#ALLRISE HERE COMES THE JUDGE

Source: The Tonight Show

Moments after being named Most Valuable Player, Aaron Judge was back in his community, where he is at his finest. First he collaborated on a comedy gig with Jimmy Fallon for The Tonight Show which aired Friday night. The gig with Fallon is hilarious, placing Judge as an umpire in the batter's box calling balls and strikes—fans recognized him just by his voice. 

Source: The Tonight Show

"Another couple didn’t even need Judge to remove the mask; the sound of his voice calling “ball four” prompted a young lady to drop the bat and shriek with delight. Two other young ladies were distracted as the catcher and plate umpire took selfies of themselves; one offered Judge a hug, thanking him for everything he did for New York City." If Judge didn't know how much he is loved by New Yorkers, he sure does now. All Rise, Aaron Judge is not going anywhere.

 

Source: All Rise Foundation

On Friday night, he hosted the All Rise Foundation Dinner in NYC surrounded by his family, friends and teammates. The non profit foundation's mission is to inspire young people to become accountable citizens by providing them opportunities to participate in experiences that enable them to envision their possibilities. Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo and many other current and former Yankees joined Judge in raising money for this community-based organization to support kids. 

There was also a Judge siting in a live Peloton cycling class this week! He was seen sweating it out with everyday fitness fanatics in Tunde’s Intervals and Arms Ride! 

Being invested in your community and giving back to them the way Judge has throughout his career as a Yankee is what a encompasses what a great leader does. And that is who Judge is—a great leader, friend and teammate. These could be signs that Judge will be back in pinstripes, maybe before the December holidays. 

Source: NJ.com

“We’re in real time, so we’re on the clock,” Cashman said. “We’re certainly not going to mess around. Of course we’ve made an offer since Spring Training. If it hasn’t been said clearly, [managing general partner] Hal Steinbrenner has had face-to-face [time] with Aaron Judge and I’ve engaged with his agents," reported MLB.com.

And Hal Steinbrenner clearly stated to Judge his intent to commit what is necessary to enable him to be a Yankee for life. "Judge said on Thursday that the chat with Steinbrenner represented “a great sign for me in this process.” Still, Judge seems intent upon enjoying the free-agent experience, aiming to meet with other clubs and determine the best fit for his future," reported MLB.com.

I remain confident, not because I bought a road #99 Yankee jersey at a store near Stan's in August, but rather because Judge embraces the New York community and the heritage and history of what being a Yankee means not just to us but to him. All Rise, here comes Aaron Judge, soon to be the longest tenured Yankee since Derek Jeter.

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

IF TRUE, YANKEELAND CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT AARON JUDGE RETURNING TO THE BRONX

I was just reading Twitter. It's weird tonight. Andrew Tate is back, there is plenty of parody accounts of all sorts of celebrities and I can't tell which is actual news and which isn't.  So I left because my anxiety was through the roof.

And then this report came out. Yardbarker has it but it originally comes from legend Bob Klapisch:

"For a piece published Friday, Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media noted that Judge "will allow the Yankees to finish as the highest bidder" after the new American League Most Valuable Player hit free agency last week. That update comes after Steinbrenner confirmed he had "very positive conversations" with Judge following the season, including one face-to-face meeting, and after Klapisch and others claimed that re-signing slugger Anthony Rizzo improves the Yankees' chances of keeping Judge through his physical prime.

"I saw it as a good sign that (Steinbrenner) reached out and wanted to sit down one-on-one and get a chance to talk," Judge explained during a Thursday conference call. "I saw that as a great sign."

Here's the thing, the bad news is this is going to drag on long, meaning, Judge is going to listen to EVERY SINGLE CLUB that has a legit chance of building a championship and winning one in the future. And he has that right and we will let him do it. And if I'm Judge, I go to January out of spite. Make the Yankees sweat!  Bryan Hoch tweeted this:

Now look, give Judge time. Let him test the market. Here's the good news for Yankee fans... We appear to be the ones that will get final say. 

So, what does that mean? It means if the San Francisco Giants go the Aaron Judge and say, "Hey, we wanna give you $310 million for 8 years", he can go back to the Yankees and say, "This is the offer from the Giants, they have a good group there, they wanna win, what do you think?"  

Hal and Cash can stand up and say, "Hey look, we will give you $312 million. You know these guys, the fans love you, we love you, and we want to make you our Captain for the next 8 years with a 9-year option."

Guess where he's going?

Case. Closed.

