The Yankees apparently intend to replace Gleyber and Verdugo with a burst of gaslighting.

Monday, in the Death Barge complex, Aaron Boone sang for his supper, blathering hope for the 2025 Yankees based on two prospects who seemingly belong on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts.  

Of 5'9" Jasson Dominguez - aka The Martian - Boone said: "I'm in that camp of people that think he's going to be a great player!"

Of 5'6" Caleb Durbin - aka The Greatest Base Stealer in Arizona Fall League History - Boone said: "I'm excited about him, I think he's gonna play a big role for us this upcoming season!"

And there you have it. The Yankees will soon lose Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo - (and, probably, Juan Soto) - but don't worry, people: The farm system will save our bacon.

Yeah, right. Isn't it fun to think? That the Yankees possess a vibrant wellspring of young talent, an abundant system of player development? Close your eyes and breathe. Savor the scent of the barn yard. Embrace the hype. Become one with the gas lights. No cause to worry. The earth provideth. 

Keep in mind, the Yankees have one player - 1 - in the current Top 100 MLB prospects list: Dominguez - who'll turn 22 in February - ranks 14th. (For whatever it's worth, Boston has three - 3 - in the Top 10.) Thus far in his five-year career, Dominguez has achieved two mileposts: a) the cool nickname, "The Martian" and b) the biggest signing bonus ever given to a 16 year-old. In September, he looked so lost in left field that Boone - still of the "great player" camp - decided to ghost The Martian throughout the postseason. He never once came to bat.

As for Durbin, it's great that he is setting SB records in his second year in Arizona, though I cannot recall Yankee prospect returning for the sophomore year. (Last fall, hit hit .354 - nearly 40 points above his current average.) Durbin is three months shy of 25, playing in a class A level league of pitchers and catchers still learning their craft. 

Look... we all want Durbin to be the next Altuve, since they have so much in common: They're midgets. But it's a tall leap from Salt River to Gotham - or even Tampa. What happens if he starts slowly or - gasp - gets thrown a few times? Two years ago, Anthony Volpe looked like the next Lou Brock, and then - poof - after a few times caught stealing - he stopped running.

Last winter, Yank fans swallowed the notion that Gleyber Torres and newly acquired Alex Verdugo would have big walk years, along with Soto and Clay Holmes. Only Soto came through. Gleyber sorta salvaged his season with a decent second half. Verdugo sank into a career-threatening slump, only keeping LF via defense. And now, here we are...

It's been three years since the Yankees unveiled Oswald and Oswaldo, along with Estevan Florial, after finally ditching Clint Frazier. In developing position players, they can pimp and posture, and wave shiny objects in our faces, but let's be real: They're simply giving us crapola. And soon, it's going to hit the fans.