THE YANKEES "BOLSTER" THEIR ROTATION... MAKING IT MEDIOCRE

Desperate Cashman has done it again.

The New York Yankees actually did something — and somehow, it managed to feel even smaller than nothing. 

They “bolstered” their rotation by acquiring left-hander Ryan Weathers from the Marlins in exchange for a four-prospect grab bag: outfielders Brendan Jones and Dillon Lewis, infielders Dylan Jasso and Juan Matheus. A move happened. Technically.

Weathers now slides into a rotation that currently reads like a spring training split squad: Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Luis Gil, plus Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn lurking around like spare parts. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón aren’t ready for Opening Day, which means this rotation inspires exactly zero fear — unless you’re a Yankees fan afraid of how many bullpen games are coming.

This is the part where the front office wants credit for “addressing pitching.” No. This is rearranging deck chairs and calling it nautical engineering. If the Yankees were serious, they’d sever Brian Cashman’s contract, redirect that money toward an actual impact arm, and stop pretending hope and prayer count as roster construction.

There is nothing about this move that inspires confidence. Nothing about this offseason that suggests a plan. And nothing about the Yankees right now that feels remotely serious. They have somehow become the most embarrassing participant in an offseason where teams are actively trying to win — and succeeding.

And hey, does the name Weathers sound familiar? It should. Dave Weathers pitched for the Yankees in the late ’90s. So apparently, if we’re shopping for sons of former Yankees now, why stop here? If nostalgia is the strategy, how the hell can’t they land Cody Bellinger? Cause Cashman is asleep.

This isn’t roster building. It’s franchise cosplay. 

The Yankees aren’t acting like contenders; they’re acting like an organization killing time until spring and hoping the brand carries the load.

This has been a terrible offseason. And worse — it’s the kind of terrible that suggests the Yankees no longer know how to be anything else.

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

AN UNSERIOUS FRANCHISE WITH A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING

It’s honestly wild watching the Yankee sports-writer industrial complex finally arrive at a place some of us have been yelling about since October. Welcome. I saved you a seat.

See, I don’t just think about right now. I think about what now does to later. Every move — or non-move — has a ripple effect. Do something today, you shape tomorrow. Do nothing today, and tomorrow shows up angry, impatient, and holding receipts. Doing nothing and assuming it’ll all magically work out is basically rolling dice in a casino and calling it “strategy.” Baseball offseasons are not supposed to be games of chance. They’re supposed to be statements of intent.

And right now, the Yankees are making a statement — just not the one you want. This is no longer a serious franchise. It’s not a bold one. It’s barely a competitive one.

You can listen to what Michael Kay chirped last week — that the Yankees’ offseason is totally fine because the players who signed elsewhere “weren’t guys they wanted anyway.” That’s the line that makes my blood boil. Why weren’t they wanted? Why is upgrading the roster suddenly optional? Why is ambition treated like a luxury item? By the way Kay, the Yankees aren't better because of that decision.  Ridiculous. Your time is up.

The most baffling move of all was extending a qualifying offer to Trent Grisham — the same Trent Grisham the Yankees practically tried to smuggle off the roster the year before. Sure, last season worked out better than expected. Fine. Golf clap. But there are better players available. And while I admire taking a calculated risk once in a while, this entire offseason has been one long shrug.

Because let’s be clear about what this team actually needs: pitching. A long-term deal for Cody Bellinger. And — say it louder — a new shortstop who can field and hit. That’s not greedy. That’s basic roster construction.

Instead, the Yankees appear content marching into the season with Max Fried, Luis Gil, Will Warren, and Cam Schlittler, fingers crossed like it’s a middle school science fair. They’re assuming Cam will be stellar again. They’re assuming Gerrit Cole comes back and immediately turns into Cy Young Gerrit Cole. They’re assuming Carlos Rodón — fresh off injury — suddenly becomes reliable regularly.

And Rodón, especially, is the ultimate mystery box. Sometimes you get dominance. Sometimes you get five runs in the second inning and a thousand-yard stare. Now he’s coming off an injury, and I’m supposed to believe this is the moment everything clicks? Based on what — vibes?

That’s how we will end up in early June in 2026, sitting in third place, with the same cast as last year and a bullpen of minor leaguers Brian Cashman can shuffle in like spare parts. Do you see the pattern yet? Because I’ve been screaming about it for months, and now — finally — everyone else is catching up.

