Bleeding Yankee Blue

IKF DROPS A TRUTH BOMB & BOONE IS BAFFLED

2026-03-06T08:26:00.001-05:00

The New York Yankees have become the baseball version of a corporate meeting that should’ve been an email. A roster full of Aaron Judge and surrounded by players chosen not because anyone actually watched them play, but because a spreadsheet somewhere blinked green. The front office has become so obsessed with numbers that they’ve forgotten the basic human element of the game — instincts, toughness, and whether a guy actually looks like he belongs on a big-league field. My opinion of course. Sure, come at me and tell me the Yankees are the winningest team in baseball in spring training all you want. I'll tell you to pump the brakes... it's spring training.

And that’s the real problem. The Yankees used to build teams with feel. Now they build them with algorithms.

I’ll go one step further: I don’t believe the Yankees will win another championship under the current regime. Not with Aaron Boone managing, and not with the current brain trust building the roster. In fact, I’ll make a prediction right now — the Yankees won’t win a World Series for the remainder of Aaron Judge’s career in pinstripes. Bold? Maybe, but I don't think I'm wrong.

Why?

Because the people running the show don’t know their ass from their elbow.

And apparently, former Yankee Isiah Kiner-Falefa agrees more than he probably meant to.

After signing with the Boston Red Sox, Kiner-Falefa was asked about how the Toronto Blue Jays viewed the Yankees late in the season before the American League Division Series. His answer was refreshingly honest — the kind of honest that rarely comes out of players because everyone in that clubhouse seems trained to speak like they’re being monitored by HR.

“We thought it was a better matchup for us the other way to face New York,” Kiner-Falefa said. “We were watching that series and we were watching Garrett Crochet just dice up.”

In other words: the Yankees looked like the easier path.

Let that sink in.

A team that once terrified the league has now become the matchup opponents hope they get. Kiner-Falefa went further.

“They asked the question — I just gave the honest answer. I love the guys over there. I have nothing bad to say about anybody over there. It was just a matchup thing. Crochet is an unbelievable pitcher, and we did not want to face him after he went eight innings against us… he kind of had everybody’s number.”

Fair enough. But the truth tends to sting — especially in the Bronx, where honesty is often treated like a foreign language and Boone is dumber than a stump.

According to Joseph Randazzo of New York Yankees on SI, Boone was reportedly “surprised” by the comments and responded with a frustrated “whatever.” Which is honestly the most Aaron Boone reaction imaginable. Confused, mildly annoyed, and completely missing the point.

Because IKF wasn’t wrong. Not even a little.

The Yankees have spent years assembling a roster in a laboratory. Players are selected by analytics departments tucked away in offices, where executives debate launch angles and exit velocity like they’re building a robot instead of a baseball team. And the result? A error-riddled shortstop who batted .212, but is still considered a star by Yankee brass.

Meanwhile, the game itself — the instincts, the adjustments, the feel — has been pushed aside. That’s how you end up with a team that looks talented but plays flat. A team that constantly loses games it should win. A team opponents openly admit they’d rather face in October.

And the irony here is rich when it comes to Kiner-Falefa. In New York, IKF was treated like he had personally sabotaged the franchise. Boone and Brian Cashman bounced him around the diamond like a utility spare part, the fan base dissected every mistake under a microscope, and he was blamed for problems that were far bigger than him. Meanwhile, Anthony Volpe — the golden child of the analytics department — was making many of the same mistakes while receiving far more patience and protection.

IKF became the scapegoat.

Volpe became the project.

And the Yankees kept spinning their wheels and still are. IKF has moved on been successful in the MLB and earned the right to take a shot at the Yankees. I have mad respect for that.

The bottom line, if Kiner-Falefa wants to keep talking, honestly, I hope he does. Because sometimes the clearest view of a dysfunctional organization comes from the guys who were inside it.

The bottom line is this: the Yankees are wasting the prime of Aaron Judge. They keep choosing the wrong players. They keep losing games they should win. And they continue to run it back with a manager who often looks like he’s managing by suggestion box.

This franchise used to set the standard for baseball excellence. Now it’s starting to look like a team run by number nerds in a conference room, trying to solve baseball like it’s a math problem.

And until that changes, the parade down the Canyon of Heroes isn’t coming back anytime soon and that's the honest truth.

JURICKSON PROFAR TESTED POSITIVE FOR PEDS....A SECOND TIME!

2026-03-04T07:54:00.002-05:00

Here we go....again. The new face of cheating and stupid choices is Jurickson Profar after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs a SECOND time. So much for the "I would never willingly take a banned substance," speech he gave us in March of 2025 after accepting his 80 game suspension.

This is a real problem in Rob Manfred's world. Major League baseball officially announced a 162 game suspension for Profar. The Atlanta Braves now how to figure out how and when they add to their team now that Profar will not be a factor. Losing Profar is a big blow for Atlanta after a disappointing injury riddled 2025 season and then they had a very quiet winter. They were counting on Profar adding some stability to the lineup. In addition to missing the 2026 season, Profar will not be allowed to participate in the World Baseball Classic and represent the Netherlands. Play stupid games....win stupid prizes, Profar.

Testing once is bad, but this is now the second positive test in two years. It's a huge black mark to add to Manfred's already messy record. It's even uglier when Profar claimed he was innocent the first time around. Clearly, he hasn't learned anything or he's just too stupid to think he would never be caught again. It's bad enough we still have guys like Jenrry Mejia and Alex Rodriguez to talk about and remember.....but now we get one more moron to add to the list.

How much more of this do we have to endure in baseball? Seriously, it's frustrating to watch this continue to happen with just a slap on the wrist for Profar and the backing of the Players Association who are reportedly filing a grievance to challenge his suspension which is stupid. Profar doesn't need to be defended. He needs to admit he screwed up again, and take his punishment like a man. He was caught cheating twice. Years ago he was the top prospect in all of baseball, but obviously he couldn't make it on just his talents. This should not be overlooked, but this is Manfred's world so it will.

I'm sick of this. All I keep hearing is "if he does it again he is banned for life!" and that's not the answer. We shouldn't accept that and make that a normal reaction. Guys like Profar ruin the integrity of the game and then fans like me get mad hearing about it after we see teams through stupid amounts of money to put them on their teams and play....which we also end up paying for in the grand scheme of things.

When it comes to cheating - it shouldn't be a "three strikes and you are out" ruling. This isn't a plate appearance. This is a bad choice in your job that is a massive character flaw. It's just a bigger mess in Manfred's circus and I am tired of it!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

MUSHNICK MISSED THE MARK

2026-03-03T19:53:00.000-05:00

Phil Mushnick has made a late-career hobby out of wagging his finger at modern baseball, and his latest swipe at CC Sabathia feels less like sharp commentary and more like someone angrily shaking a fist at a game that passed him by somewhere around the invention of the fifth bullpen specialist.

Let’s be clear: Mushnick’s larger argument—that Major League Baseball has loosened Hall of Fame or honor standards over time—isn’t completely absurd. There’s a fair debate to be had about evolving benchmarks in a sport reshaped by analytics, expanded playoffs, specialized bullpens, and load management. Fine. That’s a conversation.

But using CC Sabathia as your Exhibit A? That’s where the argument collapses faster than a hanging slider in the Bronx.

Sabathia wasn’t some compiler who accidentally wandered into October relevance. He was an ace. A stopper. A bulldog. And most importantly for those of us who watched every high-stakes inning in the Bronx — he delivered when the pressure was suffocating.

And Phil? This is where you sound less like a critic and more like a man yelling at a cloud.

When Sabathia signed that massive contract with the New York Yankees before the 2009 season, he didn’t just arrive with a big arm. He arrived with expectation bordering on hysteria. This wasn’t Cleveland. This wasn’t Milwaukee. This was the stadium where legends are measured in rings and October innings.

And what did he do in Year One?

He led the Yankees to a World Series title.

