SASAKI & BURNES HAVE BOTH MET WITH A WEST COAST TEAM

What does that mean for the Yankees? I'm not sure yet.

The San Francisco Giants are quietly making waves this offseason, and honestly, are we surprised? This is a team that knows how to swing for the fences when it comes to signing marquee talent. Their pursuit of Corbin Burnes is heating up, and now—hold onto your hats—Roki Sasaki might just be in their sights too. Can you imagine the buzz if they pull this off? Let’s break it down from what we know.

First up, Corbin Burnes. The Giants are still firmly in the race to snag the Orioles ace, with only the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox standing in their way, according to Newsweek. The Giants are the frontrunners allegedly, and for good reason. They've already bolstered their roster with the addition of Willy Adames, and landing Burnes would be like putting a cherry on top of the sundae. The goal? Knock the Dodgers off their NL West perch—and boy, would Burnes help them do just that.

Now, let’s talk about Roki Sasaki, Japan’s 23-year-old pitching phenom. Initially, the Giants weren’t seen as major players in the Sasaki sweepstakes. After all, teams like the Dodgers and Yankees are all over it. But according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants have actually met with Sasaki and his team. Yes, you read that right—they’re in the room where it happens, and not every team can say that.

Here’s the catch: Sasaki, due to his age, won’t be signing one of those jaw-dropping megadeals that Yoshinobu Yamamoto scored with the Dodgers. Still, a solid deal is very much in the cards, and for San Francisco, this is less about money and more about the pitch. They’ll need to sell him on the team’s vision, the city’s charm, and—let’s be real—a chance to be a part of baseball history.

But don't forget, our Yankees are making their play for Sasaki too, but when it comes to Burnes? Crickets. The Bombers haven’t even entered the Burnes chat. Meanwhile, the Giants are pushing all their chips to the center of the table. Burnes and Sasaki in San Francisco? That’s not just a pipe dream—it’s a potential game-changer especially if they want to compete against the Dodgers, or even Padres.

The Giants are no slouch when it comes to making power moves. If they land even one of these two stars, it’s a win for them. If they get both?  San Francisco is ready to roar.

I still have hope when it comes to my Yankees, however. I feel good about their chances in getting Sasaki.

Stay tuned.

WILLY ADAMES APPEARS TO BE HEADED TO SAN FRANCISCO

Jeff Passan at ESPN broke the news, and we’re still processing it: Willy Adames is heading to the San Francisco Giants on a seven-year, $182 million deal, the biggest in their history. Yes, Giants fans, your team just made it rain! The deal is pending a physical but barring some wild twist, like Adames growing a second head, it’s happening.

Adames, 29, earned every penny after a stellar 2024 where he belted 32 home runs, drove in 112 RBIs, and played an MLB-leading 161 games at shortstop. Sure, his .251/.331/.462 slash line wasn’t exactly Soto-esque, but let’s face it, that kind of consistency is why San Francisco decided to open their vault.

Meanwhile, over in the Bronx, we’re left wondering if this could be a sign of things to come—and not in a good way. Adames was reportedly the backup plan if the Yankees somehow couldn’t land Juan Soto. Now, with Adames off the board, it’s Soto or bust. Brian Cashman, this is your official reminder: DO NOT bust.

Congratulations to the Giants on their shiny new shortstop, but us Yankee fans can’t help but feel like we’re watching everyone else play Monopoly with stacks of cash while we’re over here collecting $200 and calling it a win. If we lose out on both Adames and Soto, you’ll find us over at Bleeding Yankee Blue starting a support group.

For now, tip your cap to Adames on his well-deserved payday—and Yankees, get it done with Soto. No excuses.

WILLY ADAMES? YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!

Bob Nightengale of USA Today is back, tossing offseason spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. This time, he’s stirring up the Yankees rumor mill, throwing out a scenario so convoluted it feels like a fever dream. If the Yankees don’t re-sign Juan Soto—because apparently, that’s an option—they might respond with a mad scramble to:

1.Sign free-agent first baseman Christian Walker.

