November 2, 2025

174 thoughts on “Yankees.com: Bellinger to become free agent after opting out of final year of deal (source)”

  1. Yes Tucker over Belli; but I can see Belli signing elsewhere and then Tucker signing elsewhere.
    2026 may be their last best shot with Judge so they need to go all-in. They won’t because Hal just doesn’t care.
    And by all-in I mean more than Tucker because Boone will still be an anchor that pulls them down by 5-10 games.

    1. Ahaha can you imagine – Skubal?
      First four – Skubal, Cole, Fried, Rodon.
      It would make for the most incredible Boone loss ever in next year’s playoffs!

  12. Tip of the hat to Yescavage for settling down, 4ip 5er 4h 3BBs 4Ks. Seriously how much do we suck. Do you think Hal might realize Toronto is not in fact a super team but rather Boone and Rowson need new job. Oh they also scored against two different relievers. Remember when Toronto dominated us with a bullpen game?

    1. I do not think that. Hal and Cashman are all about the thin blue (pinstripe) line – anything bad the world says about them is only a reason to rally together and protect “their own,” no matter how self-destructive it becomes.
      The way the cops protect the very bad cops they should be the first to expel and condemn.

    2. They have basically a zero approach at the plate except swing for the fences. No situational awareness, no two-strike and whatever the count and make contact and try to drive in a run with other than a HR. Basically, it is Judge by himself, and everyone else.

    3. George would have fired these people 5-times over. Hal, too much to do if he has to get a new, younger GM.

  30. Perhaps the Yankees build their team for the regular season.
    Given their talent level and the structure of the playoffs, they ought to be building for the postseason, because they’re always likely to be IN the playoffs.
    How WOULD you build a team focusing on winning a set of short series against top opponents, rather than building up wins over the long haul of a regular season?
    For example: are there players who consistently perform better than average against better opposition, and others who chiefly feast upon weak opposition? We do see the use of stats like TEAM success vs. teams above or below .500… Maybe it would make sense to focus on players in the former group?
    What else would a focus on postseason success change in terms of strategy for putting a team together?

    1. They definitely build for the regular season. Their power focused approach will feast on poor pitching (with a few frustrating exceptions) throughout the year, but wilt against really good pitching. Over 162 games though they’ll face enough below average, average, and slightly above average pitching to win 90+ games every year. Then in the playoffs when they face good pitching every game we get the crapshoot excuse.
      Maybe after another ten years of early October exits the Crack Analytics Team will have enough data to see that the approach that works well in the regular season doesn’t work so well in the post session.

    2. ALL hitters are likely to do worse against better pitchers, and that goes for contact hitters as well as power hitters.
      To the same extent? Maybe, but we’d want stats to back that up (or refute it).
      The question, though, is – if, say, for the hell of it, power hitters hit 25% worse against top pitching, are there power hitters who hit only 10% worse against top pitching, and others who hit 60% worse? And the same for other kinds of hitters, and for pitchers.

  31. Good Yankee teams held their own against good pitchers. They won a World Series against a team with 3 HOF pitchers.. They were 14-14 against Pedro. Those teams had good pitchers who didn’t fall apart like Rodon and kept the games close. They managed to hit well enough to let’s say get 2 or 3 runs and 5 or 6 hits rather than 0 runs, 0hits, and 11 Ks in 5 1/3.

    1. we’ve seen a lot of young ballplayers look exposed against top talent in the postseason. at least amongst the yankees rosters.

      still, if you add durbin and 3b and subtract dj and williams, the yanks win the division.

  40. “ In any case, the Yankees will look to have a capable staff in place under manager Aaron Boone in hopes of making a deeper postseason run in 2026 following their ALDS loss to the Blue Jays.”

    How about a capable manager.

  42. Wow, Yankees fired Mike Harkey (longtime bullpen coach) and Travis Chapman (first base coach/infield defense coordinator). Fascinating.

