From Gary Phillips:
Says here that Nick Torres, the 2025 Mexican League MVP, has joined the #Yankees.
The 32-year-old, a righty-swinging corner OF who has also played 1B, hasn’t played in affiliated MiLB games since 2018. Slashed .347/.425/.730 with 27 HR and 79 RBI for Unión Laguna. He’s hit .343 with a 1.025 OPS for the club since 2021.
It’s a minor league pact, so it’s very low risk, but I guess they’re hoping for him to be a right-handed platoon partner for Ben Rice and a right handed power bat off of the bench. That’d be nice. I doubt it’ll work out, but it’s a low risk bet.
Robbie Cano 43 yo in 2025 Slashed .372/.426/.573, hitting his 4,000th professional hit in the playoffs, becoming the first player to celebrate it in real-time, per SABR.
See – we don’t need Tucker at 400m or Bellinger at $200; we got the current MVP not a former MVP or never-was MVP! 2026 WS is now in the bag.
Another one bites the dust. Kirschner “ Harvey had arguably the highest ceiling of the remaining relievers available on the free agency market. Has struggled with injuries, but if he can stay healthy, this is a nice addition for the Cubs.”
I wanted no part of Harvey.
Don’t trust big rabbits.
I was never too Keen on Harvey
The pop-culture “joke” here is obvious, but I can’t figure out how to make it without at all punching down. So I won’t. Punching down has its place, but only in winemaking, bread baking, and telecomms.
I see what you did there.
I never really wanted Harvey. I never really dug that guy. I didn’t want to find a Harvey on my mat. I just about had ix with Harvey jokes.
Happy new year
Full confession: I haven’t the slightest idea what the “Harvey” jokes are about.
Me neither but I saw the Harvey Keen reference so I went with Doug Harvey, Matt Harvey and Harvey Haddix
Harvey Kuenn played 15 years in the majors with a career OPS+of 108, was ROY and one time BA Champion.
Given that “the pop-culture “joke” here is obvious”, I don’t think those are it.
Maybe a reference to Iron man 3 character?
I don’t get it either.
Sorry folks. Should have deleted my comment or not even made it to begin with. Was unclear, inartful, and inexcusable. It’s not worth trying to justify how my brain can read the phrase “I wanted no part of Harvey” and parse it in the darkest way, immediately thinking of how many women in Hollywood might have said that over the last 50 years, and then, how many public figures would find that cruel fact fodder for “comedy”. Even if I don’t make the joke, you are all much better people than me for having minds that don’t reflexively dive into the Gowanus in the first place. My apologies for wasting your time and your good will, and doubly for raising the awful subject.
Anyway, since I seem to be spiraling further into depression and shame, this would be a really good time for the Yankees to sign somebody.
Happy Gregorian New Year…
Ah, THAT’S what it was!
I wouldn’t have (elliptically) asked if I’d imagined it would spur such angst.
VJ, Happy New Year!
All I have to say is that this Mexican League dude better be named Yhoiker
Most people are, I believe
worst pickup of all time and ruiner of the 2021 season Andrew Heaney retires
harvey?
Imai has until Jan 2 to sign and Okamoto until Jan 4. Doesn’t sound like the Yankees are in on either?
I imagine they’re in it only so far as to make sure Imai is not signing for some paltry amount. Once the money becomes big time, yeah, I bet they drop out.
Well, so what’s your best-case prognostication, Brian?
Best case scenario is that THEY get Imai at a relatively cheap price.
I meant more generally – best-case realistic scenario for the off-season.
The best you’d realistically actually hope for.
The most realistic best case scenario is one of Tucker/Belli, then Cash gets one of the remaining starters cheap, and then makes some value bullpen signings, and MAYBE one trade for a top level reliever. I guess THEORETICALLY they could also sign Hays even if they sign Tucker/Belli, which would be AMAZING.
Veggie—sounds like you’re in a bad place right now. I hope the new year brings you some relief. If you don’t have anyone to talk to, say so and we’ll figure out a way to get in touch.
I’m hoping that Veg thing was him just getting drunk a little before New Year’s Eve, but if not, I’m sorry.
So far it’s been the Most depressing off season since losing Cano and signing Ellsbury.
Donaldson, IKF, and Rortvedt was pretty, pretty bad.
As for Veggie I’m assuming he’s just goofing around.
