fastball, growing breaking stuff, and legit strikeout potential. Yes, he still battles his walk rate. Yes, he ended 2025 early with an injury. But the ceiling? High. Very high. “Possible ace” high. Which means the Yankees should absolutely be sprinting after him… and therefore probably won’t.

Why? Because this front office is terrified — terrified of spending real money, terrified of trading real prospects, terrified of doing anything bold enough to actually improve the team. That’s how you end up signing players like Bradley Hanner, who has zero Major League innings but fits perfectly into Cashman’s “We swear this is a sneaky-smart move” discount bin.

It’s ridiculous. It’s predictable. It’s exhausting.

And if the Yankees don’t wake up, the rest of the AL East will keep powering up while the Bronx Bombers keep fiddling with clearance-rack projects and then wondering why October feels so far away.

PATH FOR THE YANKEES TO SIGNING IMAI JUST TOOK AN INTERESTING TURN

Since last week I have been on a major Tatsuya Imai watch. It hasn't subsided and now that there are rumors surfacing now about more teams that may no longer be in play, it makes the Yankees potential path to signing Imai even more fascinating. I said last week, I just want to see who he signs with.

Last week Imai said he didn't want to play for the Dodgers. He wants to play against them and beat them to win a championship. Ever since I have been hooked because I just love that attitude. I have been trying to avoid all headlines teasing about Imai and his Yankee connections, and I was actually doing a good job until recently. I am not looking to get emotionally attached to the idea he wears pinstripes....but I am seeing more and more headlines.

Yesterday, Sports Illustrated hinted that the Yankees may not be as crazy of a destination as I thought, check it out HERE. Two of Imai's other potential suitors MIGHT be out of the race. Buster Olney posted on X over the weekend.

I'm not going to hold my breath because anything is possible. The Giants have been looking to make a splash since they lost out on Aaron Judge and what better way to try to compete with the Dodgers? It's an interesting idea, Imai could sign with a division rival and have more opportunities to play against and beat other Japanese players. It's an angle that could work.

There's also still the Blue Jays. I get it, they just signed Dylan Cease to a seven year $210 million dollar commitment, but adding a second starter could really reinforce the Blue Jays abilities to get back to the postseason. They add another arm, and they really could be dangerous, to everyone not just the Yankees. If they want to make a real investment another pitcher with a potent bat will only help their chances of playing baseball in November again.

There's a team that can't be overlooked and we haven't heard as much about and that's the Mets. We could see another faceoff between Cohen and Steinbrenner. The Mets realistically need multiple arms to retool their roster after a disappointing 2025 season where starting pitching did not meet expectations. The Mets need arms that can get them deeper into games and as disappointing as last season was, I don't see them sitting back and playing it cool.

So this could be another team to watch. Cohen has deep pockets, and he's already proven he's not afraid to dig into them. He's not looking for another disappointing season, so Imai could be just the move he has on his radar. I could see it happening.... this has the stink of the Mets all over it.

The Yankees have not made a splash in the NPB market since Masahiro Tanaka, so this could be the opportunity, but I am still not going to give my hopes up. Is the path to signing him getting less crowded? My gut tells me no but.... I'm still watching attentively.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

TATSUYA IMAI IS THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO....UNTIL NOW!

Another Japanese player has posted to sign with a MLB team, that's no surprise. In fact, when the news first broke that it was happening I shrugged it off and didn't even spend ten seconds thinking about it. After all, the Yankees have not had any recent success in attracting Japanese talent to the Bronx. It feels like it has been forever and the idea of trying these days just feels silly.

But is it silly? I'm not going to hold my breath just yet because Tatsuya Imai is still in the middle of a 45-day posting window and even though the Yankees are "in the mix" we have all heard that story before. The Yankees are always tied to every big name on the free agent market and potential trade bait players. That isn't going to change anytime soon, but something else just might....

