TRENT GRISHAM JUST DID THE UNTHINKABLE!

Last week I said I didn't have the "Yankees extend Trent Grisham a qualifying offer" on my 2025 bingo card. Yesterday, I just added the "I didn't have Trent Grisham ACCEPTS the Yankees qualifying offer" on my bingo card also. But here we are. Both happened and Grisham is staying in pinstripes.

So now IS THE TRENT GRISHAM QUALIFYING OFFER AS CRAZY AS IT LOOKS? It really could be. I know social media is blowing up and people hate this development. A lot of people say it screws the Yankees financially because it keeps them from making other moves. Honestly, it SHOULDN'T because they are the freaking New York Yankees and they have the money, but Hal Steinbrenner himself said previously that a $300 million payroll was not sustainable. So, what's the deal here?

If we believe what Brian Cashman says HERE, the Yankees top priority remains to re-sign Cody Bellinger. I still think it IS and it should be. Can he play centerfield? Yes. Will he in the future? No. In fact, I think MOST teams view Cody as a corner outfielder or first baseman.....which is exactly how I see him fitting in...at first base. Eventually it is going to happen and the Yankees could use his versatility to go with that swing of his.

But what if Bellinger DOES come back? What about the log jam in the outfield? It's only getting worse as there is more hooting and hollering to call up Spencer Jones. I know a lot of folks are hypnotized by his potential, but I'll be blunt I am NOT. Nope, sorry not sorry. He's got potential but he's not ready yet. He's got to fix that nearly 50% strikeout ratio in Triple-A. That's not worthy of a big league call up. If you can't hit minor league pitching consistently, it gets uglier when you play with the big boys in the big leagues. If Jones can figure that out, then I will officially change my mind. Until then, he has lots more studying and homework to do.

By accepting the qualifying offer, Grisham cannot be traded prior to the following June 15 unless he consents to the move so the Yankees are "stuck" with him for a while. However, Cashman also said "if both [Bellinger and Grisham] come back, maybe it creates some trade flexibility" and if that is the case, you could see the Yankees explore possibilities for someone else.....possibly Jasson Dominguez? Anything is possible, especially with how light the market is for centerfielders. The market was light before Grisham accepted the Yankees offer, and now it's even lighter so teams looking for help at the position might be even more inclined to trade for it. Grisham probably walked away from a lucrative longer term deal based on what is on the open market.

This is the start of an odd offseason. A total of FOUR players accepted qualifying offers. This is the first time since the creation of the qualifying offer that more than three players have accepted it. In fact, only a total of 18 players have accepted a qualifying offer since the system was implemented in 2012.

Will I have any more surprises on my 2025 bingo card? And where do the Yankees go from here now that Grisham is back? This is nuts.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

ANYONE'S BETTER THAN ANTHONY VOLPE

Will the Yankees finally snag Brendan Donovan, or are we all just starring in another winter rerun of “Cashman Does Nothing”?

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand is once again playing matchmaker, tossing the Yankees’ name into the Brendan Donovan sweepstakes. The Cardinals seem ready to part ways with Brendan, mostly because he’s still cheap, productive, and therefore—naturally—on the block. St. Louis is coming off a lukewarm 78–84 “meh” season, and nothing says retool like sending away one of your actually good players.

Donovan will be 29 on Jan. 16, which in baseball years is basically his prime. He’s also under team control through 2027, which is GM catnip. Meanwhile, the Yankees are staring at shortstop again, mostly because Anthony Volpe won’t be back from shoulder surgery for a bit… and also because, well, he hasn’t exactly lived up to the brochure. The kid sucks.

Rumors have tied the Yankees to Bo Bichette—which makes perfect sense because he’s, you know, good. And then there’s my personal favorite, Ha-Seong Kim. The Yankees should’ve gotten him last offseason, but Cashman famously moves at the speed of a DMV line, so here we are. If Donovan doesn’t happen? Don’t worry—Cashman will fall back on his favorite offseason strategy: inertia.

Gone are the days when George Steinbrenner breathed fire down Cashman’s neck and forced actual roster improvement. Now we get “Zen Cashman,” who convinces himself Volpe is just fine and that José Caballero will blossom when he fills in. Plus, I'm personally already daydreaming about George Lombard Jr., give or take the usual Yankee prospect timeline.