    There WAS that time that Boone yelled at Chapman for one of Jazz’s blunders.

    1. 15 years with the team is a good run. He was a Girardi guy and stuck around with Boone. Seems like deck chair shuffling, but whatevs. Probably get someone younger and more in tune with Blake.

  43. First of all, how crazy is it Clase is banned for life, and MLB.com won’t report it?
    …
    Second of all – how crazy is it that players are banned for gambling, specifically because it might give them an incentive to cheat… BUT NOT FOR ACTUALLY CHEATING?!!!

    1. I don’t see any legit news about Clase.

      What is annoying is how much Chapman suffered from the abuse allegations in NY but he goes to Boston and nothing is again mentioned. Clase would be the exact same thing. Not that I feel bad for these two, I’m just salty about *everything* having to do with the NYY. Boone, Cashman, choking players, Vlad going 0-7 against the M’s, everything.

    2. I don’t think gambling is banned because it might give players incentive to cheat. I think it is banned because it might give them incentive to throw a game.

    5. SD, I know what you mean, but in this case it’s both – violating the integrity of the game either to win or to lose.
      Either way, gambling is only an incentive to violate the integrity of the game; how can that be more severely punishable than ACTUALLY, intentionally, systematically violating the integrity of the game?

    6. Bop, apparently it’s been all but decided that he’ll be banned from MLB. If you look, you’ll find reports.

    7. I see where you are going, but I just think there is a drastic difference between losing on purpose and doing whatever you can to win, even if it crosses the line to cheating.

      I’m not denying the Astro’s caused serious harm to the game, but that was a very grand scale. I’m not so sure thins like putting pine tar or spider tack on your cap, which is cheating, is worth a lifetime ban. I’m not sure even steroids are worth a lifetime ban. I’m not willing to take a hard line on that.

      I can see taking a hard stance and drawing the line at all gambling on the sport though.

    8. Yes, sure. The pine tar thing is a great example.
      But what the Astros did, as you also say, was on a grand scale.
      Surely the appearance of impropriety and the danger of violating the trust of the public has to be less than ACTUAL grand-scale compromise of the game’s integrity and ACTUALLY violating the trust of the public?
      You’re right, I’m not talking about George Brett at all, but anything Pete Rose or this guy did is clearly not as bad as what the Astros – proving mere potential is just clearly less than proving indisputably, publicly REALIZED potential.

    9. It’s crazy that MLB takes ad money from gambling sites and facilitates actual gambling on its games.

  45. Same OPS, OPS+ for three years. Never had an OBP over 300. Maybe it affect him in the ALDS and maybe it impacted his fielding but I think the best is not yet to come and Volpe will play 130+ inn8ngs next year because Hal just can’t quit Boone and Boone just can’t quit phenom.

    1. Agreed. It might explain the defensive self-destruction this year, and that would give him a lot more value, but not enough that they shouldn’t be actively looking for a way to improve at shortstop.

    2. Honestly, knowing he had a full tear really does explain his defensive issues, so I think it probably is enough to keep him around as the #9 hitter. When his defense is on, he’s still a valuable player. He’s just a shitty hitter. Just make sure he’s treated like a shitty hitter. You know, pinch hit for him a lot. Stuff like that. A really good defensive shortstop is still a valuable player.

      Having an automatic out at the #9 spot isn’t that big of a deal. It’s having MULTIPLE automatic outs that is a problem.

  47. “The postseason is a crapshoot.”

    Brian Cashman has been betting on baseball all this time!
    Ban him for life.

    Also, pardon Howie Spira, the chief architect of the late 90s dynasty.

  49. Maybe Volpe will become the anti-Andujar. Miguel Andujar had a wonderful rookie season at the plate, next year he tore his labrum and he never came close to that again after surgery.

    So, and hear me out, Volpe will become a good hitter after his labrum surgery; thus restoring balance to the universe.

