Dear Mr. Steinbrenner: Bellinger is a start, but you cannot be done.

Dear Madam or Sir, 

First, thank you, thank you, thank you, for digging deep on Clay Bellinger's boy. I know, I know, I know... technically, it's a trade. But really, it was a purchase: You're taking on a $27 million contract. And skeptics wonder why the Cubs would give up on the guy, as they seem to have done. Doesn't matter. Cody Peteet for Cody Bellinger is a layup. You had no choice. But you followed through. Thanks. 

So, as of today, here's a 2025 Yankee batting order:

1. Jazz Chisholm LH
2. Aaron Judge RH
3. Clay Bellinger LH
4. Giancarlo Stanton RH
5-9. The cast of "Glee." (Wells, Martian, Volpe, Oswaldo, DJ)

Sir, this lineup wins 85 games. It might snag a berth in the expanded, MLB, participation-trophy wild card system. But if The Martian - or anybody, for that matter - flops, or if Judge or Giancarlo turn into Twin Tweaks, we'll spend October watching our Met overlords from below the bar.  

Sir, you cannot be done. This lineup features holes, black and potentially bottomless. We all want Jasson Dominguez to get a shot at replacing Juan Soto - it would be glorious - but we cannot expect it from a 22-year-old. Too much pressure. Too little protection. We must do right by the kid. That means not crushing him.

Sir, you will have to keep writing checks, and your wrist will hurt. There is no alternative. But you do have options among the following free agents.

Alex Bregman. A hated, deceitful Astro, but a professional 3B. Coming off a bad year. (26 HR, .260.) The Mets are on him. You can stab them. (Or, at least, bid up his price.) He's 31. Bats RH. Would move Jazz to 2B, where he should be.

Anthony Santander. Killed us last season as an Oriole. Hit 44 HRs. Career year. Still, he doesn't walk much. His OBP was just .306. Lousy fielder. Would play RF, forcing Judge to CF. He's 30. Switch-hitter, like the Martian. That helps.

Christian Walker. Gold Glove 1B, revered in Colorado, unknown to AL East. Hit 26 HR, .251. - a down year, compared to previous two seasons. Bats RH. He'll turn 34 in March. A slightly younger DJ? 

Pete Alonso. A poke in the eye to the Mets. (But they'd likely pivot to Bregman.)  He's 30, RH. Beloved in NY. Also, comfortable. 

Tanner Scott. Lefty reliever. Appeared in 72 games last year, 22 saves and a 1.75 ERA. He's 30. Remember: Pitching, pitching, pitching. We need him. 

Sir, you need at least one of the above. Better, sign two. The world needs to know that when teams poach Yankee stars - as the Mets, Jays, Redsocks, Dodgers and Padres all set out to do - it shall bring consequences. In this case, a sea-level rise in salaries. 

Sir, as the song says, "It's up to you, New York, New York." Two of the above. Any two will do. Two of the above, and we will stop talking about whazizname.