Even Empire Sports Media, whom I respect, spelled it out plainly:

“The harsh reality of medical science and aging curves suggests the Yankees might be setting themselves up for a significant disappointment. While Cole’s work ethic is legendary, physiology is undefeated, and expecting a 35-year-old pitcher to immediately recapture Cy Young form after reconstructive elbow surgery is not just optimistic—it is dangerous.”

Exactly. One thousand percent correct.

The Yankees treat players like machines. They hoard data, worship spreadsheets, and completely ignore the human element — the soreness, the recovery, the mental grind of coming back from injury. A spreadsheet doesn’t tell you how Gerrit Cole feels when he wakes up. It doesn’t tell you what his elbow says in April. And the truth is uncomfortable, but unavoidable: we don’t know if Cole ever returns to Cy Young form. Pretending otherwise is reckless.

AIBat put it bluntly too:

“The pressure is on the Yankees management to find solutions that strengthen the team… With the start of the season drawing closer, time is of the essence.”

Yes, it’s obvious. And yes, it still apparently needs to be said. The Yankees haven’t made a splash this offseason. They haven’t even made a puddle. It’s embarrassing.

Brian Cashman talked about being “aggressive.” That was a lie. Full stop. And while I genuinely like some of the players on this roster, nobody wants a rerun of 2025 — close enough to dream, far enough to fail. Sometimes teams need a shakeup. Sometimes complacency is the real enemy.

Running it back with the same guys invites stagnation. Volpe and Wells look overmatched. Judge is aging in real time. Can we please help this man win a championship before the window slams shut? And Max Fried? He’s stranded on an island, surrounded by question marks and medical reports.

So if this sounds like panic, it’s not. It’s disappointment. Yankee fans aren’t unreasonable — they’re exhausted. They want a team that actually tries to win, not one that hides behind models and probabilities and hopes the humans behave like robots.

This isn’t how you go into 2026.
The Yankees need to be better.
That’s it.

KAY HOLDS THE YANKEES WATER WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR MISERABLE OFF-SEASON

Michael Kay has officially volunteered for the offseason hydration station. While Yankee fans are pacing the room, Kay is out here holding the team’s water bottle, explaining why actually this winter has been totally fine, thank you very much.

His defense of the Yankees’ inactivity is… something. According to Kay, the Yankees didn’t miss out on anyone this offseason because they simply didn’t want any of the players who signed elsewhere. Which is a fascinating argument if your goal is to lower expectations into the Earth’s mantle. The logic goes like this: if you pretend you never wanted to improve, then you technically didn’t fail to improve. Galaxy brain stuff.

But here’s the giant hole in Kay’s reasoning, and it’s the size of the 2026 roster: the Yankees have done absolutely nothing meaningful to make the team better. That’s the frustration. Not “oh no, we didn’t get that guy,” but rather, why does this organization seemingly not want to upgrade at all? Why did half the league improve while the Yankees stockpiled minor leaguers like canned goods for a long winter? Those are the questions we want answered.

And that leads to the bigger, far more uncomfortable question Kay conveniently sidesteps: why didn’t the Yankees want any of these players? Are we supposed to believe that every impact free agent was suddenly beneath the Yankees’ interest? That the front office collectively decided, “No thanks, we’re good with vibes and non-roster invites”?

What makes it worse is the complete lack of transparency. Where are the press conferences? Where is the vision? All we ever get is an October soundbite from Brian Cashman promising an “aggressive” offseason, followed by January rolling around with… a flurry of minor league signings and some hopeful shrugging. And of course, the most recent Boone sound bite where he says he wants to win a championship. Well, no shit.  Go do it, we've been waiting.  

And let’s not dance around the obvious: Michael Kay is employed by YES. Of course he’s not going to torch the organization. He can’t. That check comes with invisible handcuffs. It’s a shame, too, because everyone knows Kay is smart enough—and passionate enough—to tell the truth if he were free to do so. I actually love the guy, but I don't love that he's defending a terrible off season. 

The bottom line? The Yankees haven’t won a damn thing under Aaron Boone. They haven’t won anything at all since 2009. Yes, they got to the World Series in 2024. Great. Hang the banner that says “Almost.” This is the New York Yankees, not a participation trophy factory.