But in my universe? Caballero stays put, they stop pretending Ryan McMahon is anything other than a baseball-playing cardboard cutout, and they go get Donovan.

Because let’s be honest: Donovan is a clear upgrade. He hits left-handed—something Volpe and Caballero do not—and he actually punishes right-handed pitching. A career .812 OPS against righties, eight of his 10 homers off them last season, and an .853 OPS in 2025? Yeah, sign me up.

But despite all that logic, somehow this infield that was a catastrophe last winter is STILL a catastrophe, and Cashman seems determined to keep the tradition alive. I like Donovan. I really do. But I’ve seen enough offseasons to know hope is dangerous.

My wallet says Bo Bichette.
My brain says Ha-Seong Kim.
My heart? Brendan Donovan.

Will any of it happen? With this front office? Flip a coin. And assume it lands on its side.

NOW WE'RE JUST THROWING CRAP AGAINST THE WALL TO SEE IF IT STICKS...

And I'm the moron who falls for it.  Look, I love the rumor mill like anyone, but some of the crap that's coming out are just ideas, some provocative ideas and many have no legs at all. But of course we read about it. And that's why this latest one sparked my interest even though I know that it is not going to happen and there is no real story here... it's a guess, it's click bait... it's bullshit.  Let's have fun anyway.

Fansided’s Christopher Kline floated the idea that Jacob deGrom could become the Yankees’ next high-profile science experiment. According to him, the Yankees might actually consider a rotation headlined by Gerrit Cole (fresh off the Tommy John Spa & Wellness Retreat), Max Fried, and Jacob deGrom. Sure—and I might wake up tomorrow as the Sultan of Brunei.

Kline basically asks: Are the Yankees willing to foot the bill? Spoiler: this is the same franchise that still pretends the luxury tax is some kind of mythical, fire-breathing dragon. Theoretically, the Yankees could use another ace to stabilize their rotation—mostly because their current “stability” is held together with athletic tape and crossed fingers. Cam Schlittler’s breakout might convince them not to completely torch the payroll, but you never really know with this front office. They love shiny objects, even when those shiny objects come with warning labels.

Yes, deGrom did his best work in New York—just across town with the Mets, which would make this a particularly painful plot twist for Queens. And sure, his 12–8 record with a 2.97 ERA this past season looks nice if you don't read the medical file attached.

And oh, that medical file. Folks, this man has spent more time in operating rooms than most actual surgeons:

• Oct 2010: First Tommy John surgery

• Sept 2016: Season-ending ulnar nerve surgery

• 2021: Elbow inflammation, forearm tightness, shoulder trouble—the injury trifecta

• 2022: Stress reaction in the right shoulder—missed months

• June 2023: Second Tommy John, because why stop at one?

Look, deGrom is incredible when healthy… which is basically whenever Halley's Comet passes by. And yes, Brian Cashman is desperate. We all know it. He’s operating like a man trying to plug leaks on the Titanic with decorative napkins. So on paper, this is exactly the kind of move he’d talk himself into.

But in reality?
No. Nope. Not happening. Not even close...in my opinion of course.

The Yankees desperately need improvement, but that improvement starts in the front office—not the dugout. Until the front office stops playing Mad Libs with the roster, nothing changes.

Will a gamble like deGrom ever come to life?
I don't see it.
But stick around—this is the Yankees. They always find new and creative ways to surprise and disappoint us.

Stay tuned.

YANKEES CREEP INTO "FAVORITE" STATUS FOR TATSUYA IMAI

Yankees fans, rejoice—or at least pretend you know what’s going on. Word is the Bronx Bombers have emerged as one of the favorites to land three-time NPB All-Star Tatsuya Imai. And yes, relax, you’re not alone: most of us needed Google to figure out who this guy is, too.

Imai, a 27-year-old righty for the Saitama Seibu Lions, has been lighting up Japan since 2018. He’s made three All-Star teams, carries a career 58–45 record with a tight 3.15 ERA, and he’s officially being posted on November 19. After that, MLB teams will have 45 days to woo him—or he packs his bags and heads back to Japan.

