COULD AARON HICKS' TRIP TO IL TRIGGER A TRADE WITH KANSAS CITY?

The Yankees kicked off a three day stint with the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday night and what seemingly appeared to be just another typical game in the Bronx, turned into much more. In the third inning, Aaron Hicks took a pitch off his shin and left the game barely able to walk. According to Bryan Hoch, "Aaron Hicks is leaving the game after fouling a ball off his right shin. Was hardly able to put pressure on the leg as he hobbled off the field." In typical Twitter fashion, fans called for the Bombers to quickly get a deal done for outfielder Andrew Benintendi, who the Yankees have shown interest in for some time. Could this trip for the IL for Hicks be the trigger for a trade with the Royals?

Source: SI.com

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi on Monday, "Yankees are looking at a number of outfielders on the trade market, with Royals CF Michael A. Taylor among them. Taylor won a Gold Glove in center last year and would help Aaron Boone to keep Judge, Stanton, and Hicks healthy in 2nd half and postseason." With Hicks likely out for a while given his injury record, will the Yankees move quicker to get a deal done with Taylor or Benintendi?

Source: USA TODAY Sports

"Benintendi has been one of the more productive outfielders in baseball this season, getting on base at a terrific clip and maintaining above-average overall numbers despite lacking power in his bat. He's also a solid defender in left field who won an American League Gold Glove award less than a year ago for his efforts in 2021. Benintendi has yet to come to terms with the Royals on a contract extension, however, making him a prime trade candidate as a soon-to-be free agent that a contending team could be in the market for," reported Jordan Foote of Inside the Royals earlier this month. 

There is no secret that both Hicks and Joey Gallo are struggling this season, perhaps Gallo more than Hicks. Despite the Yankees being the best team in baseball, their weakest links are surely this pair. And even if Hicks did not go down and out in Tuesday night's game, the Yankees were likely to trade for another outfielder. Taylor's offense this season far surpasses his teammate Benintendi, which could make him more appealing for the Yankees, who could use another bat in the game. 

It will be interesting to see how the Yankees respond to the Hicks' injury. In the interim we will likely see either Miguel Andujar or Estevan Florial make some appearances in the lineup through the All Star Break. After that, the Yankees could make their move ahead of the August 2nd trade deadline, and either Royal could find themselves in pinstripes. 

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

COULD CARLOS RODON BE THE NEXT STARTER THE YANKEES COULD SNAG?

There has been plenty of talk about how the Yankees will bolster their rotation as they march to the post season. Assuming they don't go into a slide and totally blow it of course. I don't see that however. I see a dominant team who are in need of a few pieces so they can shine down the stretch.  So the latest shiny thing the Yankees are connected to is none-other than lefty pitcher Carlos Rodon.

SI writes:

"...the Yankees were among the teams interested in the southpaw, as are the Red Sox, Angels, Mariners and Dodgers.

Rodón is coming off a career year. The 29-year-old went 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA, threw a no-hitter, was an All-Star and finished fifth in Cy Young voting. However, shoulder soreness and fatigue limited Rodón to just nine starts and 43 innings in the second half. Those starts went well—Rodón recorded a 2.51 ERA over that stretch—but the hurler saw a decrease in velocity....

The 132.2 regular-season innings Rodón threw were the most he’s tossed since 2016. For the most part, they were impressive, even when the pitcher wasn’t at full strength. That could quell concerns teams may have about his health, at least enough to set him up for a short-term payday."

The Giants are struggling, the Yankees need alittle help to get over the hump. This makes sense.

For me, this is a very interesting idea.  Who would get bumped from the rotation is anyone's guess, but I would suggest that guys like Gerritt Cole and Jordan Montgomery are safe.  With this team however, it appears to be about "team first", and if one of our starters needs to move to the pen as long relief or something, no one will complain.

But we shall see... it's the rumor season and the trade deadline is coming. 

Let's go Yanks!

THE OUTFIELD MOVE THE YANKEES COULD MAKE THAT NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT

I still really like the idea of Andrew Benintendi in pinstripes, but it may not happen. Even if it doesn't happen, there is still one less splashy move that could still help give the Yankees the upgrade they are looking for. 