Do it Yanks... do it.

 

HAL SPEAKS! BUT PROVES HE IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY

Lesson learned. I asked WHERE'S HAL? QUIT HIDING & FACE THE MUSIC! but he didn't own up to anything. It's now obvious now more than ever that Hal is out of touch with everything. He just doesn't get it and I don't think that will change.

Hal rejects reality. That's the only way to put it after his last interview, you can read details HERE if you didn't get to hear it on YES Network. The Yankees are stuck in a rut and in a pattern of doing the same things over and over again expecting different results instead of evolving and progressing. "We get accused of being a stagnant organization sometimes. We’re not, it's just not accurate. If it was, then we would make changes," Steinbrenner said.

Okay Hal, you are not stagnant from a business sense. The Yankees make plenty of money and will continue to do so even with fans growing increasingly unhappy. However, from a baseball sense, the Yankees are as stagnant as they come. Their stagnation is as clear as day when you breakdown that they've had the same GM for two decades an haven't won since 2009, no managerial leadership in the clubhouse, no baseball smarts about how to win games and build a great lineup. What about the questionable signings? Seriously, Jacoby Ellsbury and Aaron Hicks worked out marvelously, huh?

I think we are all tired of getting into the postseason and then falling short so but Hal's words weren't inspiring there either. After a depressing ALCS sweep Hal said it was "unacceptable what happened" and didn't want to make excuses....but then did. "I'm not going to make excuses, but they did go into the playoffs a bit healthier than us," Steinbrenner said of the Astros. "But like I said, they're a great team. I don’t believe they're doing anything that we're not doing." 

Except they are doing everything we aren't doing...winning and without spending a ton of money. They develop players which allows them to have a payroll under $200 million and be down in payroll 15% year over year. That speaks volumes alone! Cashman hasn't done a good job of getting quality players who not only contribute but will also be reliable building blocks for the future. Instead, he wastes money on aging players past their prime, journeymen and band-aid fixes instead of real solutions. The Yankees were third highest in payroll for 2022 and it still resulted in an ALCS exit. The Yankees only know how to rely on their deep pockets, and nothing else. Again, not evolving.

Hal's interview was itself the voice of stagnant, unimaginative mumbo jumbo coming from upper management. We're all tired of the same old song and dance from this group of baseball minds. The Astros just fired their GM and their assistant GM just after they won the World Series! Mind boggling....yet Hal won't walk away from Aaron Boone and Cashman after a string of losing seasons.

MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

WHAT RIZZO'S SIGNING MEANS FOR THE YANKEES

Source: Sports Illustrated

Well, obviously having our very own Cousin Tony back in the lineup is key for the Yankees as they remaster their roster to a battle for the championship in 2023. Besides having a consistent lefty bat in the lineup, Anthony Rizzo brings experience, presence and tremendous defense to clubhouse. And all of these traits are incredibly important to the Yankees. But Rizzo's signing is even more meaningful besides the obvious benefits. Let's unpack.

According to MLB Rumors, "By getting Rizzo to put pen to paper, the Yanks have prevented a key bat from departing in free agency. Of course, Rizzo is only the second most important player in this camp, as all eyes are squarely focused on Aaron Judge and whether the Yanks can convince him to stay." Rizzo and Judge built a relationship this season, with the two appearing to be connected as brothers of the clubhouse, leading with their bat and their presence in the dugout. With Rizzo's contract squared and commitment locked up, perhaps Judge will be even more convinced to stay a Yankee knowing his compadre will be by his side.

"Rizzo quickly became a favored teammate for many current Yankees, including Aaron Judge who is also a free agent. At the recently completed GM meetings, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman indicated keeping Rizzo was a priority -- in addition to re-signing Judge," reported ESPN. Now with the first half completed, the Yankees can remain focused on ensuring their right fielder is in pinstripes for another eight years.

"I've absolutely conveyed that I want him to be a Yankee for the rest of his life," Hal Steinbrenner said at the MLB owners meetings in New York on Tuesday. "No doubt about that. He knows that." In addition, the Yankee owner stated that, "While Judge will likely receive one of the biggest free-agent contracts, Steinbrenner said it would not prevent the Yankees from spending more money in free agency."We have plenty of ability to make other things happen too," Steinbrenner said. This will likely include bonuses for meeting milestones and goals and even naming Judge captain. 

