Bleeding Yankee Blue

WHEN REGGIE MET THURMAN

2026-08-27T06:44:00.000-04:00

There are teammates who become friends immediately.

Then there were Thurman Munson and Reggie Jackson.

When Reggie arrived in the Bronx before the 1977 season, the Yankees were already Munson’s team. Thurman was the captain, the reigning American League MVP, and the heartbeat of a club that had just gone to the World Series. Reggie arrived as something entirely different.

He was the superstar free-agent signing. He was outspoken. He was confident. He was controversial. And most importantly, he wasn't interested in quietly blending into the wallpaper. In other words, George Steinbrenner had just thrown another stick of dynamite into a clubhouse that already had Billy Martin walking around with a match.

And then came the quote.

In a 1977 Sport magazine article, Jackson was famously quoted describing himself as “the straw that stirs the drink,” while suggesting Munson could only stir it bad.

Whether Reggie believed he was quoted accurately or not almost didn't matter. The words were in print. Munson read them. And the captain was furious. This wasn't some anonymous teammate Jackson had taken a shot at. Munson had spent his entire major-league career with the Yankees. He had caught countless games on battered knees, taken foul balls off every imaginable body part and helped drag New York back to the World Series in 1976.

Then the new guy showed up and, before he'd accomplished anything in pinstripes, appeared to tell the world whose team it was.

That went over about as well as you'd expect.

Welcome to the Yankees, Reggie. Meet Thurman.

The relationship became one of the many soap operas surrounding the 1977 Yankees. Jackson battled with Martin. Munson resented the attention surrounding Jackson. The clubhouse had factions. Steinbrenner hovered over everything.

Yet something strange happened while everybody was waiting for the Yankees to implode. They won, and winning has a funny way of forcing two great players to recognize something they may not particularly want to admit:

I need that guy.

Munson could look beyond Reggie's personality and see an enormously talented baseball player who could help the Yankees win championships. Jackson could look beyond Thurman's hostility and understand why that clubhouse followed its captain. Their personalities were completely different, but their objective wasn't.

There are stories of the two finally clearing the air, including a memorable conversation in a sauna. It didn't magically turn them into childhood buddies. This wasn't a Hollywood movie where the music swelled and suddenly Reggie and Thurman skipped into Yankee Stadium holding hands.

It was something more believable. They developed respect. And for two intensely competitive men, respect probably meant more than friendship anyway.

Munson saw Jackson deliver when the Yankees needed him most. Reggie saw exactly what made Munson the captain—the toughness, the leadership and the willingness to play hurt without asking anybody to feel sorry for him.

By the time Jackson earned the name “Mr. October” with his three-home-run performance in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, there wasn't much left to debate about whether Reggie belonged in New York. And Munson didn't need Jackson's approval to prove who he was either.

Thurman had already earned the Bronx. Their relationship continued to evolve. Jackson reportedly even flew with Munson in Thurman's plane, and accounts over the years have described Reggie affectionately referring to Munson as “Coach.” Think about how remarkable that is considering where these two started.

From a newspaper quote that nearly poisoned the clubhouse to two men eventually understanding each other. Not perfectly. Not sentimentally. But genuinely.

Then came August 2, 1979. Munson was killed while practicing takeoffs and landings in his Cessna Citation near Canton, Ohio. He was only 32.

Suddenly all those arguments, headlines and clubhouse battles didn't seem very important anymore.

What remained was the respect.

And maybe that's the part of the Reggie Jackson–Thurman Munson story worth remembering most.

They didn't have to be best friends. They didn't even have to particularly like each other at first. They were two enormous personalities fighting for space inside the craziest baseball clubhouse in America. But somewhere between the arguments, the championships, the back pages and the October nights, they figured each other out.

Thurman was the captain. Reggie was Mr. October.

The Bronx was big enough for both of them. And in the end, they knew it. Rest in peace, Captain.

Thurman Munson — June 7, 1947 – August 2, 1979. Nearly five decades later, No. 15 still belongs to him.

-- Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

FERNANDO CRUZ OUT!

2026-08-26T17:27:36.958-04:00

The Yankees’ pitching problems just added another name to the list.

Fernando Cruz has been placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, a concerning development for a bullpen already searching for stability.

The timing is especially troubling. Cruz surrendered the game-tying two-run homer to Jeremy Peña in Tuesday night’s 9-7 loss to Houston, and afterward was seen leaving the clubhouse with Yankees head athletic trainer Tim Lentych. Cruz had said he was healthy, but less than 24 hours later, he was headed to the IL.

And maybe the recent numbers were telling us something. Cruz has been hit hard since the All-Star break after being one of the Yankees’ most dependable bullpen weapons earlier in the season.

The Yankees signed veteran Michael Fulmer to a Major League deal to help fill the hole. But with September approaching, replacing Cruz’s swing-and-miss stuff won't be easy.

For a team trying to make a serious October run, another important arm going down is the last thing they needed.

WHEN DOLLY PARTON CAME TO THE BRONX

2026-08-26T07:58:46.733-04:00

When you've followed the Yankees long enough, you realize that Yankee Stadium has hosted a lot more than baseball.

Presidents have been there. Popes have been there. Prize fights, football games and concerts have filled the old place.

And in 1987, Dolly Parton showed up. Yes, that Dolly Parton. Country music royalty walked into the House That Ruth Built, grabbed a baseball bat and spent some time with the Bronx Bombers.

With the sad news of Dolly's passing at age 80, we hear at Bleeding Yankee Blue found ourselves thinking about that wonderful little piece of Yankee history. Casey asked me to put this together and I was happy to do it.

Dolly came to Yankee Stadium while filming her ABC television variety series, Dolly, which premiered in September 1987. The Yankee Stadium visit was filmed for an "Out and About" segment appearing in the show's third episode. Waiting for her in the Bronx were four pretty recognizable Yankees:

Ron Guidry. Dave Righetti. Rick Cerone. Mike Pagliarulo.

For Yankee fans of a certain age, those names require no introduction. Guidry was Louisiana Lightning and already a Yankee legend. Righetti had gone from Rookie of the Year starting pitcher to one of baseball's premier closers. Cerone had been behind the plate through some memorable Yankee seasons.

And Pagliarulo — Pags — was the Yankees' hard-hitting third baseman.

Then Dolly Parton walked into the middle of them.

Only at Yankee Stadium. And Dolly wasn't content just shaking hands and posing for pictures. She picked up a bat. Standing near the first-base line, Dolly took a few swings and apparently wasn't too bad at it. At one point she wondered what would happen if she actually made contact and whether somebody might get hurt.