In 2009:
19–8 record
3.37 ERA
230 innings
197 strikeouts

ALCS MVP
3 postseason wins in the ALCS alone
He was the ace the Yankees paid for — and he pitched like it when it mattered most.

Over 11 seasons in pinstripes:
134 wins
3.81 ERA in the AL East pressure cooker
Over 1,700 strikeouts as a Yankee
Multiple 200+ inning seasons
3 All-Star selections

Veteran leader during multiple postseason runs

And this wasn’t empty calorie pitching. He transitioned mid-career from power flamethrower to craftsman, reinventing himself with a cutter when his velocity dipped. That’s not lowered standards. That’s pitching evolution. Before New York, Sabathia was already elite with the Cleveland Indians and had one of the most ridiculous stretch runs in modern history with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008.

Career totals:

251 wins
3,093 strikeouts
3.74 ERA
3,577 innings pitched
6× All-Star
2007 AL Cy Young Award winner
World Series champion

Those aren’t “lowered standards” numbers. Those are Hall-of-Fame-caliber numbers in any era — especially the steroid-era offensive explosion he pitched through.

And let’s talk about that Milwaukee stretch in 2008. Sabathia practically carried the Brewers to the postseason on short rest, throwing complete games like he was pitching in 1975. That wasn’t analytics babying. That was dominance.

Here’s what critics like Mushnick often miss because it doesn’t fit neatly into a stat column: leadership.

Sabathia became the adult in the Yankees’ clubhouse. The bridge between eras. The mentor to young arms. A stabilizing force during the transition from the Core Four era to the Baby Bombers.

In a city that chews pitchers up and spits them into the East River, Sabathia stood tall. He owned bad outings. He reinvented himself. He confronted personal struggles publicly and returned stronger. Teammates respected him. Fans trusted him.

That matters.

Look, I’m Casey of Bleeding Yankee Blue. I’ll be the first to admit I can get cranky about the Yankees’ front office. I’ve bitched. I’ve moaned. I’ve questioned decisions like it’s my side hustle.

But when it comes to the athletes themselves? I respect the grind. The game is hard. The Bronx is harder. And what CC Sabathia accomplished under that spotlight cannot be dismissed because someone nostalgic for 1968 thinks only 300 wins should count.

Phil Mushnick built his reputation in a different media era — when sports columnists were gatekeepers and outrage was printed on paper once a day. Today’s sports landscape has moved on. The conversation is broader. The analysis is deeper. The audience is smarter.

Taking shots at Sabathia doesn’t make you a standards warrior. It makes you sound disconnected from how the modern game works — how workloads have changed, how bullpens evolved, how run environments fluctuate.

If MLB standards have shifted, it’s because the sport itself has shifted.

Sabathia didn’t lower the bar. He met it. He exceeded it. He thrived in the toughest market in baseball and left the mound with over 3,000 strikeouts and a ring. That’s not diminished greatness. That’s greatness adapted to its time. And no amount of grumbling from an aging columnist changes that.

SHOP FOR GREAT BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE GEAR DEALS:

THE YANKEES HAD A CHANCE TO TRADE VOLPE & THEY FAILED!

2026-03-02T07:58:00.004-05:00

It certainly took a hot minute for this nugget to come out, but now that it has it is both fascinating and infuriating at the same time. Over the winter, the Yankees had the opportunity to trade Anthony Volpe and actually get a guy that could field and hit his weight for average....but they foolishly backed down.

You have to have a paid subscription to see this, but check it out HERE. It's certainly compelling. The Yankees and Red Sox were both talking to the Texas Rangers about Corey Seager. The Rangers were willing to make a move and are still in process of reworking their finances. They are still dealing with significant operating losses and are trying to reduce payroll and moving Seager would've helped. The Yankees need a shortstop upgrade, and the Rangers are looking to shed some payroll....on paper it looked like a match.

Internally, Marcus Semien and Seager were also not getting along with some clubhouse drama mentioned in reports. They helped the Rangers win the World Series but things behind the scenes had reached a breaking point. It ultimately led to the Rangers keeping Seager and trading to the Mets instead because the Yankees were not willing to meet the Rangers trade request. There a wide range of rumors out there about what and who the Rangers were looking for but it sounds like the Yankees were not willing to negotiate.

And so here we are.....still with awful Volpe. So now we know the Yankees are willing to acknowledge that Volpe is not the answer but they are hoping for a miracle and a deal to fall out of the sky that isn't going to happen. The are of the negotiation isn't there right now. So we'll be seeing Volpe soon.

And hoping that Volpe's conversation with Bucky Dent moves mountains and creates a divine miracle, read more HERE. It's year four of the Volpe experiment and instead of a capable shortstop like Seager we get VolpE the error machine. I'm really hoping that Jose Caballero plays so well that the Yankees just can't find room to play Volpe....here's hoping the baseball gods hear me.

Volpe just isn't the answer. He was "supposed to be" but it didn't work out. The Yankees are trying to fit a square peg into a round whole. The sooner they stop doing that and realize Volpe NOT playing is what is best for the team, the better chances we have at winning.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

ROOT HARD FOR JASSON DOMINGUEZ, HE'S HOT!

2026-02-28T20:58:00.000-05:00

Look, there’s absolutely no reason Jasson Domínguez shouldn’t be on the Opening Day roster. None. Zero. Zip. He already got a taste of the big leagues last year. Sure, he showed us that the outfield might not exactly be his forever home, but let’s not pretend we don’t know what the real skill is here: the guy can flat-out hit.

And with Giancarlo Stanton currently looking like he’d pull a hamstring opening a bag of barbecue chips, the Yankees need thump. I can't understand the elbow thing with Stanton for the life of me. But if “The Martian” ends up as a DH weapon off the bench instead of Stanton while he recovers? Sign me up. I’ll drive him to the Stadium myself.

Right now, he’s torching Spring training, and I’m loving every second of it.

On Friday, Domínguez batted second in a 17-5 demolition of the Twins and went 3-for-4 with a homer, two singles, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Through four spring games, the 23-year-old is hitting .417 with a home run, two doubles, five RBIs, and a walk. Yes, it’s early. Yes, it’s spring. No, I don’t care. When the ball jumps like that off the bat, you pay attention.

Let’s not forget: this is the same kid the Yankees handed $5.1 million to back in 2019 as the crown jewel of the international class. Sixteen years old. Five-point-one million dollars. That’s not “we like him.” That’s “clear a locker in Monument Park just in case.” A switch-hitter with explosive bat speed, legit raw power, speed on the bases, and a cannon for an arm — he was the kind of prospect that makes scouts talk in bold font.

His minor league track record? Solid. Across 352 games over four seasons, Domínguez hit .274/.373/.444 with 47 homers and 189 RBIs. Not flawless. Not mythical. But plenty good — and still loaded with upside. Funny how the minors helped him. Volpe? Rushed through the minors. Yup, I'm taking another shot at that bum. The Yankees ruined that kid to please their own ego. But I digress.

The Yankees have been waiting for the full breakout from Jasson. Maybe this is the year it finally shows up for good. I’d love to see him grab the job, refuse to give it back, and make the “what do we do with him?” conversations look ridiculous in hindsight.

Let the Martian play. And let’s see what happens.

DEVIN WILLIAMS BACK TO HIS OLD YANKEES FORM

2026-02-28T13:22:00.004-05:00

Oh, Devin Williams is “doing great".

Credit where it’s due — the Mets made a splash bringing him in. And honestly? The smartest move the Yankees made all winter might’ve been holding the door open on his way out. Because if his debut with the Mets was any indication, that first impression came with fireworks — unfortunately, they were launched by someone else.

Williams’ opening act? One pitch. One swing. One 422-foot missile courtesy of top Cardinals prospect J.J. Wetherholt. That’s not easing into spring — that’s a batting practice donation.

Let’s keep it real: Williams hasn’t looked like his old self since his days with the Milwaukee Brewers. The dominance, the mystique, the Airbender magic — it’s felt more like turbulence lately. The Yankees saw the dip, saw the price tag, saw other bullpen options on the board, and said, “We’re good.” For once, restraint might’ve been wisdom.