And that’s exactly why Bleeding Yankee Blue exists. We’re not here to sugarcoat, spin, or hydrate the front office. When we’re mad, we say it. We’re not shackled. We’re not on the payroll. And we’re not pretending that a quiet offseason full of minor league deals is some master plan.

If that makes us loud, so be it. Someone has to say what everyone else is thinking.

THE LATEST CODY BELLINGER RUMOR HAS ME LAUGHING OUT LOUD!

Say what you want about former MLB General Manager Jim Bowden, he's got a lot of experience in the show. Sometimes he has some pretty interesting soundbites out there, and oh boy did he drop a doozy on Monday. This one did not disappoint, I'm still laughing.

There's a lot of buzz out there about Cody Bellinger. He is one of the biggest free agents this winter and he's still available. The Yankees supposedly made their second offer to Cody and according to Bowden, not only could there be a mystery team we don't know about stirring the pot and engaging with Scott Boras but another interesting team out there is engaged.

Go ahead and play that again....you know you want to! Bowden's heard "whispers" of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's right they have had a nice winter (unlike the freaking Yankees!) but come on....the Pirates? They are going to pony up the amount of money that Cody wants. OR better yet, the Pirates are going to outbid any other team to get him? That's rich.

But maybe the Yankees are the exception. We aren't spending money. We are clipping coupons and taking fliers out on minor league bench guys! That's what Brian Cashman does now. So maybe the Pirates WOULD outbid the Yankees but come on.....Cody isn't playing for the Pirates.

Cody is going to a major market team. I do think Bowden is right and Cody WANTS to stay with us. I have no doubt in my mind that is the truth, he fit in well here and he fills the Yankees need for both outfield AND first base help. He handled the New York pressure well....it's a great fit on paper.

What ISN'T a great fit on paper is Cody and the Pirates. He wants a major market. I think if the Chicago Cubs were serious and wanted him back he would even do that. He liked playing in Chicago also. That's not likely but he's tied to major market teams. He wants to stay in New York. Why settle for Pittsburgh? It just doesn't add up no matter how much the Pirates would love to have him.

If a Yankees reunion doesn't happen, he's rumored to be open to a reunion with the Dodgers even though there isn't a lot of chatter to support that either. Cody has bigger target destinations than Pittsburgh, sometimes the truth hurts.

So Bowden has me laughing. Pittsburgh.....that's a good one. But seriously, wake me when something truly buzzworthy happens and we quit clipping coupons!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

WHAT. ARE. THE. YANKEES. DOING?

Here we go again. Another day, another minor-league signing, another reminder that being a Yankees fan in this era feels less like rooting for a championship juggernaut and more like watching a yard sale where nothing valuable ever shows up.

This time, the headliner—if we’re calling it that—is Adam Kloffenstein. Yes, that Adam Kloffenstein. Former Blue Jay farmhand. I know, I know. You never heard of him. No one has. I'm sure he's a great dude, but let's face facts. He sniffed 1 MLB game ever. But hey, he was available, and apparently that’s all it takes these days for Brian Cashman to pounce like a bargain hunter with a coupon.

Kloffenstein officially signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees on December 19, though the move was so low-wattage it didn’t even make a ripple until it quietly appeared on his player page days later. Very on brand. Even the transaction itself seemed embarrassed to announce its existence.

Let’s talk résumé. Kloffenstein is 25. He went 2–8 with a 6.26 ERA for Triple-A Buffalo in 2025 and missed time with a shoulder injury. That’s not “hidden gem” territory. That’s “organizational depth you sign in January when nobody’s watching” territory. Here we are and it's presented as part of the Yankees’ offseason plan—if we’re being generous enough to call this a plan.

Now, in a vacuum, I don’t hate minor-league signings. Smart teams take flyers all the time. They invite guys to camp. They see if lightning strikes. But—and this is the key part—that strategy only works when it’s layered on top of a strong, established major-league roster. When you already have a championship-caliber core, tossing a few lottery tickets into the mix makes sense.

The Yankees do not have that luxury right now. We don't have a championship team. We have Judge and Fried and Boone hasn't won a thing since he showed up.