Pagliarulo eventually presented her with an official Yankees bomber jacket, which Dolly immediately put on. Then she wanted the cap. There was, however, a slight engineering problem.

Dolly Parton's hair. If you remember Dolly in 1987, you understand. That Yankees cap wasn't going over that hair. It was going to have to sit on top of it. And that's exactly what happened.

There she was — one of the biggest stars in America, standing at Yankee Stadium in a Yankees jacket with a cap perched on that famous blonde hair.

It was a terrific image. But looking back on it almost 40 years later, there's something else that strikes me about the moment. Dolly looked like she belonged there. That's probably because Dolly Parton seemed to belong everywhere.

She could stand on a stage in Nashville, appear in a Hollywood movie, walk through Dollywood or wander onto the field at Yankee Stadium and immediately make people smile. There was no pretense about her.

She was Dolly. The Yankees she met that day have long since retired. The old Yankee Stadium itself is gone. Baseball has changed enormously since 1987. But that's the beauty of Yankee history. Sometimes history isn't Babe Ruth hitting a home run. It isn't Lou Gehrig's speech. It isn't Reggie hitting three home runs in a World Series game or Don Larsen throwing a perfect game.

Sometimes it's something small and sweet. Something you almost forget happened. Like the afternoon Dolly Parton came to Yankee Stadium and took a few swings with the Yankees.

Today, that memory means a little more. Dolly Parton died yesterday at the age of 80, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy as a singer, songwriter, actress, entertainer, businesswoman and philanthropist.

Millions will remember the songs. Others will remember the movies. Still others will remember the enormous amount of good she quietly did for people throughout her life.

Here at Bleeding Yankee Blue, we'll also remember that day in 1987 when a little bit of Nashville came to the Bronx. Dolly Parton was one of us.

Rest in peace, Dolly. Thanks for giving us one more wonderful story from the House That Ruth Built. And somewhere, I hope there's a Yankees cap big enough for that hair.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee Historian Contributor

THREE LEADS. ZERO EXCUSES.

2026-08-26T07:27:51.482-04:00

The Yankees had this one. Then they had it again. And then, somehow, they had it again.

And they still lost.

The Yankees fell 9-7 to the Astros Tuesday night, blowing three separate leads as the bullpen completely unraveled. After Will Warren left, Yankee relievers allowed six runs over the final four innings.

That wasted a good night from the offense. Cody Bellinger launched a three-run homer, while Luis García Jr. went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs. Jeremy Peña tied the game with a two-run homer off Fernando Cruz in the sixth, and Houston eventually took control against Brent Headrick in the eighth.

This one is pretty simple: seven runs should be enough.

The Yankees offense did its job.

The bullpen didn’t.

Astros 9, Yankees 7. A bad one to give away this late in August.

AARON JUDGE UPDATE? WHO KNOWS AT THIS POINT

2026-08-25T13:43:00.000-04:00

For nearly three months, the Yankees have been playing the waiting game with Aaron Judge. Finally, there’s some actual movement.

Judge continues to make progress from the stress fracture in his right rib, and the Captain is slowly checking off the boxes. He’s throwing, running, lifting and has begun working his way back into hitting, including taking swings off a tee. So far, importantly, there haven’t been any reported setbacks.

Now comes the part Yankee fans actually care about: Can Judge get back on the field before this season runs out of runway?

There’s still no official return date, and nobody should start circling days on the calendar just yet. But every swing, throw and workout gets No. 99 a little closer.

At this point, Yankee fans don't need another vague medical update. They need Aaron Judge walking back into that lineup.

Because if the Yankees are going anywhere this fall, having the Captain along for the ride would certainly help.

Keep progressing, big man. We're waiting.

JUSTIN TOPA GOT CALLED UP & I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY

2026-08-25T07:21:36.135-04:00

I’ve officially given up trying to understand how the Yankees decide who deserves an opportunity.

Justin Topa is the latest example.

The Yankees called up the veteran reliever ahead of their series with Houston. Topa has looked decent in a handful of innings at Triple-A since joining the organization, so maybe the Yankees see something they like. But there’s one rather large number staring everybody in the face: 8.05. That was Topa’s ERA with Minnesota this season.

And somehow, that gets you a ticket to the Bronx.

This is what I don't understand about the Yankees and their obsession with numbers. They have analytics for everything. They can probably tell you a pitcher's spin rate on a Tuesday night with two outs and a runner on second. But figuring out who actually deserves an opportunity? That's apparently more complicated.

Some Yankees get chance after chance no matter how poorly they perform. Others can produce and seemingly never get a legitimate opportunity. Then somebody carrying an 8.05 ERA comes through the door and the Yankees say, Let's see what we've got.

Maybe Topa pitches lights-out. I hope he does. This isn't a knock on the guy for accepting an opportunity. It's about the Yankees.

For an organization that supposedly lives by the numbers, they sure have a strange way of deciding which numbers actually matter.

I don't get it.

At this point, I'm not sure they do either.

YANKEES HAVE A SERIOUS SHOT AT CUBAN RAIDER SANCHEZ

2026-08-25T04:34:00.000-04:00

The Yankees have a real opportunity here. Cuban outfielder Raider Sanchez is 20 years old, has serious power potential and is now available on the international market.

Here’s the kicker: the Yankees reportedly have more international bonus money remaining than any other team. Translation: Brian Cashman has the biggest wallet at the table. For once, this shouldn’t require a complicated Yankee analytics meeting.

Prospects are never guarantees. Sanchez could become something special or disappear into the minors. Nobody knows. But what we do know is the Yankees take changes all the time. But when a team has money and a talented 20-year-old power hitter is sitting there, the decision seems pretty simple.

I say go get the kid. Sánchez batted .355 with 2 home runs in Cuba's Elite League at the start of the 2026 season before leaving Cuba as a much-touted prospect.

Then again, these are the Yankees. Simple decisions somehow become calculus.

Stay tuned.

YANKEES HAVE THEIR EYE ON JAPAN'S BIG BAT

2026-08-24T13:19:00.000-04:00

Jon Heyman dropped an interesting nugget earlier this month. I didn't want to forget to tell you. Allegedly the Yankees are among the teams linked to Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato, the 27-year-old Hanshin Tigers third baseman expected to pursue MLB after the 2026 season.

Heyman's report appeared in the New York Post on August 13, with the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies among the clubs connected to Sato.

