The "work In Progress" Yankees

I feel that’s what fans get every year around Opening Day.  I have to say, it is what it is when we’re talking about the Yankees injuries, but for the love of God, the fact that the Yankees are not reacting quicker when big guys like Gerrit Cole go down are beyond me. It’s painful, it shows lack of urgency.  I can’t stand it. But, it is what it is, right? We shouldn’t expect anything more.  Almost like we have a tremendous off season and then when Cole went down, Brian looked at Hal and said, “Wow, when can I get a break?” and Hal looked back from his billions and said, “Quick, play up the J.C Escarra promotion and let’s distract the fans!”  Nothing against Escarra, but we’ve seen this movie before.

Whatever the case, these are the 2025 Yankees. They are not scary, they are not good in some regards… they’re there. Brian Cashman called the Yankees’ current roster a “work in progress” on Saturday.

Oh, a work in progress? That’s a cute way of saying, “We’re running this franchise like a never-ending home improvement project that keeps getting delayed because someone forgot to buy the right tools.” And by “someone,” we mean Brian Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner, the dynamic duo of indecision.

But wait! Cashman did toss out a little breadcrumb of hope, suggesting that a move—or at least the illusion of one—could be on the horizon. “We’re definitely keeping the phone lines open,” he said. “We are certainly trying to improve on the margins, if those margins exist.” If. Those. Margins. Exist. That’s executive-speak for “We’re doing absolutely nothing, but here’s a vague sentence to keep you entertained.”

Sure, Cashman has a history of pulling off last-minute deals before the season starts, but will he actually do something this time? Hard to say. And with guys like Spencer Jones and Jasson Dominguez in the system, the last thing we want to see is for them to be shipped out. Planning requires effort and creativity at this point and well, that’s not really the Yankees’ strong suit these days.

One thing is clear: this team needs a third baseman or, at the very least, a right-handed bat that won’t make opposing pitchers salivate. Cashman himself even admitted he’d be “happier” with another right-handed hitter. The problem? Happiness doesn’t sign contracts, nor does it trade for impact players. What we’re left with is the baseball version of “We like what we have,” which is just a fancy way of saying, “We’re unprepared, but here we go anyway!”

And let’s talk about Hal Steinbrenner’s silly excuse. According to him, the Yankees are in a tough spot because “buyers and lenders” make it hard to upgrade. Ah, yes. The billionaire’s burden. As if the Yankees—a team valued at $7 billion—are some plucky underdog scraping together couch change to make payroll. Hal, buddy, this isn’t a yard sale. It’s Major League Baseball. Open the checkbook and act like you own the Yankees, not the Tallahassee Balloon Knots.

To the Yankee players, it’s not your fault. 

We love you as our athletes, and you are doing your best. Your front office is failing you. The Yankees, as currently constructed, are a product of upper management’s indecision and apathy. The fans see it. The media sees it. The league sees it. The only ones who seem blissfully unaware are the guys calling the shots.

So here we are, the 2025 “Work in Progress” Yankees. We’ve been stuck in this endless rebuild-that-isn’t-really-a-rebuild for years, and the slow-motion collapse of what was once the most feared franchise in American sports continues. And the worst part? It’s all happening right in front of our eyes.

What a damn shame.