And so, we’re watching the front office stack flyer on top of flyer, depth piece on top of depth piece, as if volume alone might accidentally turn into greatness. It’s like Cashman is trying to build a World Series team by shaking the couch cushions and hoping a superstar falls out.

This is where it gets unsettling. Because this isn’t creativity. It’s not daring. It’s not even clever. It’s passive.

Cashman said in December, “We’re an aggressive franchise, but while being aggressive, we already have some very large commitments…”

And that quote should worry every Yankees fan.

Because what does “aggressive” mean in Cashman’s world now? Does it mean aggressively signing spare parts? Aggressively combing through Triple-A ERAs north of six? Aggressively lowering expectations and hoping fans won’t notice?

This franchise hasn’t won a World Series since 2009. That’s not a slump. That’s a full-blown era. An entire generation of Yankees fans has grown up hearing about championships the way historians talk about ancient civilizations.

And yet, the response from the front office is… this. Minor-league contracts. Quiet transactions. Pitchers who couldn’t crack other teams’ rosters. A vibe that screams “let’s not rock the boat,” even though the boat hasn’t gone anywhere in years.

Cashman is distracted. Complacent. Almost strangely comfortable. And Aaron Boone, his ever-faithful echo, continues to manage like a man hired specifically to never challenge the people above him.

Right now, the Yankees don’t feel bold. They don’t feel hungry. They feel flat.

Flat strategies. Flat ambition. Flat explanations.

If this is what “aggressive” looks like, then the definition has officially changed—and not in a good way. Because the Yankees aren’t losing because they’re unlucky. They’re losing because they’re cautious, stale, and stuck in neutral while other teams actually try.

When will they win again? Hard to say. But one thing feels increasingly clear: it probably won’t happen until the front office stops acting like thrift-store shopping is a championship philosophy—and until Cashman and his right-hand puppet finally follow the same exit ramp.

Until then, enjoy the next minor-league signing. There will be another one. There always is.

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

THE BLUE JAYS CONTINUE TO HAVE A COMPETITIVE OFF SEASON

Where's Brian Cashman?

The Blue Jays are out here acting like it’s an actual offseason. The Yankees, meanwhile, are sitting by the phone waiting for Cody Bellinger to “decide,” which is another way of saying they’ve chosen timidity over urgency. This is not an aggressive winter. This is a franchise crouched behind corporate talking points, already rehearsing the press release: “We just couldn’t find a fit, but don’t worry—we really like our team.”

And sure, maybe they do like their team. The problem is fans don't. We want improvement.

The Yankees have not gone hard for impact bats. They haven’t meaningfully upgraded the defense. They haven’t addressed the rotation with any seriousness. And the bullpen? It didn’t just spring a leak—it flat-out evaporated. Whatever sense of stability fans are clinging to is built on vibes and optimism, not roster reality. This team is far shakier than it wants you to believe.

Contrast that with Toronto, who clearly understood the assignment. The Blue Jays swooped in and signed Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal with roughly 24 hours left in his posting window. No dithering. Just action. That move followed the additions of Dylan Cease and Tyler Rogers, and they’re still actively working to retain Bo Bichette. That’s three real swings taken by a team that decided being competitive wasn’t optional.

Now here’s the obvious thought the Yankees seem allergic to: Bo Bichette should be the target in my opinion.

If the goal is to win baseball games—and not just win press conferences—Bichette makes too much sense to ignore. He’s a superior offensive player, a proven performer under pressure, and a hitter who actually puts the ball in play. The Yankees’ lineup has been dragged for years over strikeouts and empty at-bats, and rightfully so. Bichette’s 14.5% strikeout rate in 2025 and elite contact profile (83rd percentile in whiff rate) would instantly lengthen the lineup and reduce the black holes that currently define it. This is everything Anthony Volpe is not at the plate, and pretending otherwise doesn’t make the math work.

And even if you fix shortstop, the rotation is also still waving red flags. Gerrit Cole missed all of 2025 after Tommy John surgery and isn’t expected back until May or June of 2026—at best. Carlos Rodón required an October procedure to remove loose bodies and a bone spur from his elbow and is likely to miss Opening Day, with a hopeful return sometime in late April or early May. That’s not a foundation. That’s crossed fingers.

