Yankees GM Brian Cashman was a guest on the latest edition of The Front Office with Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, and discussed a number of topics related to the Bronx Bombers’ offseason. Perhaps most notably, some more moves could still potentially take place, as Cashman said the team would still like to add a left-handed hitting outfielder “to balance us out” in the left field mix.
While the Yankees have a noticeably right-handed heavy roster, left field is actually one of the only positions that already has some balance, between switch-hitters Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Cabrera, plus the left-handed hitting Estevan Florial. However, New York might prefer to move Cabrera all around the diamond rather than commit him to a fuller-time role in left field, Florial is still an untested commodity at the MLB level, and rumors continue to swirl that the Yankees are trying to trade Hicks and at least some of the $30.5MM remaining on his contract.
Cashman cited the Hicks/Cabrera/Florial trio as the team’s “default” for left field in lieu of any other moves, and noted that the Yankees are intrigued by what they see from their in-house options. Cashman said that Hicks “is fully recovered now” from the knee injury suffered in Game 5 of the ALDS, which kept Hicks from participating in the ALCS against the Astros.
In other health news, Cashman shared some details on Frankie Montas, following last week’s news that shoulder inflammation would keep Montas sidelined through the first month of the season. Montas is only set to begin his normal offseason throwing program this coming week, and thus he’ll need more time to fully ramp up. The right-hander visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache two weeks ago, Cashman said, and the silver lining is that Montas’ shoulder problem doesn’t appear to be structural. “All the diagnostic testing shows a thumbs up….and we’ll know a lot more as the throwing program commences,” Cashman said.
With Montas now sidelined for at least part of the season, the Bombers’ acquisition of Carlos Rodon has become even more important, as the starting staff might not miss a beat with Rodon joining Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes at the front end of the rotation. Cashman revealed that the Yankees first tried to acquire Rodon from the Giants prior to the trade deadline, and though the club “had our conversations with San Francisco” about a possible deal, the Giants opted to keep Rodon because they felt they still had a shot at both reaching the playoffs and re-signing the left-hander this winter.
As it happened, the Giants finished 81-81 and missed the postseason, and Rodon departed for the Bronx on a six-year, $162MM contract. Even with the Yankees focused on Aaron Judge, Cashman said the team “stayed in touch with [agent] Scott Boras and Rodon,” and the GM felt the Yankees were helped because “I know that this is the place [Rodon] wanted to be.”
Rodon’s interest in wearing the pinstripes was a boost to a club whose entire offseason was more or less put on hold while Judge made his decision. Even amidst the fast-moving nature of this winter’s free agent market, “thankfully there were things on the board still after [Judge re-signed], since we weren’t sure what was going to be in play,” Cashman noted. Once Judge had officially agreed to return to New York, “ultimately we were able to pivot” to also land Rodon.
There was certainly some risk involved in the process of making such a priority of Judge, as “certainly no team wants that scenario where you put all your eggs in that basket and then the basket comes up with goose eggs,” Cashman said. Still, the front office had little choice but to wait for Judge’s decision, especially since the AL MVP and his camp gave seemingly little information about which way he was leaning, despite Judge’s public declaration that he preferred to remain with the Yankees.
“I felt like for a long time we were flying blind,” Cashman said. “Normally you kind of get a feel for where things are at, and if you can come to the right number, or you get the numbers whispered….My speculative thought on [Judge’s] end was that he earned the right to free agency and he was going to go through that process in a very methodical, deliberate way.”
“In terms of negotiation, that waiting game….at times, it was difficult.”
Fortunately for Cashman, the Yankees, and the Bronx fans, Judge chose to re-sign for a nine-year, $360MM deal, and he’ll remain as the centerpiece of New York’s lineup. In terms of another returning face, “hopefully we have pure health on DJ LeMahieu’s side,” Cashman noted, “since he was a huge part that we lost last year, really the last two years with two separate injuries.”
A sports hernia kept LeMahieu from participating in the 2021 postseason, while a ligament issue in his right foot/toe area sidelined him for last year’s playoffs. It wasn’t entirely clear whether or not LeMahieu would ultimately need surgery to correct the problem, and while Cashman didn’t firmly provide an update on the infielder’s status one way or the other, the lack of news could be a good omen that LeMahieu’s efforts to rehab the injury without surgery are working.
If LeMahieu is healthy, Cashman described his role as an infielder who can play every day while bouncing around the infield, playing first base, second base, and third base. Breaking down the starting infield, Cashman cited Anthony Rizzo at first base, Gleyber Torres at second base, Josh Donaldson at third base, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa competing with star prospects Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe for the shortstop job. Naturally there still might be some flux in this plan, depending on LeMahieu’s health and the fact that Donaldson is also reportedly a player the Yankees are trying to unload in order to save some payroll space.
Unclemike1525
Yankees biggest weakness as I see it is the bullpen. If that sorts itself out the East should be fun to watch. Whoever plays LF it should be fine. I wouldn’t sweat it if I were them.
slider32
I disagree, Yanks have a young bullpen with guys that did well last year. I like Holmes, King, Loaisiga, Peralta, Trivino, Kahnle, Marinaccio, Abreu, and Schmidt. They shoud better than expected.
27champyankees
@slider32 Agreed. The Bullpen looks fine. That being said, Bullpens as a rule are notoriously volatile….on any team.
27champyankees
Cash had a really good off-season. Rodon will be a difference maker.