Rizzo's signing could be the final chip needed to ensure that Judge signs. Having a team he trusts around him is equally important to earning a living that will set up himself and his family for the rest of his life. Together, Rizzo and Judge have unfinished business in the Bronx—winning the World Series and bringing home the trophy to an organization that has experienced a 14-year drought will be a formidable goal for both players. And they are just the kind of guys you want on the front line of that battle. 

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

STRAWBERRY HAS SOME FREE AGENCY TRUTH-JUICE FOR JUDGE

I love that Darryl Strawberry turned it all around for himself.  This guy was in the pits for a while. I have to be honest. I thought that one day we'd find this guy dead of a drug overdose. It seemed like it was going that way.  

I loved that Steinbrenner gave Straw a comeback with the Yanks. It was special for him and for the team to see guys like he and Gooden get that chance they needed.  Anyway... now I'm just rambling.

I found this interesting and wanted to bring it to your attention. Straw has a few words to say about free agency and Aaron Judge.  Most importantly, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

NJ.com writes:

"Strawberry left the New York Mets for hometown Los Angeles Dodgers, signing five-year, $22.5 million contract. Strawberry tells a cautionary tale that the that the grass may not be greener at home on the West Coast. Via SNY:

“It was heartbreaking for me to leave New York because I was so used to Met fans and what New York fans were all about. Becoming a free agent, you let a player test the free agent market and most of the time he’s going to test it. I didn’t want to get to that place, but I got to that place, and I was very saddened about the fact that I had to leave New York because I was so used to the fans. L.A. fans come late and leave early. New York fans come early and never leave ... it was kind of different when I went to California, and it was more laid-back ... I was more used to the aggressive fans and playing in New York City ... when you suck, they tell you that you suck ... they want you to get better and that’s what I love about playing in New York ... that was the biggest mistake in my career, was leaving New York to go play in L.A.”

Look, one thing is clear, the Yankees have to make every effort to make sure Judge comes back. This isn't only on Aaron Judge. But still, this message from Strawberry is a powerful one, and worth sharing.  I leave you with this, from David Lennon:

Let's hope.

YANKEES GOT RIZZO BACK!

It's significant because he's a team leader and a dude who's come up clutch quite a bit for the Yankees. Anthony Rizzo is coming back to the Bronx!

MLB Trade Rumors writes:

"The Yankees and Anthony Rizzo are in agreement to reunite on a two-year deal with a $40MM guarantee. That comes in the form of a $17MM salary in 2023 and 2024, followed by a $17MM club option for 2025 with a $6MM buyout...

By getting Rizzo to put pen to paper, the Yanks have prevented a key bat from departing in free agency. Of course, Rizzo is only the second most important player in this camp, as all eyes are squarely focused on Aaron Judge and whether the Yanks can convince him to stay. With Rizzo’s contract on the books, the club’s 2023 payroll is now around $207MM in the estimation of Roster Resource. Last year, they opened the season at $246MM, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts, leaving them about $40MM in space before they’re caught up to that difference. Of course, if they are willing to increase their spending beyond last year’s levels, they should have even more to work with."

Huge get and I am very happy to see this guy coming back!  Now let's go get Judge!

WHY THE GIANTS COULD OUTBID THE YANKEES FOR AARON JUDGE

The Yankees always get their man.... right? Historically, the Yankees are not afraid to up their offer to get the prize they want. It's how the Yankees operate, and they have been the best at it, but does that continue with Aaron Judge this winter?

The Yankees "made it clear" to Judge that they want him back, read that HERE but the Giants are also making it clear that they aren't afraid of the Yankees, and they are "all in" on Judge. They want Judge and perhaps more than we realize. This could get personal, because the Giants have played this game with the Yankees before....and lost.

So now is it time for revenge? The Giants may have forgiven but they certainly didn't forget what happened with their bidding war loss when CC Sabathia chose the Yankees and their additional one year even though he is a bay area native. Sure, 2008 seems like a really long time ago but the Giants haven't forgotten but if they have to go 10 years for Judge all signs suggest they are willing to outbid the Yankees if it comes down to that extra year.... or anyone else. They don't want history to repeat itself again.

And I don't want to think about the Yankees next season without Judge in the outfield. I don't know how this team is competitive and stays on top of the AL East without him.... mainly because Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone don't know how to build a winning team. The Yankees without Judge is a team at the bottom watching everyone else. 

