RED SOX MAKE A SIGNIFICANT MOVE & WHAT COMES NEXT?

Let’s get one thing straight: Admiring the Red Sox doesn’t mean we like them. They’re still the same team that ruined many good October nights for Yankees fans. But credit where it’s due—they just pulled off a sneaky-smart move, signing Walker Buehler to a one-year, $21.05 million deal with incentives.

Buehler’s a fascinating case. After missing 20 months thanks to Tommy John surgery, his 2023 regular season was, uh, let’s call it “forgettable” (5.38 ERA, yikes). But then came the postseason, where he morphed back into that guy. Thirteen scoreless innings later, Buehler reminded everyone he’s still a dude who knows how to win when it matters most. And now he’s in Boston, which means we have to hear about it. Ugh.

Still, this is a decent signing for the Sox. It’s a low-risk, high-reward deal with postseason potential. And let’s be honest—after years of trying to replace the Lester-Buchholz tandem (and failing miserably), they could use a break. Fine, Boston. You did good. Are you happy now?

But you know who did better? The Yankees, obviously. Max Fried, ladies and gentlemen. The ace of consistency, the southpaw savior, the guy you want on the mound in October. While Buehler’s postseason heroics are nice, Fried is the kind of pitcher who makes sure you get to October in the first place. Yankees fans should be thrilled about this one. Fried > Buehler all day long.

Now, let’s talk about the other big fish still swimming in free agency: Corbin Burnes. Where’s he headed? My gut says he’s Hollywood-bound. The Dodgers have a knack for making splashy, last-minute moves, and after losing Buehler, you just know they’re itching to flex their payroll muscles. Burnes in Dodger blue feels inevitable—like the ending of every movie where the rich guy wins.

So, while the Red Sox are over there patting themselves on the back for signing Buehler, and the Yankees are busy counting their Fried Ws, just keep an eye on the Dodgers next. 

If Burnes joins that rotation, it might be time to stock up on antacids for the 2025 season.

REFLECTING ON THE SEASON PAST

Last weekend I ran the Philadelphia Half Marathon and then on Sunday, I spectated the full marathon. I felt inspired in both instances because I met incredible people who were out there to reach their goals: to finish or to set a personal best. Either way, they were there for the win. In fact there was one guy in particular that gave me the ultimate inspiration. You can see for yourself in the image I captured below. 

Reflecting on all of this and coupling that with the loss I have felt since Game 5 of the World Series, I realized one thing: this season was a steppingstone for something more. And that something more could be realized if the Yankee brass really digs into what needs to be done and do it. 

"The Dodgers, with the help of poor defense from New York, orchestrated a historic comeback after facing a 0-5 deficit. It was the sort of jaw-dropping game that seems too crazy to be true, and yet it was the very inning that transpired for the Dodgers to take home their eighth World Series title," reported Dodgers Nation. That comeback inspired the Dodgers to dig into the Yankees, giving them more attention than the actual World Series Title they won. Why? I mean, do you really need to kick a guy when they are down? Actually, no. And on that note Baseball Analyst Buster Olney called out the Dodgers for their poor form. “I know this: If the Yankees had won, Aaron Judge wouldn’t have crapped on the Dodgers,” Olney said. “Giancarlo Stanton wouldn’t have. Anthony Volpe? No chance." The Yankees remain a class act while the Dodgers look like nothing more than a bunch of thugs. Oh, and did they forget we have the AL MVP on our roster? 

Yet there is the defensive work that the Yankees need to put in during the off season leading into Spring Training. With likely a brand-new infield other than Volpe, it will be very interesting how the team will work together to meet defensive expectations.

Then there is the pitching concerns which Hal Steinbrenner pointed out in an interview on Sunday. “I don’t think you can ever have enough pitching,” Steinbrenner told reporters last week at the owner’s meetings in Manhattan. “We’re going to take a deep dive into the starting rotation, into the bullpen.” This could include bringing in Dodger starting pitcher Walker Buehler. According to Forbes, "Before Buehler dominated the Yankees in his six innings during Fall Classic, he was 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in 75 1/3 innings and struggled in his first postseason start by allowing six runs in five innings in Game 3 of the NLDS but then he turned it on, pitching 10 shutout innings in his final three postseason appearances." 

Buehler would be considerably less cash than a Corbin Burnes. And the Yankees have 2024 Rookie of the Year Luis Gil as well as a healthy Clarke Schmidt. But as they are quick to point out, it is Juan Soto that is dominating every thought and reflection. 

"Buehler is certainly an intriguing name but the bigger intrigue in the upcoming weeks is the offer to Soto and if the Yankees can retain him to keep the pairing of him and Aaron Judge intact. Until then it is a long way from mutual interest to an actual contract agreement and the Yankees are all hands on deck for Soto before anything else at the moment."