Which is why Zac Gallen should be firmly on the Yankees’ radar. Yes, 2025 was a down year. But he’s a former Cy Young finalist with durability, innings, and upside—exactly the kind of buy-low, high-reward arm serious teams pursue. There were legitimate rumors linking him to the Cubs, and if the Yankees sit this one out too, it’ll be another self-inflicted wound. Passing on Gallen would be organizational malpractice disguised as prudence.

And that’s really the point of all this. The Yankees have done nothing to support this roster, nothing to elevate it, and nothing to make Spring Training feel like the start of something dangerous. It’s sad. Especially when you look north of the border and see a team that clearly understands how to compete.

The Blue Jays are proactive. They’re decisive. They’re acting like contention matters.

The Yankees? They’re waiting on Bellinger and calling it a strategy. Playing defense. Hoping nothing goes wrong. That’s not how serious franchises behave.

And right now, serious is the last word anyone should use to describe the New York Yankees.

My opinion of course.

ERIK KRATZ TRIES TO DISMANTLE AROD & FALLS FLAT

Not sure if anyone remembers — or maybe the Yankees would prefer you didn’t — but Alex Rodriguez recently did the unthinkable: he told the truth about Anthony Volpe.

During a WFAN Sports Radio interview, A-Rod didn’t just critique Volpe; he used Volpe as Exhibit A in the Yankees’ completely broken hitting philosophy. And no, he didn’t wrap it in corporate cushioning or Bronx-approved talking points.

“The organization has fallen in love with him, but at some point the numbers don’t lie, right?” Rodriguez said.

That line alone probably set off alarms in the front office. But A-Rod wasn’t done. He brought receipts. Laminated ones.

“You have 167 strikeouts [in 2023], 156 [in 2024] and 150 [in 2025], and here’s a young man that the biggest way he can impact winning is with his number one tool: his legs.”

Bingo. That’s the whole argument in one paragraph. Speed. Pressure. Chaos. That’s supposed to be Volpe’s calling card.

Instead?

“Here’s a young man who has over 50 stolen bases in the minor leagues, he stole 18 last year, and it’s hard to impact winning when you’re striking out 150 times and you’re hitting .212.”

That’s not “hate.” That’s arithmetic. And math, inconveniently, does not care about prospect hugs, gold glove narratives, or how many times YES Network tells you he’s “putting in the work.”

Naturally, the backlash followed.

On a recent episode of Foul Territory, MLB analysts Erik Kratz and Kevin Pillar decided the real problem wasn’t Volpe’s production — it was Alex Rodriguez daring to comment on it. Kratz dismissed A-Rod’s criticism as “kinda weak,” mainly because Rodriguez hasn’t been “in the cage” with Volpe.

Which is hilarious, because last time I checked, you don’t need batting practice access to read a stat line or watch a game. I haven’t been in the cage with Volpe either — and yet I can clearly see that whatever the Yankees are teaching him isn’t sticking. Work ethic doesn’t matter if the results never show up.

This is called the eye test, folks. And Volpe fails it nightly.

Kratz’s argument also ignores a basic truth: baseball analysts are paid to analyze. That’s literally the job. That’s what A-Rod was doing. Kratz is allowed to disagree. I’m allowed to disagree with Kratz. And over here at Bleeding Yankee Blue, I get to have an opinion too — because that’s what opinion writers do.

You, the Yankees, Volpe — none of you have to like it. But it doesn’t make it wrong. Especially when Volpe’s trajectory is heading in the wrong direction.

Even Yanks Go Yard saw right through Kratz’s flimsy defense and dismantled it perfectly:

“There were two further problems with Kratz's take, the first being his notion that Volpe decreasing his strikeouts from 167 (rookie year) to 156, and then to 150 last year, combats A-Rod's point. Rodriguez never denied that Volpe is working on his weaknesses; he's saying that, despite that work, the strikeouts remain a problem. This would be like if Kratz applauded a chemistry student for raising their test score from an F to a D, with A-Rod simply pointing out that the student still lacks a competent understanding of the material.”