  50. I think there may still be hope for Volpe but he really needed to spend the winter with a hitting coach who could cleanse him of the Yankees’ Grip It and Rip It philosophy that they seem to impress upon all their young hitters. Volpe should be a line drive gap-to-gap hitter, not an elevate the ball and hope it goes out hitter. With his speed, his presence on the bases should add pressure to the defense and pitcher, helping the hitters that follow him. So if he can’t swing a bat this winter, he should probably find a base running coach to show him how to steal more efficiently. IMO the talent is there, the Yankees just haven’t developed it. I guess that’s somehow Chapman’s fault.

  53. Devin Williams endured a tumultuous season in the Bronx, but the free agent has expressed interest in returning to New York. Williams told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com he’d “definitely be open” to rejoining the Yankees in free agency. “I really enjoyed my experience here. … There’s a lot to like about this city, but it took me some time to adjust.”

    3. Basically a pillow contract so that he can go back on to the market next year with a more robust season to get a bigger deal. As how can he be getting some great offer based on this season, right?

    4. I’d be for 2 or even 3 years. Even WITH his closing problems he was the second best guy in the pen, and I think he was just healing after being broken by that Alonso homer. (Yes, that kind of thing shouldn’t break you, but they’re people.) I doubt he’ll be worse, and I feel pretty good about the possibility of him being better. And yes, he should be cheaper now than after a year of performing at his norm.

    1. In business school Hal only learned “winning isn’t everything,” then he dropped out before learning “it’s the only thing.”

    2. Yeah, with the way the Cubs and the Red Sox spend, it’s hard to give them TOO much shit. So long as they spend over $300 million, I won’t bitch too much.

  55. Hoch Twitter “ Jasson Domínguez is expected to play regularly next season, Aaron Boone said. He may play in winter ball. They envision him in left field, depending on how the offseason goes.”

    No word on how bad he is hitting right handed 186/530. No thoughts that he might be better playing center. Typical.

    1. Aaron Boone said he expects Jasson Domínguez to be a regular player next season but said they need to see what happens in the winter with the roster. They want him t9 play winter ball.

    2. Brian Cashman said Spencer Jones has put himself in a position to be considered a potential everyday Major Leaguer in 2026.

      Said he deserves a look and the ability to compete for a job, but also depends on what they do this winter.

    3. The purpose of that statement is to make it clear that they don’t NEED to spend whatever it takes to augment the outfield, specifically the position that Tucker plays. It’s a negotiating tactic.
      If Jasson is going to continue his attempts to once again seem like a Martian, I’m hoping it won’t be in left field.

  57. Rodon to miss the start of next season after surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow.

    Might explain why he sucked so much against Toronto.

    It seems odd that an injury like this would affect the start of 2026, though.

  58. Regarding Anthony Volpe’s left shoulder, Brian Cashman said “the cleanup was more severe than the MRI result.”
    Brian Cashman said he didn’t believe in-season that Anthony Volpe’s shoulder was an issue. But now? “Yes, it was affecting him.” He’ll begin season on IL.

    Carlos Rodón had a procedure yesterday to shave down a bone spur in his left elbow, Aaron Boone said. Rodòn is expected to be delayed a few weeks to begin the 2026 season.
    Judge will not need surgery.

    Brian Cashman said they haven’t had discussions yet with Scott Boras regarding Cody Bellinger’s free agency.

    1. Judge will not need surgery.

      Better hope that opinion comes from his own orthopedist. Judge should only trust the Yankees’ doctors as far as he can throw them.

    1. Given that bone spurs ended DiMaggio’s career, perhaps it’s the traditional Yankee veneration of history?
      All I got, makes no sense.

    2. Also, worth pointing out – how come they’re changing their approach? Generally they’d wait until spring, have him pitch three or four times, THEN decide no, he needs the surgery, and he’d miss half the season.
      Odd that he’s having it now.