MLB Network’s David Vassegh has already tossed the Yankees’ name into the rumor tornado, grouping them with the Phillies, Blue Jays, Mets, and Padres. Apparently, according to Vassegh’s “Japanese friends”—his words, not mine—the Yankees are right in the thick of it.

The competition makes sense: all these teams desperately need arms for 2026 and beyond. And Imai’s arsenal is the type that front offices drool over. We’re talking a fastball up to 99, a biting slider, and a changeup that makes hitters look like they forgot their glasses. Control used to be an issue, but he’s sharpened that up—so much so that he just posted a 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. Not bad… though, let’s be real, NPB hitters aren’t exactly the same beasts lurking in MLB lineups.

The elephant in the room? Kei Igawa PTSD...for me at least. Big, glowing, neon PTSD. Yankee fans don’t need another reminder that not every Japanese pitcher is the next Tanaka; sometimes you get the guy who makes you dive behind the couch every fifth day.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are watching the Dodgers printing money, collecting Japanese stars like they’re Pokémon cards—Ohtani, Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki—and they seem to think they can just… copy-paste that blueprint. Here’s the catch: the Dodgers actually spend money. The Yankees? They talk about spending money and then they get a guy like Frankie Montas. Totally different.

Stay tuned. This could get interesting. Or it could get very, very Yankee. We shall see.

YAY! THE YANKEES ADD DEPTH & STEAL A RED SOX GUY!

If you were waiting for the first flashy pick up for the offseason.... get comfortable, it hasn't happened yet. The Yankees made a move, but it wasn't particularly splashy. In fact, it was so opposite of splashy that it took a few days after it happened to hit the official roster page.

So there you have the official announcement on the roster page. Yovanny Cruz was a Red Sox guy and now he is a Yankee. On November 6th he elected free agency from Boston, and the Yankees signed him as a free agent two days later. He's currently pitching in the Dominican Winter League and he is set to report to Triple-A at the start of the season. Yay.

Last season he pitched to a 3.04 ERA in 59 1/3 innings, all out of the bullpen, for Double-A Portland. He's got some raw talent and a nice-looking fastball, but he needs to work on his control, he walked 44 batters, but he also struck out 72. So, he's got potential but that isn't a quick fix for a Triple-A promotion. If the Yankees can take some of his crazy stuff they might have a legit relief option. It gives the Yankees some depth, which any team always needs but is especially true for the Yankees because anything that can go wrong does seem to find a way to go wrong.

Cruz has some high potential but he is 26 years old and hasn't made an appearance in the majors yet. He still has his rookie eligibility and his minor league options. It will be interesting to see what his path looks like here. Will he stick around? He could choose to leave at the end of the 2026 season and opt for free agency again and do it every season until he gets the call to the majors and signs a guaranteed contract.

So thank you Yankees for the aging depth piece that hasn't even pitched in Triple-A yet. No offense, Cruz. For however long you are here I hope you do well. We are still raising our pitchforks and chasing Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner demanding for some real talent that can transform this team and help us win.

So, there's your first pick up. It's not flashy at all but if the Yankees can develop him more than at least we can stick it to the Red Sox by flaunting it. I'm looking for a silver lining here and some optimism here.... this is all I've got.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

COULD STEVE KWAN BE THE YANKEES NEW LEAD-OFF GUY?

I mean dude, I say yes!

Look, what happens if Trent Grisham packs his bags and waves goodbye to the Yankees? Well, then we’re staring at a classic Bronx conundrum: who the heck bats leadoff?

One thing’s for sure — it absolutely cannot be Austin Wells. Remember that unhinged spring-training chat with Aaron Boone where someone floated Wells as a potential table-setter? Boone practically nodded like he’d just discovered fire. It was adorable… and horrifying. Wells at leadoff would be a baseball death sentence. You can’t have a guy hitting .219 walk up first and pretend that’s strategy.

And no, it’s not Anthony Volpe either. Look, once upon a time — sight unseen — I might’ve tossed him up there just to see if his “gritty undersized shortstop” energy would magically turn him into 2009 Dustin Pedroia. Spoiler: it did not. Turns out he and Wells share the same offensive superpower: being wildly overrated for reasons no one can explain.