Now, "linked" is doing a lot of work here. This isn't a signing. It isn't even necessarily serious negotiations. It's a loose rumor. But it's an interesting one.

Sato is one of Japan's premier power hitters, and here's where this gets even more intriguing.

Meanwhile Ryan McMahon landed on the 10-day IL August 21, retroactive to August 20, with a Grade 2 sprain of his left thumb after jamming it sliding into second base against Baltimore.

And remember: Heyman's Sato report came eight days earlier.

So no, the Yankees weren't suddenly linked to Sato because McMahon got hurt. They were apparently interested before the injury. Coincidence? Probably. But now that McMahon is hurt, that little August 13 rumor suddenly feels a bit more relevant.

Maybe Sato becomes another name swallowed up by the endless Yankee rumor machine. Or maybe this is one worth remembering. For now, it's just a link.

But it's a pretty damn interesting one.

RICE, RICE BABY! YANKS KEEP ROLLING!

2026-08-24T07:34:44.600-04:00

What a difference a day makes.

After getting embarrassed by Toronto pitching on Saturday, the Yankees came back Sunday and actually looked like a team with some attitude, beating the Blue Jays 8-3 and taking another important step forward.

Ben Rice continues to impress me. With the bases loaded in the sixth and the Yankees needing a big hit, Rice battled through a full count and ripped a two-run single to right. No panic. No trying to hit a six-run homer. Just a professional at-bat from a kid who keeps showing he belongs in the middle of this lineup.

And how about Jazz Chisholm Jr.? He helped manufacture the rally with a bunt single and then decided subtlety was overrated, launching a two-run homer an inning later. That's Jazz — energy, swagger and the ability to change a game in about five minutes.

Spencer Jones chipped in with an RBI double and a terrific diving catch, Trent Grisham reached base for the go-ahead run and later homered, and suddenly the Yankees had themselves an 8-3 win.

That's six wins in seven games, folks.

There are still things to clean up, but right now? I'm enjoying this. The Yankees are playing with some life, the kids are contributing, Jazz is bringing the juice and Ben Rice just keeps looking better.

Keep winning. Keep pushing. This is getting fun.

GIANCARLO STANTON SHOULD RETIRE. THERE, I SAID IT.

2026-08-23T10:21:03.002-04:00

I hate writing this because I actually like Giancarlo Stanton.

The guy has never bothered me. He works. He doesn't make excuses. He has delivered some monster moments for the Yankees, especially when the lights get brighter. And when he gets a hold of one, it's still one of the greatest sights in baseball.

But enough. Giancarlo Stanton should retire.

Not because he's a bad player. Not because he's a bad teammate. And certainly not because I'm blaming the guy for getting hurt. I'm saying it because at some point your body gets a vote.

And Stanton's body has been voting NO for years. Since coming to the Yankees, we've seen injuries involving his biceps, shoulder, knee, quad, ankle, Achilles, hamstrings, elbows and enough calf problems to make you wonder if the Yankees should just bubble-wrap him between at-bats.

That's not being cruel. That's the history. In 2019, Stanton played just 18 regular-season games. Then came more calf trouble in 2020, along with a hamstring strain. The quad followed in 2021. Ankle and Achilles issues arrived in 2022. Another significant hamstring injury cost him nearly two months in 2023. Another hamstring strain cost him 28 games in 2024.

Last year? Both elbows. Stanton missed the first 70 games of 2025 dealing with tendon problems. And somehow, 2026 has topped all of it. Stanton hurt his right calf in April. He spent nearly four months trying to get back. He had already suffered a setback with that calf earlier in the process.

Then, finally, he reached what was essentially the last major hurdle before beginning a rehab assignment: running the bases.

And he fell. And strained the other calf. You can't make this stuff up. The Yankees announced yesterday that Stanton suffered a moderate strain of his left calf while working his way back from the right calf injury. Aaron Boone acknowledged that, this late in the calendar, getting Stanton back this season has become extremely challenging.

He has played 24 games this season. Twenty-four. That's where my opinion changed. This isn't about waiting for Stanton to get healthy anymore. We've been waiting for Stanton to get healthy for most of his Yankee career. It's about reliability.

The Yankees are supposed to be building a championship roster, and you simply cannot construct that roster while repeatedly reserving an important spot for a player you have absolutely no idea will be available.

That's not roster construction. That's roulette. And before somebody tells me Stanton can still hit — I know. That's what makes this sad. There is still serious power in that bat. There are still moments when Stanton looks like the most terrifying guy walking toward the batter's box. This isn't Willie Mays stumbling around with the Mets. Stanton can still punish a baseball.

The problem is getting him into the batter's box in the first place. He's 36 years old. He's under contract through 2027. And after this latest setback, the Yankees are once again discussing whether he'll even make it back onto a baseball field this season.

How many more times are we going to do this? Injury. IL. Rehab. Running. Setback. Aaron Boone update. More rehab. Hope. Another body part.

Stanton has had a hell of a career. MVP. Five-time All-Star. One of the premier power hitters of his generation. He has carried himself professionally in New York and given Yankee fans some unforgettable postseason moments.

That's how I'd rather remember him. Not as a 37-year-old trying to coax one more season out of legs that have been screaming at him for years. There is dignity in knowing when it's time. And for Giancarlo Stanton, I think we've reached it.

Retire, Big G. It's the right move as much as I don't want to see it happen. Retire.

Not because you can't hit anymore. Because the Yankees and us fans can't keep waiting to find out whether you'll be healthy enough to try.

CODY BELLINGER IS BACK… AND THE TIMING COULDN’T BE BETTER

2026-08-23T09:53:03.138-04:00

Cody Bellinger didn't exactly tear up Triple-A pitching during his rehab assignment.

Good. He didn't need to.

Bellinger is expected back with the Yankees today after missing nearly a month with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. His rehab stop with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was less about batting averages and more about making sure everything still worked.

On Friday, Bellinger went 0-for-3 against Charlotte, but played six innings in left field and, more importantly, actually had to use the hamstring. A couple of fly balls sent him moving around the outfield, he handled them without a problem and walked away healthy.

That's all I needed to see.

Rehab games aren't supposed to be auditions. Bellinger already has the job. They're about getting your legs underneath you, seeing some live pitching and making sure nothing pops, pulls or explodes.

Mission accomplished.

Now Bellinger returns to a Yankee team that needs every healthy, productive bat it can get for the stretch run.