So can the Yankees be inspirational again like in the late 1990s and 2000s? Can they build back what they have lost and come back even better. I think so. They are in fact the good guys, despite what others say. And if they can actually land Soto and Buehler and get their infield squared up, they could be in clear contention in 2025. And wouldn't that be something inspirational. 

--Suzie Pinstripe

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @suzieprof

A "BUEHLER TO THE YANKEES" RUMOR FROM A "BASEBALL INSIDER"

According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, there’s “some mutual interest” between the Yankees and Dodgers ace Walker Buehler. Now, before we all start designing mock-ups of Buehler in pinstripes, let’s remember this is the same Jon Morosi who told the world Shohei Ohtani was destined for the Blue Jays. Spoiler alert: Ohtani did not, in fact, end up in Toronto. So, while the idea of Buehler coming to the Bronx is exciting, maybe keep the champagne on ice for now.

Still, the thought of Buehler joining the Yankees is hard to ignore. The 30-year-old flamethrower is fresh off breaking Yankee hearts in the 2024 World Series, where he struck out Alex Verdugo to seal the Dodgers’ eighth championship. Buehler has ice in his veins and the kind of big-game pedigree that would make even Gerrit Cole nod in approval. Adding him to the Yankees’ rotation would be like finding an extra fry at the bottom of the bag—unexpected, glorious, and exactly what you need.

For the Yankees, this move makes all the sense in the world. Their rotation was a rollercoaster last season, and adding a bona fide ace like Buehler would bring much-needed stability. Plus, there’s talk that the Yankees could sign Buehler and flip someone like Nestor Cortes or Marcus Stroman in a trade, perhaps upgrading the rotation and replenishing their farm system at the same time. It’s the kind of savvy move Brian Cashman dreams about.

From Buehler’s perspective, the Yankees are an attractive option. He’s already rejected the Athletics, reportedly because they’ll be stuck playing in Sacramento for the next three years. Who could blame him? The bright lights of Yankee Stadium beat out a temporary ballpark situation every day of the week. The Yankees offer prestige, a winning culture, and a shot at more World Series rings—what’s not to love

While the idea of Buehler in the Bronx is mouthwatering, it’s hard to fully buy into the hype given Morosi’s recent track record. Let’s just say the Ohtani-to-Toronto saga has left us all a little wary. If the Yankees do land Buehler, it would be a game-changing move that reshapes the AL landscape.

Until then, keep dreaming, Yankees fans—but maybe don’t book your tickets for the Walker Buehler welcome parade just yet.

MAKING BASEBALL FUN AGAIN

Source: CBS Sports

The World Series has not disappointed as far as keeping things interesting even without the Yankees.  The game last night with the back and forth banter between each team besting the other was crazy fun to watch. The night before, watching Walker Buehler get excited with a fist pump as he completed a 2-hit 100+ pitch 7th inning carrying his Dodger team into the 8th with a 1-0 lead was fun to watch.  18 innings may not have been fun, but it was two good teams going at it and that I like.  The competition between two well matched teams is making baseball fun again. But there are other parts of baseball that are taking that fun right out of it.

Source: Sporting News

It was not fun to watch Manny Machado slump up to first base after smashing a deep single into the outfield on Friday night.  "Machado got caught watching a long fly ball that he thought was heading into the seats, only to watch it bang off the wall. He had to settle for a single and missed out on what looked like a potential double," reported CBS Sports. The same article reported that "Manny Machado has not been shy about admitting he'll never be Johnny Hustle. "That's not my cup of tea," he said after jogging out a routine ground ball during the NLCS." 

Source: KNBR 680

The spotlight lens has been focused more closely on the Dodger shortstop over the last several weeks, revealing some undesirable qualities in the young player. These include failure to hustle, cleating the first baseman after crossing the base and just an overall cockiness, which is just not appropriate and only collectively takes away from baseball as a fun competition between two teams, highlighting the player as an individual.

Source: Newsday

He's not the only one taking the fun out of the game.  Guys like Yoenis Cespedes do it too.  I sometimes feel like Gary Sanchez does this when he appears not to hustle down the base paths or behind the plate.  Even the mere appearance of laziness is undesirable.

Source: USA Today

There was an article published a little over a year ago about how baseball needs to brand the "Face of Baseball" in order to take the sport to the next level as far as leveraging star power for more dollars for the game.  According to ESPN, "What this sport needs now, to get back into the Face of Baseball business, is the sort of culture change that will allow the game to give people what sports fans demand in the 21st century -- a culture built around players who aren't afraid to express their personality." But to what extent?  Guys like Machado hurt the sport with their "real personalities" and Kris Bryant and Mike Trout, make baseball fun again with their behaviors both on and off the field.

When I see exciting games and inviting ball parks that welcome fans in, it makes me feel that baseball is reaching out to today's fans and making the game fun again.  When I see attitudes and lack of hustle, it takes the game down a road that it really needs to avoid.  Making baseball fun again is a trend I hope advances as the World Series winds down and a new season begins later this spring.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @Suzieprof