So who’s left? Ben Rice? Honestly, I can see it. The kid can hit, he’s got a pulse, and he runs better than anyone else they’ve shoved behind the plate lately. But if the Yankees want to stop embarrassing themselves and actually improve the top of the lineup? There’s another name they should be tripping over themselves to acquire:

Steven. Freaking. Kwan.

This is the kind of player Cashman should’ve been drooling over years ago — not the latest “three-true-outcomes-but-mostly-strikeouts” experiment they keep dragging in like it’s a hobby. Kwan has won a Gold Glove in every single season he’s played, which already makes him the Yankees’ best outfielder the moment he puts on the jersey. He hits for contact, he gets on base, he works counts, he doesn’t strike out like he’s auditioning for a windmill festival — and for reasons no one saw coming, the man has actually developed a little pop.

Basically: he’s everything the Yankees haven’t had since Brett Gardner stopped yelling at dugout water coolers.

And let’s be real — this lineup needs someone who can start innings, not just end them with moonshots. New York led MLB with 274 homers. Great. Congrats. Hang a banner that says “We Hit Solo Shots And Lose Anyway.” What they didn’t have was a consistent table-setter — someone to actually manufacture runs.

Kwan is that guy.

Then there’s the defense. Jasson Dominguez spent most of the season patrolling left field like he was searching for hidden treasure instead of fly balls. It was rough. Real rough. Kwan shows up, and suddenly left field goes from “crime scene” to “competent.” Meanwhile, Dominguez can take his time, develop properly, and not have to make 11 diving attempts per game.

And with the likely return of Cody Bellinger (assuming Brian Cashman decides to do something productive for once), plus Spencer Jones knocking on the door like a hungry Rottweiler, Kwan fits perfectly. He stabilizes everything. He deepens the lineup. He fixes the outfield. He makes Boone’s job easier, which is honestly a public service at this point.

If the Yankees have any sense left in that front office — big “if” — Kwan is exactly the kind of piece they should be chasing.

I REALLY HOPE A MICHAEL KING REUNION IS NOT IN THE CARDS

I liked Michael King when he was a Yankee. Truly. Fun pitcher, great story, easy guy to root for. But he’s gone, he moved to San Diego, he eats fish tacos now—I’ve moved on. As a fan, I’m not carrying a torch for an ex when the current Yankees rotation is basically a triage tent.

Because let’s not sugarcoat this with the Yankees’ usual “everything’s fine” front-office fan fiction: the pitching situation is a disaster. Gerrit Cole isn’t going to be ready for Opening Day—I can feel it in my bones, which is more than I can say for whatever medical charts Cashman keeps pretending not to read. Carlos Rodón? Also rehabbing. So, our supposed 1-2-3 punch has turned into “well… Max Fried and a couple of guys who own ice machines.”

Which brings me to the baffling topic of the week:

Why the hell are we talking about Michael King coming back?

If he’s not a top starting pitcher—and he’s not—then what are we doing here? Reminiscing? Trying to plug a crater with packing peanuts? Did Cashman lose the phone number of every other GM?

But of course, chatter is everywhere because the Yankees once again failed to meet their annual “sky-high expectations” in 2025, which we all know is front-office code for “we had no plan, and shockingly, it showed.” This offseason, the Yankees are reportedly going to be aggressive—because nothing says aggression like Brian Cashman promising the moon and landing a used lawn chair.

Enter Jim Bowden, who reported that a reunion with former Yankee Michael King is “a real possibility.” Bowden’s a good guy, but let’s be honest—half the time he says something, it’s because he threw a dart at a corkboard and hit the word “Yankees.”

Yes, King will draw interest in free agency. Sure, in theory he could slip in behind Cole, Fried, and Rodón. Maybe he even goes back to the bullpen where Aaron Boone will use him like a Swiss Army knife someone accidentally put through the wash. But again… what’s the plan here is this story has legs? Are we seriously elevating King to the No. 2 spot until Cole returns if this is a real story? Or are we just collecting mid-tier pitchers that used to be Yankees like Cashman collects excuses?

Because at this point, why stop at Michael King?

If we’re really embracing this “blast from the past, bargain-bin reunion tour,” is Sidney Ponson available? How about Jaret Wright? Maybe see if Kei Igawa still has a glove? By the way, this is sarcasm.

