Daily Report – 6/30/25
Here is today’s report:
Yankees
Here’s a crazy stat from OptaStats: Aaron Judge is the first MLB player in a single season ever to record 30 home runs and 110 hits before July. In yesterday’s 12-5 pounding of the not-so Athletics – not the Oakland Athletics, not the Sacramento A’s, but The Athletics – Judge crushed a couple of home runs for his 29th and 30th of the year. His 44th career multi-home run game passed Lou Gehrig for the third most in franchise history, and the Yankees took the series from the Athletics.
There is no doubt about it: Aaron Judge is superhuman. I’ll ride the train of Judgian marketing, which this year includes his Superman bobblehead giveaway last week and his backache bashing yesterday. “His back was bothering him,” said Aaron Boone after another incredible offensive performance by the Yankees captain.
“Yeah, I was just a little banged up pregame, and I think that helped me out,” said Judge. Read that quote one more time if it didn’t surprise you. Has Aaron Judge shocked us before? Of course. In ways both good and bad, from 62 home runs in 2022 to the dropped fly ball in last year’s World Series. But to crush two no-doubters while battling back trouble? That’s next-level. That’s superhuman.
Judge didn’t have to carry the Yankees’ offense this time, though. Jazz Chisholm Jr. three-run tripled and solo homered for the Yankees’ first four runs of the game, and Marcus Stroman allowed just one run in his five-inning return from injury. “I was just feeding off our teammates, all those guys were having great at-bats in front of me,” said Judge.
Chisholm was masterful on both sides of the ball yesterday. His best defensive play at third base came in the third inning with runners on first and second. Chisholm picked up Jacob Wilson’s hard ground ball, stepped on third base before Willie MacIver could, and threw the ball across the diamond with plenty of time to put out Wilson.
The Yankees have been struggling immensely for the last several weeks to drive home runners in scoring position, so Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s third-inning bases-clearing triple was especially important for the Yankees. After putting his team on the board in the second inning with a first-pitch solo shot to right field, Chisholm broke the game open with his triple. “[Chisholm’s] game is so electric,” said Aaron Boone. “When he’s playing at a high level, I think it does energize everyone.”
A few innings later, Chisholm scared Yankees fans everywhere when he lifted his right arm in pain after a poor checked swing. It looked like a wrist injury or a reaggravated oblique, which Chisholm strained a few months ago. But when the third baseman returned to the game, the Yankees were truly energized. Not only did Judge club two home runs, but Cody Bellinger doubled and homered as well. His three-run shot came in the fifth inning, and it put the Yankees ahead 10-1.
However, no player was more energized by Chisholm than Marcus Stroman, who exceeded expectations with his five innings of one-run ball. It took just 74 pitches for Stroman, and he thrived on command, which is his key to success. I’ll admit, I doubted that Stroman would ever return to the Yankees rotation after hurting his knee, and I never expected him to perform as well as he did yesterday.
But after his successful outing, Stroman defiantly proclaimed, “I don’t do doubt.” He added, “Adrenaline is a great drug. […] I just feel like I’ve done a really good job putting my body and my mechanics in a better position.”
In the ninth inning yesterday, Anthony Volpe got ejected by the first base umpire, not for talking back to him about whether he went around on his third strike, but for putting his arms up. Anthony Volpe is the quietest guy in the Yankees’ clubhouse. If he speaks out, something must be wrong. Umpires need to relax and give more leeway before ejecting players, because if hand motions are grounds for ejection, then the antics of baseball are gone for good.
Tonight, the Yankees begin a four-game series in Canada against the Toronto Blue Jays, who sit just three games behind them for the American League East lead (YES). The Yankees can show Toronto who's boss, for they will play them seven times in the next month. The Yankees’ next month of games includes 23 against teams above .500 and three against the Atlanta Braves, who are as talented as any team with a winning record.
The Yankees will send LHP Carlos Rodón (9-5, 2.92 ERA) to the bump at 7:07 PM against the veteran righty Max Scherzer (0-0, 5.63 ERA).
Rangers
The Rangers seem willing to let Will Cuylle walk. Today is the deadline for Chris Drury to extend a qualifying offer to Will Cuylle, but he has refused to do so, which likely means the Rangers will have to match whatever offer sheet Cuylle receives to keep him.
Cuylle is a talented forward, regarded by many in the NHL as a future star, which means the value of his offer sheets will be quite high. Chris Drury does not have a reputation for signing forwards to second-career contracts longer than two years, but Cuylle might be worth the exception. His physicality demonstrates the future Drury wants to build. Also, the Rangers don’t have much future draft capital, so it wouldn’t be wise for Drury to donate even more.
There isn’t enough cap space worth saving to let Will Cuylle go. The Rangers must find a way to keep him, but the odds feel grim.
UPDATE: Per Larry Brooks, the Rangers have received an offer sheet for Will Cuylle. 22-year-old Matthew Knies, 94 career points (161 games) (44 goals, 50 assists), 58 points last season (29 goals, 29 assists), has a contract offer of $7.75 million AAV over six years. The comparison: 23-year-old Will Cuylle, 66 career points (167 games) (33 goals, 33 assists), 45 points last season (20 goals, 25 assists). The Rangers have seven days to match this offer sheet and keep Cuylle.
Knicks
The Knicks are likely to hire a head coach this week, per Ian Begley. The top candidates are currently Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown, who will have second interviews this week. Dawn Staley is another option, but less likely. Jason Kidd may be even less likely than Staley. The Knicks will struggle to sign or trade for superstar veterans like Al Horford or Giannis Antetokounmpo if they don’t hire a head coach soon.
With NBA free agency beginning tonight, the Knicks exercised their $1.9 million team option on Ariel Hukporti this weekend, and they are unlikely to pick up PJ Tucker’s $3.4 million offer.
Schedule
7:07 PM: NYY at TOR; YES; SP: LHP Carlos Rodón (9-5, 2.92 ERA)