Meanwhile, Steve Cohen continues his ongoing quest to out-Yankee the Yankees. If that means collecting former Bronx names like they’re rare baseball cards, so be it. The irony? Modeling yourself after a team that hasn’t won a championship since 2009 might not be the blueprint you think it is.

Now, could Williams bounce back? Of course. It’s spring training. Weird things happen in February and March. Arms are stretching out. Hitters ambush fastballs. Stats lie. But still — when your Mets tenure begins with a 422-foot reminder that baseball is cruel, it’s at least a little funny.

Let’s just say: the Yankees may not have solved all their problems this offseason, but dodging that first pitch? That might age very well.

VOLPE SPEAKS TO US FANS & IT DOESN'T CHANGE HOW I FEEL

2026-02-28T12:36:00.002-05:00

I’m just going to say it: I never bought into Anthony Volpe.

From day one, it felt like he was gift-wrapped, hyped to the moon, and presented to us as The Chosen One. And look, sometimes that works. Sometimes it’s Derek Jeter. Other times it’s a kid who mashed high school pitching and suddenly gets fast-tracked into the Bronx like the minor leagues are just a suggestion box.

The Yankees fell head over heels for Volpe's high school stat line. The spreadsheets purred. The projections sparkled. But reality? Reality is 95 mph with movement and a slider that disappears into another zip code. You can’t romance that with SAT scores and prep-school OPS.

Volpe looks like a talented young player who needed time — actual seasoning, not a crash course in front of 45,000 critics. Instead, we’ve been watching a development project unfold in real time at Yankee Stadium. Three years in, and we’re still talking about “growth.” In the Bronx. In a pennant race. That’s not how this usually works.

And now he’s addressing the boos.

“I know people really care. I want them to react,” Volpe told NJ.com’s Bob Klapisch. “Obviously, I want them to cheer for me, but for them not to do so say anything is not what I’d want, either. With the booing, I know I’d be doing the same thing if I was in their shoes. I want them to know I’m doing everything I can to be the best player possible.”

That’s fine. Professional. Measured. But effort is the minimum requirement, not the merit badge. Nobody doubts he’s trying. Fans just want production. This isn’t a science fair — it’s the American League East.

And here’s where it gets interesting.

While Volpe rehabs, the job goes to José Caballero. For the first time since Volpe arrived, shortstop isn’t penciled in with permanent ink. It’s open. Earn it. If Caballero grabs that opportunity and hits another gear — plays with energy, makes the routine plays, chips in offensively — the Yankees have a real dilemma. You don’t yank a guy who’s producing just to honor a preseason brochure. Or do they?

At Bleeding Yankee Blue, we’ve been banging the Caballero drum for months. He brings spark. He brings edge. He looks like he understands the assignment. With him out there, the Yankees resemble a team chasing down the AL East. With Volpe, too often it’s felt like they’re trudging through wet cement.

This isn’t personal. It’s performance. It's business.

For four years, shortstop production has been a question mark. If Caballero steps in and thrives, it won’t just be a feel-good story. It’ll be an indictment. It’ll suggest that Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone bet on projection instead of proof.

Volpe was supposed to be the answer.

Caballero is starting to look like the solution. if Cab thrives and the Yankees still pull him out when Volpe is ready to return, there is definitely a political-favor game going on and my suspicions will be correct.

Play the guy who earns it, Cashman. Don't play favors.

CC MONSTER GETS WHAT HE DESERVES

2026-02-28T09:12:00.004-05:00

The Yankees are finally doing what everyone in the Bronx has known was inevitable: they’re putting No. 52 in permanent pinstripes.

On Sept. 26, before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees will retire the number of Hall of Famer CC Sabathia. And honestly? It feels less like an announcement and more like a formality. Of course, 52 was going up. The only surprise is that it didn’t happen five minutes after he walked off the mound for the last time.

Everybody knows I’m a huge CC guy. Not just because of the numbers — though 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts over 19 seasons will do nicely — but because of what he meant. Sabathia wasn’t just an ace. He was the ace. When the Yankees needed someone to grab the rotation by the collar and say, “Follow me,” CC was already laced up.

Let’s not forget 2009. The last time the Yankees actually finished the job and won it all. Sabathia didn’t just contribute — he anchored that staff like a battleship in October. Big games, short rest, hostile environments — didn’t matter. He wanted the ball. He demanded it. That postseason run is stitched into modern Yankee history, and CC’s fingerprints are all over it.

Beyond the mound, his popularity was off the charts. Teammates loved him. Fans adored him. The big lefty with the booming laugh and the bigger heart embraced New York, and New York embraced him right back. He didn’t treat the Yankees like a stop on a résumé. He treated it like a calling. His love for the franchise was obvious — in interviews, in charity work, in the way he carried himself as a leader in that clubhouse. He chose the Bronx, and he meant it.

When the Yankees retire No. 52, Sabathia will become the 25th player honored with a number in Monument Park. The franchise already leads the league in retired numbers — because when you’re the Yankees, you collect legends the way other teams collect bobbleheads.

And CC? He fits right in.

On Sept. 26, 52 goes where it belongs — up high, forever — a reminder of the last championship parade and the big lefty who powered it.

A SOLID SIGNING & WHAT IT MEANS FOR DOMINGUEZ

2026-02-27T13:12:00.001-05:00

The Yankees have finally decided that maybe — just maybe — adding a proven right-handed bat to the bench isn’t the worst idea in the world. And honestly? I like this move. It’s smart. It’s practical. It’s the kind of thing they could’ve handled back in December instead of waiting for the baseball equivalent of aisle-cleanup season.

They’ve signed Randal Grichuk to a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp, and that’s exactly the kind of low-risk, common-sense addition this roster needs.

Grichuk, 34, isn’t flashy. He’s not a headline. He’s not going to sell jerseys in Times Square. But what he is? A legitimate right-handed power bat on a team that leans so left-handed it might as well be writing with its off-hand. Against lefties, he owns a career .819 OPS. That’s not theoretical upside — that’s production. He can step in, punish southpaws, and sit down without drama.

Defensively, he brings flexibility. Left field. Right field. In a pinch, center. DH if needed. That’s real insurance, especially when your MVP right fielder — yes, Aaron Judge — has had his share of “please don’t dive for that” moments over the past few seasons.

And then there’s the ripple effect.

If Grichuk looks like his 2024 self, the Yankees suddenly have the freedom to let Jasson Domínguez marinate in Triple-A instead of forcing the kid into the Bronx spotlight before he’s fully cooked. And honestly? That might not be the worst thing. Poor Domínguez. The Yankees hype machine launched him into orbit before he had 200 big league at-bats. Was he overhyped? Maybe. That’s not his fault. That’s what happens when a franchise needs a savior and starts printing the T-shirts early.

Grichuk, meanwhile, is no savior. He’s something rarer in this organization lately — a steady adult in the room. Twelve years in the majors. Knows his role. Knows how to hit lefties. Knows how to show up ready.

Look, I’ve been critical of this front office. Loudly. Frequently. Deservedly. But this? This is a solid move. Depth matters. Balance matters. And adding a veteran who can actually do the job is better than hoping a spreadsheet manifests one.

Let’s see how it plays out. But for once, this feels like a move rooted in baseball logic — not just math.

YANKEES & GIANCARLO STANTON ON REPEAT

2026-02-27T04:48:00.001-05:00

Here we go again. Same script, same spreadsheets, same stunned look when reality barges in and flips the table over.

The New York Yankees — yes, the mighty, historic, allegedly buttoned-up New York Yankees — are once again trying to out-math the human body. Spoiler alert: ligaments don’t care about your stupid spreadsheet projections.