  61. “I think he’s a good manager. He’s one of the better managers. If he was out there right now, he’d get a job rather quickly.

    Because of our environment, he’s someone that can be second-guessed ten million times over. I don’t care who you put in that, it would be the same with whoever else is in there.

    The guarantee is always that we’re going to be fighting for it – that’s the one thing that the Steinbrenner family provides for this city is constantly having a team that you can put forth that you believe is capable of a championship. That’s the job that we’ll be doing once again next year. The championship caliber intent is always there.”

    – Brian Cashman on Aaron Boone

    1. This was Brian Cashman’s object lesson entitled “How to excuse anything and therefore never learn.”

    2. To be fair he didn’t say Boone would get a managerial job. ESPN would probably hire him back though.
      Actually it might be fun to have him and Girardi together on YES discussing tactics.

  63. Boone sucks, but he 100% would get another manager job right away if that’s what he wanted.

    Lots of shitty managers keep getting jobs. Okay, not LOTS, but you know what I mean, people who have won a lot of games will get another gig.

    1. The quote amounts to a denial that any criticism could ever be meaningful, no matter who was manager, no matter how poorly he managed.

  66. Brewers looking awful. Through 6-innings of game 3.

    *********************

    Brewers hitters are now 8 for 79 in this series.

    Jake Bauers is 2 for 6.

    Durbin is 2 for 7.

    The rest of the team is 4 for 63. Chourio has a solo HR. The other three hits are a bloop single from Turang, a swinging bunt from Yelich, and a single from Frelick.

    They do have 7 walks, so the OBP is all the way up to 174. Their SLG percentage is 152.

    Their team OPS of 324 is about what Ortiz’s slugging percentage was during the regular season. Not his OPS, his slugging percentage.

  68. The Brewers, scary stuff.

    ****************************

    If you include Games 4 and 5 of the Chicago series they are 16 for their last 148 from the plate.

    If you take Jake Bauers’ 4 for 11 out of that, the rest of the roster is 12 for 137.

    3. Yeah the NY expat’s starting rotation looks pretty awesome. They gambled on Snell and Glasnow and won. I have a feeling our management and medical team wouldn’t have been as successful.

    1. That doesn’t sound right. I believe the ’76 World Series was canceled. Everyone needed to work on their Bicentennial celebrations, I think.

  74. Wow, the Blue Jays just hit EVERYbody. Woo comes in as a reliever, they quickly score off of him.

    I mean, it’s not like they’re crushing Seattle like they did the Yankees, but boy, they sure are relentless either way.

    1. Goddamn.
      And just when I was getting comfortable with him doing nothing and striking out every other time at bat.

  83. God, Boone is a moron.
    The injury wasn’t affecting his performance negatively – really? But okay.
    And then, in the same breath: but getting it fixed should improve his performance.
    What? Really?

    2. It’s so infuriating.

      But also the same team that ran the corpse of Rizzo out for how long?

    1. Toronto 3 games-Yankees 1 game. Toronto batting 338/974
      Seattle 3 games-Toronto 2 games inc. Toronto hitting 254/800

    1. Of course they are. Dodgers doing it the Yankee way.

      Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports this evening that Los Angeles is expected to target star outfielder Kyle Tucker when free agency opens up following the World Series.

      Guess that’s why Bellinger is Cash’s priority.

  87. I looked at Muramaki’s stats and they do not compare favorably to Matsui’s. I am sure he will be a good player but I do not think I’d back up the Brink’s truck.

    Tucker makes a lot of sense because he is the best player available. The also-rans just don’t seem to get it done in October.

    With that said, get Skubal (if possible). Get Tucker. But otherwise find the best excess value. We can’t be locked into 20 million at every position if they are aren’t going to outplay the farm by that much.

    1. Tucker’s probably gone but LA won’t resign Conforto so Cash might get him instead.
      MLBTR:Dodgers Expected To Pursue Kyle Tucker This Offseason
      By

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