Thanks UJD and everyone. Really appreciate the kindness. Hadn’t drunk at all, fwiw. Was just straining under a season’s cumulative frustration – personal, professional, creative, and theodicean. Been a rough few months and the prospectus is the same, but at least there’s lots of kind folks out there, like you and like family. Even my in-laws who kindly watched the kiddo last night so I could make a couple lasagnas.
So sorry again to self-flagellate and despair in public. And again, thanks so much. And Happy New Year!
Veggie – pretty sure self-flagellation is the motivation behind this whole site, so you’re in good company.
Happy New Year 1996. Clueless joe? What was Bob Watson thinking?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Happy New Year!
Happy new year to all except Hal and Cashman.
Imai signs with Astros because they have the $ and we don’t
This isn’t good. The Astros and right-hander Tatsuya Imai are in agreement on a three-year, $54MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman adds that Imai can earn up to $3MM per year in incentives if he reaches 100 innings. The deal contains opt-outs after every year, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
Yankees paid Marcus Stroman $18.5 Million in 2025.
Meet the New Yankees.
Not the same as the Old Yankees.
The Dodgers are the Yankees and the Yankees are the new Tampa Bay Rays.
Since 2015 the Astros have been in the World Series 4 times, winning twice. The Yankees have been in the World Series once, losing. Since 2015 Houston’s playoff record is 62-41. Aaron Boone’s Yankee playoff record is 25-27. Those big market teams have all the advantages.
Happy New Year everyone!
I’m not surprised they weren’t in on Imai… they have Lagrange and Cruz looking really good in the minors. I think they look at Imai at his age and ceiling as a progress blocker for their young guys right or wrong.
Interest in free agent infielder Bo Bichette has mostly been limited to a pair of AL East teams this offseason. Toronto is known to be open to a reunion, while Boston has met with the two-time All-Star over Zoom. Three teams are now joining the Blue Jays and Red Sox in the race for Bichette’s services, as Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that the Cubs, Yankees, and Dodgers have checked in on him.
Whatever.
The Yankees have been primarily connected to pitchers and outfielders in free agency,
Which pitchers?
Pitcher of Miller, pitcher of Coors, pitcher of Bud. And in the international draught they got a pitcher of Corona. Asahi was also posted but has signed with the Dodgers.
This is Hal we’re talking about. A pitcher of Piper Heidseick, a pitcher of Moet. Bellinger? No I said Bollinger, Bellinger can wait for his price to drop.
I like the idea of Bichette at 2nd base, then trading Jazz in a package deal.
Signing Bichette and Hays, and trading Jazz for something good would be a very clever pivot.
A Hays/Dominguez platoon in left could really be something good.
I don’t think that Imai deal was ever there for the Yankees. Sounds more like a deal he took specifically to prove himself so that he can get big money next year. Players tend not to sign those types of deals with the teams they want to give them said big money, but rather with the best team they can find that they don’t think would spend the big money. The Astros were a perfect choice.
https://x.com/JacobBSpeaks/status/2006395921228013703
Did they break it up by left handed/right handed?
Heyman Yankees made offer to Bellinger. No details.
What a weird thing to report. Of COURSE they made an offer. You don’t say how much you want a guy back and then not even make an offer, ya know?
With these Yankees, that wouldn’t even surprise me.
Happy New Yhoiker!
No I will never give this up.
Veggie, I’m glad to know you have good people around you and lasagna is terrific. What did you put in?
There’s a NY Restaurant that features a 100 layer lasagna.
Have you tried it?
Not for me. I don’t eat meat and I tend to find lasagna too heavy. The square priced at $100 is intended for 4.
I just did red sauce – one with porcini mushrooms, one bolognese (beef), both with tons of garlic (amounted to about a head per lasagna). Standard cheeses (ricotta, Pecorino Romano, and mozzarella throughout; Parmigiano Reggiano on top). Fresh basil interspersed, some parsley on top. Not nearly as technically impressive as a 100 layer lasagna – which sounds absolutely marvelous. Would love to learn, but I imagine it will take more regular practice, in addition to some very thin noodles…
Happy New Year all. I kinda took a year off of the Yankees after last years uninspiring offseason. They almost pulled me back in with their early hot streak. Of course, they aren’t inspiring much for next year, but I’m sure I’ll manage a bit more enthusiasm.
that’s the spirit
MLBTR Yankee internal bullpen options
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/looking-at-the-yankees-internal-bullpen-options.html
Like everythign else, reeks of world series championship, doesn’t it?
