About the Off-Season: Meanderings of My Mind

About the Off-Season: Meanderings of My Mind

By Tim Kabel

November 11, 2025

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Since the Yankees were eliminated from the postseason in the ALDS, there will be no more games to recap until March of 2026. We are now entering the part of the year that is marked by postseason awards, and trade and free agency rumors. Since we will have a lot of free time on our hands waiting for Spring Training, I will be able to think and opine about a variety of issues. That could be dangerous for all parties. I will now move from topic to topic like a toddler in a room full of puppies. 

·      The other day, I suggested that the Yankees should bring Don Mattingly back as a coach since he severed ties with the Blue Jays but has indicated that he would like to continue coaching or managing. Actually, I stated that I would prefer that the Yankees bring Mattingly back as the manager but if that was not possible, having him as a coach would be tremendous for the team. I was not the only one who suggested such a thing. However, I noticed across the Internet that there was some resistance to this notion and even saw comments that were somewhat disparaging in nature regarding Mattingly and his lack of World Series Championships as a player. Well, absurdity worked for Monty Python but not so much in this situation. The fact that the Yankees did not make the World Series during Mattingly's tenure cannot be laid entirely at his feet. There were a lot of reasons why the Yankees failed to play in the World Series during those years. For example, Stump Merrill, or Aaron Boone 1.0, was in charge of the team for a while. That didn't help. The point is that Mattingly has a great deal more experience, expertise, and knowledge regarding baseball than just about any other candidate the Yankees might have for one of their coaching vacancies. He is also a beloved Yankees institution and bringing him back into the fold would be a popular and prudent move. 

·      I recently started a virtual physical therapy program in addition to the exercises that I already do to improve my balance, leg strength, and address the problems I have with my shoulder, especially the left one, knees, and ankles. I particularly liked the sound of virtual physical therapy until I realized that it didn't mean that I simply had to simulate the exercises. It actually meant that I had to do them, but I didn't have to go anywhere to do them. I have now completed 13 sessions, with Saturday and Sunday being off-days. I think it is making a difference. In addition, the provider sent me a set of resistance bands. No, I don't believe they are French resistance bands and a yoga mat. I would prefer a Yogi mat, a large pad with every one of the Yogi-isms written upon it but that's not what they sent. The yoga mat will be given to my daughter, who will actually use it. If I were to keep it, it would become a cat bed for Clancy. I also received an Enso device, which I thought had something to do with the baker from the Godfather. It didn't. It is a small device that you affix to a problem area on your body, such as the knee, by means of a gel pad. You then use your phone to set up the level and length of time that you want to use it. Throughout that time, it sends electric pulses into your body at that particular area. I have now used it twice on my knees and after the first time, I was able to walk across my apartment without using my cane at all, something I had never been able to do before. At this rate, the Olympics seem to be a reasonable goal and expectation.

·      Another day, another link of the Yankees to a free agent. During the off-season, the Yankees have more links than a kielbasa factory. Yesterday, I read that the Yankees are the favorites to sign Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai.  Lately, it seems that almost every Japanese pitcher of note has gone to the Dodgers. However, unless the Dodgers plan on having a 12-man rotation, they may not have the space for Imai. By the way, wasn't Tatsuya on Fantasy Island with Mr. Rourke? Actually, Imai is considered to be a top-notch starting pitcher, who is 27 years old. Signing him would address a lot of the concerns surrounding the Yankees’ starting rotation while they wait for Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon to become healthy. It might also allow the Yankees to shift Luis Gil to the bullpen if they so desire. Of course, tomorrow the Yankees will be attached to a different free agent or trade prospect. Fasten your seat belt, it's going to be a bumpy ride. 

·      I have a quick update. My son, Jack, did not make the Savannah Bananas. They told him that he was entertaining, and fun to watch, and his baseball skills and abilities were fine. However, they were looking for players who had an already existing social media presence that was very large so they would draw fans to the new teams that will be opening up in Florida and Indianapolis. Well, at least he tried out and did well. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Naturally, I am exceedingly proud of him.

·      Hopefully, the Yankees make multiple moves during the off-season that provide both short-term and long-term benefits for the team. I would like to see them do something early in the off-season to get things rolling and to send a message that they will do what needs to be done. They have been linked to Munetaka Murakami, who was posted on November 8th and now has 45 days to sign with a Major League team. If the Yankees signed him, they could get a jump on the other teams and begin shaping their roster.

·      The thing that you need to keep in mind as we go through this off-season is that for every move that is suggested for the Yankees, or any team, to make, there will be an almost equal number of people who criticize that move. For example, last year when the Yankees brought in Jose Caballero from Tampa, there were many people who cautioned that he would not be an upgrade over Anthony Volpe. After all, it was reasoned that Caballero only batted .236 with a .686 OPS. He hit five home runs with 36 RBI's.  Volpe hit nineteen home runs and had 72 RBI. However, Volpe only batted.211 and had an OPS of 663. Volpe also tied for the league lead in errors and stole 18 bases while being caught 8 times. Caballero stole 48 bases while being thrown out 11 times. Volpe be had more pop, but the Yankees didn't necessarily need that from the shortstop position. The point is that there are always naysayers in every situation. I think the best way to look at it is that as long as the Yankees are moving forward, each individual move, be it a free agent signing, or a trade might not be as significant as the overall process. A single piece of a jigsaw puzzle is only important because the way it fits in with the other pieces to make a complete picture.

·      I think the fact that the Yankees made a qualifying offer to Trent Grisham is a good move. Just because they made the offer, does not mean he will accept it. If he doesn't, the Yankees will pick up a draft pick. It will not be a top-level draft pick. I believe it will be in the fourth round. However, a pick is a pick. If Grisham does accept the offer, the Yankees could trade him if they so desire. If not, he could return to the team. There would still be a lot of options based on how he and others performed. For example, if Grisham were to revert to his pre-2025 form and hit below .200, he could simply return to a backup role. If for example, Spencer Jones stepped up and proved that he belongs on the Major League level, could become the starting centerfielder. Nothing is chiseled in stone at this point. Issuing the qualifying offer to Grisham was smart because it keeps options open for the Yankees.