Last year, Giancarlo Stanton’s elbows barked. Then they quieted down. And the Yankees’ brain trust probably leaned back in their ergonomic chairs, tapped a few keys, and declared: “Issue resolved.” The spreadsheets said his exit velocity still sparkled. The hard-hit rate looked sexy. Therefore, problem solved. On to the parade route.

Except elbows aren’t Excel formulas.

Now Stanton is being brutally honest again:

“I can’t open a bottle,” he said. “I can’t open a bag of chips … a bag of anything. That’s the way it is.”

Read that again. The man can’t open a bag of chips — but sure, pencil him in for 162 and call it a bounce-back year.

He says he wants to play a full season. He hasn’t reached 140 games since 2021. He’ll mostly DH in 2026, maybe sprinkle in some outfield “as health allows.” That’s not a plan. That’s a hope and a prayer wrapped in medical tape.

And then this gem:

“That’s not going to be fixed in surgery, and I don’t care what any doctor says because they don’t know what’s going on,” Stanton said. “What’s written is what me and the Yankees give you.”

Translation: nobody really has a grip on this thing. But sure, let’s forecast 35 homers and act shocked when the elbows flare up again in July.

Since 2019, the injury log reads like a CVS receipt — elbows, hamstrings (multiple times), foot, Achilles, calf, quad, knee, bicep. Courtesy of FOX Sports, it’s basically a rotating tour of the lower half and now the arms too. At some point you stop calling it “bad luck” and start calling it a pattern.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth: when Stanton is healthy, the guy absolutely rakes. The ball sounds different off his bat. It’s thunder. It’s violence. It’s why you keep convincing yourself this will finally be the year.

But betting on a full season at this point? That’s a long shot. A big one.

What makes it worse is that this feels like the same organizational blind spot we’ve watched for years. The Yankees fall in love with data. They worship at the altar of projected WAR. They convince themselves that if the numbers say it should work, it will work.

Meanwhile, the human condition — aging, pain, recovery, mental grind — sits there waving frantically.

This isn’t fantasy baseball. These are human beings with tendons that fray and muscles that scar. You can’t just CTRL+ALT+DELETE chronic inflammation.

And honestly? It’s getting embarrassing. The Yankees keep selling “this is the year” while ignoring the obvious red flags. At this point they’re starting to feel less like a ruthlessly efficient empire and more like the Mets with a bigger payroll.

Look, I feel for Stanton. I really do. I love watching him when he’s right. Few things in baseball are more electric than one of his moonshots disappearing into the night.

But pretending that durability isn’t the defining issue here? Pretending that last year’s flare-up magically means this year will be smooth sailing?

That’s not optimism. That’s denial.

And until the Yankees start acknowledging that spreadsheets don’t ice elbows, we’re going to keep having this exact same conversation — every single spring.

ARE THE YANKEES LYING ABOUT CAM SCHLITTLER'S INJURY?

2026-02-26T18:48:00.000-05:00

I'm trying not to think the worst here, but we are talking about the Yankees here. Something doesn't feel right about Cam Schlittler's ailment. First, it was minor back inflammation but now there's also lat discomfort. I have alarm bells going off....and I REALLY want my skepticism to be wrong.

The Yankees have a horrible track record when it comes to diagnosing and treating injuries, Aaron Judge with his fractured rib and partially collapsed lung always be the example that sticks out for me. The Yankees say they aren't worried about Schlittler, read more HERE but Aaron Boone gives his words of encouragement which only makes it worse for me.

"I expect him to be good (for the start of the season) now," Boone said. "I don't think he'll be at 80-90 pitches yet, but short of that....I think he'll two ups, 30-something (pitches) in four days and then fall into his five days. And then that next one will probably be in the game, three (innings) and 40 (pitches) or whatever."

That sounds like a load of Baboonie crap to me because it's very unconvincing. Lat discomfort is tough, and it is very rarely minor. I'm thinking back to Luis Severino back in 2019 and 2023, that was a big blow. What about Clarke Schmidt? He missed time from May to September 2024 with a partial tear. These injuries are not ones you bounce back quickly from. They are very slow to heal and if you try to rush back before they properly heal setbacks are common, especially if players don't understand the cause of that injury and don't make adjustments. This is what concerns me the most.

Last year was a heavy workload for a rookie that throws hard. I love that he can throw a fastball up to 98 mph and it fooled a lot of batters last year. While he was wowing all of us on the mound, he also pitched himself to a career high of 146 innings pitched between the big league stage and down in the minors. That's a lot for a hard throwing rookie pitcher. It's also hard if he didn't rest it enough over the winter. Call it a rookie mistake.

But it could be a costly rookie mistake. I don't know if the Yankees have done enough testing on this. Even if they have....could they honestly identify any bigger problems like a tear? Our medical staff is a joke. The Yankees already have enough to deal with pitching wise. We are already starting the season without Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole, we can't afford to lose anymore pitching.

It's early in spring....but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to be following this storyline like a hawk. I just hope the Yankees aren't lying to us.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

DID JASSON DOMINGUEZ FALL VICTIM TO THE YANKEES OVERHYPE MACHINE?

2026-02-23T14:50:00.001-05:00

The answer is yes, but please continue reading.

Why haven’t the New York Yankees won a World Series since 2009?

Because blaming the players alone is the laziest take in baseball—and also the wrong one.

Yes, players have to perform. If you wear a big-league uniform, excuses don’t come standard. But let’s stop pretending the Yankees’ long championship drought is just a matter of underachieving athletes. The common denominator here isn’t the clubhouse—it’s the front office. Specifically, the decision-makers who keep betting big on spreadsheets while ignoring the messy, inconvenient truth that baseball players are human beings.

We’ve seen this movie before. Bad casting, bad evaluations, and blind faith in numbers that look great in theory and crumble in reality. Joey Gallo wasn’t an accident. He was a front-office decision. And he wasn’t alone. These moves all trace back to the same source: Brian Cashman and the machine around him.

Back in 2007, Cashman famously said the Yankees had “three years” to rebuild the system and chase another title. Well, congratulations—the system got rebuilt. Multiple times. The championships? Still stuck in 2009, collecting dust next to the old DVDs.

What did thrive during that time was the hype machine.

Stephen Parello of Yanks Go Yard laid this out perfectly when he walked through the Yankees’ long history of prospect inflation. Remember when Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy were supposed to save the franchise? Or when Eric Duncan was untouchable? Then came Jesús Montero—anointed as the next superstar with mythical scouting grades and zero follow-through. Parello forgot to mention the killer B's in Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances and Andrew Brackman, but he didn't really need to, it's more of the same.

But then the Yankees did finally win in 2009—and notice how that happened: by opening the vault for CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and A.J. Burnett. Not hype. Not hope. Proven stars.

Fast-forward to now, and the pattern hasn’t changed—only the branding has. Today’s names are Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, and Jasson Domínguez. The jerseys sell. The slogans hit. The expectations explode.

Domínguez is the clearest example. A talented kid, no doubt—but the Yankees slapped “The Martian” on him and let the marketing department turn him into something he never asked to be. Even Joel Sherman called it out, noting that the nickname alone created absurd comparisons to Mickey Mantle—comparisons no other organization actually believed. That wasn’t scouting hype. That was New York hype.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth: hype is profitable in the Bronx and you are all being fooled. If 100 fans buy a jersey, the team wins financially before the player ever takes a swing. If the kid struggles? He’s the problem. If he succeeds? The front office pats itself on the back and pretends it was genius all along.

Volpe might be the most glaring dilemma yet. Three years in, tons of merchandise sold, and very little return on the field. Internally, the Yankees know it. Publicly, they’re crossing their fingers and hoping surgery magically turns projections into production. But spreadsheets don’t heal players. And humans don’t reboot like software.

This isn’t “self-hating fandom.” This is realism—the same realism Bleeding Yankee Blue has preached for years. The Yankees’ definition of success has shifted. Second place is acceptable. “Almost” is good enough. As long as the money flows, urgency doesn’t exist.

That’s the real rot. So yes, players deserve blame when they fail. But who puts them there? Who overhypes them? Who markets dreams instead of building winners?