Right now the Dodgers are the mecca of Japanese baseball players with Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki all on their roster. It's an assumption now that any Japanese stud is going to end up in Dodger blue, but Imai would rather play against them and beat them then suit up with them, read more HERE. 

It's refreshing to hear that, honestly. I was in that mindset of "oh he's just going to be a Dodger too" and didn't even entertain the idea of him playing anywhere else, let alone the Yankees. But he doesn't want to be one of them instead he would rather experience "winning against a team like that and becoming a world champion would be the most valuable thing in my life. If anything, I'd rather take them down."

And isn't that what we all want? The Dodgers have won two championships in a row. They are focused on being the next dynasty.... you know that thing we used to have. I'm focused on not only winning but also making sure they don't get that dynasty they are looking for.

 Imai sounds like he has the confidence on the field and off the field to do that. We've heard a lot about comraderies being important to Japanese stars coming over here. The Dodgers can certainly give that, but Imai doesn't want that. "If there were another Japanese player on the same team, I could just ask them about anything, right?" Imai said. "But that's actually not what I'm looking for. In a way, I want to experience that sense of survival. When I come face-to-face with cultural differences, I want to see how I can overcome them on my own -- that's part of what I'm excited about."

And reading that excites me, honestly. This guy sounds like a gamer. He's not afraid of making it in a new country and culture and figuring things out on his own. I think it is refreshing and actually makes me interested in him now. He sounds like the type of gamer we need on this team. 

So now he's piqued my interest at least. Even if the Yankees don't sign him, the fact that he wants to play against the Dodgers and beat them piques my interest. I wish the Yankees could target these players that have the confidence, attitude and skill....it could be a game changer.

So, I wasn't paying attention to Imai before.... but now I am. Even if we don't sign him, I will just be happy if he stays away from Los Angeles. But seriously, Hal Steinbrenner I know you are paying attention to this.....open up your wallet and go get him! 

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

YANKEES CREEP INTO "FAVORITE" STATUS FOR TATSUYA IMAI

Yankees fans, rejoice—or at least pretend you know what’s going on. Word is the Bronx Bombers have emerged as one of the favorites to land three-time NPB All-Star Tatsuya Imai. And yes, relax, you’re not alone: most of us needed Google to figure out who this guy is, too.

Imai, a 27-year-old righty for the Saitama Seibu Lions, has been lighting up Japan since 2018. He’s made three All-Star teams, carries a career 58–45 record with a tight 3.15 ERA, and he’s officially being posted on November 19. After that, MLB teams will have 45 days to woo him—or he packs his bags and heads back to Japan.

MLB Network’s David Vassegh has already tossed the Yankees’ name into the rumor tornado, grouping them with the Phillies, Blue Jays, Mets, and Padres. Apparently, according to Vassegh’s “Japanese friends”—his words, not mine—the Yankees are right in the thick of it.

The competition makes sense: all these teams desperately need arms for 2026 and beyond. And Imai’s arsenal is the type that front offices drool over. We’re talking a fastball up to 99, a biting slider, and a changeup that makes hitters look like they forgot their glasses. Control used to be an issue, but he’s sharpened that up—so much so that he just posted a 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. Not bad… though, let’s be real, NPB hitters aren’t exactly the same beasts lurking in MLB lineups.

The elephant in the room? Kei Igawa PTSD...for me at least. Big, glowing, neon PTSD. Yankee fans don’t need another reminder that not every Japanese pitcher is the next Tanaka; sometimes you get the guy who makes you dive behind the couch every fifth day.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are watching the Dodgers printing money, collecting Japanese stars like they’re Pokémon cards—Ohtani, Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki—and they seem to think they can just… copy-paste that blueprint. Here’s the catch: the Dodgers actually spend money. The Yankees? They talk about spending money and then they get a guy like Frankie Montas. Totally different.

Stay tuned. This could get interesting. Or it could get very, very Yankee. We shall see.