2.Bring in either Willy Adames or Alex Bregman to play third base.
3.Move Jazz Chisholm to second base.
4.Trade for Cody Bellinger.

Simple.

It’s like one of those overcomplicated heist movies where you lose track of the plot halfway through. Classic Bob Nightengale. 

Let’s cut through the noise: there’s no real traction to this Adames-to-the-Yankees idea. It’s speculation, pure and simple, and Bob’s good at that. But hey, it’s fun to imagine. Maybe next Trevor Bauer will go to the Mets.

Willy Adames is coming off a solid year and would be a fantastic addition to any team. He’s one of the best power-hitting shortstops in the game and has said he’d prefer to stay at shortstop. However, he’s also open to shifting to third base if needed—versatility that makes him a tantalizing target for teams like the Yankees or Mets apparently.

For the Brewers, losing Adames wouldn't be great. Not only is he a key player, but he’s also a leader in the clubhouse according to reports. I don't know the Brewers well, but that's the way it seems. 

Adames has hinted he’d take a hometown discount to stay in Milwaukee—but only to a point. As he told The Athletic: "I’m willing to stay here for less money, let’s say, but I just want to be fair for what I deserve in my career. We just have to wait and see where we’re at."

And now we get to the voice of reason: Jeff Passan. When Passan speaks, baseball fans listen. He’s right up there with Jack Curry and Pete Caldera—arguably the top three baseball reporters out there. While Nightengale’s rumors are like a fast-food drive-thru, Passan is the five-star restaurant of insight.

In his offseason preview, Passan doesn’t just toss Adames at the Yankees for fun. Instead, he points to the Giants as the most logical landing spot. With new president of baseball operations Buster Posey prioritizing the shortstop position, the fit is almost too good to ignore.

Sure, Passan acknowledges the Yankees, Mets, and Dodgers could be in the mix, especially with Adames’ willingness to move to third base. But Passan’s call of Adames to San Francisco? That’s the kind of grounded, well-sourced prediction that makes sense.

So, could the Yankees swoop in and snag Adames? Anything’s possible, but this feels more like Bob Nightengale playing offseason DJ, spinning hypothetical hits. Meanwhile, Jeff Passan is the guy calmly taking the pulse of the market—and if he’s leaning toward the Giants, I’m buying it.

It's just how I feel, sorry Bob.

MAYBE AARON JUDGE ITS JUST BIG AND EVERY NON-YANKEE FAN CAN STFU

I mean it's not that deep.  

Aaron Judge slid and slid like he always slides.  That's it, end of story.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, here's the nugget from Pinstripe Nation:

"The Yankees nation stands united in defending captain Aaron Judge from attacks by the Brewers over his outstretched sliding hand deflected a throw from Willy Adames, preventing a potential inning-ending double play. The controversial play in the sixth inning at American Family Field on Sunday drew the ire of Brewers fans, who rained boos down upon the Yankees slugger.

With Alex Verdugo at the plate, Aaron Judge took off for second on a ground ball. As he slid in with his left hand raised high, Adames fired a missile toward first base. But the shortstop’s throw glanced off the Yankees captain’s glove, allowing Verdugo to reach safely.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy briefly argued the play should have been ruled offensive interference, but the umpires huddled and allowed it to stand. After the game, crew chief Andy Fletcher acknowledged they had missed the call.

“On the field, we got together and did the best that we could to come up with the correct answer,” Fletcher told reporters in an apparent reference to blame Aaron Judge. “After looking at it off the field in replay, it appears that the call was missed. It should’ve been called interference because it wasn’t a natural part of his slide.”

But here's the thing, Andy Fletcher is wrong about the call being missed and again with the MLB and the Umpires... how hard is it to just quickly google a whole slew of Judge sliding into second base to understand that this is what they guy does? He's a big body, he's got a big arm and sometimes this is going to happen.  Max Goodman was the smart one, he collected the photos and posted them.