Okay, maybe they do something, of course.
Funny how between 1996 and 2002 no one was saying that the post-season was a crap shoot.
Strange.
Short term it’s a crap shoot. See 1997 and 2001 for instance. But over 52 playoff games the Boone/Cashman dynamic duo is 25-27 in post season games. That’s not such a small sample.
I think the 2017-2022 Yankees just got stuck behind a much better Astros team (and one very good Red Sox team in 2018). Similar to the good AL teams that were stuck behind the 1996-2001 Yankees.
Now that that Astros team is finally finished, they should be making their move now, and they just…aren’t. It’s unusual.
Of course, the offseason is far from over, so we shall see what happens.
I’m not convinced the 2017 Yankees were truly worse than the 2017 Astros. But the Boone era has been a whole ‘nother trash can.
The Bellinger thing is interesting, because there’s no way “The Yankees made an offer” was put out there for no reason. I assume Boras wants people to know that the Yankees ARE in on Bellinger so that other teams think they need to actually make offers of their own, and not just hope he has no options.
Seems like there’s a lot of convincing reasons why the Yankees are perfectly executing this off season, especially in view of how they’re hemmed in by the inability of the available free agent market to provide good long term assets, as well as their budget concerns. A little tweak here, a little tweak there, we’re bound to have a great 2026 team. Nothing to see here. I don’t really care if we win the World Series, the nerd math is fun enough, right?
they aren’t wrong, but they definitely ain’t right
Tucker’s not a good long-term asset?
PA Buster Olney relayed that the Yankees were keeping in touch with Bichette’s representatives and consider him as a fall back option to reinforce the offense should they fail to re-sign Bellinger. Olney also relays that the Blue Jays remain the most aggressive suitors for Kyle Tucker — the jewel of this winter’s class of position players whom the Yankees also consider a backup option to their pursuit of Bellinger.
Blue Jays have signed Kazuma Okamoto, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
he would have been great if cashman didn’t saddle the team with another bad contract last season
Okamoto might not even be GOOD.
That said, I certainly do appreciate Toronto being willing to spend some money.
Hopefully this means they don’t sign Bichette or Tucker.
Then again, he might be very good.
True, but $15 million a year for four years for a guy you really don’t know what he will bring is not an unrisky move.
This isn’t a no brainer like Ohtani or Yamamoto or Tanaka (and hey, Matsui was a no brainer and it wasn’t like Matsui was even some world beater here).
It’s true – if you don’t sign a player, you have no chance of being disappointed.
Let’s put our heads together and see if we can figure out where following that logic might lead!
The work of a saboteur.
Fascinating answer by new Twins manager Derek Shelton as to the favorite player he ever managed. He said Robinson Cano, who he managed in the Yankees minor league system. Very interesting.
So if I have this right, the plan is to sign a surely declining, at least to some degree, Bellinger.
In other words, the hope, if this all pans out, is to be not as good as last year.
Does that sound right?
I think you nailed it. As Manfred adds wild cards Hal feels less pressure to excel. Being good enough is the goal.
SOURCE: The Yankees currently have neither an International Scouting Director nor a deputy director in place.
https://x.com/wilberdata/status/2007650028928585969?s=61&t=fhOaqwtc8q2TMSXUDRjPeg
Something a saboteur would do. Or, like with Green Bay and the last several years of Ted Thompson, we’ll find out that Cashman has been ill.
I mean, they fired the Director, so presumably they weren’t happy with the performance, so is letting the Assistant Director go, as well, really be that surprising?
I believe the Blue Jays currently have a higher payroll at the moment than the Yankees by about $15 million.
The Yankees will obviously add to their payroll, but do we think that the Blue Jays are going to still add Bichette or Tucker to that payroll?
Rogers Communication has much deeper pockets than Hal.
Oh, sure, but so does Carl Pohlad. The Blue Jays are now at their highest payroll ever. What are the odds of the Blue Jays actually adding $35 million MORE to their payroll this offseason by signing Tucker (or, what, $25-30 million to re-sign Bichette)?