I like King. Really, I do. But if this is the Yankees’ grand pitching strategy, then the front office truly has no clue what planet they’re on. And until Cashman finds one with better pitching options, Max Fried might need to pitch every other day.

SPENCER JONES BELONGS ON THE YANKEES BIG TEAM

Where does Spencer Jones fit in this carnival of Yankee outfield chaos? That’s the million-dollar question… or in Yankee terms, the $300 million question they’ll somehow spend on the wrong guy and still manage to start the season with some rando batting .147 in center.

Everyone and their barber shop seems convinced Kyle Tucker is the answer. Sure, he’s great—he also costs a small country. Then you’ve got Aaron Judge, the guy literally dragging the offense around like a sack of bricks while Brian Cashman sits in his office pretending he discovered analytics in a Cracker Jack box.

And now there’s this “Cody Bellinger reunion tour” chatter. Wonderful. Love Belli. Great defender. Leader. Cheaper than Tucker. Fans adore him. Which of course means Cashman will probably ignore him completely and instead sign someone who just hit .209 with “upside.”

But let’s get to the real story here: Spencer. Freaking. Jones.

The kid is putting up great numbers in the minors while the Yankees act like promoting prospects is some kind of state secret. Jones hit .274 with 35 homers and 29 steals across Double-A and Triple-A. Nineteen of those bombs came in just 67 games at Scranton. That’s not a prospect—that’s a warning label.

Cashman even praised him at the GM Meetings, which was adorable. He said Jones will “come to spring training with a chance to win a starting job.”

Translation: We have no plan, we never have a plan, and if we accidentally trip into a plan we will bench it in favor of a 34-year-old with a strained hamstring.

Cashman’s quotes—“He’s put himself in the conversation… depends on how our winter plays out… he’s earned a look”—are classic Yankee GM babble. The man says a lot of words that somehow mean absolutely nothing. It’s like listening to someone describe a sandwich they never actually made.

Because here’s the truth: if Cashman signs a couple of expensive outfield toys, Spencer Jones is going right back to Triple-A, where he’ll hit another 20 homers and wonder why the Yankees even bother pretending they have a farm system.

Why do we hype these prospects if we’re just going to shove them back into Scranton until they grow a mustache like Matt Carpenter?

This shouldn’t even be a debate. Jones is ranked the Yankees’ No. 4 prospect, No. 99 overall in baseball, and every scout with functioning eyesight believes he can handle center field. He even played the corners last year just to show off how versatile he is. If Grisham leaves—and he should ( I feel like it's time)—Jones should walk into camp as the obvious candidate for center.

And yes, Grisham had his moments, but it’s time to move on. Lovely glove. Good dude. But we’re done.

So here’s the blueprint in my opinion, and it’s not rocket science:

Bring up Spencer Jones.
Re-sign Cody Bellinger.
Grab a couple backups.
Stop overthinking everything like you’re defusing a bomb.

I cannot believe the Yankees have turned this into a puzzle. This is not a puzzle. This is easy. 

What in the actual hell is the Yankees front office doing?

Oh right—whatever makes the least sense.

THE YANKEES DON'T DESERVE AARON JUDGE

For me, the MVP race this year had the suspense level of a rerun—you know exactly how it ends, and somehow it’s still satisfying. Aaron Judge was the obvious pick to me, the neon-sign choice, the “don’t overthink it” candidate. The guy is the ultimate ballplayer, a human cheat code in pinstripes. Every time he steps onto the field, you’re watching baseball history stretch to 6-foot-7 and casually ruin a pitcher’s evening.

Judge didn’t just prove his value—he practically carved it into the side of Yankee Stadium. 53 home runs, a .331 average, and now his second straight MVP, third overall. At this point, he’s making MVPs look like Starbucks punch cards—collect ten, get your next one free.

And the man just joined Mickey Mantle and Jimmie Foxx as the only players to launch at least 50 homers and win a batting title in the same season. That’s not a club. That’s a museum exhibit. Judge, being Judge, shrugged it off with his usual modesty. “Keep your head down through all 162,” he said, standing beside his family—who, frankly, are probably better at situational hitting than half the roster.