Benintendi's price tag is rumored to be "too high" for the Yankees right now and it's only going to get more expensive as we get closer to the trade deadline. I can't say I blame the Royals, they should ask for as much as they can get for him, but that doesn't mean the Yankees should be willing to pay a plus prospect for a true rental. 

No matter what the Yankees do, they really need to find a way to dump Joey Gallo because it is hard to imagine a move for anyone else while dumping garbage Gallo that wouldn't pay off. At this point, if the Yankees could just find someone who would be willing to take a shot on Gallo as a buy-low opportunity and replace him in house, it could work. No one is talking about this though....and they should because this could happen.

I hope Brian Cashman is on the phone and talking to the Rangers or maybe even the Padres who are honestly a long shot, but there are connections there, read more HERE. Both teams are very familiar with Gallo and there are rumors that both teams may be interested at the right price. Honestly, getting Gallo off of this team and paying some money to move him isn't a bad idea.

And if that could somehow happen, replacing him with Miguel Andujar or Estevan Florial could work IF the trade market isn't very robust this season, and if you read more on that HERE, that could be a reality. Florial has been hot lately and Andujar has been more useful than Gallo has and he's earned a spot in the big leagues rather than being stashed down in the minors. We already know there is drama between the Yankees and Andujar, and this is how the Yankees can give him that big league playing time he has asked for.

The Yankees need a plan B if Benintendi (or anyone else) isn't possible and this is it. Keeping Gallo's useless bat in the lineup in August isn't an option just for his serviceable defense. If I have to watch Gallo beyond the trade deadline I will lose my mind. It's time to move on and accept that Gallo just didn't pan out.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

CLAY HOLMES FEATURED IN NEW YORK TIMES!

Source: Seth Wenig/Associated Press

We are about a week away from the All Star Break and the guy that everyone's talking about (no not Mike Trout or Shohei Ohtani) is Clay Holmes. And on Saturday, the New York Times had a feature on the Yankee closer, who has been nothing short of incredible this season. Clay Holmes gets a feature in the New York Times and he totally deserves it.

The Times called Holmes "the breakout star of this blissful Yankees season" and I could not agree more. He can pitch, he can field and he can lead this team to the post-season. This guy has it all.

“I had a lot of people saying to go with a short-arm action, to make so many big mechanical changes,” Holmes said at Fenway Park on Thursday, before stifling the Boston Red Sox to save another Yankees victory. “Ultimately I went against it, because I knew there was maybe a risk of losing my sinker. That’s when I really was like: ‘The sinker is going to be my ticket. I need to really figure out how to make it as good as it can be,’" reported the New York Times.

And I tell you what, it is his sinker that is carrying him to the All Star Game in Los Angeles on July 19th because as the Times reports, through Friday, Holmes had a 0.47 earned run average and 16 saves in 17 chances. He has faced 142 batters and allowed no home runs." Who does that? It is our guy, Holmes!

"Holmes is the only pitcher in baseball (minimum 30 innings) who throws his fastball at least 80 percent of the time — and by fastball, of course, he means the sinking two-seamer. Even when he throws a four-seamer, which should stay straight, Holmes still sinks the ball," reported the Times.

To see him perform, is just a delight. He is like a jack rabbit on the hill—throwing hard and jumping off the mound to protect the rest of the infield. On Friday night's closing situation in Boston, he looked extraordinary, launching off the mound to make the play at first, and shutting down the Red Sox like an exterminator does against pests.

Source: USA Today

Yes, we know that Clay Holmes is that good. And yes, the Yankees know he is that good. But now the rest of America knows he is that good because he was featured in the New York Times. Let's go! Clay Holmes is our closer and when he takes the stage in LA later this month, everyone else will see for themselves what all of the hype is. He is going to kill it!

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

THE RESURGENCE OF ESTEVAN FLORIAL IS HERE! NOW WHAT?

It's time to make a move....but what kind of move, exactly? That's the real question. If you haven't been keeping tabs on Estevan Florial lately it is time to start!