I’ll say it again – I’m not sure why I should care about a team whose owner doesn’t care; lead by a GM has made poor decisions (another year of Boone) or no decisions at all.
Once upon a time I was crazy for the NHL and today I can’t even name all the teams! I am more in love with baseball, but this ownership / leadership is driving me away.
Yankees signed Paul DeJong to a Minor League deal. I doubt he makes the roster, but he at least hits from the right side of the plate.
Cash never rests. He is like Jiro scouring the markets every morning for the choicest cuts.
Oddly except for his last season DeJong is clearly a better hitter than phenom. Thats how bad phenom is. I keep reading about phenom having a bounce back year when in fact he’s a model of consistency OPS 23-25, 666,657,663.
Ultimately, signing Tucker can be taken as an attempt to improve.
Signing Bellinger, much as I like him, cannot.
Edward Cabrera?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6939550/2026/01/04/yankees-interest-edward-cabrera-marlins/
He really impressed me last season, after I wasn’t too enthused about him before that point, so sure.
townies with an “aggressive”offer to Bregman.
Effross to Tigers.
Hopefully it works out better for them than the last reliever they took from the Yankees.
I don’t like this bullshit about Boras leaking every time the Yankees make Belli a new contract offer.
Cashman never sleeps. Yankees Sign Adam Kloffenstein, Payton Henry To Minors Contracts
Reading between the lines, it sure sounds like the plan is to sign Belli, and then trade Dominguez or Jones as the centerpiece of a Cabrera deal.
Seems like selling low to me.
Not that I believe they’ll flourish as young hitters on the Yankees (on another team – sure).
I’m not against selling, but (a) not sure it’s their best deal, and (b) the first month or so of next season aside, they really need an offense with at least four big hitters. 1 and 1/2 or so just won’t cut it.
As an aside, with the Blue Jays now $15 million over the Yankees’ payroll. If they then spend ANOTHER $35 million on Tucker (or $30 million on Bichette), I mean, fuck it, good for them, honestly. Seeing another team willing to spend to win is kind of inspiring, really.
fangraphs has okamoto pinned to about double the projected war as mcmahon
for anyone keeping track
Someone here will be heartbroken.
Orioles Claim Jhonkensy Noel,
All I want is a Yhoiker
I thought that was illegal in 14 states?
Rational Yankee Fan X: This is a big story.
The Yankees canceling all their international pre-agreements 10 days before signing day doesn’t just cost them this class. It very likely damages the next few classes as well.
https://x.com/rational_yankee/status/2008310677052551547?s=61
Sounds like they felt they were doing shady shit. If you think that a number of the deals were violating the rules, it makes sense to just cut loose everyone so you can be fully above board.
One follow-up post makes it sound like they’re still planning to re-sign a bunch of the guys that they cut loose, just in February instead, once they get their new team in place, and make sure everything is above board.
Now that Efross is gone, let’s see who won that trade
Efross 36 innings 5.06 ERA
Wesneski 222 innings, 4.01.
Once we are at it:
Devin Williams, -0.3 WAR
Caleb Durbin 2.8 WAR (so far) playing a position we needed, that is now filled by a guy making $16m who can’t hit.
Seriously, how many good vs bad trades has cashman made over the past few years? He’s old and the game has passed him by. And now he’s too scared to do anything risky.
verdugo – huge bust (weissert serviceable)
gallo – huge bust (smith serviceable)
montas – huge bust (sears serviceable)
it’s more the fact that guys they acquired like heaney / gallo / verdugo actively damaged the team and they continued to get played that bothers me more
than “losing” the trade.
https://x.com/TalkinYanks/status/2008333066486321635
Encouraging
Listen, the Yankees may be the most gung-ho patriotic team in the league? All throw-people-out-of-the-stadium-for-not-having-hand-on-heart-during-national-anthem and honoring every soldier they can get their mitts (sorry!) on, right?
Well, they should use that. The Yankees should recognize their place in the world. Clearly New York is stronger than cities like Cincinnati or San Diego or even Detroit. They should just go kidnap Tatis Jr., Ellie de la Cruz and Skubal.
A dash of realpolitik, and – problem solved!
The White House would surely have their back.
We don’t have oil.
But we have ships, right?
Didn’t the Steins’ money come from shipping?
I’ve said for years Otto von Bismarck is the natural successor to Cashman. Haven’t I been saying that for years? For YEARS.