He beat out Cal Raleigh and José Ramírez, earning 17 first-place votes. Raleigh grabbed 13, proving voters do indeed love a good nickname, but even the Big Dumper couldn’t dump Judge off the podium.

Now, here’s where it gets complicated—not for Judge, but for the Yankees. Because while Judge keeps stacking hardware like it’s garage sale season, he’d trade every last award for a championship ring. And who can blame him? The last time the Yankees won a title as a long time ago. Meanhile Aaron Boone is still basking in the glow of that one home run people won’t shut up about against the Red Sox that literally means nothing no. Since Boone became manager? Nothing. Nada. A perfectly curated collection of October heartbreaks.

We’re witnessing a once-in-a-generation talent wasting prime years in a franchise that still thinks “running it back” with a roster of injury-prone bargain-bin specials is a strategy. Cashman keeps promising he’ll bring in impact players, and then what do we get? Another batch of “if-he-stays-healthy” signings—spoiler alert: they never do. It’s like he’s building the team using expired coupons.

So yeah, congrats to Judge. He deserves every ovation, every plaque, every headline. But everyone with a functioning brain knows he’d rather be hoisting a World Series trophy than another MVP. And the saddest part? The Yankees, as currently run, look about as championship-ready as a Little League team running laps for losing their juice boxes.

Judge can do it all—hit, lead, inspire, carry—but he can’t drag an entire front office out of its own delusions. He needs help. Real help. Not “2021 All-Star who’s been hurt ever since” help. Until the Yankees figure that out, the only thing Judge will be lifting in October is his luggage as he heads home early.

So congrats, Captain. Enjoy the MVP. You earned it.

Too bad your organization still hasn’t earned you.

 

THE YANKEES ARE TIED TO ANOTHER BIG NAME OUTFIELDER!

The Yankees are in danger of losing two outfielders and the Padres might be ready to offload some money - maybe. That's what the rumor mill says anyway and this is the time of the year when we have our eyes and ears on all of the gossip. Could this be the start of "let's make an offseason deal?"

We are all anxiously waiting to see if Trent Grisham accepts the Yankees qualifying offer and if the Yankees can re-sign Cody Bellinger. I'm not a betting woman, but I'd say at minimum one of them isn't coming back and if that is the case the Yankees need a Plan B. That's where the Padres come in to play, check out the latest gossip HERE. 

The potential for a blockbuster trade appears starring Fernando Tatis Jr. He was not the best version of himself this season but he is a talented five tool player that can hit for power and can perform under pressure. He's had some impressive postseason moments and could bring some extra support to a lineup that slumps far too often. He also consistently holds a batting average over .240, which is hard to find in our lineup. Only Aaron Judge knows how to stay over that line, so Tatis and Judge could be a nice tandem together.

But could this even happen? Maybe. The Padres don't seem anxious to trade him and may not be very engaged in trade conversations but maybe with the right offer they could move him. The Padres do have several bigger, back-loaded contracts that the Padres are going to want to move someone eventually. Tatis feels like the obvious casualty since he is one of their most expensive but considering he won't be a free agent until 2035 the Yankees won't be at risk of losing him. Plus his current 14-year $340 million contract is reasonable considering the current market.

If the Padres can get some younger, cost controlled players it could change their tune. Padres GM A.J. Preller splurged at the trade deadline for a postseason push and it didn't pan out. Now he could be looking to restock the farm and get some depth back. If he does, Tatis Jr could be his ticket.....but other teams have just as many pieces, if not more.

It's an interesting idea. At this point in the offseason, we're listening to all rumors. Even the ones that feel like they are more of a longshot. It's what keeps us moving and keeps us peppy until Spring comes back around.

Would you want Tatis as a Plan B? He's not perfect, he's got some blemishes.....but he is talented. Comment and tell us.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

BICHETTE ISN'T RULING OUT THE BRONX

I’m not going to sugarcoat this: I’m ready to pack Anthony Volpe a lunch, call him an Uber, and wave as he crosses the George Washington Bridge. I’ve seen enough. Lovely kid, hustles hard, but at some point we need an actual shortstop, not a motivational poster with cleats.

