I guess this question also goes out to Jets fans, but I think watching this team collapse predictably year after year has me feeling less and less invested in offseason roster changes and the team generally YoY. Like yes, hope springs eternal, but also, I can’t care more than the leadership and it seems like they are content phoning it in. It’s insane to me how the ownership can watch the Rays with their tiny payroll curbstomp us and be content to just trot out Boone and Cashman AGAIN. The rest of the league must love Boone and Cashman, truly. What other business has this level of job security?

For the last week this organization has been heavily criticized from so many directions. Some of the most scathing comments come from players that played for Boone.

So where are they? Personally, if I were being attacked like this, it’s not in my nature to hide. Take it on and respond. The lack of any reaction feels very meek.

They’re calling out the yankees management, mismanagement, lack of accountability, lack of leadership, and specifically things on Judge’s lack of leadership. and i’m ALL for it. Been saying this for years. and i hear them speaking no lies.

Many love to focus on how Aaron Boone is a babysitter and how Brian Cashman rode Gene Michael and Bob Watson’s coattails in the late 90s and 00s and much of this criticism is warranted. However Brian Cashman didn’t only ride Gene Michael and Bob Watson’s coattails, much of the structure of the current Yankees front office was built between 2001 and 2007.

Randy Levine: president 2000 (peak of dynasty)
Lonn Trost: promoted to COO early 2000s
Jean Afterman: svp assistant GM 2001
Michael Fishman: vp assistant GM 2005
Tim Naehring: VP baseball operations 2007
Damon Oppenheimer: VP Domestic Amateur Scouting 2001
Kevin Reese: VP Player Development 2007

What I am saying is firing Boone and/or Cashman alone won’t fix this team’s problems. I will say since Brian sabean and Omar Minaya were hired Yankees development has somewhat improved developing players like Ben rice and Cam Schlittler while Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr have shown flashes of brilliance from time to time.

Example of a team that changed front office structure. After decades of failure James Dolan finally got it right hiring Leon rose in 2020 leading to the Knicks 2026 title. James Dolan didn’t only hire Leon rose, Leon Rose also brought in respected executives like William Wesley, Brock Aller, Gersson Rosas, Walt Perrin, Frank Zanin to develop relationships, manage cap, develop/assess talent, etc. When James Dolan hired Phil Jackson in 2014 he granted him autonomy but Steve mills and much of the Knicks front office remained the same meaning Phil Jackson didn’t have the support needed to become a good executive he simply just tried applying his coaching knowledge to the front office and the floor. 2008 James Dolan hired Donnie Walsh upon advice from David stern gave him autonomy but much of the Isiah era front office was still there meaning Donnie Walsh had no one to back him up when he was against trading for Carmelo Anthony as opposed to waiting for him to become a free agent then sign him in the offseason.

These were AL award predictions I made on 9/6/26 (I never did propose the NL side).

Let’s see how I did? At least with the finalists. I will do the same with the other awards. To see how I did.

https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-gold-glove-award-finalists?partnerID=mlbapp-iOS_article-share

Gold Glovers only

-I Skipped Pitcher—

AL C Gold Glove: 2/3 correct

1. ⁠Dillon Dingler-DET-WINNER
   
2. ⁠Austin Wells-NYY
   
3. ⁠Adley Rutschman-BOS/BAL*

*Brendan Valenzuela (TOR) got it instead of Rutschman who underperformed both offensively and defensively in Boston. I am so glad that we didn’t get him.

AL 1B Gold Glove: 2/3 right

1. ⁠Vladamir Guerrero, Jr. -TOR-WINNER
   
2. ⁠Paul Goldschmidt-NYY (penalized for lack of games) *
   
3. ⁠Christian Walker-HOU

*Vinny Pasquantino (KCR) got in instead. I was dead wrong about Goldy. It was always a bit of a long-shot and “homer” pick, but he certainly was great there in limited time.

AL 2B Gold Glove: 2/3 right

1. ⁠Michael Massey-KCR-WINNER (OAA and DRS preference)
   
2. ⁠Jazz Chisholm, Jr-NYY (great at OAA terrible at DRS) *
   
3. ⁠Cole Young-SEA (great at DRS terrible at OAA)

*Chase Meidroth (CWS) got in instead of Jazz. Which is the right call. I changed to Jazz (a bit of a homer pick) last minute and obviously shouldn’t have.

AL SS Gold Glove: 3/3 right!!!

1. ⁠Bobby Witt Jr.-KCR-WINNER
   
2. ⁠Andres Gimenez-TOR
   
3. ⁠Taylor Walls-TBR

AL 3B Gold Glove: 2/3 right

1. ⁠Maikel Garcia-KCR-WINNER*
   
2. ⁠Caleb Durbin-BOS
   
3. ⁠Brooks Lee-MIN

* A different KC guy here (Loftin)-got in here. But to be fair I did include him in the utility category, so I feel like I should have partial points? Lol.