It's been a tough ride for Florial, he's been in a decline since 2019 and it has been very hard to watch but he's been tearing it up lately. Maybe he has finally turned the page and the consistent playing time in Triple-A is exactly what he's needed. 

He's locked in right now. Florial has a .308BA with 10 home runs, 29 RBI, 41 runs scored and 26 stolen bases in 62 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In the last week he has a .480BA with five homers, eight RBIs, 11 runs and four doubles and was named International League Player of the Week from June 27th-July 3rd. He's hot at the right time, especially as fans continue to lose faith in Joey Gallo. 

So now that Florial's stock is rising again....what do the Yankees do with him? What's the move?

There's two obvious moves here. First, give Florial a shot in the big leagues. His offensive production is what the Yankees have been waiting for. It's been a long time coming and it's finally here. The strikeouts are still high but....so are Gallo's for crying out loud! Strikeouts are a part of the game (again, see Gallo) and as long as he plays reliable defense, steals bases and makes contact what else can we ask for? We aren't getting that from Gallo or Aaron Hicks either. He's also 24 and running out of options and earned consideration for the next step up. If not now.....when? The time has never been better to see if he can make it in pinstripes.

And if the Yankees aren't ready to give him playing time in the big leagues the other answer is to trade him. The Yankees haven't shown a willingness to consider options to replace Gallo or Hicks. Take Miguel Andujar for example, he's been up and down with the Yankees for years now. He's been just as good as Florial and he has more major league experience. The Yankees will soon run out of options to call Andujar up thanks to restrictions in the new CBA that passed earlier this year. So maybe that is why the Yankees hold onto him....because they are already planning to use him when Andujar can't be called up again. That time is coming.

The Yankees have said they think highly of Florial.....but how highly? I think we will soon find out. If the Yankees don't think Florial fits their future plans he will be gone in less than a month and the Yankees will get something to win. 

So what's the right move? I'm glad I don't have to decide and I can just speculate. The clock is ticking.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

HAS JAMESON TAILLON LOST HIS MAGIC?

Source: Sports Illustrated

All season, Jameson Taillon held the title of a comeback kid, trailblazing with a 9-1 record over 16 starts for the first half of the season. But over the last six games he has struggled— including last night against his former team, the Pirates, Taillon gave up an abysmal five runs. Has Jameson Taillon lost his magic as the Yankees continue their pursuit of their 28th World Championship only 10-days from the All-Star Break?

"Obviously it's concerning," Taillon told reporters Tuesday night in the visitor's clubhouse. "I need to figure it out and make a change. It's a results-oriented league, but at the same time, I feel healthy, I feel like I'm making a lot of quality pitches, but I'm getting burned it seems like every outing on a couple of pitches with runners on especially. I don't want to go change anything drastic, but it's probably also time to go peel it back a little bit and see what's going on," reported SI.com.

Source: USA Today

Taillon will pitch again on the road against the Red Sox on Sunday. Between now and then he will analyze his pitching, "peel back the layers" as he suggested in his post-game interview, and see where he can improve. Taillon also admitted that his inability to find his four-seam fastball against a Pirate lineup with eight left-handed hitters made an impact on his performance. 

"Just a couple more mistakes in a game and tonight they hit it in the seats or for extra bases," Boone said. "Maybe just not quite as sharp with some command things, that usually is his calling card. But that's also the ebb and flow of the season too where that's gonna happen," reported SI.com.

The Yankees' offense is also at fault, and perhaps a late scratch by big-time performer Anthony Rizzo was an omen for the team. "Rizzo, who spent 9.5 seasons playing in the National League Central as a member of the Cubs, has always enjoyed hitting at PNC Park and against the Pirates. He has 30 career home runs against Pittsburgh, his second-most against any team. Only the Reds (34 HR) have surrendered more longballs to the 32-year-old," reported SI.com.

But as I have been saying, it can't come down to one pitcher, one bat, one guy to carry a team to victory. The Yankees' offense was essentially dead against a weak team in the National League. And these are the games that the Yankees simply need to win. Let's hope they can come back swinging tonight at PNC Park, to even out the short two-game series against the Bucs. And that Jameson Taillon makes his tweaks and brings back the magic against the Sox on Sunday. 