The Belli thing is so fucking stupid, as obviously Boras doesn’t think he should sign until Tucker signs, but no one is giving Tucker the offers that HE wants, either, and so therefore no one is giving Belli the offers he wants. The only way Belli signs ahead of Tucker is if teams hit Boras’ absurd price demands, which won’t happen, so we just sit…and wait…and wait…and wait.
The Mets want Belli, too, but only if his price drops, and if his price drops, the Yankees will re-sign him.
I think it was Joel Sherman who said that this is just DJ LeMahieu all over again, where the Yankees were basically, like, “If you can get some big offer, bring it to us, and we’ll try to match,” and he got nothing until the end of January, when he finally got a 4-year/$80 million offer, so the Yankees beat it with a 6-year/$90 million contract.
We’re likely heading in the same direction. Just like everyone figured the Yankees were going to swoop in on LeMahieu, other teams think the Yankees will swoop in on Belli, so no one is giving him an offer.
So we’re just going to wait…and wait….and wait…
Andujar vs LHP 389/409/578 986.
He makes Dominguez look like Brett Gardner defensively, though.
But yes, either he or Hays in a platoon with Dominguez would make some sense. Maybe he can platoon with Rice at first?
His only good offensive numbers in the past six years, though, came in just the second half of this past season, so he should be cheeeeeap.
2024 411/459/536 995 vs LHPs. Last year he hit RHPs also but not in 2024.
Yeah, that’s what I meant, the only time he hit well overall was last year. He’s been crushing lefties for a while. Which is usually enough to keep a roster spot, but not much more than that. He could be useful here to play left and first base if they don’t re-sign Bellinger, and pivot to Bichette.
McMahon, Volpe, Bichette, Rice in the infield
Dominguez/Andujar in left, Grisham in center, Judge in right
Wells behind the plate
Jazz traded for something good
Bichette 2B
Rice 1B
Judge RF
Grisham CF
Stanton DH
Dominguez/Andujar LF
Wells C
McMahon/Rosario 3B
Volpe SS
Bench
Rosario
Andujar
Caballero
Catcher or Waldo
Brian where do you see Yhoiker fitting in?
https://www.mlb.com/news/cody-bellinger-cubs-reunion-possible-for-2026
If Cody signs somewhere else, do they pretty much have to sign Tucker?
In theory but remember Bubba Crosby played 200 games in the 05/06 seasons.
I’d say yeah – if belli signs elsewhere they will sign bichette. Then trade jazz for an OF I guess.
As noted, I think Bichette would be the pivot at this point if they don’t re-sign Belli.
At this point, it seems pretty clear that Cash just doesn’t think Tucker is worth the money. I 100% disagree, but I at least see the logic. The cons for Tucker are as follows:
1. Okay but not great right fielder, defensive liability everywhere else (except for first base, but obviously you’re not getting him to play first base)
2. Injury-prone
3. You would need to sign him to a long-term deal
If you’re paying him over $35 million a year for, like, ten years, those are two fairly notable downsides.
I think he’s such a perfect hitter for this lineup that I would still sign him, but it’s not a case like Juan Soto, where you’re definitely getting a sturdy, Hall of Fame-level player guaranteed.
But damn, dude, who the fuck is Juan Soto?! Not many 26-year-old automatic Hall of Famers available in free agency!
i profoundly disagree with cash’s enthusiasm for tucker. it’s true he is not Soto, but Soto is special because he was so good from such a young age. If you look at their last five years Tucker has produced more war than Soto in a very similar amount of games (25.5-24.9).
Five years is not a SSS imo.
I really wanted Imai and Tucker (I’m not a brain surgeon, they looked like the best hitter and pitcher for this squad) but Cashman will always outsmart me.
I think I’d go 8 years on him too. To me bellinger / tucker is like when they got sheff over vlad or passed on beltran/verlander etc.
Just get the best player and go win!
Agree 1000% with KC.
And do the 10 years if you have to.
You’re paying for the first years off that contract. You have to be able to LET THE LAST YEARS GO. If they can’t play then, cut your losses – YOU ALREADY GOT WHAT YOU PAID FOR.
And inflation will have eaten up a lot of that extra value.
They know that when they sign a long-term contract, it’s just that when those last years roll around they just seem incapable of remembering that they knew it.
