Cashman: Yankees Seeking Right-Handed Relievers

Speaking to Scott Braun and Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said today that adding a right-handed option to his current bullpen mix will be a priority over the next couple of months (SoundCloud audio link). The fact that the team’s acquisition of David Carpenter did not work out has left the Yankees with the need for another righty, Cashman explained.

“I do need to find a right-handed arm for the bullpen here at some point,” said Cashman. “We have [Andrew] Miller, [Dellin] Betances, [Justin] Wilson, [Chasen] Shreve, [Jacob] Lindgren and [Chris] Capuano, and Esmil Rogers is the long man. So really, outside of Betances, there’s only one right-handed arm out there, but he’s the long man. I’ve got a number of lefties out there in Wilson, Shreve and Lindgren that all can get righties out, and at least that’s the benefit of those guys. It’s not as much of a pressing issue, but I certainly would love to get an arm that I think Carpenter is, but just not here in New York. I think Carpenter will be that for somebody else.”

Cashman’s praise of the recently designated Carpenter would seem to suggest that he feels there’s a chance to trade the right-hander, whom he acquired alongside Shreve from the Braves this winter in exchange for Manny Banuelos. With a manageable $1.275MM salary, strong 2013-14 performances under his belt, a fastball that has remained in the mid-90s (94.9 mph average this season), and two-and-a-half years of control remaining, it does seem that the Yankees will receive trade interest in Carpenter.

The Yankees do have some options at the Triple-A level, which Cashman touched on, mentioning Diego Moreno and Nick Rumbelow, specifically. He would not, however, rule out exploring options outside the organization. “…[I]f there’s some opportunities out there somewhere else, we’ll look at those, too.”

Asked in a more general sense if the Yankees will be players for some of the bigger names on the trade market this summer, Cashman sidestepped the issue to some extent but did reveal reluctance to part with talent from the upper levels of his farm system. Cashman mentioned Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Eric Jagielo, Greg Bird and Bryan Mitchell by name when discussing some of the more appealing minor leaguers that are nearing the Majors. “It’s just harder when those guys are so close that you can see where and how they could fit with your club and potentially be performers and financial offsets to a lot of the commitments you already have,” Cashman said. “…There are certain guys GMs look at and say, ’You know what? If this player is going to fail or succeed, it’s going to be with this organization and this organization alone.’ We think some of these guys could be in that category.”