Aaron Boone gives Yankees fans zero hope with response to team's offseason plans

Throughout November and early December, New York Yankees fans were able to joke about the team's utter lack of involvement in the MLB offseason, but the humor's starting to wear off. Brian Cashman thought he was being hilarious weeks ago when he told reporters that pictures of him sleeping on the sidewalk for an annual fundraiser would be going viral in the name of his inaction. The irony is, Cashman was spot-on in the worst way. Fans aren't making Cashman memes, though. They're just mad.

While the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles have been attacking the free agent and trade markets with desperation (delighting their fan bases in the process), Cashman and the Yankees' front office have been sleepwalking through the past eight weeks, all with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner making sure we all know that his multi-billion-dollar franchise isn't profitable.

As December has worn on, it seems like each new day has brought a new missed opportunity for Cashman. Matt Strahm as a worthy, much-needed bullpen piece? Gone. A fitting reunion with Michael King to keep the rotation afloat in April and May? No longer on the table.

What's most worrisome about the Yankees watching easily-attainable targets roll by is the absolute absence of a plan to qualify this gross lack of urgency. Is Cashman really feeling good about this bullpen and rotation? It seems like he's just winging it, which isn't going to cut it in a division featuring some winning-obsessed franchises out for blood.

And as Cashman reclines comfortably with his feet in the air and his phone on silent, Yankees manager Aaron Boone hasn't exactly been a public voice of confidence fighting against this dark void of offseason nothingness.

Aaron Boone has been serving us a steady diet of nothing-burgers when asked to explain or clarify the Yankees' horrible offseason

The most recent Boone "intel" came on Dec. 19 during a pop-up food and toy distribution event at the NYPD's 44th precinct: a wholesome stage for another empty bit of Yankees news. When asked about New York potentially meeting with free agent pitcher Tatsuya Imai (he could salvage this offseason with one signature!), Boone provided an answer that made fans wonder if he's still even a member of the Yankees organization.

An Imai meeting hasn't happened, but does Boone expect it to? "I don't know," Boone said.

Equally as eyeroll-inducing was Boone's answer concerning the imminent fate of Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. When asked if he expects the rumor-infected Chisholm to be wearing a Yankees uniform in 2026, Boone said, "I do," before adding a bunch of other stuff to his reply that sounded like a 100 percent guilty criminal explaining to the jury why he's, in fact, very innocent.

And to add a cherry to the top of this joy-inducing birthday cake of Yankees updates, Boone also suggested that the Yankees will be relying on Amed Rosario to play some first base in 2026. Surely, that will more than make up for low-balling (and losing) Cody Bellinger!

Rosario, 30, can do a lot of things on the baseball diamond. He's played a bunch of different positions (and even pitched once!), but he's never played first base. For some reason, the Yankees feel like he's the answer there. Maybe they're taking a page out of the New York Mets' book, who are reportedly moving Jorge Polanco to first while they continue to fill their roster with Yankees players.

Either the Yankees are preparing for the bluff of all bluffs, or it really is this bad. Unfortunately we are going to have to lean toward the latter given all of the easier opportunities they've missed out on so far.