It’s also the fact that they were willing to go to 700M on Soto and they’re very comparable players, the biggest difference is that one is available now.
Allegedly, the offer on the table to Belli is 6 years/$180 million, and no other team is willing to go to seven years.
I wouldn’t love that deal, but I wouldn’t hate it, either.
I think they’re very confident he ultimately says yes. So confident that they don’t appear to even really be engaging the other free agent hitters anymore.
Bellinger OBVIOUSLY only gets the offense to “not as good as last year.” It is no reason not to be engaging with other free agent hitters, dammit!
I think there’s plenty of reason to believe the offense will improve even if they “only” re-sign Bellinger.
They won’t be starting Vivas/Peraza/LeMahieu for more than half the season.
They’ll finally have a righty who can hit to play against lefties in Rosario.
They’ll have a healthy Volpe (before he tore his labrum, he was hitting and fielding fine).
They’ll have Cabby all season.
They’ll have hopefully a healthy Jazz.
Rice can EASILY improve.
Dominguez and Wells could improve (Dominguez is, like, 23 years old, right?).
Grisham will probably be worse, but not inherently. Maybe he really did unlock something.
I think they can “just” re-sign Bellinger, and be okay on offense, but they NEED to make moves to fix the rotation and the bullpen.
Bellinger is likely to regress each year going forward.
Phenom’s fielding might help, but he’s never hit in the majors, let’s not pretend.
Rice can EASILY improve? Really? Rice was better last year than anyone had any right to expect, I’m flabbergasted by the “easily.” He could just as easily regress.
And Rice was the ONLY young player to progress last year.
“Dominguez and Wells” where have I heard that before? Either of them becoming really good seems a lot LESS likely now than it seemed last year, right?
Most importantly – that’s all what they already had. That’s not acting to improve the team.
It’s not that Dominguez or Wells couldn’t break out, obviously we’re hoping for that.
But last year we were almost expecti
In short, you start with:
“I think there’s plenty of reason to believe the offense will improve even if they “only” re-sign Bellinger.”
…and then list a bunch of things that more or less even out – some will surely be worse (Grisham), some might (maybe) be a little better.
It’s nothing like an argument that there’s PLENTY of reason to believe the offense WILL improve. It’s a faint hope that if the downsides (declines/regressions of Grisham, Stanton, Bellinger himself, God forbid Judge, hopefully not Rice) are limited, and at the same time uncertain things all break the right way (the young players doing what, Rice excepted, they ALL failed to do last year, fitting into a pattern of Yankee futility making that happen on offense), then MAYBE it might work out to be a – SMALL – improvement.
There’s plenty of reason to DOUBT that the offense can be even AS good next year if all the do is sign Bellinger.
“Rice can EASILY improve? ”
Rice’s numbers were all MUCH worse than his batted ball data suggested.
Plus, they didn’t give him a chance to hit against lefties because of Goldy, so we never got a shot to see if he could improve against them.
He’s by FAR the most likely area for the Yankees to see improvement on offense.
.752 OPS against lefties, with 7 home runs in 119 plate appearances (versus 19 home runs in 411 plate appearances against righties). That’s really not that bad.
MLB.com, Ohtani Day. FFS
Cubs are getting Cabrera.
They’re trading Owen Caissie, and I won’t front, he’s a better “get” than Dominguez or Jones at this point in time.
Another one bites the dust. I’m getting March 2022 vibes. Stay tuned for a new Josh Donaldson, IKF like trade.
Money and the willingness to take the risk to go for it, is what always set them apart.
If they don’t have that, then what sets them apart now?
I’ll tell you: nothing.
Mystique and Aura, I’ve been told, are now living in a shed in Shilling’s back yard.
What are you supposed to do if another team has a better trade offer than you? Teams that are trying to compete usually don’t trade Major League ready outfielders like Caissie.
Brian, the answer to that begins with: pay to get Tucker.
(And then don’t say you’re done.)
The other team may have a better prospect, but it doesn’t have better money.
Oh, sure, you know I’m down with signing Tucker. I just don’t think them missing out on Cabrera really means anything when the Cubs gave up a significant return for the guy (there are rumors that Caissie isn’t even the only major prospect being sent in the deal).