And yes, I’ve already screamed into the void about the fact that Ha-Seong Kim should’ve been wearing pinstripes last year. (HERE) But no, Brian Cashman decided the infield was fine until he panic-shopped in late August like a dude buying Valentine’s Day gifts at a gas station. Enter Ryan McMahon — who performed exactly how we said he would on BYB — which is to say not great, Bob.

The Yankees do this every year: ignore the obvious problem, watch it become a disaster, and then sprint into a trade deadline frenzy like someone trying to patch a leaking boat with painter’s tape. Last season? Same script. Too many closers masquerading as starters, zero small ball execution, defense that looked like everyone was actively allergic to ground balls. April told us everything we needed to know. We just refused to read the subtitles.

Then came Jake Bird — the reliever who appeared for approximately 38 seconds, vanished into Triple-A Narnia, and honestly might have been teleported to another dimension. I hope he’s okay wherever he is. Maybe he ascended.

Anyway. Let’s move to the fun part:

Bo. Bichette.

Steve Simmons up in Toronto says Bichette might be open to New York. Sure, he’s publicly saying all the sweet loyal stuff about staying with Vlad Jr. and continuing the Blue Jays journey. But apparently the guy has also whispered to a few people that the bright lights of the Bronx do, in fact, hit different.

His deal is up after 2025. Blue Jays slapped a qualifying offer on him, but let’s be serious — he’s not taking a one-year rental when he’s worth an entire penthouse lease.

And we all know what Bo is. He’s the real deal. The swagger, the bat, the hair, the composure — the guy is built for pressure, not for “aww shucks, I’ll get ’em next time.”

Now picture this:

Bichette at shortstop.
Volpe… taking observation notes. Or on another roster. Or hosting a children’s baseball clinic in Westchester. Truly, I’m flexible.

This would be the most meaningful infield upgrade since Derek Jeter walked in and decided to be Derek Jeter.

Volpe was a promising kid until he wasn't. Bichette is a grown man who has already walked into noise, pressure, boos, expectations, and still hit lasers. The Yankees need that energy. They need that presence. They need someone who isn’t going to crumble the moment the Stadium asks for big October moments.

So yes. This needs to happen.

Brian Cashman, if you’re reading this:
Stop being clever.
Stop being cute.
Stop dumpster-diving in August.

Get the dude.

It’s right there.
Don’t trip over it again.

A PITCHING TARGET THAT FEELS LIKE A SILLY CASHMAN SIGNING

With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón both coming off elbow problems and unlikely to be ready for Opening Day 2026, the Yankees’ rotation is basically a group chat titled “???” right now. So of course the offseason rumor machine has gone feral. One of the louder notes: Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors predicting the Yankees sign Chris Bassitt to a two-year, $38 million deal.

Bassitt, 36, has built a reputation as the league’s most reliable “Yeah, he’s fine” guy. Since joining Toronto in 2023, he’s been remarkably consistent: 30+ starts a year, 170+ innings, ERA floating in the perfectly medium zone between 3.60 and 4.16. He is the Chili’s of starting pitchers. Comfortable, familiar, dependable. Also unlikely to blow your mind.

But here’s the thing: I’m not convinced this is the move. Sure, being on a playoff-level team like the Blue Jays gave him some shine, but I don’t see the fit. At his age, he's not a long-term building block. He’s a temporary bridge, the guy holding the rotation together with duct tape until the real horses return.

In 2025, Bassitt put up a 3.96 ERA over 170.1 innings, striking out 22.6% of hitters while keeping walks in check. And yes, durability is massively valuable. Being able to take the ball every fifth day currently qualifies as a superpower in the Yankees universe.

But let’s call it like it is: Bassitt is not an ace. He’s not even a No. 2. He’s a middle-of-the-rotation adult who throws strikes and does the job. That’s great. That’s useful. That’s also not the answer.

Which is why this has big “Brian Cashman is coupon-clipping again” energy. Patchwork solutions, a couple of ‘pretty solid’ arms, hope the vibes carry us through. It’s the same logic that inspired him to collect four closers like Pokémon cards at the deadline. That wasn’t strategy. That was buying batteries because they were on sale.

This team needs real firepower. Not a holding pattern. Not a warm body with a glove.
No more middle-of-the-rotation shrug signings.

We’re supposed to be the Yankees, not a Home Depot clearance aisle.