The front office.

And until that changes—until the GM is gone, Boone is shown the door, and the organization remembers that banners matter more than branding—the Yankees will keep selling hope instead of championships.

Don’t fall for it. This isn’t a dynasty in waiting.

It’s a business model built on “close enough.”

THE SPENCER JONES & "OHTANI LIKE" HYPE KICK-OFF SPRING TRAINING!

2026-02-23T08:06:00.003-05:00

It was a big spring debut this weekend for Spencer Jones. It came with the expected shiny moment that showcased the enormous potential that Jones advocates would expect. It was also followed by the frustration we've seen on repeat the last couple of seasons. But now, Jones has a new batting approach and a new comparison to live up to?

There's been so much talk about Jones and his enormous potential over recent years. We all salivate over the potential of a new addition to this Yankees team that has five tool potential and can catapult this team to the next level. Now he has worked on his mechanics and a swing that has been called "almost Shohei Ohtani-like," read more HERE.

The new "Ohtani-like" swing was seen Saturday with a gigantic home run that cleared right field and left the stadium. It was all of the excitement you could ask for in a first at bat of a new season, but it was followed by reminders of the past with two strikeouts in the following plate appearances. As much as I want to see Jones hit those exciting home runs, I want to see consistency. Jones and the Yankees are giving us HYPE with the Ohtani references and the great endorsements from Aaron Judge. We are way past promise of things to come. Now we need to see the high level of execution at the minor league level to earn the nig league call up.

And that's still where I stand today. In four years playing minor league ball, he's had 1,493 at bats and 554 strikeouts. His last two seasons have 379 of those 554 strikeouts. There's still some work there to do. The Yankees outfield is crowded. Even if it weren't crowded, and there was an opportunity to give him a clearly defined role....I'm just not there. He's not in a spot to help the Yankees.

That's a tough reality. I'm tired of watching these high strikeout guys that give us all or nothing. When they come up big it's great, but when they don't it is a massive failure in a clutch moment. It's not enjoyable to watch these high strikeout guys that we know have flaws at the big league level and just hope those flaws don't get exposed. We are at the point where athleticism and performance have evolved, but baseball fundamentals and smart play has become less important or emphasized. For me, Jones is not big league ready. He struggles down in the minors, it's not going to get easier for him when he has to face elite pitching. Giving him a promotion to the big leagues with these stats would only be doing him a disservice because we aren't setting him up for success.

I want Jones and the Yankees to stop giving me hype. The Ohtani reference is just a magical illusion. Stop giving me what COULD be. Jones is going to be 25 soon, so he's running out of time. It's time to stop pretending the same issues he's had the past two seasons aren't there anymore.....because they are.

Sorry, but I am not buying the hype.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

INJURED OR NOT, THE YANKEES NEED TO MOVE AWAY FROM VOLPE

2026-02-22T15:50:00.001-05:00

Let’s get honest, because the fairy tale has gone on long enough. Anthony Volpe didn’t earn his way to the Bronx — he was fast-tracked, rushed, and dropped into the majors because the New York Yankees had a gaping hole at shortstop and a marketing department itching for a savior. Local kid! Italian name! Future captain! It was a beautiful pitch. The results? Not so much. Injury or not, I'm done with this kid and you should be too.

Three seasons in, Volpe hasn’t moved the needle even a millimeter. He’s not exciting. He’s not dangerous. He’s not dependable. He’s the same flawed player he was on day one — except now we’ve wasted years pretending development happens by wishful thinking alone. He looks like a high school hitter trapped in a major league body, and that’s not his fault. That’s on the organization that shoved him into the spotlight and never gave him a safety net.

And let’s not gloss over this: Volpe has never been optioned to Triple-A. Not once. Now he’s coming off shoulder surgery and won’t be ready for Opening Day anyway. The optimistic take is that once he’s healthy, everything magically clicks. The realistic take? He’s posted a .660 OPS for three straight seasons. That’s not a slump — that’s who he is.

Yes, he’ll get a rehab assignment. He has to. But the Yankees should do more than that. They should finally admit the obvious.

Enter José Caballero, who is filling in at shortstop and quietly showing what competence looks like. Better range. Better instincts. Better baserunning. Better production. The Yankees, of course, keep calling him a “utility guy,” as if that label somehow disqualifies him from being the everyday shortstop. Newsflash: this team doesn’t need labels — it needs results.

I’ll even be generous and say Volpe’s shoulder likely impacted his defense. Fine. But his offensive issues predate the injury by years. His approach changes by the week: contact hitter today, launch-angle philosopher tomorrow. He spends weeks stepping in the bucket, wrecking his mechanics, and digging statistical holes he never fully climbs out of.

Caballero, meanwhile, has been the superior player by the numbers — elite defensive metrics, higher OBP, and real impact during the second half of 2025 while Volpe spiraled. And yet, we all know what’s coming: the moment Volpe is healthy, Caballero gets bumped, no matter how well he plays. That’s not competition. That’s favoritism disguised as “development.”

Plenty of fans are done with Volpe. I’m one of them.

To be fair, Joshua Diemert of SB Nation believes there’s still a version of Volpe who can be an above-average hitter — if he gets a real Triple-A run to fix his mechanics and his confidence. That’s a reasonable argument. But here’s the counter: why are the Yankees still operating on hope?

When players don’t perform, teams move on. They demote. They trade. They cut bait. For some reason, Volpe is untouchable — not because of production, but because of sunk cost and ego. The Yankees invested too much time selling this kid to admit they might be wrong.

Meanwhile, the facts are brutal: long stretches in 2025 with a .198 batting average and .255 OBP, declining defense, and zero payoff for the patience. Shoulder injury or not, the team still hasn’t won — and Volpe hasn’t justified the leash.

Since mid-2025, he’s been completely overmatched. Are we really supposed to believe everything fixes itself when he returns? Based on what? Blind faith?

For me, this experiment is over. We already have the upgrade standing right there.

His name is José Caballero.
Play him at shortstop.
And finally, mercifully — move on.

SURVEY: PLAYERS WILL GO AWAY, NOT GM & MANAGER IF YANKS FAIL

2026-02-22T10:26:00.001-05:00

I’ve been trying—really trying—to keep my distance from Bleeding Yankee Blue for a bit. Call it self-care. Call it survival. Because the truth is, I’m flat-out miserable with the Yankees front office right now.

This front office? The GM? The manager? They’re spreadsheet people. Decimal-point romantics. They worship at the altar of projections and probabilities, while the human element of baseball—the grit, the urgency, the give-a-damn—gets shoved into a footnote. They guess. A lot. They stare at their charts, shrug, and convince themselves that second place or an early playoff exit is perfectly acceptable as long as the revenue graph keeps pointing north. Then comes the annual press conference lullaby: “Well, we tried.”

No, you didn’t. And this sure as hell isn’t the Yankees I grew up with.

Now comes the latest report: if the Yankees don’t succeed in 2026—and let’s be honest, they won’t, you heard it here first—the organization is supposedly ready to “blow it up.” Big changes. New players. Fresh upgrades. Bold moves... this according to an Athletic survey. Except… funny thing. The same executives who built this mess apparently get a pass. Never mind that the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2009. Never mind that this roster is their creation. Nope. When it fails, it’s always the players’ fault.

The standards are supposedly “high” in the Bronx as we head into spring, especially with this franchise trudging through a 16-year championship drought. That’s why we’ve heard endless chatter since the loss to the Blue Jays in the 2025 Division Series about Aaron Boone’s future. Yes, he’s only missed the playoffs once in eight seasons. And no—that doesn’t impress anyone anymore.

Because the point isn’t making the playoffs. The point is making the playoffs and winning the whole damn thing.

But brace yourself, because Michael Kay will be right there to soothe everyone: “Hey, they made it to the World Series. That’s good.” No. It’s not. You don’t hang banners for “Almost.” And last year? They didn’t even get there.