The Yankees may not WANT to afford Judge on a nine or ten-year deal.... but they are the Yankees. They can afford anyone they want. The one thing they can't afford is to let the Giants or anyone else outbid them. That would be what stings the most.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj 

NEW YORK TEAMS FACE A WINTER BATTLE

Source: Nathan Hunsinger for The New York Times

The timeline to opening day is filled with milestone dates, awards and a lot of money. March 30, 2023 is the scheduled start of the baseball season. According to CBS Sports who also listed all of the key dates leading to Opening Day 2023, "all 30 clubs will be in action on Opening Day, with nine of the 15 games featuring intra-division matchups." Will the matchups include Yankee franchise player Aaron Judge and Mets franchise player Jacob deGrom in their familiar New York uniforms? So difficult to say, but if I was betting, I would place a bet on Judge signing with the Yankees over deGrom with the Mets. Without a doubt, the New York baseball teams face a fierce winter ahead- one could say it will be a battle.

Source: John Minchillo/Associated Press

On the heels of the General Manager Meetings which concluded in Las Vegas on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal suggested that: "the broader story of this offseason is shaping up to be about player retention, with a number of stars potentially departing clubs that have expressed an interest in keeping them." Kicking things off for the official baseball offseason were the Los Angeles Angels who explicitly stated in a formal attestation their desire to keep their superstar Shohei Ohtani, "the two-way superstar whose contract expires after the 2023 season, will not be traded, according to general manager Perry Minasian. “The goal is not just to keep him for this year—it’s to keep him long term,” Minasian said. “This offseason, unless something drastically changes, I don’t see any reason not to say he’s going to be an Angel.” 

With this announcement, even more of a focus will be on sure-to-be American League MVP, Aaron Judge. It is likely that teams will look closer, if they have not already done so, at their resources to acquire Judge who will likely decline his $19.65 million qualifying offer on or before the deadline to do so which is November 20th. The Yankees have made it clear that their first priority is to sign their franchise player, but that contract will be in one word "expensive."

“He certainly will clear $300 million,” an MLB executive said, according to Jon Heyman. “But is he closer to $400 million than $300 million? Maybe. He’s that important to the wealthiest team,” reported NESN. Probably the most profound quote I read over the last few days is this one by the Wall Street Journal, "The Yankees, considered baseball’s financial powerhouse, would infuriate their fan base by not re-signing their best homegrown player since Derek Jeter. The Giants, in contrast, would hope to re-ignite the passion of their own fan base by making a commitment to a star player as they did with Barry Bonds in 1993."

Meanwhile the New York Mets will have a more difficult road to resigning their ace Jacob deGrom. Yet the organization has not been as vocal about their desire to sign deGrom, making me wonder if they let he walk, perhaps all the way to Texas. "According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, deGrom has let the Texas Rangers know he is interested in signing with them. SNY reported this week that the Rangers and Atlanta Braves are the two biggest threats to sign deGrom away from the Mets."

The Mets and Yankees are about to embark on the financial battle of their lives. The investment in their franchise players won't come cheap and the clock is ticking. The next milestone date is the announcement of Rookies of the Year followed by managers of the year and then Cy Young and MVP recipients. Soon after that, the likely battle will begin. All hands-on deck for this dog fight. And may Judge and the Yankees win. 

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

NO ONE LIKES LACK OF HUSTLE IN A NEWBIE

We here at Bleeding Yankee Blue used to rip on Robinson Cano when he didn't run hard to first base.  Cano ended up leaving New York for Seattle and became their problem. 

Then we heard about Gary Sanchez being in the minor leagues and back then it was reported that he was lazy.  By 2018 I called him out in YES, THE PROBLEM IS SANCHEZ IS TOTALLY LAZY.

Yankee fans don't like lazy players. The thinking is you make it to the Yankees, one of the most storied franchises in the MLB, and jogging is not supposed to be a thing.  Well, enter Jasson Dominguez, who, according to one scout, isn't working too hard in the Arizona League.  Why? Who knows... but one thing I do know is he better turn that shit around quick.

NJ.com writes:

"The 20-year-old Dominican switch-hitter put on a show at the Futures Game blasting a long homer at Dodger Stadium and was the hitting star of the Somerset Patriots’ Eastern League championship run with a .450 average, three homers and 10 RBI in five games...

And now for the cherry on top …

Well, it’s been a little sour because Dominguez hit just .159 with no homers in 20 games facing other blue-chip prospects in the Arizona Fall League, which wrapped up its season this week. Of course, Dominguez was one of two 19-year-olds in the AFL, so he faced more polished players.