Forget the 0-for-3.

The best number from his rehab assignment was zero setbacks.

Welcome back, Belli. Let's get to work.

RON MARINACCIO REFUSES TO GO AWAY

2026-08-23T06:01:00.000-04:00

I always liked Ron Marinaccio.

Maybe it was because he felt like one of our guys. A 19th-round Yankees draft pick who wasn't supposed to become much of anything, Marinaccio simply kept pitching his way up the ladder until suddenly he was standing on the mound in the Bronx getting big-league hitters out.

And getting them out pretty damn well, too.

As a rookie in 2022, Marinaccio posted a 2.05 ERA in 40 appearances, striking out 56 in 44 innings. Opponents hit just .149 against him. For a while there, the kid from Toms River looked like another bullpen steal the Yankees had dug out of nowhere.

But baseball careers rarely travel in straight lines. Since leaving New York, Marinaccio's journey has looked more like somebody dropped the GPS in a blender. San Diego. Pittsburgh. Cincinnati. Waivers. DFA. Another opportunity. Another DFA.

And now, Minnesota. The Twins signed Marinaccio to a minor-league deal after he elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment from Cincinnati. His 2026 numbers aren't pretty — a 6.09 ERA overall — but his career ERA still sits at 3.98 over 183 major-league innings.

So maybe there's still something there.

That's what resilience looks like in baseball. It's not always some dramatic Hollywood comeback. Sometimes it's getting punched in the mouth, packing another suitcase and saying, OK, who's got a baseball? I loved Marinaccio when he was a Yankee, and I'm rooting for him now.

He's still got another inning in him. Go get 'em, Ron.

THE BLEEDING YANKEE BLUE MERCH EXPLOSION

2026-08-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

I have to admit, this has gotten a little out of control. In a good way.

If you've looked at the Bleeding Yankee Blue Store lately, you probably noticed something: this isn't just a handful of BYB shirts anymore. The store has exploded with new designs, new collections and some wonderfully strange ideas—and that's exactly where I wanted it to go.

Look at what we're doing now.

CLICK TO SHOP

We've got the traditional Bleeding Yankee Blue gear—the classic shirts, tanks, hoodies and game-day stuff that represents this blog and the Yankee fans who have supported us since 2010.

But then things get interesting.

We've got our Mafia Collection, mixing Italian-American attitude, humor and old-school imagery into shirts you aren't going to see hanging next to the generic baseball tees at the mall.

CLICK TO SHOP

We've expanded our holiday selection. We are working on Christmas, Thanksgiving, even Easter designs! We got St. Patrick's Day BYB gear, patriotic designs, women's styles, rugged baseball shirts and plenty of classic Bleeding Yankee Blue looks.

And then there are the designs I probably enjoy the most—the weird, obscure baseball stuff.

Bernie. The Boss. Old baseball references. Inside jokes. Designs that might make a baseball fan stop, look at your shirt and need three seconds before saying:

"Oh my God. I get it."

THAT'S what I want.

There is enough generic sports merchandise in the world.

I want Bleeding Yankee Blue merchandise to have some personality. Sports mixed with humor. Baseball mixed with nostalgia. Yankee culture mixed with things we grew up with, things we remember and things that simply make us laugh.

Some of these designs are going to be very different from anything you're used to seeing in sports merchandise.

Good. Bleeding Yankee Blue has been different since 2010. We started as an independent, grassroots Yankee blog built around one simple thing: being fans. No corporate voice. No pretending everything is wonderful when it isn't. We celebrate the Yankees when they deserve it, blast them when they deserve that too, and we've always tried to have some fun along the way. The store is becoming a physical extension of that personality.

You can click here for the entire store!

It's hosted through Dashery, powered by TeePublic, which gives independent creators like BYB a standalone shop while they handle manufacturing, shipping and customer support. That allows me to concentrate on what I enjoy most:

Coming up with the next idea. And believe me, some of them are pretty damn obscure. But the best part of all this remains the people who have been here all along.

You.

The Bleeding Yankee Blue audience has been incredibly loyal for nearly 16 years. You've read the blog, shared our stories, argued with me, laughed with me, celebrated wins and suffered through some absolutely ridiculous Yankee baseball. Now I'm seeing people wearing BYB.

That's pretty cool. So no, Bleeding Yankee Blue isn't "just getting started." We've been here since 2010. The difference is that now the store finally looks like us. Yankees. Baseball. Humor. Nostalgia. Italian attitude. Patriotism. Obscure references. And absolutely no interest in being ordinary.

That's Bleeding Yankee Blue.

Wear it. Live it. Have some fun with it.

YANKS LOSE & WEATHERS OUT!

2026-08-22T19:14:54.676-04:00

The Yankees are banking on pitching to carry them deep into October. Well, today gave us another reason to start sweating.

Ryan Weathers left the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to Toronto with left forearm discomfort and is headed for imaging. Those are three words nobody wants to hear about a pitcher in late August.

Weathers wasn't particularly sharp before leaving—72 pitches for just 10 outs—but that's almost irrelevant now. The bigger issue is whether the Yankees just lost an important piece of their rotation at the absolute worst possible time.

And there’s reason for concern. Weathers has dealt with forearm and lat problems before, making only eight starts last season, and he also missed significant time with a finger injury in 2024. Now, after pushing past his previous career high in innings, the forearm starts barking.

Wonderful.

The Yankees need healthy arms for September and October, not another mystery injury followed by an MRI and crossed fingers.

Hopefully this is nothing.

Because if it isn't, the Yankees' postseason pitching plan just got a whole lot thinner.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO GIANCARLO STANTON?

2026-08-22T19:01:19.530-04:00

At some point, somebody needs to explain what the hell happened to Giancarlo Stanton.

Stanton has been out since April 24 with a right calf strain. Then he suffered another setback in that same calf in June. Now, while finally working his way toward a return, Stanton fell while running the bases and strained his left calf. Aaron Boone called it a moderate strain, and with the calendar sitting in late August, his season is suddenly in serious jeopardy.

Unbelievable.

And yes, Stanton has an extensive injury history. Nobody is pretending otherwise. But I have questions for the Yankees, too.

What exactly is happening with this organization's training, rehabilitation and recovery operation?

This isn't some guy who rushed back after two weeks. Stanton has spent nearly four months rehabbing. The entire purpose of that process is to carefully rebuild the body so the player can eventually handle baseball activities again. Yet here we are: Stanton was rehabbing one calf and somehow injured the other one running the bases.