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

LET'S BE CLEAR; GALLO ISN'T STRUGGLING... HE JUST SUCKS

Big bodies don't mean anything if they cannot deliver. I've always believed that, yet, that's the trend it's going. I have a kid playing college ball. The path to get there wasn't always easy and most recently it became more difficult because college coaches are enamored with the big body and that's based on the recent trend of the MLB. Everyone wants the home run. No one wants to doubles hitter, the bunter, the Ronald Torreyes, the Willie Randolph, the Christian Yelich type. Why? Because they're small, or skinny or don't hit the go ahead 3 run home enough.

Baseball leaders today would rather you swing and miss than swing and single, as long as your velo is high, their thinking is "It will come."

Well Joey Gallo is in purgatory because of that.  He was never really a "player", he was a home run hitter.  When Gallo came to New York, I knew it was going to be a disaster.  People would tell me constantly, "Wait until 2022. He's gonna have a monster year, you watch." 

Well, I'm watching.  But more to that, just look at his career. That tells you all you need to know.

He is a career .203 hitter.  TWO O THREE. Think about that. How important is VELO if you can't hit a baseball? So when there are articles out there that suggest that Joey Gallo is "Struggling", I need to laugh. Boone tried to address it too. Give me a break. amNY writes:

"...Gallo has still been striking out 39.5% of the time this season. 

“I think the team Winning definitely helps big time, but you also have a personal expectation and pride,” Boone said. “Desire to succeed and be a part of this thing, which he very much is. It’s a heavy burden, especially when you’ve had success in this league and have been an all-star in this league and you’re not getting the results. Especially when you pour everything into it, which Joey does.

“It’s frustrating and I know it’s difficult and I know it certainly weighs on him and wears him. Unfortunately, it’s part of this sport sometimes and such a hard game, and such a game of failure. You have to find a way to figure that out.”

But the worst part of it all is talk. We're talking about struggle, but there is no solution, no progress, just talk. Gallo doesn't try to adjust and the Yankees just try and hide him in the lineup or give him a night off to "rest". Maybe, just maybe his big body isn't working as advertised. Maybe baseball's idea of the big home run every 10 at bats isn't a real thing because it means nothing if a guy can get on base and the next guy, Joey Gallo, doesn't do a thing to move him over to get him in. 

We've lost our way in this new baseball trend and clearly Gallo has too. Bottom line, he isn't a struggling hitter these days... he's just not good. And you know what? That's ok. The solution? Cut him loose. The problem? You can't get much for him, he has zero value.

My 19 year old's solution? "Gallo just needs to go to an OK team. He doesn't fit on the Yankees. He doesn't fit on a really good team. He needs to be part of a rebuild."

... and I happen to agree.

ANDREW BENINTENDI SHOULD BE BRONX BOUND!

The Yankees are sitting pretty atop of the AL East despite glaring weaknesses from players like Joey Gallo and Aaron Hicks. I can't help but wonder if we would be in an even better position if we had outfielders that weren't completely useless.

It's July and the Yankees have a nice 14 game cushion in the AL East and on the other hand the Kansas City Royals are 14.5 games out and going absolutely nowhere. It's time for the Royals to set Andrew Benintendi free and by free I mean send him to the Yankees. Not some other AL East team.

Benintendi is definitely the big name on the block this summer. He would be a perfect fit in he Bronx because he hits for average, gives us another left handed bat and is about to be a free agent. The Royals are about to lose him anyway. Why not trade him and get something for him?

The Yankees are a perfect fit. We could the left handed bat and while he may not have a ton of power his track record proves that he is going to put the ball in play and give the lineup some more depth. We don't need a lineup full of home run hitters, we need contact hitters too. It would be nice to have a guy we trust to get a hit and bring the runner home from second base. Benintendi is that guy, and the rest of the league knows it too.