Aaron Judge said in the clubhouse that he's been sliding with his left hand up when breaking up a double play at second base for years.

"You can look back at any picture you want of me sliding into second base, it's always happened."

I did and he wasn't lying.

📸: AP photos pic.twitter.com/APPL8Ry4Su

— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) April 28, 2024

Maybe this time it just happened to touch the ball. Everyone relax. I understand the Brewers are in first in their own division, but it's still April... no reason to get all crazy about it.  How about chalk it up as a fluke accident and move on.  Judge was right to address it and I back the guy just like every single Yankee fan.

Aaron Judge on his slide:

“You can look back at any picture you want of me sliding into second base. That’s always happened”

(via @YESNetwork) pic.twitter.com/vhCp45DS3i

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 28, 2024

The dude did nothing wrong.  Once again, Yankee hate everywhere. Pathetic.

IT'S NOT EVERY WINTER THAT A PLAYER LIKE AARON JUDGE BECOMES A FREE AGENT!

Source: LM Otero

You can't skim the social sites without seeing an Aaron Judge headline every fifth post. Local newspapers and national ones alike, plus the hundreds of sports beat reporters and blogs have a mention of Judge somewhere in their articles and posts 10 hours ago, three hours ago, 15 minutes ago, The Daily News said, ESPN posted, Bryan Hoch stated that...and with good reason. It's not every winter a player the caliber of Aaron Judge is available on the open market. The question is, who will be lucky enough to land him?

Source: CBS Sports

"The Dodgers are one of the few teams who have shown a willingness to hand out the kind of contracts required to shop at the top of the market on a consistent basis. They absolutely have the financial flexibility to do so this offseason, too, after allowing Trea Turner to enter free agency without an extension and declining Justin Turner's option," reported CBS Sports. Certainly not necessarily new to the conversation, the Los Angeles Dodgers are always looking to add more to their arsenal. Last season they picked up superstar Freddie Freeman. The year before they picked up ace pitcher Max Scherzer and before that they exploded with a contract for then free agent Mookie Betts. The Dodgers are not afraid of digging into their deep pockets to pick up the right players for their evolving team. And this year will be no different.

Source: LM Otero

"It's not easy to clock what the Dodgers starting nine might look like because of their versatility, and because they have some other pressing questions to address this offseason -- like, who plays shortstop, and what about third base? Predictably, the Dodgers have been linked to the top free-agent shortstops, including Carlos Correa, and have even been rumored to have interest in Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers," reported CBS Sports. So maybe the Judge addition is not as essential as these key infield positions. That leaves their in state rival the San Francisco Giants who have been linked to Judge since before he officially announced his free agency.

                                                                           Source: LM Otero

Recall the Aaron Judge was wooed by the San Francisco Giants and visited with the team and the higher management over several days last week. According to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, “I believe that once Aaron Judge knows where at least the initial Giants offer comes in, and I do believe one is forthcoming, that there will be a fairly robust conversation to where we could see Aaron Judge signing with a team within the next two weeks, by the end of the Winter Meetings." The Winter Meetings kick off on Sunday and end Wednesday, December 7th. With an offer coming perhaps as early this week, the Yankees and maybe even the Dodgers will have opportunities to outbid and woe the slugger accordingly. 

Source: Tony Gutierrez

Judge was a Giants fan growing up. He met a number of iconic Californian sports figures while in San Francisco. But he has already tasted what it is like to be a part of one of the most winningest sports franchises in history. He has felt the nostalgia. He has been a part of history himself in breaking Roger Maris's record of 61 home runs. He has the opportunity to be the next Yankee captain. You can't top that, even if you are Steph Curry, one of the frontliners in the Giants wooing sessions for Judge.  

I am glad Judge is being lauded, celebrated, wooed after. He deserves it. But after all the fanfare subsides, I hope he can quietly reflect on the player he is and the one he wants to become. It's not every winter we get to witness this kind of lovefest over a player. But this year, is Judge's year and let's hope he chooses well. 

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