Exactly. Celebrating marginal improvement while ignoring continued failure isn’t analysis — it’s spin. And it gets worse:

“Another issue with Kratz's take is that he's flat-out denying that Volpe took a step back last year. Kratz's attempted logic here points to Volpe's shoulder injury, as if that moves the goal post for what is deemed a productive season. Sadly, the cold reality that destroys Kratz's point here is that players and teams in pro sports aren't given any credit for playing injured. The Yankees weren't given any extra wins, and Volpe's numbers weren't inflated to account for his messed up shoulder.”

That’s the kill shot. Injuries don’t earn bonus points. The standings don’t care. The numbers don’t adjust themselves out of sympathy. And honestly? This whole thing makes Kratz look wildly unprepared. Out of his depth. Which leads to an uncomfortable but fair question: was this even organic?

Remember, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter were both critical of the Yankees this postseason. Brian Cashman fired back. But continuing that fight publicly wouldn’t look very “professional” or “corporate.” So maybe — maybe — this was the Yankees’ quieter way of taking a swing at Alex. Maybe they asked Kratz for a favor.  

By the way, do I have proof? None. Zero. This is purely a gut feeling.

What I do know is this: Kratz looked foolish, A-Rod was dead on, and Volpe’s situation is bleak. The Yankees rushed this kid, mishandled him, and may have permanently broken him. I don’t believe shoulder surgery fixes that. I don’t believe Volpe is the future of this franchise.

George Lombard Jr.? That’s the guy I’m hoping for.

Until then, the reality stands: Kratz swung and missed, A-Rod nailed the analysis, Yanks Go Yard crushed the breakdown — and the Yankees are left staring at yet another player development failure they don’t want to admit exists.

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.

JUST SIGN BELLINGER, DUDE!

The New York Yankees have officially mastered the art of looking busy while accomplishing absolutely nothing.

This entire offseason has been one long exercise in minor league cosplay. Depth signings. Non-roster invites. Roster filler dressed up as “smart baseball.” The Yankees didn’t improve a single pressure spot on a team that keeps folding when it matters — but hey, the farm system spreadsheet looks great.

And if you question it, you’re told to relax… because they signed a Mexican League MVP named Nick Torres, and apparently that’s supposed to move the needle. You’re supposed to be excited. You’re supposed to nod knowingly, even though 99 percent of fans had never heard the name until the press release hit. World Series contenders don’t ask their fan base to imagine production — they acquire it. 

The Yankees are now selling mystery boxes and calling them solutions.

Meanwhile, the most obvious answer has been staring them in the face the entire time: Cody Bellinger.

Dan Duquette said the quiet part out loud on MLB Network Radio, and unlike the Yankees, he didn’t overthink it.

“I think he’s getting six years. I still think the Yankees, even though there’s other teams that jumped in, I still cannot imagine that the Yankees will not be the final suitor on him,” Duquette said.

“He was such a good fit, obviously, mostly hitting behind (Aaron) Judge. It doesn’t hurt that Judge had another MVP season.”

That’s not insider gossip. That’s logic — something the Yankees seem allergic to.

While the front office fiddles with Triple-A depth and asks fans to pretend Nick Torres is the missing championship piece, Bellinger already answered real questions. He balanced the lineup. He protected Judge. He made Yankee Stadium work for him instead of exposing him. Left-handed power. Real contact. Zero fear of big moments. Pitchers had to pitch, and suddenly Judge wasn’t stranded on an island.

And then there’s the defense — something this organization treats like an optional accessory. Bellinger brought Gold Glove ability wherever they needed him. Outfield? Elite. First base? Smooth. No excuses, no learning curve, no defensive disasters disguised as versatility. He played baseball like someone who respects all nine innings.

Most of all, he handled New York like a pro. No press conferences about “adjustments.” No sulking. No coddling. Just a 5+ WAR season, quiet leadership, and actual results — the opposite of the Yankees’ offseason strategy.

That’s why Bellinger’s return isn’t just preferable — it’s necessary. Because while the Yankees hoard minor leaguers and hype overseas MVPs nobody asked for, Bellinger represents certainty. Proven production. Proven composure. Proven fit.

Championship teams don’t cross their fingers over Nick Torres and hope it plays in October. They lock in players who already showed they can survive the Bronx and thrive in it.

Cody Bellinger did that.

And if the Yankees don’t bring him back, it won’t be because he wasn’t worth it — it’ll be because this front office is more comfortable gambling on the unknown than committing to something that actually worked.

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