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Gary Phillips

@garyhphillips.bsky.social

1.1K followers 67 following 630 posts

Yankees beat writer for the New York Daily News

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Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 6h

The #Yankees shared some good news Thursday, as Aaron Judge does not need surgery this offseason.

Still, Anthony Volpe won’t be the only member of the team to miss Opening Day, as Carlos Rodón underwent a procedure that will sideline him for a few weeks:

Yankees’ Aaron Judge avoids surgery, but Carlos Rodón won’t be ready for Opening Day

The Yankees shared a bunch of injury updates on Thursday. That Judge won’t need surgery was the most important of all.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 9h

The #Yankees had lots to say about Anthony Volpe.

On his post-op timeline, on playing him through an injury that required surgery, and on his standing as the team's starting SS.

Brian Cashman & Aaron Boone took a softer stance on the latter. More here:

Anthony Volpe to miss start of 2026 as Yankees take softer stance on shortstop’s standing

Anthony Volpe won’t be ready for Opening Day in 2026. Will he be the Yankees’ starting shortstop when he does return?

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 1d

Anthony Volpe underwent surgery after playing through a partially torn labrum for months.

The #Yankees' SS could be seen wearing shoulder wraps throughout the year, but he and the team downplayed his injury's impact on his poor performance.

Yankees SS Anthony Volpe undergoes shoulder surgery after difficult 2025 season

The Yankees’ shortstop originally injured his non-throwing shoulder while diving for a ball on May 3.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 1d

I wrote down some ways I think the #Yankees should be thinking this offseason.

That includes swinging big for elite talent and embracing competition at shortstop.

More thoughts here:

5 ways the Yankees should be thinking this offseason

After another season without a championship, the Yankees should be thinking along these lines this winter.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 2d

It was a rough year for the #Yankees' bullpen and, at times, their infield defense.

Now longtime bullpen coach and infield/first base coach Travis Chapman aren't coming back. More on them and a refresher on where some of the team's other coaches stand:

Yankees’ longtime bullpen coach won’t return as part of staff shakeup

At least two members of the Yankees’ coaching staff won’t return in 2026.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 2d

The #Twins are looking for a new manager. Could #Yankees hitting coach James Rowson be the guy?

The Bombers gave MIN permission to talk to Rowson about the job. He previously served as the Twins' hitting coach, and he oversaw one MLB's top offenses in NY.

Yankees letting Twins talk managerial job with hitting coach James Rowson

Rowson previously served as the Twins’ hitting coach from 2017-2019.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 2d

There's been a lot of talk about Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger & the #Yankees. There's going to be a lot more, so I looked at how the 2 OF compare.

Tucker is an elite hitter & should be pursued. Ending up with Bellinger wouldn't be bad either.

More here:

How do Yankees’ potential targets Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger compare?

While Bellinger fit in rather well with the Yankees, they could once again prioritize exploring Tucker’s market first.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 3d

After the #Yankees were eliminated & the most tumultuous season of his career came to an end, Devin Williams said he's "definitely open" to a reunion & discussed adjusting to NY.

Still, it'd be surprising if the impending free agent returns. Here's why:

Devin Williams says he’s ‘open’ to Yankees reunion, but closing will factor into free agency

As the most tumultuous season of Devin Williams’ career came to a close, the impending free agent insisted he wouldn’t mind running it back with the Yankees.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 6d

Two experienced managers on the #Yankees' coaching staff are on expiring deals.

Meanwhile, Matt Blake and Tanner Swanson have club options.

More on them:

Matt Blake among Yankees coaches with club option, team’s ex-managers on expiring deals

The Yankees have some decisions to make on a few members of Aaron Boone’s staff.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 7d

The #Yankees have a long list of expected free agents, headlined by Cody Bellinger. Trent Grisham & Devin Williams are on there, too.

Here's a primer on all of them, with tons of notes, quotes & commentary related to how their offseasons could play out:

Cody Bellinger headlines Yankees’ long list of expected free agents: Who could return?

The Yankees have eight players scheduled for unrestricted free agency. Three others have a player or club option.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 7d

As Aaron Boone concluded his post-ALDS presser on Wednesday, he was asked if he had any reason to think he wouldn't be managing the #Yankees in 2026.

“No,” he said. “I’m under contract, so I don’t expect anything.”

Yankees’ Aaron Boone not worried about his job after ALDS exit: ‘I’m under contract’

Minutes after the Yankees were eliminated from the postseason on Wednesday night, Aaron Boone was asked if he has any reason to fear for his job.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 7d

If you are still awake... you should really get some sleep. It is so, so late, and rest is important.

But if you're not going to do that, you should read my obituary on the #Yankees' season. Think of it as a sad bedtime story if you're a fan:

Tormented by Toronto all year, the Yankees’ season comes to a fitting and disappointing end

A busy offseason now awaits the Yankees. But for now, Aaron Boone and company can only stew over another season that fell short of expectations.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 8d

Here's why Paul Goldschmidt is back in the #Yankees' lineup for Game 4:

Aaron Boone explains why Paul Goldschmidt returned to Yankees’ lineup for ALDS Game 4

Goldschmidt found himself back in the Yankees’ starting lineup on Wednesday for the first time since Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 8d

“All of us pitchers were in there saying that was the greatest swing we’ve ever seen,” Clarke Schmidt said of Aaron Judge's Game 3 HR, citing velo, location, circumstances & result.