So where does the pressure land in 2026? On Boone? On the roster? According to this Athletic survey of 36 MLB executives, former executives, managers, coaches, and scouts, the answer is clear: not the people in charge. The survey suggests the players—the core guys fans actually love—are the ones under the gun. Meanwhile, the front office and manager skate by, insulated by contracts, relationships, and the comfort of profitability.

Cashman’s deal runs through 2026. Boone’s through 2027. And if things go sideways, the expectation is roster surgery—not leadership change. Translation: the players you root for get shipped out, while the same decision-makers keep their seats because they’re familiar, friendly, and financially reliable.

Baseball is a business, folks. And this survey screams it. But where’s the survey of the fans? The people dropping thousands of dollars to watch their team come up short? That’s the data I’d like to see. Because if you ask executives, executives will protect executives. Fans don’t cheer for balance sheets—we cheer for players.

And yet, here we are. The money matters more. The fun is gone. Baseball doesn’t feel joyful anymore, and the Yankees feel like a corporation wearing pinstripes.

So yeah, that’s why I’ve been stepping away from BYB more lately. This version of the Yankees? Not fun. This leadership? Brutal. And until the organization remembers who actually fuels this whole machine—the fans—it’s hard to get excited.

We need to do better.
Not for the spreadsheets.
Not for the execs.

For the fan.

TONY CLARK IS OUT! NOW WHAT?

2026-02-18T09:26:00.001-05:00

The upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was already going to be dramatic....and now it's going to be extra dramatic. Everyone get ready to grab your popcorn, this one is going to be a doozy.

Players just reported to spring training in Arizona and Florida, so as focused as we are on a new season we are also questioning what is going to happen in nine months when the existing agreement expires? That's very much in the air now that Tony Clark the MLB Players Association Director is resigning, read more HERE. As Clark leaves, baseball is getting ready for it's most critical labor negotiation in years....and he won't be around to fight it.

This was going to be a very tough fight already, and now without Clark it gets harder. He's been instrumental to the players union. He's accomplished a lot over the last 13 years, including the steady increase in salaries to MLB players. He has been the most consistent and coherent voice for the players, and now the union will need to find a new voice.

The timing of this couldn't be worse. Without Clark, the union will fill this role soon. They will look to stabilize the union and get ready for what is to come over the winter. According to MLBtraderumors HERE, the next director could be Bruce Meyer who is currently the union's lead negotiator. He helped Tarik Skubal win his arbitration case against the Tigers and has been gaining support among the players to take over as the new director.

The last CBA negotiation was volatile enough that it resulted in a 99-day lockout led by commissioner Rob Manfred and the owners. This lockout will be even worse. Several owners are advocating for a salary cap, which has been a non-starter for Clark in the past. Now he isn't here to fight that battle, so right now owners have the upper hand. Meyer has also shared the same view as Clark, so if he does become the new director, it will be interesting to see if he is as successful in the role as Clark was.

The new CBA is going to have new player representation.....and it's going to be a very bumpy (and probably long) ride. I hope this lockout won't be as long as I think it will be, but I don't think we are talking about 99 days on this one. Stay tuned....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

JOEY GALLO THE PITCHER? IT COULD BE HAPPENING!

2026-02-16T08:37:00.003-05:00

It's been almost a year since Joey Gallo told the world he intended to continue his MLB career as a pitcher. I laughed (and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't still laughing) at the idea thinking it would never happen but he's still trying to make it happen and I'm still paying attention.

I really got tired of talking about Gallo when he played for us. He frustrated the hell out of me so when we got rid of him I was excited to never talk about him again. I guess he has proved me wrong no matter what happens with his new pitching quest because here I am talking (and trying not to laugh) about this.

Gallo just turned 32 in November, and he is trying to reinvent himself. He's posted enough videos on X of him pitching to garner some attention from not only me but also some scouts. According to Jon Heyman, he's caught the eye of several teams.

So Spring Training is happening, and teams have actually made an effort to go watch him at a showcase. I never thought this would happen, even after seeing some videos but apparently, anything really is possible. His videos were good enough to catch the interest of scouts. I will give him some credit, he did used to have a good throwing arm so maybe he can harness that somehow and reinvent himself? He's posted content, and he's trying. We've all seen worse.

So could someone take a chance on him? Anything is possible. Hell, since the Yankees want to run out the same team they had last season they could be crazy enough to one up it and go back to 2022. I hope not, because as much as we need a stronger bullpen I'm not ready to experiment on Gallo 2.0. If he wants to try to channel his Shohei Ohtani skills and be the once hitter that also pitches then good for him! Just do it away from the Bronx, please.

I will never poo on anyone's goals, so credit to Gallo for trying. However, I'm not sure where this can really go. I did say anything is possible before.....and for me that could include Gallo finding a way to strike himself out. I guess we'll see if this grows legs and goes anywhere.....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE YANKEES "SCORED" ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET

2026-02-15T16:02:00.002-05:00

Yankee fans, inhale… exhale… and maybe keep that skeptical eyebrow cocked just in case.

The New York Yankees have wandered into some unfamiliar territory, signing 17-year-old Mexican pitcher Felipe Hernández on the international market. The radar gun is already flirting with fantasy—he’s reportedly touching 95 mph—and yes, that’s the kind of number that makes people in the Bronx start daydreaming about parades before the kid can legally rent a car.

The paperwork just became official, and from that moment on, the hype train left the station with no brakes. Clips started circulating, projections started flying, and the familiar whispers of “future ace” echoed through the digital upper decks of Yankee Stadium.

There’s just one small detail worth underlining in bold: he’s still a teenager. A gifted one, no doubt—but one without a single professional inning under his belt, no dog days of August grind, no long bus rides, and no firsthand experience with baseball’s favorite pastime: humbling you when you least expect it. Banking emotional stock in raw youth is a newer move for a franchise that usually prefers pitchers who arrive with mileage, scars, and a résumé thicker than the media guide.

Hernández does bring more than just gas. Scouts are already drooling over an 82-mph curveball that’s being labeled “big-league ready,” and his command and poise have raised eyebrows for someone his age. That combination—velocity with polish—is what convinced the Yankees to lock him up for the future without blinking.

The signing itself was kept low-key, finalized quietly in Tamaulipas with family and team officials present. Months of planning led to February’s handshake, and now Hernández is headed for the Yankees’ development complex, where the real work begins—far from bright lights and bold headlines.

This isn’t a bad signing. It’s an intriguing one. Just remember the fine print: potential doesn’t equal production, radar-gun readings don’t guarantee durability, and dreaming on teenage arms is a long, winding road. Enjoy the buzz—but keep your patience handy.

ADDING ANOTHER SIGNING TO OUR TEAM OF MISFIT MINOR LEAGUERS

2026-02-14T18:35:00.001-05:00

The New York Yankees have officially crawled into spring training the same way you crawl into a 24-hour diner at 3 a.m.—tired, uninspired, and hoping something on the menu magically fixes your problems.

Case in point: Rafael Montero.

According to MLB reporter Hector Gomez, Montero is joining the New York Yankees on a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. If he somehow pitches his way onto the big-league roster, he’ll earn $1.8 million, plus a $500,000 signing bonus. If not? Thanks for stopping by Tampa. Don’t forget your luggage.

This isn’t a signing designed to move the needle. It doesn’t electrify the fan base, terrify opposing lineups, or even raise an eyebrow outside the Bronx. It exists for exactly one reason: low-risk, veteran bullpen depth. That’s it. Full stop. No secret upside, no hidden master plan, no “Cashman cooking” subplot. Just another arm to toss onto the pile and hope something sticks.

Montero’s recent résumé doesn’t exactly scream renaissance. In 2025, the right-hander struggled mightily with the Atlanta Braves, posting a 5.50 ERA across 36 appearances before being shipped off to the Detroit Tigers. That’s not a rebound story—that’s a relocation.