It’s downright HILARIOUS how it appears that I am a bit off base with the whole Tucker/Belli situation, in that I have long noted that Belli has been waiting for Tucker to sign because Tucker is the big prize, and Belli is the guy you get if you can’t get Tucker, but it now seems plainly obvious that, for whatever reason, everyone out there is looking at BELLI as the guy they all want to sign, because…
A. Belli is an actively good defender rather than being an okay defender like Tucker (and Belli can play a decent center field)
and, most importantly,
B. Belli’s HIGH end salary ask is lower than Tucker’s LOW end salary ask
So this has resulted in Belli having a ton of interest out there, MORE so than Tucker, even though Tucker is obviously the better player (they’re also pretty close in age. It’s not like Tucker is five years younger. I think he’s something like a year and a half younger).
It’s a bizarre situation.
It’ll be interesting what happens with Bellinger.
The articles prove pretty convincingly that Yankee Stadium is perfect for him, SIGNIFICANTLY boosting his performance.
If future performance is important to him, he’d have to want to stay in Yankee Stadium.
On the other hand, this is the last big contract he’s likely to get, and it’s good for him that it comes after a year of performance in Yankee Stadium. If money matters to him more than future performance, this is the moment to cash in.
In the past, those two values would have coincided (staying with the Yankees and getting the most money). Now, though, I have my doubts.
Which way will he go?
Bellinger was very good last season but he had had some pretty crappy seasons in the not so distant past like 2024, 2022, 2021.
If this is the entire focus of the front office, even if belli doesn’t stink, I have a strong feeling judge is never going to sniff the WS again.
I guess Im a naive washed up ex hippie but I don’t understand why $25 Million+ for 5+ years isn’t enough security to make you want to play where and for whom you want to play.
Eat The Rich.
I agree with that, if they wants to play for the Yankees.
If he might wants to play somewheres else, but the Yankees are offering more, I might lean towards “take the damn money!”
It’s Hal’s money, so I don’t mind players taking more of it.
The problem is that Hal does mind.
Veggie, I don’t know that it’s even that.
He seems like the rich boy who’s so worried about looking smart that he’d rather lose than appear to have overpaid someone, even a little. So long as the con didn’t (publicly) work on him, he’s okay with the deal not getting done at all.
All that while he actually HAS the money and could have won.
Cashman has always struck me as the one trying to look smart. Hal just seems content to make a profit.
Maybe. It’s the contrast with George. It’s like Hal saying: George ran this like a toy, but I’m a professional!
But maybe you’re right.
I think there’s pressure from the other owners and the commissioner’s office not to break the system.
It’s a good gig for all the owners if none of them tries to hard to win. Without anxiety to win, payrolls are kept reasonable, and championships are equitably divided among all the teams.
When one team breaks the system, they can hoard the wins, but the system holds because there aren’t teams to drive the bidding on players up.
When multiple teams attempt to win by adding payroll, that really drives up player salaries, and shows off the deficiencies of the teams that are content only to be in the league. When some teams look exceptionally good, some other teams have to look bad.
George had made his own way in life and he didn’t need to have friends in the system. He could thumb his nose at convention and attempt to achieve his goals. Hal is just the steward who has to follow all of the rules to be accepted.
The sustained George love is absurd though. He got lucky in the early days of free agency, and then he ruined the team until he was banned from the game for the second time and they could work without him. They never, ever, ever would have won with him around. What a gigantic asshole he was.
Heyman saying the Yankees are starting to look at Bichette more due to Belli not moving at all in his demands.
Gotta love that the Yankees are the only team making Belli offers, and yet he’s just delusionally expecting a better deal from some mystery team.
But Heyman then suggests Bichette is looking for $300 million, and, well, fuck right off, dude.
This really does feel like some collusive bullshit with Tucker. How are teams not throwing money at this guy? He was playing with a broken hand for a month and he still ended up with a .377 OBP!
Bichette was at a nice .357 last year, but was under .300 in 2024. Bellinger was .334 last season, and has only cracked .360 once in his career (7 years ago when he won MVP).
It wasn’t that long ago that Bellinger got released.
Please screw Bichette and Belli by signing Tucker? Please?
They’ll probably sign Arraez and Cash will brag that he snagged a batting champ.
Arraez – he of the combined 2.0 WAR over his last 2 seasons (300 games). No thanks.
But it would be a cash move getting some guy he thought he was once was in love with. Tony Womack come on down!