How?

Maybe this is simply terrible luck. Maybe Stanton's 36-year-old body just isn't cooperating anymore. But the Yankees have had enough injury and rehabilitation headaches over the years that their process deserves scrutiny.

Because Stanton played just 24 games this season, and now there's a legitimate possibility we won't see him again in 2026.

That's not just disappointing. It's ridiculous.

Somebody inside that organization needs to start asking harder questions about why getting important players healthy — and keeping them healthy — continues to feel like such an adventure.

CASHMAN BUYS ANOTHER LOTTERY TICKET

2026-08-22T18:49:08.679-04:00

The Yankees are digging through the pitching bargain bin again.

New York has signed right-hander Eli Morgan to a minor-league deal, adding another arm to the organization and, presumably, another project for the pitching department.

Morgan, 30, hasn't exactly lit up the radar gun—or the stat sheet—this season. He posted a 5.12 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 19⅓ innings with Kansas City before eventually hitting free agency.

So why bother?

Because this is what the Yankees do. They see an arm, find something they think they can tweak and toss it into the Matt Blake laboratory. And Morgan isn't completely without a résumé. He posted a 1.93 ERA over 42 innings for Cleveland in 2024, so there's at least evidence that the guy can pitch when everything is clicking.

It's a minor-league deal. There's virtually no risk here. Maybe Morgan rediscovers something and helps the Yankees down the stretch. Maybe he's simply organizational depth and we never see him in the Bronx.

Either way, Cashman bought another lottery ticket.

At least this one didn't cost $20 million.

ALL THE TOOLS ARE THERE. LET LOMBARD COOK.

2026-08-22T14:32:00.000-04:00

Let’s state something for the record: since George Lombard Jr. arrived in the big leagues, he has been a breath of fresh air.

Actually, make that a huge breath of fresh air that the Yankees desperately needed. The kid looks like he belongs. He moves like a natural athlete, plays with energy, runs the bases aggressively and — imagine this — actually looks comfortable playing shortstop for the New York Yankees.

Since his arrival, the Yankees have been playing better baseball, and Lombard has already found ways to contribute beyond the box score. On Wednesday in Baltimore, for example, he drove in two runs, including the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a 5-3 Yankees win, not the mention homers, smooth fielding plays, great instincts.

And this is precisely why I have a problem with anyone suddenly reaching for the panic button when the kid screws something up. Because he will screw something up. He's a kid.

Friday night against Toronto, Lombard dropped a foul ball at shortstop. It was an error. It wasn't pretty.

So what?

He's 21 years old.

Back on July 26, before Lombard ever stepped onto a major-league field, I wrote this:

“Will George Lombard Jr. struggle when he gets to New York?

Of course he will. Every rookie does.

Aaron Judge struggled. Derek Jeter struggled.

The difference is those struggles come attached to legitimate upside. They're part of developing a player whose ceiling still looks incredibly high. With Volpe, Yankees fans aren't watching growing pains anymore. They're watching the same movie over and over, hoping the ending changes. It hasn't.”

And that is exactly where I still stand. There is absolutely no comparison between what we're watching with Lombard and what we watched for years with Anthony Volpe.

The Yankees handed Volpe the major-league shortstop job and essentially decided to finish his development in the Bronx. The training wheels were attached while the Yankees were trying to win baseball games. Mistakes became patterns. Patterns became seasons. And eventually Volpe, at 25 years old, was sent back to the minors.

Lombard's situation is totally different. The Yankees drafted him in 2023 and developed him through their system slowly. He earned his promotions. In 2026, he hit .284 with a .411 on-base percentage and .909 OPS in the minors before getting the call.

Then he arrived in New York and immediately looked like he belonged. His first major-league hit was a home run, and he flashed the glove immediately in his debut. As of Saturday morning, Lombard is hitting .292 with a .352 OBP and .790 OPS through his first 48 major-league at-bats.

That's not a finished product. That's the point. Lombard is a kid playing Major League Baseball. There will be errors. There will be bad at-bats. There will eventually be a slump because major-league pitchers have this annoying habit of adjusting to hitters. Then Lombard will have to adjust back. But let me be clear, it will be nothing in comparison to Anthony Volpe. Volpe was not ready and the Yankees forced him down our throats. Lombard? Lombard IS ready.

That's why I don't want to hear the overreaction if Lombard make a mistake. He's going to make rookie mistakes because — breaking news — he's a rookie. I believed Lombard would eventually grab the spotlight because the athletic ability was obvious. Now we're seeing it.

So, enjoy the kid. Let him play. Let him screw up occasionally. And when he eventually goes 2-for-20 and somebody declares that pitchers have “figured him out,” everybody please remember what we're actually watching. We're not watching Anthony Volpe all over again.

We're watching a 21-year-old legitimate major-league talent learning how to become a major-league star. There is a very big difference.

And right now, George Lombard Jr. looks like he belongs exactly where he is.

LOOK WHO'S CREEPING UP THE AL EAST!

2026-08-22T08:30:40.626-04:00

This is getting interesting.

The Yankees beat Toronto 3-1, have now won nine of their last 13, and suddenly they're just three games out of first place in the AL East. Yes, these Yankees. Go figure.

Spencer Jones stayed hot, launching his seventh homer and going deep for the second straight game. Toronto even challenged it after Jones admired his work for a moment. Nice try. Still gone.

Cam Schlittler wasn't exactly cruising, but he battled through traffic and made pitches when he needed them. José Caballero added a sacrifice fly, Brent Headrick escaped a late jam and David Bednar finished it off for save No. 30.

But forget the individual numbers for a second. The Yankees are simply playing good baseball right now — and they're gaining ground.

That's what makes this 10-game homestand so important. They're home, they're hot and first place is suddenly sitting right there within reach. This is the major opportunity. Let's hope Boone doesn't mess this up.

Don't just make the AL East race interesting. Go take the damn thing.

THE YANKEES ARE COOKING!

2026-08-21T08:43:17.552-04:00

Well, would you look at that.

The Yankees went into Baltimore and actually handled their business, beating the Orioles 6-1, finishing off the sweep and extending their winning streak to four games. No drama. No bullpen circus. Just a good, clean Yankee win.

Gerrit Cole led the way, and when your ace pitches like an ace, baseball suddenly becomes a lot easier. Cole gave the Yankees six strong innings, allowing one run while striking out eight. He also passed Roger Clemens on the Yankees' all-time strikeout list. Not bad company.