And yet, here we are. Another spring training invite. Another “maybe he figures it out” flier. Another reminder that the Yankees’ current roster philosophy seems to be less Death Star and more yard sale. A lot of no-names. A lot of minor leaguers. A whole lot of hope doing the heavy lifting.

This is what passes for roster construction now: plugging holes with bubble wrap and crossing fingers. The Yankees aren’t attacking weaknesses; they’re politely acknowledging them and moving on. The bullpen isn’t being reinforced—it’s being padded with insurance claims.

Montero isn’t the problem. He’s just the symbol. A perfectly reasonable, perfectly uninspiring addition to a team that once collected stars and now collects lottery tickets. Spring training used to be about sharpening a powerhouse. Now it’s about auditions.

Welcome to camp, Rafael. You’re not here because you change the Yankees’ fate. You’re here because you were available—and apparently, that’s the bar now.

YOU'RE ABOUT TO WASTE ANOTHER YEAR, YANKEE FANS...

2026-02-14T09:34:00.004-05:00

And you should be pissed about that.

The most alarming thing about the Yankees right now isn’t any single injury, signing, or quote. It’s the overwhelming sense that nothing has actually changed. Strip away the hype videos, the spring optimism, and the buzzwords, and the 2026 Yankees look almost indistinguishable from the 2025 version—a team that already showed you exactly who it was.

This front office continues to operate as if baseball is played on spreadsheets instead of by human beings. Everything is optimized, projected, and simulated—except health, fatigue, and reality. That blind spot is now staring them in the face with Cam Schlittler. The Yankees practically crowned him the next Cy Young winner before he threw a meaningful pitch, and now he’s sidelined with mid-back inflammation. Aaron Boone told reporters Schlittler won’t be throwing off a mound for several days. They didn’t account for the fact that bodies break down, especially young ones pushed into oversized expectations.

Schlittler’s issue may not feel catastrophic today—but that’s the point. Yankees injuries never are, until suddenly they are. And it matters because Schlittler is one of only two reliable arms expected to be ready on Opening Day, alongside Max Fried, who led all of baseball in wins last season. Beyond that? The same fragile depth, the same question marks, the same crossing-your-fingers routine fans have endured for years.

The rest of the roster feels just as automated. The Yankees have become baseball’s version of a rerun factory—collecting familiar names, recycling narratives, and pretending it’s progress. Bringing back Paul Goldschmidt is the clearest example. Why, exactly? His 2025 season was a disappointment by any honest standard. He punished left-handed pitching but collapsed against righties, hit just 10 home runs in 146 games, and cratered after the All-Star break, batting .245 while losing at-bats to Ben Rice. That’s not a bounce-back candidate—that’s a warning sign.

@yankees Have you checked the Weathers today? #ryanweathers #yankees #springtraining ♬ original sound - Yankees

And yet, here we are again, complete with hype videos for a fifth starter like Ryan Weathers, as if the Yankees cracked some secret code that guarantees a title. Is this a joke? This is not how serious contenders behave. When teams fall short, they usually overhaul. They get uncomfortable. They get aggressive. The Yankees did none of that.

In the latest episode of his podcast, New York sports radio icon Mike Francesa said the quiet part out loud. The Yankees, he argued, are perfectly content. Winning 95 games and falling short doesn’t trigger panic—it triggers profits. “There is a satisfaction inside the Yankees that their fans don’t feel,” Francesa said. The organization isn’t operating in crisis mode because, financially, there is no crisis.

He echoed what fans—and places like Bleeding Yankee Blue—have been screaming for over a year: nothing changes until the money does. Empty seats. Empty luxury boxes. Fewer jerseys sold. Fewer $15 beers consumed. Until ownership feels it, complacency reigns.

And that’s what makes this all so infuriating. The Yankees are actively wasting the prime of Aaron Judge, one of the greatest players of his generation. Instead of building aggressively around him, they’re signing minor leaguers, patching holes, and pretending continuity equals competitiveness.

The Cam Schlittler injury may not derail the season today—but it’s a symbol. A reminder that this pitching staff is still hanging together with duct tape, that nothing structural has been fixed, and that the lessons of last year were ignored.

The bottom line is unavoidable: the 2026 Yankees are a mirror image of the 2025 Yankees. And teams with the same flaws, the same philosophy, and the same manager who still struggles to manage cannot suddenly become champions. Sorry to break it to you—but this isn’t a title team.

It’s just another rerun and another year wasted.

THE DAMN PENNY PINCHING YANKEES!

2026-02-12T10:08:00.001-05:00

I know the Yankees aren't "cheap" like the Athletics are. We spend a lot of money on a roster unlike the Athletics (as flawed as it is) and Hal Steinbrenner has talked a lot in recent years about pulling back on the budget for sustainability. For a long time we have wondered exactly where Hal would draw that line and say 'no more' and we have our answer.

We keep hearing about the Yankees "running it back" out again in 2026, and we can see that again....in an attempt that thankfully failed. The Yankees tried to bring back another guy from last season, and a very unimpactful one at that. The Yankees pursued Austin Slater again but he said 'no thanks' and packed his bag for Detroit, read more HERE.

So the Yankees offered $1 million, but the Tigers gave Slater a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training worth $2 million with an additional $500,000 in potential incentives. Interesting how the Yankees chose to lose in this scenario for what is literally pocket change for them. Even at max incentive earnings, I never thought I would see the Yankees just fold like that. Not that I REALLY wanted Slater in particular, because he was not impactful for us but damn....I never thought I would see THAT happen.

But honestly, that isn't even the first time or the first Austin. The Yankees were connected to Austin Hays all winter as a backup option if Cody Bellinger did not return. It was also rumored he could be a potential bench piece for us. The Mets were also interested because if the Yankees are interested the Mets have to be too. Last week, Hays signed a $6 million deal with the Chicago White Sox so Hays won't be playing for either New York team. It's crazy to think about but if the Yankees passed on the cheaper Slater this week, I guess it shouldn't surprise us the Yankees were out at the higher price tag.

Honestly, I would've preferred Hays over Slater but it doesn't matter now. What does matter is the Yankees need more right-handed options in the lineup so they need SOMEONE. Trent Grisham is left-handed, Cody is left-handed, and Jasson Dominguez might as well be left-handed because he is beyond weak on the other side of the plate. We need more than just Aaron Judge as a right-handed option in the outfield.

The Yankees need to do something here. Honestly when you look at remaining options it's pretty embarrassing to lose out on both of these guys for a dollar amount that is so insignificant to them in the grand scheme of things. This isn't a small market team with thin profit margins....but they are acting like one.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

DO THE YANKEES HAVE DIFFERENT PLANS FOR DOMINGUEZ THIS SEASON?

2026-02-10T09:23:00.001-05:00

There are many questions about the Yankees heading into the 2026 season. Now that we have some questions answered about who is playing where....now one of the biggest ones left unanswered is what role does Jasson Dominguez have? Now that the Yankees have a full outfield, everyone has a clear role except Dominguez.

That's not a fun place to be. It certainly seems to be the Yankees operating model over the years though log jams and insanity is the norm. Now according to a recent report HERE, MLB insider's believe they have a clear picture on the future of Dominguez. The Yankees aren't confirming this yet but it makes sense.... Jon Heyman reports that "barring something unforeseen," Dominguez looks to be destined for a start the 2026 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

It all makes sense. After the All-Star break last year, at-bats were very few and far between so why not send him down? His development would be better served with regular playing time. Even Brian Cashman said he considered doing it last season but ultimately decided against it.

"He wasn't playing. I could have sent him to Triple-A," Cashman said. "I didn't think that was right to do, either. He provided the chance for us to run into something off the bench, especially with his speed to go along with José Caballero. But I still think there's some upside there."

The Yankees had some upside last season with a deeper bench, but his lack of regular playing time didn't help against left-handed pitching where he batted .186 with one home run and nine RBI's. Some regular playing time would help him work on some of his deficiencies, especially since he didn't have much of that in the minors.