Yankee Clipper
27 champ Yankees: Cashman had nothing to do with signing them. This offseason was all Hal – credit where credits was due. Cashman nearly blew both Judge and Rodon signings by their own admission. Hal then had to get personally involved to get them signed.
luckyh
To the IL.
luckyh
They are not better. Some guys over performed last year and will dim this year. Really not impressed with the new crop of IL friendly pitching they brought on in Montas and Robson.
RobblyDobs
Good luck with that. He needs to stay on the field, which would be a new development for him.
prov356
luckyh – “Some guys over performed last year and will dim this year.”
How do you know that?
slider32
That was just the company line, Cashman doesn’t need any credit. Hal stepped up, 360 million is a lot of money for one player.
LordD99
@slider, correct. The Yankees build bullpens as well as any team. Their uneven offense is their biggest weakness.
CaptainJudge99
The bullpen really is their least of their problems. 2 lefty contacts hitters in the line up is definitely more needed. One with speed definitely wouldn’t hurt.
C Yards Jeff
Not a Yanks fan, but I thought what tripped them up last year was mounting injuries which can happen to an older aged team. If they can stay relatively healthy they will be fine.
RobblyDobs
Hence they sign noted inning eater Carlos Rodon…
jopeness
@capt, really liked what I saw from Cabrera, however, I’d like to see Florial everyday for 3 months or start him in Scranton and call up in June. I just want the kid to get a fair shake considering we kept him out of many trades years ago. I’d love to see a June team consisting of Florial, Cabrera and Peraza and if we are lucky enough to move Donaldson in July then call up Volpe. move Isy to util.
CaptainJudge99
@jopeness- I agree with you about Florial. I definitely want to give him a chance. How do you get any confidence with just 65 bats? You don’t. Donny hopefully won’t be as bad as last year, no worries it’s his last season here anyway. He also provides really good defense at 3rd base in the later innings. Expect DJ to get a lot of reps at 3rd in the beginning of the season, if he’s healthy. I can live with Gleyber at 2nd for now. I’m really excited about Peraza, Volpe, Cabrera and others this season. Would love to DFA Hicks before the season. It’s still possible the Yankees could still trade him, eating half of the $30 million still owed to him. I haven’t given up hope. I hope all is well, take care my friend.
YankeesBleacherCreature
If that was the case, then it wouldn’t make sense to trade Lucas Luetge to the Braves for two minor leaguers. He’s only making $1.55M with the Braves in ’23.
GhostofRandySavage
The bullpen was probably their biggest strength last year and it hasnt gotten worse
case
Making it to the ALCS is pretty solid. I think their biggest weakness is a refusal to part with the prospects that would have netted Castillo, they can never seem to make that final push.
Rumors2godsears
There’s no way the Yankees had a better package that would have topped what the Mariners gave up for Castillo. It wasn’t the Yankees held on to anyone, it’s just no one was going to top what Seattle gave up.
BStrowman
The Yankees could’ve put a competitive package up. It would’ve been Waldichuk, Dominguez + maybe Austin Wells if they balked @ including one of their SS in the deal.
The Yankees do/did have chips to make it happen. They got Montas for less instead. Blew up on them. Also possible that cincy really wanted Marte. They have a really good SS prospect already though so I have to believe they would’ve been open to a package like the one I proposed. That would’ve been a very heavy give for NY though. We’ll see if Montas looks like his old self this year.
CaptainJudge99
That Yankees package is far away better then what the Reds received, Cincy regrets not trading for that package that the Yankees offered already. Dominguez is a prospect they want right now. The Reds have enough shortstops in their system, they need outfield prospects with power. Dominguez would of provided that for them. They blew it.
CaptainJudge99
@BStrowman- The Yankees could of made the trade if Peraza and Dominguez were included in the trade for Luis Castillo. The Yankees said no to that from the beginning, and that was definitely the right choice. It’s likely they wouldn’t have beaten the Trashtro’s anyway even with Castillo.
CaptainJudge99
@case- I disagree, the Yankees really tried to get Castillo. The Reds should have made the trade with the Yankees, they would of landed Jasson Dominguez, Trey Sweeney, Ken Waldichuk, and JP Spears. Now Cincy is looking for a young top outfield prospect, for a few of the young shortstops they acquired. I’m glad Dominguez is still a Yankee prospect. He should be ready in about 2 years.
Endar Malkovich
Disagree. Thr biggest weakness is the front office and ownership
A. Judge
C’mon man, give your head a shake. The Yanks have top shelf Ownership and Management. WTF are you thinking?
Dynasty
The pen is one of the best in MLB. Holmes, Loaisiga, King, Trivino, Wandy, Schmidt, Marinacchio. That’s with Effross being injured.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
The only injuries I see here are to the fans.
Paul McCartney: You can’t buy me love
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I appreciate you more and more Curly. I don’t know where you come up with stuff!! LOL.
seamaholic 2
Will be interesting to see if the right hand dominant offenses suffer this year in comparison to the ones that have lots of lefties who can take advantage of the shift ban. Everyone was looking for left handed hitters this off-season.
Yankee Clipper
It will hurt them badly. They’ve never won a championship with only one LH hitter in the starting lineup.
Nonetheless, they should’ve learned that they have to improve a lineup that can’t hit the Astros……
slider32
Yes, but both Hicks and Cabrera hit left handed along with Rizzo!
Yankee Clipper
What I mean is LH-hitting players that should be in a starting lineup, not just any LH bats. Now, could Cabrera turn into that this year? Yeah, absolutely. Could Hicks? No and that’s been proven over and over again. He’s terrible.
vtadave
Don’t forget about HOF-bound Jasson Dominguez
slider32
Look, every team has players that under perform every year. The Yanks have the best team digitally/ on pager.. Last year the Yanks had over 30 million on the sidelines with Chapman and Britton. At least Donaldson and Hicks look like they will post this year. You can understand why Cashman won’t give up on Donaldson and Hicks right now, he has now choice! I can count 5 times Donaldson won games last year with hits, and Hicks was coming off a season where he didn’t play. I think both will be better this year, if not Cashman has DJ at third full time, and Cabrera.
slider32
That’s a clown comment brow, the kid is 19!