But maybe the best part was that the offense wasn't simply waiting around for Aaron Judge to save everybody.

Luis García Jr. had three hits and blasted his 25th homer. Spencer Jones had three hits and a homer of his own. Heliot Ramos picked up his first RBI as a Yankee, while Ben Rice, José Caballero and Jazz Chisholm Jr. all chipped in. Alittle long ball, alittle small ball. Imagine that—a lineup where everybody participates. What a concept.

And then Ryan Yarbrough came in and slammed the door with three perfect innings. Nine hitters up. Nine hitters down. Thank you very much. Drive safely.

We've beaten this team up plenty when they've deserved it, so they deserve credit when they play like this.

Four straight wins. A sweep. Cole dealing. New Yankees contributing. Young guys producing.

This is what we've been waiting for.

Now don't get cute.

Keep winning.

MAYBE AUSTIN WELLS JUST ISN'T GOOD

2026-08-20T23:43:00.000-04:00

At some point, you have to stop calling it a slump.

Austin Wells is hitting .175. He hit .219 last year and .229 the year before that. His career average sits around .213.

Folks, maybe this isn't a season-long slump. Maybe Austin Wells just isn't that good. I know. The framing. The defense. The underlying metrics. The expected numbers. I've heard it all.

Wonderful. Maybe the Yankees can hang a TRYING banner in Monument Park.

Eventually your starting catcher has to hit the baseball. Wells has struggled making consistent contact, his power has disappeared for long stretches, and left-handed pitching has made him look completely overmatched. But my bigger problem isn't Wells.

It's the Yankees scouts. What the hell are these people evaluating? Seriously. Because we're watching the Anthony Volpe disaster unfold at the same time. Another highly touted Yankee prospect. Another player we were told was going to be a cornerstone. Another organization-favorite whose actual major-league production never matched the hype.

At what point does somebody investigate the people making these evaluations?

Because Wells and Volpe aren't 17-year-old lottery tickets anymore. We've seen them against major-league pitching. The results matter. Yet the Yankees continually seem more interested in scouting what a player might become than acknowledging what he's actually become.

That's dangerous. And it's becoming a pattern. Potential. Projections. Exit velocity. Athleticism. Makeup. Upside.

How about hits? Wells has shown occasional stretches where the bat comes alive. Great. But a few hot weeks don't erase years of mediocre offensive production. And apparently Wells does have one elite evaluation skill.

Burritos. The guy became a social-media hit reviewing breakfast burritos and grading them on a 100-point scale. Maybe the Yankees should put him in the scouting department.

At least Wells appears capable of identifying the difference between an 87-point burrito and a 73-point burrito. I'm increasingly unconvinced Yankee scouts can identify the difference between a legitimate everyday major leaguer and another prospect they're desperately hoping becomes one.

That's the problem. We heard the hype with Volpe. We're hearing the excuses with Wells.

Meanwhile, Yankee fans are supposed to wait patiently while the organization tells us their internal numbers see something our eyes apparently don't.

Enough. Sometimes a slump is a slump.

And sometimes the scouts simply got the player wrong.

Maybe that's Austin Wells. Maybe that's Anthony Volpe. And maybe the Yankees need to stop grading their prospects and start taking a very serious look at the people doing the grading.

YANKS ARE ROLLING. SHOULD WE TRUST IT?

2026-08-20T18:27:34.709-04:00

I have to give the Yankees credit. They’re winning. They’re working through the kinks, finding different ways to win baseball games and, dare I say it, actually starting to look like a team instead of nine guys waiting around for somebody to hit a three-run homer.

As I mentioned this morning on BYB, Wednesday night's 5–3 win over Baltimore made it three straight wins, and eight of the nine Yankee starters had a hit. The bullpen picked up Will Warren after he lasted only four innings, and the Yankees found a way to break a 3–3 tie in the eighth.

That's impressive. That's baseball.

And right in the middle of it again was George Lombard Jr.

The kid has elevated this team. I'm not suggesting Lombard suddenly turned the Yankees into the 1998 club. I'm saying his presence has changed the feel of this team. There's energy. There's speed. There's urgency. There's a young player out there who appears to understand that sometimes winning baseball isn't about launching a ball 450 feet.

Sometimes you just have to make something happen. That's exactly what Lombard did Wednesday. With the game tied in the eighth, he chopped a ball and used his speed to beat it out for the go-ahead RBI single. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't majestic.

It was winning baseball. And that's what I love about this kid. Lombard doesn't appear intimidated by the moment. Remember, this is a 21-year-old who was called up barely two weeks ago and homered in his major-league debut. Now we're watching him contribute in meaningful August games.

There's something else happening, too. The Yankees seem to be feeding off that youthful energy. That's important.

Now, naturally, when the Yankees start winning, Aaron Boone looks pretty good. Funny how that works.

When everybody hits, the bullpen gets outs, the kids make plays and the Yankees string together victories, the manager suddenly looks like he's pushing all the right buttons. But I've always believed something about managers:

You don't learn much about them when everything is working. You learn about them when everything stops working. When the lineup goes cold. When the bullpen gets shaky. When you've lost three straight and tomorrow night's game suddenly feels enormous.

That's when managing matters. That's when you need somebody capable of changing the temperature in the room, making the difficult decision, sitting the wrong player, riding the right one and recognizing trouble before it becomes a five-game losing streak.

That's where my concern with Boone remains. Because September is coming. The pressure is going to increase. Every game gets heavier. Every mistake gets magnified. And eventually this team is going to hit another rough patch. Every team does.

So, I say it clearly... enjoy this. I certainly am.

Give the Yankees credit for grinding through the problems and starting to play better baseball. And give George Lombard Jr. a huge amount of credit, because the kid has brought something this team desperately needed.

Energy.

Instinct.

Fearlessness.

But here's the question I can't shake:

What happens when the Yankees stop making Aaron Boone look good? Because eventually Boone may have to make the Yankees look good. And are you as frightened as I am that we're going to find out sometime in September?

GEORGE LOMBARD JUST MAKES THINGS HAPPEN

2026-08-20T07:36:18.478-04:00

The Yankees won again Wednesday night, and this one had something we've been begging to see more of: energy, speed and smart baseball.

New York beat Baltimore 5–3 for its third straight win, and George Lombard Jr. was right in the middle of it.

With the game tied 3–3 in the eighth and the bases loaded, Lombard didn't need to launch one into the seats. He put the ball on the ground and busted it down the line, beating the play for an infield single and bringing home the go-ahead run. Speed created pressure. Pressure created a mistake. That's baseball.