AL UTL Gold Glove: 2/3 right

1. ⁠Jose Caballero-NYY-WINNER (12 DRS and 1 OAA)
   
2. ⁠Ezequiel Duran-TEX
   
3. ⁠Nick Loftin-KCR*

*McKinstry (DET) who was nominated in 2023 I missed out on. I got Loftin correct though (different category).

AL LF Gold Glove: 2/3 right

1. ⁠Cody Bellinger-NYY-WINNER
   
2. ⁠Stephen Kwan-CLE*
   
3. ⁠Chandler Simpson-TBR

* Again maybe partial points apply? Since Kwan was nominated for CF. I missed out on Wyatt Langford (TEX)

AL CF Gold Glove: 2/3 right

1. ⁠Ceddanne Rafaela-BOS-WINNER
   
2. ⁠Tristan Peters-CWS*
   
3. ⁠Evan Carter-TEX

* Again Kwan (CLE) was here instead. I missed on Peters.

AL RF Gold Glove: 2/3 right

1. ⁠Wilyer Abreu-BOS-WINNER
   
2. ⁠Cam Smith-HOU
   
3. ⁠Jonny DeLuca-TBR*

*Missed on Nathan Lukes (TOR) as I guess DeLuca played more all around the OF. Mesa (TBR) once inserted in RF played at a Gold Glove level as we all know (dumb Austin Wells attempt at 3B).

We will see if I get any of the winners right. I thought I did pretty well!

The Yankees pitching was excellent. The lack of contact and quality at bats is so stark it look like a different sport. If they Yankees can change their philosophy they can be there, but that would mean Cashman would have to admit his philosophy is wrong...I'm not confident that will happen.

https://x.com/snyyankees/status/2110391482314100758?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg

What to do with Giancarlo Stanton?

Stanton, who turns 37 in November, doesn’t have a clear fit on the Yankees’ current roster.

There are legitimate reasons to consider releasing the potential Hall of Famer and 2017 National League MVP. Stanton is due $25 million next season, with the Miami Marlins paying $10 million of it. He also has a $25 million team option or a $10 million buyout for 2028, but the Marlins are slated to pay the Yankees $10 million that season, too.

Therefore, cutting Stanton now would cost the Yankees $15 million. When the Yankees released DJ LeMahieu in July 2025, they still owed him about $22 million.

But it also might cost the Yankees more. Stanton is the Yankees’ most grizzled veteran. He’s the de facto co-captain to Aaron Judge and one of the few players in the clubhouse with the credibility and the willingness to call out his teammates. 

With Stanton’s constant injuries and inability to play the field or run the bases, the Yankees may feel it’s time to move on. That said, the prudent move may be to give him through spring training to see how his body holds up and what the rest of the roster looks like before making a decision.

What to do with Ryan McMahon?

McMahon, who turns 32 in December, may be in a similar spot to Stanton. He’s due $16 million in 2027, the final year of his contract, but his time in New York may have run its course.

Known mostly for his glove, McMahon turned in his worst defensive season by far, posting minus-3 Defensive Runs Saved. He was still capable of making brilliant plays, but he struggled too often with routine plays, and he didn’t appear to go side-to-side as well as he did in the past.

The Yankees may try to find a team willing to trade for McMahon while they eat a sizable portion of his salary and search for an upgrade. Anthony Volpe and José Caballero could be on the roster as potential platoon partners should the club bring in a different third baseman, though the Yankees seem to think that Volpe would make a better second baseman and that Caballero would be better served in a full-time utility role.

Can Ben Rice make himself a better first baseman?

Rice, who will be 28 next year, is too young to be a full-time designated hitter. It also wouldn’t be ideal for the Yankees if he takes the majority of his at-bats there.

Despite how good Rice has proved to be as a hitter (41 home runs, .897 OPS), he was bad defensively at first base last season. Of the 43 players who played 300 innings at the position, Rice ranked second-to-last in DRS at minus-8. Only the Seattle Mariners’ Josh Naylor was worse at minus-9.

Rice’s issues ran the gamut: He was plodding; he didn’t have the best feel for the position; he was a poor receiver.

Read the full analysis for free: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7688231/2026/10/14/yankees-roster-questions-giancarlo-stanton/?unlocked_article_code=1.IlE.mr-0.e2IuMYNpd9sy&source=emp_shared_article&smid=re-share-ta

https://x.com/snyyankees/status/2110409617595383914?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg

https://x.com/snyyankees/status/2110400884739821952?s=46&t=eZQOkEBzAB8XR0_j5bQcHg