The blast left the #Yankees astounded. It also kept their season alive:

With the Yankees’ season on the line, Aaron Judge delivers ‘the greatest swing we’ve ever seen’

Aaron Judge, whose prior postseason struggles have been well-documented, rose to the occasion in Game 3 of the ALDS, keeping the Yankees’ season alive with a towering home run.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 10d

"We’ll look at it," #BlueJays manager John Schneider said of Seranthony Domínguez appearing to tip his splitter.

Also: one #Yankees source said it's hard to know if Toronto has benefitted from ALDS tipping, but they're "definitely looking at it closely."

Blue Jays looking into Seranthony Domínguez tipping pitches vs. Yankees

The Blue Jays are aware that Seranthony Domínguez, one of their top relievers, appeared to be tipping his splitter against the Yankees in Game 2 of the ALDS.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 10d

“We did well with our backs against the wall against Boston. Now we’re gonna have to show we can do it again.”

A look at how the #Yankees are thinking as they face a 2-0 deficit in the ALDS:

Where are the Yankees’ heads at with another do-or-die game looming?

The Yankees had hoped to put their Rogers Centre woes behind them.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 11d

An "unfamiliar" arm angle now has the #Yankees in an uncomfortable position, as Trey Yesavage's dazzling, split-fingered postseason debut — and New York's ineffective pitching — has the #BlueJays a win away from the ALCS.

“That was nasty stuff."

Yankees back on the brink after Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage dismantles Bombers in Game 2

TORONTO — As the Yankees prepared for Blue Jays rookie Trey Yesavage before Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday, the only hitter on the team who had faced him chimed in. “He’s kind of deceptiv…

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 12d

"I don’t feel like my mind is completely clear to go out there and attack," Luke Weaver said after his latest implosion in Game 1 of the ALDS.

On Weaver's mental state amid the #Yankees' pitch-tipping concerns, with input from Matt Blake as well:

Luke Weaver’s mind seems fried amid Yankees’ pitch-tipping worries

The Yankees were worried about Luke Weaver giving his pitches away. Now the reliever sounds lost mentally after another postseason implosion.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 12d

The Rogers Centre remained a house of horrors for the #Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS, as the #BlueJays won, 10-1, after Aaron Judge & co. went quiet at the plate while New York's arm struggled early & late.

"It got out of hand."

More coming from Toronto:

Yankees can’t put Rogers Centre woes behind them as bats, arms flop in ALDS blowout

The outcome followed a regular season that saw the Yankees play some of their worst baseball north of the border, as they lost 6-of-7 games at the Rogers Centre over two series this summer.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 12d

Remember when #BlueJays broadcaster Buck Martinez said the #Yankees are "not a good team?"

Aaron Boone does.

“Contrary to some thoughts up here, we’re a really good team,” the skipper said before adding, “I know Buck had some thoughts... He’s wrong."

Aaron Boone claps back at Blue Jays broadcaster who said Yankees are ‘not a good team’

Aaron Boone made it known Friday that he heard what Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez had to say about the Yankees on Sept. 9.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 12d

As the #Yankees get ready for Game 1, here's a quick breakdown of their ALDS roster, which added Luis Gil and dropped Mark Leiter Jr.

Yankees tweak ALDS roster: Who missed the cut?

Just as they did in the Wild Card Series, the Yankees are carrying 12 pitchers and 14 position players for the ALDS.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 13d

“I think they learned their lesson,” Cam Schlittler said of the #RedSox fans — “some of the bigger accounts they’ve got over there” — who went after his mom before his Wild Card gem.

“All they’re doing is feeding the fire,” the #Yankees' rookie added.

Yankees’ Cam Schlittler hopes Red Sox fans ‘learned their lesson” after harassing his mom

Schlittler confirmed that some Red Sox fans went after his mom before the Yankees’ Game 3 Wild Card win.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 13d

With their season on the line, the #Yankees put their faith in a rookie making just his 15th big league start.

Cam Schlittler rewarded their trust with a "personal" postseason debut for the ages, as he dominated the same #RedSox team he grew up rooting for: www.nydailynews.com/2025/10/03/c...

Cam Schlittler rewarded the Yankees’ faith with a ‘personal’ performance for the ages

Cam Schlittler arrived on Thursday at Yankee Stadium, twirling eight scoreless innings in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against none other than the rival Red Sox.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 14d

Why did Aaron Boone change his stance on Paul Goldschmidt playing "against every lefty we face?”

"Ben Rice."

“The threat that Ben is right now to change the game won out,” the #Yankees manager added.

Why Yankees’ Aaron Boone changed his stance on Paul Goldschmidt playing over Ben Rice vs. lefties

“Goldie is going to play against every lefty we face,” Boone said Tuesday before the Yankees’ first baseman went 2-for-4 in a 3-1 loss.

www.nydailynews.com

Gary Phillips @garyhphillips.bsky.social · 14d

“He was meant to be a Yankee,” Matt Hyde said of Ben Rice.

But the scout knew his #RedSox counterpart "loved" the #Yankees' 1B as an amateur. In another universe, Rice could've been a hometown hero.

In this reality, he helped NY defeat BOS in Game 2.

Yankees’ Ben Rice, once a Red Sox target, powers Game 2 Wild Card win

The Yankees’ fiercest rival also had serious interest in Rice, who played a pivotal part in the Bombers’ Game 2 victory.

www.nydailynews.com