Yankees Monday Mailbag 6/22: Landing Tarik Skubal and Potential All-Star Selections
Yankees Monday Mailbag 6/22: Landing Tarik Skubal and Potential All-Star Selections
Readers questions for this week's Yankees mailbag focus on a potential Tarik Skubal trade, All-Star voting, the catcher situation and more.Joseph Randazzo|
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New York YankeesTo submit your questions, reach out to Joseph Randazzo on X or Instagram at @YankeeLibrarian.
Here are answers to five of the most pressing questions that were on Yankees fans' minds this week:
Who should be the top trade priority for the Yankees?From @theezratakeshita
It should start with the one guy at the top of everybody's wish list. That's Tarik Skubal. There might not be a single player available on the trade market this summer who will have more of an impact.
Just think about what happened to the Yankees in the American League Division Series. Game 1 had to be started by Luis Gil. That's a scenario the Yankees never want to see, but it was forced upon them when the Wild Card Series went three games.
With Skubal, they'll have four legitimate Game 1 starters in him, Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, and Max Fried. No matter how long a series went, they'd still have an ace lined up for a Game 1 start.
There are other areas the Yankees can obviously improve, but nobody should be overthinking this. Skubal is that good.
Is Wells going to take the bulk of the starts when he returns?From @chilicarnes9921
I could see the Yankees giving Wells starts until around the deadline. At some point between now and then, they'll have their right-handed catcher.
After that, he could be relegated to backup duties, as he was last summer when Ben Rice took over for a bit. This is probably the end of his rope, the way it is for Anthony Volpe, except Volpe is doing enough to keep his job.
Then again, Martín Maldonado was the catcher when the Astros won the 2022 World Series. Wells is a pretty capable defensive backstop, and unfortunately, that's his best comp right now.
Thoughts on Ali Sánchez?From mattman1199
The offensive output from Yankees catchers has been so bad that Sánchez is somewhat intriguing. Last week, he had two two-hit days and got a hit this series against the Reds. The bar is so low right now that this alone should have bought him a few more games. Wells was back for one game, but it didn't seem like he was much different from before his IL stint.
It would be shocking if Sánchez made it to the end of the season, though. The only way that happens is if the Yankees ship Wells out of the Bronx or demote him to the minors.
Which Yankees will make All-Star Weekend?From @_lsh3k
Among the hitters, one who is definitely headed to the All-Star Game is Ben Rice. He would be starting if not for seemingly all of Canada putting in their votes for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who wouldn't even be in that position if he didn't have a household name.
Cody Bellinger should be the next lock. He may be one of the more valuable players in general between his glove and his bat. Few are as well-rounded as he.
Paul Goldschmidt should get in because of his veteran status in the league. Give him the Albert Pujols treatment from a few years ago.
As for the pitchers, Cam Schlittler should be starting the All-Star Game. He earned that one. I don't think any other Yankee pitcher makes it, though. Max Fried got hurt, and Ryan Weathers and Will Warren haven't been perfect over the last month.
Published Jun 22, 2026 | Modified Jun 22, 2026
JOSEPH RANDAZZOJoe Randazzo is a reference librarian who lives on Long Island. When he’s not behind a desk offering assistance to his patrons, he writes about the Yankees for Yankees On SI. Follow him as @YankeeLibrarian on X and Instagram.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