However, it doesn’t take experience to hustle, and according to a scout who’s been watching Dominguez in Arizona, running hard to first base on groundballs hasn’t been in his repertoire. Scouts who watched Dominguez the two seasons in A-ball have echoed the same thing.

I just wish he would run hard when he hits groundballs. I timed him one time running just average. First to third? He runs hard. He’ll steal a base. But he doesn’t run out groundballs. He runs his 4.4 down to first. I want to see him go out there and play like his hair is on fire one day... The tools are there, but he’s not close to being Major League ready. I’d start him next season back in Double-A and keep him there the whole year.”

Did you catch that? "...he’s not close to being Major League ready. I’d start him next season back in Double-A". That's significant for anyone who thinks this guy is MLB ready.

Hustle matters.  It's like when I was picked up by ESPN magazine because I said Robinson Cano was lazy, and dummy Peter Keating of ESPN said I was the old man yelling to get off my lawn.  Keating's claim was to give Cano a break... he was pacing himself because 162 games is a lot in a season. Well... this is a guy who works with a laptop. Keating was never an athlete, you can tell. Keating also doesn't compete like these players. He just works on story deadlines. Must be nice to know about nothing you're writing about, huh Pete?

Hustle matters. You Hustle to be the best. You get signed and don't hustle? That is what I call a problem.  Gary Sanchez may have been one of the laziest catchers I have ever seen. And the Yankees saw it too... because he's out of the Bronx.  

I just hope Jasson can turn it around. Seems like he's already buying into his own hype, and he hasn't even played a major league game yet... that's a problem.  Gotta fix that Jasson.

IS GLEYBER TORRES OUT THE DOOR?

I'm a Torres guy. I mean sure, there are some things he does that will drive me crazy, and yes, he can be streaky, but isn't that the game? No player is ON all the time. If you don't believe me, look at Josh Donaldson.

Well there has been talk that Brian Cashman is shopping Gleyber Torres. I don't love this idea, but I get why it needs to be part of the process.

ClutchPoints writes:

"The latest comments from Yankees GM Brian Cashman hint that the team is opening its ears and trade phone lines to the possibility of said change – particularly on the infield.

“Brian Cashman said he has been “listening and engaging” on multiple trade possibilities during the GM Meetings, including inquiries from other clubs about the Yankees’ abundance of infielders.”

With Josh Donaldson and DJ LeMahieu both making some serious coin next season, it’s hard to imagine either of them warranting that many calls on the trade market. One name that likely sparked many of those calls was Gleyber Torres, who had a largely up and down season last year."

Jon Morosi originally reported this nugget, ClutchPoints is who I read however.

Look, the Yankees need to upgrade, there is no question. DJ LeMahieu is not going anywhere.  Torres? He could for sure. Let's just hope the return makes it worth it, because I would have to see Gleyber go.

A NEW FACE THAT COULD CHANGE THE YANKEE OFFENSE

A superstar outfielder in Nippon Professional Baseball's Pacific League is rumored to be posted in the next two weeks, and he has some skills the Yankees could really use. The Yankees should be interested, because several other teams will be too, with good reason. 

The Orix Buffaloes just won their first Japan Series title in 26 years thanks to Masataka Yoshida's walk-off home run and now, he's likely destined for MLB. Someone is going to grab this guy because he's proven to be elite is one area that teams will salivate over.

Yoshida is a two-time batting champ in NPB and was a gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He is the contact hitter that Yankee fans have been dreaming about. This season he had a .335 BA with 21 home runs, 80 walks and only 41 strikeouts and FanGraph's scouting report HERE says he "is almost impossible to strike out, and his feel for contact is superlative enough that even though a) he's not very physical and b) is a left field-only guy, he's elite at the game's most important skill: hitting."

Almost impossible to strikeout...that sounds like a dream. The Yankees have too many guys that just strikeout a ton. They chase too often, and Yoshida is the opposite. As much as I liked watching Aaron Judge smash home runs this season, I'd also like to watch good contact hitting instead of stranding runners. There needs to be some balance. The Yankees can still be the Bronx Bombers, but can also get some guys that can just put the ball in play and Yoshida could be that guy.

If Yoshida is posted as expected, he will have 30 days to negotiate with MLB clubs and international spending limits will not be an obstacle due to his age and service time. He's an interesting option for many teams, and should be for the Yankees even if they re-sign Judge because he is a left-handed bat and he could be another option if Andrew Benintendi does not return.

It's time for the Yankees to think outside of the box, because what've been doing just hasn't been working.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj