Remember when Aaron Boone was asked about Aaron Judge's slump earlier this week and the #Yankees manager said "somebody will pay the price real soon?” That somebody ended up being #Rays reliever Kevin Kelly. On Judge's drought-ending, walk-off blast & a much-needed win for NY:

If that's what Gerrit Cole's version of Tommy John rust looks like, the #Yankees should be psyched over what's to come for him & a rotation that got by just fine without him. “It could be the best, for sure. I mean, the sky’s the limit with that." Column w/ input from Cole, Schlittler, Fried, etc

Aaron Boone said that Anthony Volpe is going to work out at second base. It's decision that could benefit him and the #Yankees in the short- and long-term. Why it makes sense:

As the #Yankees get ready for the #Rays, Aaron Judge is in a funk. He doesn't have a HR or RBI in his last 10 G, and he has a .516 OPS over that stretch. “I’m not doing nothing at the plate." But Aaron Boone has no doubts that “he’ll get through it, and somebody will pay the price real soon.”

Gerrit Cole "crushed" his rehab. He couldn't have done it alone. Ahead of his return from Tommy John surgery, Cole told me about the #Yankees trainers who guided him through the grueling process. One PT was particularly involved. Meet Joe Bello:

Episode 200 of the Views From 314ft pod is out! Covered a ton, including... ⚾️ Gerrit Cole's return ⚾️ The #Yankees' options when José Caballero returns ⚾️ Spencer Jones, Austin Wells, Yovanny Cruz & more Randy's final thought also got me ranting a little bit.

Yovanny Cruz impressed in his MLB debut, firing 100-mph fastballs, nasty sliders & lots of strikes. “I got the results I wanted tonight,” said the RP, who spent 8 years in the minors. Cruz made a case for sticking with the #Yankees. But with Gerrit Cole coming back, a move will have to be made.

Jasson Domínguez, progressing slowly after suffering an AC joint sprain, started hitting off a tee. The #Yankees' OF also talked about the painful catch that put him on the IL. “It was scary to see how I hit the wall,” Domínguez said, but he also made sure to note, “It was a great catch!”

Trent Grisham said he's "very optimistic” that he'll avoid the IL after hurting his knee last night. The #Yankees' center fielder is expected to get imaging done today.

José Caballero wants to return Friday. Aaron Boone said it's possible. So what's that mean for Anthony Volpe? Boone was asked if Caballero will be the SS; whether using his versatility maximizes the #Yankees' roster; and whether Caballero & Volpe can both be on the roster. Here's what Boone said:

New @NYDNSports: No one can forget Cam Schlittler's Wild Card gem. His ALDS outing wasn't as memorable, though. With the #Yankees' emerging ace set to face the #BlueJays again, I asked Schlittler what he learned from his "other" playoff start:

Gerrit Cole is going to pitch in a meaningful game for the first time since the 2024 World Series on Friday. As you can imagine, he's excited & grateful. "It's just a blessing to play the game. You get a better sense of that once you’re removed from it.” Here's a lot more on the #Yankees' ace:

The #Yankees were wowed by the way David Bednar "sacked up" & showed his "mettle" Monday. But the closer's escape act vs. the #BlueJays was another reminder that Bednar hasn't been as sharp as he was in 2025. That's been the case beyond the poor 5-G stretch he's on. A look at what's troubled him:

Even Austin Wells said he's been "terrible" at the plate. Aaron Boone, meanwhile, didn't commit to the catcher being back in the lineup today. Which begs the question: what options do the #Yankees have behind the plate? Their choices, internally & externally, appear limited:

After his HR helped the #Yankees beat the #BlueJays in their 1st meeting since the ALDS, Jazz Chisholm Jr. said "we gotta have a different mindset when it comes to" TOR. "I know a couple other guys in the clubhouse have that feeling of, ‘We owe you something, & we’re gonna show you what we got.'”

Aaron Boone took a moment to give the #Yankees' bullpen its flowers May 5, saying, "I think they’re just better than everyone thinks." But it's been mostly downhill for the unit ever since, & Sunday's Subway Series blow-up was yet another reminder that the team didn't do enough to address its pen.

A "terrible," 2-7 road trip ended with a Subway Series disaster. Now the #Yankees host 2 AL East rivals: the #BlueJays, the reigning AL champs, & the 1st-place #Rays. “We gotta have a short memory & move on," Aaron Judge said with a bad trip in the rearview & an important homestand on the horizon.

All offseason and spring, Aaron Boone insisted that Austin Wells is capable of more offensively. But the #Yankees' catcher has not met expectations, ranking among MLB's worst hitters in more than a few categories. “Obviously, we gotta get him going.”

Carlos Rodón was wild again Saturday, struggling with his command & making what he called a "stupid" throw home after a wild pitch. “I think I should be dialed in right now, and it’s frustrating," the #Yankees' SP said. "Obviously, I want to be better, and I’m not gonna give myself that leash.”

Jazz Chisholm Jr. hasn't had much success this year, but he may have found a good luck charm: baggy pants that he steals from #Yankees teammates. How a tribute has led to Chisholm wearing Trent Grisham & Giancarlo Stanton's trousers. “I’m not that superstitious, but I’m a little stitious.”

Cam Schlittler shoved in his #SubwaySeries debut. He also avoided injury after getting hit by 2 more comebackers & taking a tumble on a stellar defensive play. That's especially fortunate for the #Yankees, who lost Max Fried on Friday.

“Definitely bummed that I’m gonna have to be missing some time," Max Fried said after the #Yankees announced their ace is going on the IL with a bone bruise. The silver lining? Fried isn't anticipating surgery, and his ligament is all good. Here's more on the southpaw's elbow:

“I really don’t understand it,” Aaron Judge said of the #Mets' overall struggles this season, though the last-place Queens club is coming off its first sweep of the season. The #Yankees, meanwhile, have lost two straight sets heading into the #SubwaySeries.

The #Yankees' offense is in a bit of a funk ahead of the Subway Series. "We gotta get some guys on track.” The bottom half of the lineup has been a problem all season. Prior to Wednesday's one-hit, shutout loss, the team’s 6-9 hitters had combined for an 89 wRC+, a .668 OPS and a .224 AVG.

Giancarlo Stanton still isn't ready to ramp up his running. Meanwhile, Jasson Domínguez received a PRP shot. The latest on the injured #Yankees:

"I’m not too worried about a super long-term thing,” Max Fried said after exiting Wednesday's game with elbow soreness. “If I can, I would love to be able to make my next start, but we’ll see.” Updated story on the pitcher's injury and how a potential IL stint could impact the #Yankees' rotation:

Max Fried's 10th start of the season came to a premature end, as the #Yankees' southpaw exited with left elbow soreness. He'll be examined by Dr. Chris Ahmad and undergo imaging in New York on Thursday. More on Fried, including stuff on command issues that predated Wednesday's short outing, here:

Anthony Volpe, expected to be the #Yankees' SS, at least until José Caballero returns, talked about what it was like to get optioned, how he's feeling at the plate, and getting back to the bigs last night. He also discussed the possibility of playing other positions down the road.

Anthony Volpe's back. That doesn’t mean he’s locked in as the #Yankees’ starting SS again. While he'll play there a lot with José Caballero hurt, Aaron Boone expects the latter to resume starting duties once healthy. “He’s played as well as anyone out there. So yeah, that would be my expectation.”

The surface numbers, quality of contact metrics and eye test all paint the same picture: Jazz Chisholm Jr. is struggling mightily at the plate. An impending free agent, the #Yankees' 2B is hitting .201 with a .603 OPS, a 72 wRC+ & a .269 xwOBA. Some thoughts on Jazz from Aaron Boone here:

Ryan Weathers, fresh off a viral infection, went 6 innings before allowing a hit on Monday. However, that wasn't enough for the #Yankees to pull out a win over the #Orioles with their bullpen blowing it and their offense quiet.

José Caballero won’t be flipping anyone off anytime soon. Well, at least not with his right hand. Here's what we know about the #Yankees shortstop's middle finger issue, which Aaron Boone said there's some concern over.

En route to Baltimore to see the #Yankees, who are now 1-8 against teams with winning records this season. Wrote here why, IMO, it's too soon to be making much of that, especially when the sample size is small in more ways than one.

Carlos Rodón will make his season debut for the #Yankees today -- and join a rotation that's been thriving without him & Gerrit Cole. “It was fun from the outside looking in watching them," the lefty said earlier this week, "but I feel a lot more comfortable on the mound, pitching and performing.”

Spencer Jones' K% & In-Zone Contact% remained less than ideal at Triple-A. But Aaron Boone said there's been "encouraging" signs lately. I looked at that, got some thoughts from #Yankees Triple-A hitting coach Mike Mergenthaler, and revisited the mechanical work Jones did ahead of his debut:

It's been a long road back to the majors for Kervin Castro, who hasn't pitched in a big league game since 2022. The #Yankees reliever put up strong numbers at Triple-A last year, and he got Aaron Boone's attention this spring before posting a 3.14 ERA over 14.1 innings for the RailRiders.

With Jasson Domínguez in concussion protocol & sustaining an AC sprain in his left shoulder, the #Yankees are promoting Spencer Jones. “That’s a large man that hits the ball very far,” Cody Bellinger said of the Bombers' prospect, who has lots of speed and power, but also some contact issues.

Jasson Domínguez is in concussion protocol after slamming into Yankee Stadium's left field wall on a stellar catch. His shoulder also required an MRI. Here's what we know on the #Yankees' aching Martian, as well as a look at some potential replacements:

ICYMI: Ryan Weathers isn't starting today due to a viral infection. He's feeling better now, but he lost 9 pounds, needed an IV and was bedridden for a few days after he "threw my guts out for several hours.” All that altered his routine, so Paul Blackburn is starting for the #Yankees today.

All throughout the spring and over the offseason, Aaron Boone made it clear that he had high hopes for Brent Headrick. So far, the #Yankees' lefty has rewarded the manager's faith, posting a a 1.47 ERA over 19 G. Meanwhile, no pitcher has inherited more runners without allowing any to score.

“The positivity in the clubhouse right now is just super crazy,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said with the #Yankees 15-2 over their last 17 G. That's MLB's best record over that stretch. And to think, reinforcements are coming.

The #Yankees are moving differently this season. The decision to option Anthony Volpe is a significant example of that, but far from the only one. A look at the team's increased urgency and what's next for Volpe with thoughts from Aaron Boone and Aaron Judge.

Also within: how the Bombers' "JS" caps were made on short notice, whether a Sterling addition should be expected on their jerseys, and some thoughts (and a quick note) on the play-by-play man and Monument Park. #Yankees www.nydailynews.com/2026/05/05/y...

One last John Sterling story before bed... After the radio icon's signature "Yankees win" call played over the loudspeakers Monday, Aaron Judge & Aaron Boone said they hope to keep hearing Sterling's voice after wins. “It’d be a nice little tip of the cap."

Completely forgot I wrote this until his at-bat just now, but here's a story on how Jasson Domínguez is getting results from his right-handed swing after changing his mechanics on that side of the plate. #Yankees

Suzyn Waldman said it was "tough day," but not a tough one to work. After all, John Sterling didn't miss many games during his iconic run as the #Yankees' radio voice. "This man lived life to the fullest," she added. Waldman, as well as Aaron Boone and Aaron Judge, shared so much more on Sterling:

“There’ll never be another person like that,” Suzyn Waldman once said of her longtime broadcast partner, John Sterling. She was right. Sterling, whose voice & authenticity soundtracked decades of #Yankees baseball, died on Monday. The radio icon was 87.

Anthony Volpe’s rehab is over. His time in the minors is not. The #Yankees made what would have once been a stunning decision official, optioning the SS to Triple-A following a rehab assignment. A look at what this does and could mean for Volpe, and what it says about the Bombers:

Ben Rice suffered a hand contusion earlier, but the #Yankees' first baseman is considered day-to-day after X-rays came back clean.

Tim Hill has & hasn’t been a one-pitch wonder for #Yankees. On 1 hand, the lefty has worked a 1-pitch at-bat that resulted in at least 1 out 8 times this year, per @jamessmyth621.bsky.social. On the other, Hill finally has a slider he likes, adding it to an arsenal that's reliant on his sinker.