The Royals are bound to cut him loose, and I want the Yankees t be the team that gets him. He's the guy all teams want right now including the Blue Jays and the Red Sox. It would be nice to have Benintendi on our team helping us win more games instead of reuniting with the Red Sox or heading North to Canada. The Gallo and Hicks experiment has failed miserably, it's time to make a move and this is it.

Benintendi will be one of the most popular names in the trade pool this season, and he has a lot to offer a new team. Let's just hope Brian Cashman can pull the trigger and get him in pinstripes because I think we are the perfect fit.

Get it done, Cash!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

HAS CHAPMAN RUN OUT OF TIME WITH THE YANKEES?

Source: AP

You know when it is just your time. You worked hard for this moment. You dreamed of finally making it to the top and you get there. You feel like you are invincible. Then you let it all go to your head. And suddenly, you are not who you used to be. So you try and reinvent yourself. But you still aren't there anymore but you act like you are. But in reality, just like that, your moment has passed. This is how I see Aroldis Chapman. He worked hard. He threw hard. And now his time as a dominant closer for this New York Yankees is over.

"In his first outing in five-plus weeks, Chapman walked all three batters he faced before getting pulled in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 13-4 win over the Guardians in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday at Progressive Field," reported The New York Post. It's like Chapman forgot how to pitch. He just does not have his moxie anymore. And the trouble is— it is more mental than physical for Chapman.

“It’s just like, he’s gotta get out there and almost not think in terms of not throwing the ball but just trusting it and letting it rip and then let the results fall where they may,” Boone said between games. “I think he’s guarding against making sure he doesn’t throw a ball, and that’s similar to the mindset I talk a lot about hitters — ‘I want to get a hit,’ and that gets you in trouble. Maybe a little bit similar on the mound. But I think he’s healthy,” reported The Post. 

Chapman has been no stranger to the IL since becoming a Yankee. He seems to make a trip every few months during the regular season. This last stint was for an Achilles injury, which he is recovering from, but his mindset is going to take a lot more time, time that perhaps the Yankees are not really interested in investing in anymore for their once-dominant closer. 

Source: The New York Post

"A healthy and right Chapman would give them quite the arsenal, but that's no sure thing at this point. He's 34 years old and hasn't proven himself reliable this season," reported CBS Sports. 

Do the Yankees move on from Aroldis Chapman after this season? Yes. He will be 35 years old and traditionally the Yankees will go year to year with older players based on performance. His performance has just not lived up to expectations and since they have been able to replace Chapman in the bullpen with guys like Clay Holmes and Michael King, why do they need Chapman? At the start of the season in April, Chapman shared that the Yankees haven’t approached him about an extension and that he’d like to stay in pinstripes. Chapman is set to be a free agent at the season’s end and in my mind, his time has just run out. 

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

A GREAT WAY TO GET JOEY GALLO OUT OF THE BRONX

I can't stand Joey Gallo. Quite simply, he needs to go.  But it's not that easy because he's so bad, he's literally untradeable.

But Philly's Joe Giglio of WIP has a great idea and I welcome it. Check this out:

"There’s no player with a track record lower than Gallo (.169 AVG, 79 OPS+) right now. His fit in New York has been a disaster, and will likely soon follow the Javier Vazquez/Sonny Gray Express...out of New York. If the Yankees are looking to dump Gallo for anything they can get before the trade deadline, the Phillies would be smart to look into it. Gallo’s light-tower power is real, and he comes with the ability to play center field. Worst case, it’s a flier on a guy that’s about to be a free agent. Best case? Gallo turns his career back around, and the Phillies can add huge power to both replace and pair with Harper as the season progresses.”

Giglio is smart to think this way. The Phillies are 7 games out in their division, it's a coin toss. Gallo could help them, and he may not but it's clear the Yankees DON'T need him.

I would hope someone's listening out there who can made these decisions. Hell, I'll personally drive Gallo to Philadelphia. 

COULD AARON JUDGE BE THE NEW HOME RUN KING?

The Yankees are on a nice roll, and we all want it to stay that way. There is a lot of hope and excitement for the rest of the season, and a lot of that has to do with Aaron Judge.