Then Jazz Chisholm Jr. added another run by aggressively reading a wild pitch and racing home, giving the Yankees some breathing room at 5–3. Aaron Boone specifically praised Chisholm's instincts on the bases.

And that's what I liked about this win.

It wasn't simply waiting around for somebody to hit a three-run homer. The Yankees made things happen.

And Lombard continues to show something that can't always be measured on a spreadsheet: awareness, hustle and the ability to impact a baseball game.

The kid looks like he belongs.

Keep playing him. This was the best move the Yankees made all season.

WHY IS THE ATHLETIC HINTING BLAME AT THE YANKS FOR A BROKEN DOWN MACOMBS DAM PARK?

2026-08-20T05:04:00.000-04:00

I saw The Athletic's story about the disgraceful condition of Macombs Dam Park and immediately had two reactions.

The first one was simple: This is terrible.

The second?

Wait a minute. Why does it feel like they're blaming the Yankees for it? Because if we're going to start pointing fingers—and believe me, I'm always willing to point one at the Yankees when they deserve it—we should probably make sure we're pointing in the right direction.

And in this case, I'm not convinced we are. The Athletic paints a powerful picture. Macombs Dam Park, including Heritage Field on the footprint of the original Yankee Stadium, has deteriorated. There are complaints about holes, uneven playing surfaces, weeds and fields becoming difficult to use.

Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres called the park's condition a symbol of "broken promises." He's right. But whose broken promise is it?

That's the important part. Start with the owner. Here's the fact that should probably be printed in giant letters:

THE NEW YORK YANKEES DO NOT OWN MACOMBS DAM PARK. New York City does. And NYC Parks operates it. That's not my interpretation. That's the history of the entire Yankee Stadium redevelopment. When the new Yankee Stadium project displaced recreational facilities on roughly 22 acres of existing parkland, the city developed replacement recreational facilities and new parkland. NYC Parks' own environmental documents described the replacement plan and the department's intention to develop those recreational facilities for the community.

Today, NYC Parks itself describes Macombs Dam Park as a 17-acre public facility containing the track, soccer/football field, basketball and handball courts and the portion constructed largely on the footprint of the old Yankee Stadium.

So if the grass is bad, if a field needs reconstruction, if the lighting needs replacing, if holes aren't being repaired properly, how does that become the Yankees' responsibility? Reading the Athletic article, I feel like this Sam Blum dude is trying to subliminally place blame on the New York Yankees. I don't like it.

FOLLOW THE PAPERWORK! That is where the story becomes much clearer. Bronx Community Board 4 has specifically requested reconstruction of the Macombs Dam Park synthetic-turf field and additional lighting. And guess which organization NYC's own budget documents list as the "Responsible Agency."

Not Yankee Global Enterprises. Not Hal Steinbrenner. Not Brian Cashman. Department of Parks and Recreation.

Even better, the city's FY2026 preliminary budget response says the agency supports the Macombs Dam Park project but that funding is needed. The later executive-budget response says the agency recommends funding it, but "the availability of funds is uncertain."

There it is. That's the story.

New York City has a park that New York City is responsible for maintaining, and New York City knows it needs major work. Yet somehow the money isn't completely there. And now apparently they need $54 million. That's right, according to reporting surrounding The Athletic's investigation, a complete renovation is projected at approximately $54 million, with roughly $48 million designated.

Meaning we're about $6 million short. And apparently that is enough to keep the larger project from moving forward. But here's where this story goes from frustrating to ridiculous.

Torres' office tried to provide federal funding. The city didn't take it.

According to NYC Parks, the proposed federal money came with Build America, Buy America requirements, and the city didn't have enough time to evaluate and comply with those requirements before the deadline.

I'm sorry... what? We have a deteriorating public park. We need money. A congressman's office tries to find federal money. And government bureaucracy helps prevent the government from taking government money to fix the government-owned park.

But we're looking across the street at Yankee Stadium? Come on. Now... you're asking, where do the Yankees fit into this? This is where I think The Athletic's framing deserves some pushback.

I'm not suggesting the Yankees should wash their hands of the place. Far from it. This park has a unique connection to the organization. Part of it sits on the footprint of the original Yankee Stadium. The construction of the current Yankee Stadium was part of the redevelopment that displaced existing park facilities in the first place.

The Yankees should care deeply about this place. And apparently they have. The Yankees say it has contributed nearly $2 million to Macombs Dam Park over the years, provided groundskeeping assistance and training and supported community programs. The Yankees have also requested estimates for immediate repairs and are considering additional assistance.

Could the Yankees do more? Absolutely. They're the New York Yankees. They have the resources. This is their backyard. Their history is literally underneath part of this park. If Hal Steinbrenner wants to help close a funding gap or finance repairs, wonderful. I'd applaud him for it. But there's a huge difference between saying:

"The Yankees should help."

and

"The Yankees are responsible."

They aren't the same thing. Let's point blame at where the blame should go.

No. 1 — NEW YORK CITY / NYC PARKS. This isn't complicated. They own and operate the park. NYC's own budget paperwork identifies the Parks Department as the responsible agency for the reconstruction project. If a public park deteriorates for years, the government agency charged with caring for that park owns the biggest piece of this mess.

No. 2 — THE CITY'S CAPITAL-BUDGET PROCESS. Community Board 4 asked for reconstruction. Parks agreed it was needed. Then came the magic words every New Yorker loves hearing: Funding needed. Funding uncertain. A $54 million reconstruction sitting roughly $6 million short while the facility continues deteriorating is a government problem, not a baseball problem.

No. 3 — THE BUREAUCRACY SURROUNDING THE FEDERAL MONEY. Torres tried to bring federal money into the equation. The city says compliance and timing issues prevented it from accepting that funding. Whatever the bureaucratic explanation, residents are still staring at the same lousy fields. That's a failure.

No. 4 — LOCAL ELECTED LEADERSHIP. Elected officials don't personally mow the grass, but this is exactly why capital budgets and constituent pressure exist. When a major neighborhood recreational facility deteriorates for years, everybody representing that neighborhood should be screaming until the money is secured and the work is done. Torres deserves credit for raising the issue and attempting to find federal funding. Others need to finish the job.