Yankee Clipper
I do hope you’re right because, if not, another year comes and goes without winning and the team is even older.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Slow down there @vtdave. Dominguez could be traded so it’s TBD which cap he wears into the Hall.
Flyby
they cant do it with more that should be in the starting lineup either .. the entire 2015 lineup sans A-rod was either lefty or switch hitting (also bat lefty) and they lost out in the wild card.
Yankee Clipper
Well, that’s true of 2015, but that’s only one year your referencing Flyby. I can point out several more championship years where it did work. I didn’t say or mean to imply it was a guarantee, but it is surely a lot better than not having them as history reflects.
Additionally, this lineup/roster is 100% different than 2015.
slider32
Clipper, that is the old school Jeter way of thinking, You need to change your way of thinking because it is not going to happen. What you get in todays game is a playoff team every year with a good chance to win if everything goes your way., unless another Mo is on your team.
Flyby
@yankeeclipper
ok how about 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 which takes you back to their last world series win … or how about 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 which takes you back to their last world series appearance before their win they had posada, matsui, cano, granderson, tex, swisher, and a few good years of gardner in there. To be honest doesnt look like it makes a difference at all and moreso looks like having 2 lh they actually have less of a chance than half than they do with 1lh. as the 11 years out of the last 19 years they had 2 left handers they failed to win it.
Your argument would be better they dont win unless they build a new stadium. Which the last time they won is when they opened up the new Yankee Stadium.
Yes i agree their roster construction has become mainly 3 outcomes in recent years with more of that being strike out than hr or walk, but that would be true of any team even if all of them were right handed. You need the high average guys that may only get single digit homeruns for the season just not the big thumpers which it has become that. The one that they had in dj was hurt all last year and you expected a better average from donaldson and something out of gallo if not homers atleast getting on base at a decent clip from walks. Even benetendi (lh) fell off some when he got traded to the yanks. maybe its the hitting coach, maybe its the stadium layout who knows.
Yankee Clipper
Flyby: I understand what you’re saying and you’ve listed all the times they didn’t win with LH.
My point is they have never won without adequate LH bats in the lineup. Ever. You’re proving that they’ve also lost with LH bats in the lineup, the premise of which I’m not arguing against.
In other words, just because they’ve also lost with LH bats in the lineup doesn’t invalidate the point the have never ever won without them. Again, I never suggested it was a guarantee that they will win with added bats, in which case your point would make a difference.
Your argument that they also lose with good LH bats does not invalidate the fact that they’ve never won without them (out of 27 championships).
And coincidentally, all the years you cited were Cashman’s GM years. Coincidence? I think not. Cashman cannot construct a championship roster.
Flyby
1962 world series team only had 1 left handed bat in roger maris. I could look through more but im sure you will add another caveat, but its not ever.
Cashman is not a great GM but he kept the team rolling as one of the top teams in the al east probably the toughest division for the century so far with being in the playoffs almost every year. Yes you could say he just spent big but so did the padres, angels, and at points the rangers, and mets. So you have to spend it in the right places. The man has an amazing eye for bullpens especially, I cant remember the last time the bullpen wasnt strong. He is not the greatest GM far from it i would consider him higher end of the middle of the pack like maybe 12 or so of current gms. You could have preller, ng, dipoto, eppler, daniels, or avila who are much much worse.
Also last i checked the team usually has multiple all stars. The GM is supposed to bring in and keep talent, the coach is responsible for putting that talent where it could be best utilized. I would take a look at the coaches who have made many questionable decisions especially in the playoffs. If i remember right Cashmen didnt want boone or girardi those are Steinbrenner guys. Showing what the phillies did after they fired girardi should give some clue where the blame lies. The yankees with buck probably would have won the world series.
Yankee Clipper
Well, Flyby, I agree with everything you wrote here about the Yankees, except in 1962 you’re forgetting about Mickey Mantle, the best hitter a team could’ve had from the left side of the plate.
But Boone is terrible and should’ve been fired. He was given extensions on Cashman’s recommendation, however. And, if they had Buck, I bevlieve that would make a difference too.
I agree wholeheartedly, it could be worse than Cashman. I agree he builds excellent bullpens. I agree he’s a good GM. In fact, he’s a HOF GM, without a doubt in my mind. But he’s been terrible with constructing {championship rosters}. Had Buck Showalter been there it may have been different because he’s 10X the manager Aaron Boone could ever hope to be. But I can only assess Cashman based on the outcomes that currently exist.
CaptainJudge99
Now you must be talking about HOF- bound Gavin Lux?
Flyby
Actually no i did not forget Mickey. Mickey was a switch hitter and by your designating “Cabrera is also a switch-hitter, not a LH bat” that mantle would also be excluded from your LH argument. I would include mantle and cabrera since they both bat from the left probably more than the right. I am just following your criterias from your posts.
That is also not a fair assessment to Cashman though. He constructed a championship caliber roster which is his job. Its not his job to coach the team to a world series, thats the manager and the staff he chooses job. If the steinbrenners want to hire / keep a coach that has no right to be there thats on them. Its like judging whirlpool if you bought one of their appliances then hired a someone to install it but they mixed up the water hose and the electric cord? or an electrician that doesnt know how to ground a wire for an outlet and burns out the entire power in the house. Plug was perfect before he got it,
Now if he did a trade such as eppler did where he traded for Ruf and sent a better player plus more then that is on the GM and not manager. Yes i still cant believe he did that.
Aaron Boone is too sloppy with the team and too mellow with no urgency which rubs off on the team and makes the players the same way. You need some fire. You need a coach to bring out the steel toe boot and starting swinging that leg figuratively speaking of course … we dont need another urban meyer. .
Yankee Clipper
Flyby: Well, the Cabrera comment wasn’t for the purpose of my argument about LH bats in the lineup. That comment was intended for correction on how the article was originally written. That sentence initially read “Switch-hitting Hicks & LH bat of Cabrera.” And, since it’s been corrected I assume Mark read my comment and noticed the error. I apologize for the confusion.
But, your question is still valid about why I am not including Cabrera (you were right for the wrong reason, in other words). Cabrera is *not* a viable LF solution or a player I would consider a capable LH bat at this time. He may prove to be one and that would be fantastic. But right now, he’s a bench guy. In fact, Cashman has said that he’s still competing for a starting job. If he loses out to Peraza, which is very likely, he’s not a starter. Also, Cashman said Hicks is the LF. So it’s SS or bust for Cabrera as a starting player as of right now, according to Cashman (for ‘23).
The rest of what you said I agree with. And I’m assuming you haven’t closely followed Cashman/Boone/Hal saga because Cashman is the one who brought Boone in, it was his decision. Yes, Hal is the employer’s CEO, but Cashman interviewed Boone, recommended Boone, and re-recommended Boone for extension (publicly).
I believe we agree on nearly everything except who’s responsible. But I don’t think the players Cashman brought in developed a viable championship roster, which is the one area in which we disagree.
So, I view it like this: Hal has done a great job this offseason, except by keeping Cashman, so he is ultimately responsible. Likewise Cashman has done a decent job and for whatever reasons one want to articulate he hasn’t had winning teams. If you want to say it’s Boone only, okay, I’ll even concede. But it’s Cashman who recommended Boone.
Also, I do appreciate the discussion. In fact, I thoroughly enjoy it. My responses are not intended to be snippy, if they come across in the writing that way. I am just very passionate about the Yankees and how their future is playing out.
Samuel
seamaholic 2;
I could have sworn I saw teams shift against RH hitters.
whyhayzee
Samuel, they don’t like to shift on right handed hitters because it makes the infielders have to throw REALLY far. Or something.
Unclemike1525
The shifts are over. Move along now. Nothing to see here.
Tigers3232
Shifts are limited not over. They ll just be playing right upto the limit.
AceKing
Yankees trying to unload trash players with big contracts.
The salaries are bordering on ridiculous.
Fans have to pay for 20 dollar beers for mediocre baseball
baseballteam
AceKing you are right…..I enjoyed seeing some little league games earlier in the year and enjoyed the kids enjoying the sport – free, and right near home.
StudWinfield
Payroll has nothing to do with the costs of attending a game. They draw 3 million every year in a high per capita area.
gbs42
Ticket, beer, food, merchandise prices – it’s simple supply and demand. The idea that player salaries have a significant effect on prices is a story woven by teams to get fans to side with them to get support on keeping salaries down.
GASoxFan
The first half of your statement is spot on. The second is unrelated.
There is so little player value compared to contract cost that you’d need to attach some amazing prospect to the trade (which they dont want to give up), you’d need to take back an equally bad deal (doesn’t save money, defeats purpose), or, you’d need to pay down the deal so far that it, again, defeats the purpose.
As much as they’d like to move one of those deals, I can’t see why anyone would take one on without some young mlb controllable player attached or one of the Yankees top-5 prospects and then some.
BStrowman
Not a top 5 and then some.
If the Yankees would give up Dominguez (they won’t) they could clear Donaldson off the books tomorrow. Probably could attach Hicks too. A deep pocketed team like San Fran would jump at that. They did a similar thing for a lesser prospect a few years ago. got Will Wilson for taking on Cozart’s contract.
CaptainJudge99
Exactly they won’t give up Dominguez. So pass.
Snow 2
Trade glaybor and ikf , Bader and the 3 young players will bring a pressure running aspect to the game, bigger bases and limited throws to 1st. Should be exciting
Wrian Washman
Gleybor is an asset the Yankees need and what are you expecting to get for IKF? I can totally see the Yankees extending Gleybor if he has a good 1st half. Peraza and Volpe can man SS and 3B after Donaldson is off the books. The Yankees need to hold onto the young guys as opposed to trading them away and continue this vicious cycle of overpaying for veterans. All I ever see on Yankee related posts wether it’s here or Pinstripe Alley is people wanting Cashman to spend like Cohen.
Mystery Team
I love the current group of prospects I see some future starters in there. People hating on Dominguez because of the hype but he’s coming along just fine and I look forward to him playing CF or LF depending on how this season goes for Bader. If Bader takes a big step up then it’ll be LF for Dominguez if they sign Bader.
luclusciano
Mystery, not sure Gleyber is an asset they “need”. If Perazza and Volpe actually pan out to something decent – Volpe would take over at 2nd. Perazza’s arm and range make him a better SS. DJ could play third full time – considering he was somehow ranked among MLB’s top ten 3rd basemen this year.
Yankee Clipper
Okay, some issues, not big ones: Cabrera is also a switch-hitter, not a LH bat. And, excluding Hicks (because he doesn’t deserve to be in a ML uniform) Cabrera is an IF & they’ve refused to give Florial a realistic shot due to their analytics, or whatever. So they don’t have a viable LF on the roster.
Moreover, Cashman’s doublespeak comes out once again. He says he’s glad Hicks is “finally healthy” as if that detracted from any issues in LF, when in fact Hicks being healthy & playing 140 games created the problem in LF because of his horrid ABs, his no-power contact, declining defense, and his deplorable attitude.
In terms of putting “all your eggs in one basket” the excuse for making {no moves} to improve SS was waiting for three years(!) for the prospects in a system noted most for having them fail. Additionally, he failed to improve the team last offseason with any significant moves because they were “waiting to see if they could reach an extension agreement with Judge.”
Then Montas. So, he’s been injured for six months and they have no idea why, yet that’s the “silver lining?” What an imbecile. The guy can’t pitch and they don’t know why! Wouldn’t a definitive problem be better than one nobody can detect?
Yankees again thinking they can redirect the fanbase and persuade them into believing these garbage takes from the GM.
acoss13
I mean, I’m not a Yankees fan but aside from getting Rodon, I don’t see the Yankees beating the Astros. The Astros have become what the Yankees were to the Red Sox pre 2004. Astros are your daddy right now.
Yankee Clipper
Yeah, exactly. They keep trying to convince fans with platitudes and excuses. The problem is they haven’t beaten the Astros and had six years to do it. They got Rodon which will help, of course, but they’ve not closed the gap the Astros have. The only shot the Yankees have are relying on everything to go just right in the playoffs.
That’s why as soon as the lose they have so many excuses at the ready: “Playoffs are a crapshoot.” “The roof was open.” “Our guys were injured.” “Hicks’ knee.” And none of it matters because they argue “if” all the time. “If DJ was healthy we would’ve done better.” It’s a joke. Somehow they Astros haven’t had these problems for the past six years.
This one belongs to the Reds
Not a Yankees fan but sounds like a lot of ifsand buts and it’s way past Christmas.
DonOsbourne
The Astros avoid these problems by taking a more flexible approach to roster construction. They develop from within, avoid long term contracts and don’t panic when someone struggles unexpectedly. They realize the collective strength of their roster will keep them competitive through adversity. Then, when the time comes to add, they can target broader options to fill specific needs. The Yankees kind of chase their tail constantly trying to fill the same holes with the same kinds of players.
Yankee Clipper
Don, that’s very well said. One of Cashman’s greatest faults is that he’s got no identifiable cohesive long-term strategy (not implying long-term contracts). It’s a wash, rinse, & repeat cycle.
DonOsbourne
That’s how I see it Clip. I think other big revenue teams(Dodgers, Braves, Astros, etc) have passed the Yankees by in terms of organizational strategy.
User 1413108128
Don
You could not have said it better. Chasing their tales is exactly what has been going on for far too long.
stymeedone
@YC
What were you expecting Cashman to say? His job is, when in public, to sell The Yankees. If he says negative things about his current players, that won’t make the players happy, and it won’t convince another team to trade for them.
Yankee Clipper
Well, I don’t disagree with you on not slamming the players. But he publicly states one thing while doing the complete opposite year after year.
So, I would recommend not making excuses that every team, player, and fan know aren’t true. Next, I think he could easily be more honest instead of simply defending everything. For example, to say Montas’ injury has a silver lining in that there’s no identifiable structural damage may sound nice, but it’s a terrible take overall. He could simply be honest instead of trying to make everything out to be like it’s best-case scenario.
I think his thought process in conjunction with Boone’s are why the Yankees are failing. They don’t have what it takes to realistically assess their problems and react accordingly. By trying to convince the fanbase of the same they’re embarrassing themselves in addition to losing the confidence of Yankees fans.
Boone wouldn’t even criticize Hicks when Hicks was blatantly failing and making disastrous decisions in the field. Boone blamed the fanbase. It’s truly insane.
melfman1
The difference is that the Astros organization had the luxury of playing under .500 ball for 6 straight seasons (2009 to 2014) and winning just 50+ games in three of those years. That is when the franchise really loaded up on young talent in the draft that started paying dividends in the past 4/5 years or so.
George Springer, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Lance McCullers are all the result of that era of bad baseball. New York never gets that luxury. Last time they finished under .500 was in 1992 back when they drafted Jeter in the first round.
If Yankee fans will permit the team to suck for 3 or 4 years straight, I’m sure we can replenish the farm system like Houston did. But that will never happen.
PaulyMidwest
They have half of a platoon on a minor league contract in Rafael Ortega.
Ump009
I agree totally! With Cashman still around they will keep doing the same thing without winning it all.
Dr2022
You nailed it clipper. As usual Cashman’s comments revealed nothing except excuses and incompetence. Disguised in doubletalk. And he thinks he’s being smart, and fooling fans with his moves this past off-season, or lack of them actually. I guess he is fooling the only one who matters, Steinbrenner. Also He didn’t happen to mention that it was Steinbrenner who signed Aaron Judge not him ,did he. He didn’t do that most important job. And the deplorable IKF should not be in a competition for short, he should be on the bench, and used as a last resort. And Hicks, the only time he’s actually helpful to the team is when he’s injured. Them he gives someone else a chance to play ,anyone else.
slider32
The fact is the Yanks will win with their starting pitching and the play of the veterans this year. Players like Judge, DJ, Rizzo, Torres, Bader, and Donaldson are going to be the key players. They will need to carry the team.
CaptainThurman
This very same lineup, more or less, couldn’t hit Astros pitching to the tune of a 2-9 record.
slider32
Yep, games were close, no Verlander, and no DJ, Nobody thought the Sox could beat the Yanks 4 straight. Maybe Peraza and Volpe help too, or Rodon. or King or maybe some of the Astros have a bad year. It’s baseball! Seems to me, that a different team is winning the world series every year lately.
imgman09
Those pop flies Rodon used to give up at SF for outs will now be HRs at NY,Watch!
TB Sox NY
I am curious about Florial being unproven.How do you become proven unless given an extended look which they have not done.
You can become proven unless you get the chance to show yes or no you can’t do it.
justmythoughts
Yankees WILL have home field advantage through out the playoffs they should package hicks with torres for a top ten prospect. The only problem i see is the relievers wjth chapman gone they need a closer
This one belongs to the Reds
You won’t get a top ten prospect for those guys. Get real.
vtadave
Top 10 prospect? For Hicks/Torres? LOL
stymeedone
And you would still need a LF and a 2B.
StPeteStingRays
Something about eggs and counting them too soon…
DonOsbourne
I think the Yankees are taking a reasonable if not popular approach to the LF situation. Eventually you have find out what you have in your young players and the only way to do that is give them playing time and live with the growing pains. We are only talking about one position and one spot in the lineup. Even if the existing options don’t pan out, they should be able to stay competitive until another option becomes available. Other teams do this all the time. I don’t understand the mentality that requires established veterans at every position.
This one belongs to the Reds
Agreed. Sometimes you actually have to play those prospects and see what you got instead of dealing them all away.
The best Yankees teams were actually mostly home grown.
Yankee Clipper
Funny thing is that they talk about how they’ve got so much confidence in their youth, yet they don’t use them. Also, our fanbase is much more patient with young guys going through their growing pains (see Cabrera last season) than they are with a veteran who struggle.
Florial should’ve had at least half a season in LF to see if he was capable of the adjustment in the Bigs. Peraza should’ve been brought up early to adjust as well (just like Houston did with Peña). I hope they don’t intentionally push Volp back too, although I foresee exactly that happening while they have Hicks, Donaldson & IKF still on the roster.
YanksPhan42
The amount of doom and gloom on here is laughable.
Do we have holes? Absolutely!
Do I love the roster Cashman has assembled? Not at all. Too many strikeouts and not nearly enough lefty hitters. Asinine we’re not taking more advantage of our OWN short porch!!
BUT, we won 99 games last year and added an ACE to that roster PLUS a healthy Sevy at the start. Let’s not be THAT spoiled guys!
Samuel
JJ 7;
MLB is a young mans game. Always has been. Always will be.
The Yankees finally have some good young players and more on the way. The Jays farm system is bare, while their team is primarily made up of players past their prime. The Orioles have started coming. The Rays have been quiet this offseason because they have some very good players in the high minors ready to come up later in 2023 and 2024. The Red Sox have built a fine farm system with more coming.
One Yankee troll on here actually thinks 2023 depends on Josh Donaldson.
It’s a pity, but no doubt by the comments here Yankee fans are easily the most lost baseball fans that post here…..and there’s an awful lot of them. An amazing amount of entitlement from those following a team that hasn’t been to a WS in 13 seasons. Am sorry for those Yankee fans that know, understand, respect, and love the game.
BStrowman
@Samuel
I agree with you on most of this butThe Sox farm isn’t there. Bloom’s been attempting to build it from the ground up but I’ve seen nothing special from that dude. Mayer is a future stud but that was a top 5 draft choice.
Yanks system is better and their MLB team is better. O’s should be the best team in that division by 2025 though.
slimray
rodon is not an ace.in fact taillion won more games.rodon is a decent no.4 starter at best.basicaly, yanks traded tallion for rodon.
BStrowman
Lol “Rodon is a decent 4 starter at best”
Really nothing else to do but laugh at that nonsense.
RobM
Cashman will continue to talk up his in-house options until he identifies and acquires someone from the outside. While Cabrera was and is intriguing, he is not a LFer and, yes, having him as a high-rotation, jack-of-all-positions player will allow the Yankees to put two additional lefty bats in the lineup once he acquires his land-handed hitting LFer. Ortega is the dark horse player here among the in-house options.
Bright Side
The infield nearly blew the Cleveland series and sucked in general throughout the RS. And, got swept by the ‘Strohs. Hicks have been bad for years. Trying to spin his presence in the lineup as a postseason injury insults the intelligence of Yankees fans, Bottom Line Hal won’t go over the next threshold to save money yet his GM has saddled the payroll with sunk costs. Penny wise and pound foolish.
Samuel
“Hal won’t go over the next threshold to save money yet his GM has saddled the payroll with sunk costs.”
Bright Side;
So what you’re saying is that the Yankees have too many bad long-term contracts on the boos, so they shouldn’t be “cheap” and should have given out more long-term contracts to help the team in a few positions for 2023.
baseballknower69
The Yankees.. LOL!
Rsox
They had a LH hitting LF and let him leave as a free agent. David Peralta and Kole Calhoun make up the remaining LH hitting Outfielders on the free agent market so if an outside option is coming it’s going to have to come in a rrade. Not sure if the Twins are still shopping Kepler. They could try a reclamation project like Eddie Rosario. They actually could match up well with the Giants as they have Yastrzemski, Joc, Gonzalez and Wade (though Wade is currently the teams First Baseman)
Poster formerly known as . . .
Cashman is so full of it.
Hicks is fully recovered now? So what? He was healthy all year and sucked. Cashman gave him a $70 million, 6-year contract based on a single good year, notwithstanding Hicks’s prior injury history.
Montas was injured BEFORE Cashman traded for him.
“Montas was hurt on July 3, exiting his appearance early that day with shoulder inflammation. Since then he skipped two starts and got a few extra days of rest during the All-Star break. He never went on the injured list, so his return will not require any transactions.” – A’s News, Jul 20, 2022
athleticsnation.com/2022/7/20/23271978/oakland-as-….
That was a month before Cashman gave away a raft of prospects for that juicer (that’s right — Montas was busted for juicing in 2019), and one of those prospects is the #3 left-hander in MLB Pipeline’s ranking, Ken Waldichuk.
And in regard to Judge: “I felt like for a long time we were flying blind,” Cashman said.
He seems to be flying blind a lot. Everybody in the baseball world knew his initial offer to Judge was a lowball pitch. If they planned on paying for him all along, what was the point of that? When he had the opportunity to settle a contract before Judge elected for free agency, he played a stupid game and likely cost the franchise millions.
You see what Cashman is trying to do here, right? He’s trying to blame Judge for his botched offseason. Hal should’ve fired Cashman years ago.
dmac
I think a combination of hicks, cabrera, Ortega and Stanton in LF is adequate. Florial and IKF will probably be traded for a depth option.. minor trade someone like a rob refsnyder type but not him. It will be a transaction like baltimore has done over the last few years someone that clears waivers and can be sent down and if not they lose him but win as they clear IKF 6 million salary off the books so they have room for a relief pitcher at the deadline
dmac
I also like the signings of Billy Mckinney and willie Calhoun as they have a few OF prospects getting closer perhaps they can help groom them in the minors
JackStrawb
@dmac I’ve got bad news for you, friend. McKinney is below replacement level for his career, and in 2022 just had the worst season of his career. At least his defense is roughly average, so he’ll get a few innings in the dog days of 2023 after about half a dozen other guys are on the IL or are nursing nagging injuries.
If Billy McKinney gets 100 PA for your team it’s got some real OF depth issues. No wonder he played for the ’21 Mets and Brewers. That he got about that many PA on the ’21 Dodgers is close to inexplicable.
dmac
Not what I’m saying.. he is just a voice in AAA to help groom a young prospect. The prospect gets that majors at bat not mckinney
Unclemike1525
The Yankees biggest contract problem is Stanton’s albatross. Good luck getting rid of that one. If you have to pay the guy to play elsewhere that really doesn’t help much see Cubs,Chicago Re: Jason Freakin Heyward. The dumb contract just has to play itself out at some point. The good news is the Yankees have the dough to go over the Tax until it goes away. Unless Stanton can miraculously learn how to stay healthy and actually play LF.
JackStrawb
@Unclemike1526 In the minors the best comp for Pete Alonso was Stanton. Let that be a data point against signing Alonso to a long, expensive extension, which is almost certain to be a disaster.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Mets handle Alonso and McNeil’s impending FA, after 2024. They aren’t likely to be smart about it.
dmac
With the contracts being given out today Stanton doesn’t seem that bad if he produces the same numbers lol
yankeemanuno23
Hicks & Donaldson are not gonna be productive all season, they drop off, plus hitting less than mediocre as shown in the last 2 seasons. Cashman make a deal unload. Get a lefty hitting LF w power. #28 in ‘24 is the Goal
yankeemanuno23
Hicks & Donaldson are not gonna be productive all season, they drop off, plus hitting less than mediocre as shown in the last 2 seasons. Cashman make a deal unload. Get a lefty hitting LF w power. #28 in ‘24 is the Goal !
Unclenolanrules
National baseball media crowns the Yankees 2023 World Series champs in 5-4-3-2-1….
Enjoy your third place finish Yankees fans. Your ownership has forsaken you. Apparently you all just don’t fork over enough money.
Yankees are a solid team. I just don’t see it. Lucky Sperm Steinbrenner, Jr. seems to hamstring the team in light of the more untethered Padres, Dodgers, Mets, all those types. Judge doesn’t count. He’s an extension, not an acquisition.
Poster formerly known as . . .
“I suspect he will be the guy that emerges [in left field], because he is still really talented and everything is there,” Cashman said (via the New York Post). “Hopefully we can get the Aaron Hicks we know is in there back as a consistent player for us.”
Hicks had an entire season to show something, and he ended up with an 86 OPS+, 14 points below league average.
“Back as a consistent player for us” — when he’s had only one full season with an OPS+ above league average. He’s never been consistent, unless you want to count “consistently injured” or “consistently inconsistent.” But Cashman knows he’s “in there.” He’s going to do what he couldn’t do all last year, and he’s going to do it at the age of 33.
Oswaldo Cabrera should be the starting left fielder. His OPS+ was 23 points higher, and he had twice as many Defensive Runs Saved in less than a third of Hicks’s innings in the outfield.
The only reason to give the job to Hicks is that Cashman won’t admit his $70 million mistake.
BStrowman
Cabrera has 9 DRS in 200 RIGHT field innings.
Complete junk stat in 200 innings. Florial will probably be in the mix too. All 3 of them should break camp. Cabrera looks like he’ll be in the Zobrist type super utility mold. I doubt he takes the full time job. He’ll play in the outfield and the infield.
It’s a lot of nothing and overreacting to me. The Yankees have a lot of talent and young guys that will take jobs if/when Hicks/Donaldson/IKF can’t hack it. If this team was in Atlanta instead of New York—it’d be a non story.
Poster formerly known as . . .
Cabrera was manifestly better than Hicks in every respect. Are you a Yankee fan who watches the games?
Most likely, Florial will never get a shot with the big club.
“The Yankees have a lot of talent and young guys that will take jobs if/when Hicks/Donaldson/IKF can’t hack it.”
That’s nothing resembling a plan.
Again, are you a Yankee fan? If you are, you should know that salaries determine playing time on this club. Entering the season with what you propose — playing three players who couldn’t hack it last year and hoping their unnamed rookie replacements will hit the ground running and equate collectively to a team that can beat the Astros — is a lot of wishful thinking.
Dr2022
You nailed it pink. This has been the problem with this team for quite a while. Cashman seems to be in no rush, waiting around for his reclamation projects to become what they were five or 10 years ago, allegedly. Meanwhile the windows on Aaron Judge or Cole and Stanton or Rizzo diminishes each year.
JackStrawb
“…Cashman noted. Once Judge had officially agreed to return to New York, “ultimately we were able to pivot” to also land Rodon.”
—That’s nonsense, of course. If they were going to sign Rodon if they landed Judge, the need for Rodon if they couldn’t land Judge would only be greater. If you’re going to blather lies, Brian, at least tell a good story.
The Mets could have used Hicks over Pham in the last OFer role. At least Hicks prorates to a 2 WAR OFer in 650 PA and hits LHP a little better than RHP—while Pham can’t hit at all any more. Wonder how much salary the Yankees would have had to eat to unload Hicks? Yankee fans’ animosity for Hicks doesn’t make a lot of sense. Even in his decline phase, since the beginning of 2019, Hicks has been worth 2.1 rWAR per 650 PA. It’s not like he’s being paid a fortune, either, at least not in MLB’s funny money.
Poster formerly known as . . .
The animosity towards Hicks is really pretty simple. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and when he’s been on the field he’s been sub-par. His 86 OPS+ last year was below league average, as is his career 96 OPS+, for which he’s being paid $70 million. Besides that, he was a bad bet with RISP, with men on, and in high-leverage at-bats last year. No doubt it’s counterproductive to boo one’s own players, but he got booed for a reason: fans got sick of his failures at the plate and on the field.
Additionally, his effort in the field seems to fluctuate. Occasionally, he’ll make a nice running grab, and other times he’ll let catchable balls drop in front of him after what appear to be halfhearted attempts to get to them.
And come on, man. “Hicks prorates to a 2 WAR OFer in 650 PA.” Over his career, not counting the shortened 2020 season, Hicks has averaged 341 plate appearances per season. You’re really reaching with that argument. I doubt that even his agent would try to get over with that one.
Poster formerly known as . . .
Typical Cashman mishmash.
Third base is handed to aging, declining Donaldson because Cashman took on his bloated contract to get rid of Sanchez.
“If LeMahieu is healthy, Cashman described his role as an infielder who can play every day while bouncing around the infield, playing first base, second base, and third base.”
IF he’s healthy. Apparently they don’t know. And this 34-year-old is going to bounce around on his bum toe to play where, exactly? Torres has second base locked up. DJ can’t play short. Donaldson is being paid $21 million to play third base, and Rizzo is being paid $17 million to play first base. Musical chairs on the Titanic, Cashman’s favorite game.
If DJ is bouncing around, why should Cabrera be bouncing around too — and where? Because Cashman won’t admit another costly mistake and give Oswaldo the starting left fielder job that he’s penciled in for Hicks in a dubious attempt to justify Hicks’s $10 million salary?
If DJ is the utility man, what’s IKF’s role? Cashman passed on all the big-ticket shortstops supposedly to make room for Peraza or Volpe. Is that plan going in the dumpster because IKF is being paid $6 million?
Three of the roster problems — Donaldson, LeMahieu and Hicks — are the product of bad investments on aging players by Cashman. For this, they’re about to enter another season with a flawed, unbalanced roster.
DCartrow
Is Gene Woodling still alive?
No matter. I’ll still take him in LF over Hicks!
brucenewton
Can’t fathom 300 million and still have gaping holes on the roster. Same old, same old in the second half, burnt bullpen and injured old hitters trying to hit HR in dense October air. Will they even make it that far? Has 300 million ever not made the series? Probably not. Yankees likely to be the first.
Mikenmn
The Yankees biggest problem last year was a bunch of older players performing at a sub-par level. They weren’t horrible, but they can no longer be championship-level. The reasons (age, injury, inexplicable decline are just there, This followed a season where many of their players did not perform–6 starters with OPS+ of less than 100.
Cashman hasn’t really fixed things. Rondon is a big add (if he stays healthy) but a 33 year old Rizzo, a 37 year old Donaldson, a 33 year old Hicks and Stanton? Without improvement from those players, and with Judge setting such a high bar that a .a very good year is a big decline, how do they improve? Nothing against Cashman, but I would have preferred a fresh perspective,
LeapingLenny
There were a few posts here about the costs of the food and beer at YS. Be aware that there are ways around the costs while still getting loaded at the stadium.
I have always packed a pinter or half-pinter into games/concerts. That helps.
But there are alcohol concealment merchants that can set you up for the beer. And even to help avoiding the lines at the pi$$ers.
This is for the gals: stadiumpal.com/product/stadium-gal-kit/
There is a catheter-like device also available for the guys.
There is also a vest-like device that can be filled with beer or other spirits and worn under your shirt. So you go in a with a fake big-fat belly and it flattens out as you drink from an attached straw. You can also find a cup and empty it into the cup on the sly.
Food? Well the vendors on 161st or River are the cheapest options. But if you go to a deserted stand as soon as you get in maybe you can have a friend distract the sales person and grab a pretzel or a dog and run off.
LeapingLenny
wanderingwheatleys.com/sneak-alcohol-liquor-wine-i…