After this season, Judge will be a free agent and he's having one hell of a year before he becomes a free agent. So far nothing is standing in his way to earning a big pay day and breaking records on his way out. Or is there?

According to Chris "Mad Dog" Russo the Yankees may be in his way, you can check it out HERE if you want to catch up on his analysis. I must admit, it is an interesting take. I will leave it at that but he says the Yankees will never let him break the home run record.

"There is no chance. The Yankees won’t let him get near it. No chance he’s making it to 61 home runs. None...I think they’re worried. They’re paying him so much money. They’re worried about wearing a player out. They’re worried about somebody getting hurt. They’re worried about pitch counts, and overload as far as 162 games, but it’s a major problem with the sport."

Yikes!

Look, I don't care about him beating Roger Maris' record or getting close to Babe Ruth either. If he makes it there and is still productive and healthy while helping us get back to the World Series then that is icing on the cake for me. It is hard for me to imagine though. It would be nice to see though. What Yankee fan wouldn't like to see an epic record broken? That's something that sticks with us.

But what would be nicer to see is the Yankees continuing to win while staying healthy and winning a 28th title. That is the most important part after all. If the Yankees want to rest him at some point to make sure he is good for the postseason also....then I wouldn't be mad about that either, especially if it turns out to be the right move.

"Mad Dog" can think what he wants....at this point, I really don't care about records. I only care about a World Series championship. I'm tired of the drought.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

FREDDIE FREEMAN'S AGENT CASEY CLOSE NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED

 

This is Casey Close. He worked for Freddie Freeman. I say 'worked' because he got fired for not disclosing information that Freddie Freeman really wanted to hear. Freddie wanted to stay in Atlanta.  I guess Casey Close just wanted a big payday for his client, AKA, himself. It's shit like this that make me sick. Greed changes everything.

FOX 5 writes:

"Freddie Freeman's agent withheld specifics about contract negotiations with the Atlanta Braves' during his free agency, according to FOX Sports Radio host Doug Gottlieb... the final offer the Braves made to Freeman was "close" to the offer Los Angeles made, and his agency never told him about the Atlanta offer.

"He found out over the weekend just how close Atlanta had come in their final offer, called up Casey Close and said, ‘You didn’t tell me about this offer? You're fired,'" Gottlieb said during "The Doug Gottlieb Show" on FOX Sports Radio.

Gottlieb said, according to "really good sources in the business," Close thought there were better opportunities with the Dodgers.

"And that's why he never told him," Gottlieb said. "

Here's the problem. Agents work for their clients.  If their client wants something, its the agents job to make it happen. If things aren't going the way they should, that's when an agent steps in and tells the client and it's then that the client asks to make a move, be it another team, or give their thoughts on what to do next. And it is then, and ONLY then that the Agent does the next thing for his client. So, why the hell would Casey Close think it was OK to just make a decision so personal to Freddie Freeman? What balls do you have to have to do that? Scumbag.

Now look, Freeman will be fine. Los Angeles loves him. Freddie is playing great out there.  The situation however is Freeman's heart is in Atlanta, and during his free agency, it's clear that Freeman just thought the Altanta Braves stalled and didn't make an offer.  That's outrageous, it's sloppy, greedy and to be honest, when it comes to ethics and morals, Casey Close needs a freaking reality check. He has lost his way. How bad is that? 

So what should happen? If you're asking me, Close needs to be punished.

According to MLBPA REGULATIONS GOVERNING PLAYER AGENTS:

"The MLBPA has the right to revoke or suspend the certification of any Player Agent, under Section 4(O) of the MLBPA Regulations, if the Player Agent fails to comply with or engages in conduct in violation of any provision of the Standards of Conduct set forth in Section 5 of the MLBPA Regulations. It could also require that a Player Agent provides restitution to players for damages or losses he has wrongfully caused."

Something needs to be done. Close messed with the nicest guy in baseball.  He needs to have some consequences.... bottom line.

Freddie will apparently represent himself for the time being. He did the right thing. He kicked Casey Close to the curb with the rest of the trash.