No. 5 — THE YANKEES. Yes, I'm putting them on the list. But they're fifth, not first. Their responsibility is different. It's a community responsibility, not the primary governmental responsibility for maintaining a city park. The Yankees benefited tremendously from the redevelopment surrounding the new stadium. Macombs Dam Park is their neighbor. Heritage Field preserves the footprint and memory of their former home. They should help. They should probably help significantly. But asking the Yankees to contribute toward fixing NYC's park is very different from suggesting the Yankees somehow allowed their park to deteriorate. It's not their park.

And so, that is our problem with the Athletic story. Bleeding Yankee Blue broke it down for you much better than Sam Blum ever could. By the way, Sam Blum is a reporter for the Dallas Morning News. Did he even make a phonecall to the city? Did he actually investigate or did he just see the shiny Yankee stadium in the background of the gross Macombs Dam Park and say "Oh, I know how to be provocative, angle the story so it blames the Yankees!" Could the Yankees do more? Sure. Do they have to? Nope. get over it.

Yes, The photographs are powerful. Paul O'Neill's connection to the place is powerful. The history is powerful. And putting Yankee Stadium in the background makes for one hell of an image. But it can also leave readers with a very convenient impression: Look at the beautiful Yankee Stadium while the Yankees let the park across the street fall apart.

Except that's not really what happened. I'm perfectly willing to blast the Yankees. But I'm not going to blame the Yankees for something simply because their stadium happens to make a great backdrop for the photograph.

If The Athletic wants to investigate why Macombs Dam Park has deteriorated, great. Investigate it, but investigate it right. Follow the responsibility all the way through City Hall. Ask NYC Parks why routine maintenance wasn't enough. Ask why the reconstruction wasn't funded earlier. Ask why a project everybody apparently agrees is necessary still doesn't have all its money. Ask how federal funding was allowed to slip away. Ask every elected official involved what happens next. And yes, ask the Yankees what they're willing to contribute.

Just don't confuse being the rich neighbor who could help fix the problem with being the government agency responsible for the property. Those are two very different things. Macombs Dam Park absolutely represents broken promises.

The Bronx deserves better. The kids playing there deserve better. And the old Yankee Stadium site sure as hell deserves better. But if we're going to assign blame, assign it accurately.

This is a New York City park. Maybe we should start by asking New York City why it allowed it to get this bad.

Our take over here at Bleeding Yankee Blue.

--Alvin Izzo

BYB Yankee History Contributor

NESTOR'S NEXT SHOT & CASHMAN’S MESS LIVES ON

2026-08-19T22:45:00.000-04:00

Nestor Cortes is getting another shot, and good for him.

The former Yankee lefty has agreed to a major-league deal with the Phillies as he works his way back from surgery for a torn biceps tendon. Cortes hasn't pitched in the majors in 2026, but Philadelphia apparently believes there might still be something left in that funky delivery.

I always liked Nestor. He was a good Yankee. He competed, embraced New York and became an All-Star in 2022. He wasn't Gerrit Cole, but he gave the Yankees some damn good baseball.

And every time I hear his name, I think about that trade.

On December 13, 2024, the Yankees shipped Cortes, Caleb Durbin and cash considerations to Milwaukee for Devin Williams. Williams sucked and was headed for free agency after the 2025 season, meaning the Yankees essentially surrendered all of that for one year of him.

And what a year it was.

Meanwhile, Durbin played great with the Brewers and eventually wound up with the Red Sox, where he's hitting around .258 with 12 homers, 62 RBIs and 16 stolen bases this season. Just last week, he had a three-hit, five-RBI game that included a grand slam.

So, here's my question: could Caleb Durbin have been our second baseman instead of the drama with Torres and then getting Jazz? Um Yes. It have been nice to find out.

Instead, the Yankees gave away a useful young infielder and a pitcher we actually liked for one disappointing season of Devin Williams. Williams is now across town with the Mets, Durbin is helping the Red Sox, and the Yankees are still searching for answers while struggling to score runs.

And yes, instead we get the Jazz Chisholm show. Talented? Absolutely. But the showboating annoys the crap out of me, especially when this offense can't consistently push runs across the plate.

I'm happy for Nestor. I hope he gets healthy and does well in Philadelphia.

But that trade? It was just annoying.

THE YANKEES $1 MILLION GUESS

2026-08-19T17:43:00.000-04:00

The Yankees are apparently placing another bet on the future.

And when I say future, I mean way into the future.

The Yankees have reportedly reached a pre-agreement with 15-year-old Dominican outfielder Wilson Gómez for a $1 million signing bonus. Gómez, represented by Wilin Rosario, is from Monte Plata, Dominican Republic, and is part of the 2028 international class.

Fifteen.

Years.

Old.

What are we doing here? Look, maybe Gómez turns into a superstar. I hope he does. Apparently, he runs a 6.5-second 60-yard dash, has power and "has hit at every level."

Great. But what exactly is "every level" when you're 15? Little League? Travel ball? Sophomore gym class? I'm kidding, but you understand my point.

This is what drives me crazy about evaluating baseball players this young. You're essentially looking at a kid and trying to predict what his body, swing, approach, competition level and baseball instincts are going to look like years from now.

That's not player evaluation. That's a lottery ticket with a scouting report attached. Empire Sports Media actually put the situation into perspective pretty well:

"This report gives fans a name to keep in the back of their minds, nothing more. Gómez will have to turn his current athletic profile into a much more complete game before he gets near affiliated baseball.

But the Yankees clearly see enough to make a seven-figure commitment this early. The 2028 class is still a long way out, and this is a reported pre-agreement rather than a completed signing, but the club may have found one of its first major investments in that group."

Exactly. Nothing more. That's the part Yankee fans need to remember. Maybe Wilson Gómez becomes the next great Yankee outfielder. Maybe the scouts absolutely nailed this one. Maybe in six or seven years we're laughing about how brilliant this $1 million investment was.

I genuinely hope so. But he's 15 years old. There are so many question marks here you could fill Yankee Stadium with them. Will he keep developing? Will the power translate? Will he hit better pitching? Will his body change? Will the speed remain? Will he adjust mentally? Will he even become the player the Yankees currently project him to become?

Who knows?

And that's my problem with getting excited about these kinds of Yankee "investments." We've heard about tools. We've heard about upside. We've heard about projections. We've heard about kids who are supposedly years ahead of everybody else.

Then reality shows up. So welcome to the Yankee organization, Wilson Gómez. I hope you're terrific. I hope the Yankees found something special. But forgive me if I'm not ordering the jersey yet.

A million bucks on a 15-year-old isn't a plan. It's a bet.

Let's just hope this time the Yankees guessed right.