"We're talking about a very, very young player that didn't play a ton of Minor League baseball," Aaron Boone said. "And what suffers from that? The side you don't hit from as much. He's a natural right-handed hitter, so I don't think it's out of the question that at some point the right-handed catches up to the left side."

I think we saw a lot of red flags last season with Dominguez. He needs time to develop, he's not ready for a full time big league roll. Until he is, he shouldn't be a spare piece riding the bench. It does no good for him. If the Yankees intend to keep him he needs to go down and work on fundamentals. He was one the worst left fielders in the league last year. He cannot hit lefties, righthanded. He cannot help the Yankees.....yet.

So I think it is time to go back down, it's a terrible 23rd belated birthday present but if we are talking about what's best for him, the minor league demotion is the only right answer.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

JUST WHO DOES BRIAN CASHMAN THINK HE IS KIDDING?

2026-02-02T20:59:00.003-05:00

The Yankees have been dreaming of a rematch with the Dodgers at the World Series. Brian Cashman thinks running the same team back on the field this season is gonna get the job done. Now he is trying to gaslight all of us into thinking the Yankees are gonna be better than they were last season....

And no one sane believes that. Great, the band is back together once Gerrit Cole returns. The magic will be back and suddenly everything is supposed to change. Oh and having a full season of Cam Schlittler is a big upgrade IF he can stay healthy and productive but Cashman is all in on this team. He's as stupid and delusional as ever and wants us to join him in delusion land. "We all understand in the postseason, you've got to bring your best baseball every series and if you don't, you're going home. It doesn't mean we weren't capable of great things. We just didn't get the job done in that time frame against the Toronto Blue Jays," Cashman said HERE.

And naturally Aaron Boone is his parrot and feels the same way. "At the end of last year, in so many ways, it's as good as I felt about our team heading into the postseason in the years I've been here," Boone said. "Obviously, we got beat up in the division round. It didn't go our way. That doesn't mean it's not gonna go our way the next time. We think we’re really good. That doesn’t mean we’re gonna win 94 games again. It doesn't mean we're gonna win 88. But we think we have the pieces."

Obviously both of these bozos believe we are so good we didn't need to make any improvements. We can just run the same team back out there and do it all again but win this time. Never mind that the rest of the division has made improvements and is stronger on paper. We can stay the same and maybe win 94 games again....or not. I'm leaning towards not because the left side of the infield is a disaster and Anthony Volpe is such a lost cause, but the Yankees will continue to foolishly stand behind him. The Yankees was us to believe he is the right piece? NOT EVEN CLOSE!

We are two weeks away from Spring training and Fangraphs have already made their predictions for this season and they disagree with the Yankees strategy, read more HERE. Not only do they think the Yankees are a LONGSHOT to win the division at 18.9%, but they only have a 41.1% chance at winning one of three wildcard spots. Hell, they even predict the Yankees to finish in FOURTH one game behind the Orioles. It hurts to read but I can't say I disagree.

I want to see this team get back to the World Series and win but we couldn't beat the Blue Jays last season. They owned us in the regular season so losing to them in the postseason wasn't a surprise to anyone with a brain....so of course that excludes Cashman and Baboonie. The Blue Jays have made improvements over the winter, so unless they regress A LOT and the Red Sox and Orioles massively underperform Yankee fans should be ready for a long and frustrating season.

These clowns need to stop gaslighting us. I'm sick of it!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

DON'T LOOK NOW, BUT BRIAN CASHMAN IS TRYING TO MOVE YOUR FAVORITE PROSPECT!

2026-01-28T12:42:00.003-05:00

There has been a big movement to promote Spencer Jones over the past year. I've had several readers tell me it is time to see what the kid is made of and bring him to the big league stage. Yankee fans may finally get their wish....or will they?

It's funny because BRIAN CASHMAN CAN'T WALK & CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME this winter, but now that there is a crowded outfield with Cody Bellinger officially back in pinstripes he may have figured out how to put one foot in front of the other while chomping on some Big League Chew. It took him long enough, and if it finally happens....it's about damn time!

Cashman laid the groundwork for a big tease, check it out HERE. The Yankees have been reluctant to move Jones, and now all of the sudden Cashman thinks he is going to use some Jedi mind trick to drum up some major interest. Teams were interested, especially in 2024. Now? Not as much but Cashman thinks he can rekindle that.

"He's an exciting young talent that's, again, unproven at the Major League level," Cashman said of Jones. "We're going to find out at some point -- or somebody else would find out at some point, if they pry him away from me."

IF THEY pry him away from me....that's cute. That would've worked better two years ago, but this is an example of the classic Yankees. They hype up prospects, don't actually promote them or trade them when they are at their highest value and just collect them like an old, dusty antique relic in your grandfather's closet. Jones could be the same dusty relic (even though several of you have told me I am wrong). Fact is, Jones will soon be 25 years old, still in Triple-A because he has a horrendous strikeout rate. His trade value is diminished.

It's a sad but true fact. What the Yankees could've commanded for him two years ago is NOT what they can get for him now. Will some team out there still pay something for him in a trade deal? Sure. He's supposed to be a five tool guy and teams are always looking for those. He could just be a late bloomer....but teams know he's not everything Cashman is trying to sell him as, otherwise the Yankees could've just walked away from Cody without blinking an eye.

But they didn't. The Yankees spent $162.5 million on Cody instead. So now that the Yankees have other needs (especially pitching), they can afford to move some surplus. Cashman could decide to have an estate sale and try to make Jones a big ticket item instead of a hand-me-down at a neighborhood garage sale. Cashman is gonna try.....but I think he is two years too late and his sales pitch isn't as impressive now.

Cashman is trying. If you believe Jones is the next Yankee great, this is your proof that the Yankees disagree. Don't be surprised if the Yankees do find a trade partner....and don't be surprised if the return isn't as big as you would like. Blame the Yankees!

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

SCOTT BORAS DOESN'T LOSE OFTEN - BUT HE DID THIS TIME!

2026-01-26T08:45:00.001-05:00

It's not often that Scott Boras loses...so when he does I like to celebrate it. I celebrate it even more when his loss comes at the hands of the Yankees. But let's take it a step further.....when it comes to Cody Bellinger he has a history of getting it WRONG.

Look, I am happy that the Yankees got Cody back. We NEEDED him. Without Cody, this team would be doomed right now. I just didn't want the Yankees to massively overpay for him, especially after Boras got cutesy at the Winter Meetings and cited poetically about how Cody had EIGHT interested teams. Well it turns out, that was a big fat Boras lie. The amount of interest wasn't exactly what Boras spinned it to be (shocking).

So here we are. Cody is a Yankee again for five years at $162.5 million. No crazy seven year contract that Boras wanted with an annual average of $37 million a season. Even the Yankees told Boras a six year offer was "a pipe dream" read more HERE. It was take it or leave it....and if there was a better offer than the Yankees out there then Cody should take it.

This isn't the first "fail" Boras had with Cody. Remember back to the 2023-2024 offseason, MLBtraderumors predicted Cody would get a 12 year deal worth $264 million HERE, The Yankees were even picked as the favorite, but Cody's actual contract fell VERY short of that at three years $80 million with the Cubs with an opt out. That opt out is what brought him here. Talk about a MASSIVE difference in between expectations and reality.

That's two BIG losses for Boras when it comes to Cody. It sucks for Cody, but maybe this is a good lesson to show him that he should stop relying so much on Boras. He's not getting the job done for him at least. Boras MAY hit a milestone of $1 billion in contracts for his clients this winter but it might give Cody something to think about if he choses to exercise his opt outs in his new contract. It might be time for a new agent who isn't completely delusional in his market expectations.

I am happy Cody is a Yankee again. I've wanted it all winter and have been talking about it constantly, but that doesn't mean I have to root for Boras too. He's failed to achieve his own goals for Cody twice now. I think it's time for Cody to take a good long look in the mirror and realize Boras hasn't served him as well as he had hoped....and to lose his number for good.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj