Re-Upping Cashman Bodes Well For The Future

By On October 10, 2011 · 6 Comments · In General Musings

From Buster Olney:

Contract negotiations between the New York Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman are going smoothly, according to sources, and could be concluded with a new deal in the week ahead.

Cashman, who has been the Yankees GM since February of 1998, could theoretically walk away from the Yankees at the end of the month when his contract expires.

But Cashman has made it clear he’d like to return. The Yankees say they want him back, and contract talks with club executives, including Hal Steinbrenner, have started.

On a simple, practical level, bringing Cashman back bodes well for the future because he is a good general manager. While he certainly makes mistakes and has a handful of abysmal decisions on his record, his overall body of work is strong. He has built a consistent winner that also has a stocked farm system, allowing him to make trades and promote prospects to supplement the current roster. Additionally, he handles the administrative portion of the job well, as he knows how to interact with the local media and has deftly survived a difficult to navigate internal hierarchy. Any man that could work for the Steinbrenners as long as he has and maintain his sanity is one who is cut out for the job.

On a more abstract level, though, the fact that ownership remains enamored with Cashman should fill Yankees fans with confidence regarding the long-term future of the organization. There are times when ownership makes decisions that look incredibly stupid, such that fans cringe and wonder what the team might look like down the road, under the stewardship of a different general manager. However, the Yankees’ continued relationship with Cashman suggests that when it comes to baseball operations, the current ownership group has the proper vision regarding what it takes to build a winner. They have had opportunities over the last decade to dump Cashman without facing terrible backlash from the fanbase or the media, but have stuck with him and his methodology. They have bought into the half-analytical half-scouting approach that he brings to the table, and I would expect them to look for someone who utilizes similar tools once Brian and the Yankees decide to part company. While it may not always be clear (see Alex Rodriguez’ extension), it seems that the Yankees are in good hands.

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6 Responses to Re-Upping Cashman Bodes Well For The Future

  1. Paul says:
    October 10, 2011 at 8:19 pm

    Great article. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Well, except forth Arod reference at the end. They paid too much for him, I get it. So what? It’s not like they would have a better third baseman if not for that contract. It’s not like they passed on a great free agent signing because they are hamstrung by that contract. So, I don’t get the big deal over it ( not your article, per se … I seem to always read about that contract). The only people who should care are Hank, Hal and their beneficiaries

    Reply
    • Michael P. says:
      October 10, 2011 at 10:15 pm

      We as Yankee fans should be concerned with it because its a huge contract that, going forward, takes up 2 roster spots. The Yankees now cannot make any changes to improve the 3B spot, and cannot realistically commit to anyone being a full time DH. Yankees like to operate around 200 million and he represents 30 million that wont be used elsewhere. However that was not Cashmans fault, he was overridden by the higher ups. Speaking of higher ups and bad contracts when the hell is Randy Levine going to be accountable for all the god awful contracts that can be laid at his doorstep? Why does this man have a job? How many naked pictures of Hank and Hal does this man own? Mind boggling…

      Reply
      • Joe G says:
        October 11, 2011 at 8:54 am

        I agree on Levine. And what’s even worse is he now thinks he’s George Steinbrenner Jr, and goes on the radio shows to call the season a failure. This guy needs to go away and fast.

        Reply
  2. Andy says:
    October 11, 2011 at 12:24 am

    Wasn’t AROD’s contract Hank’s idea? I thought Cashman was overruled on that one.

    Reply
  3. paul says:
    October 11, 2011 at 8:24 am

    There are no obviously available significant upgrades at 3B and the 30 million allotted to his contract that “won’t be used elsewhere” is not plausible. It didn’t stop them from going after Lee, it won’t stop them from extending Sabathia and it won’t stop them from going after Darvish or any other free agent they think will help the team.

    Reply
  4. Bob Arnone says:
    October 12, 2011 at 10:10 am

    Next years lineup. 1-Reyes 2-Gardner 3-Cano 4-Granderson 5-Tershera
    6-A-rod 7-Swisher 8-Montera 9-DH Jeter Speed 9-4! Derek fills in when needed. Yankees have an opportunity to start a youth movement to an aging lineup.

    Reply

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