Yankees GM Brian Cashman attended on the current version of The Front Office with Jim Bowden as well as Jim Duquette on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, as well as reviewed a variety of subjects associated with the Bronx Bombers’ offseason. Perhaps most significantly, some even more relocations can still possibly happen, as Cashman stated the group would certainly still such as to include a left-handed striking outfielder “to balance us out” in the limbo mix.
While the Yankees have a visibly right-handed hefty lineup, left area is really among the only placements that currently has some equilibrium, in between the switch-hitting Aaron Hicks, lefty-swinging Oswaldo Cabrera, as well as the left-handed strikingEstevan Florial However, New York could favor to relocate Cabrera around the ruby as opposed to dedicate him to a fuller-time duty in left area, Florial is still an untried product at the MLB degree, as well as reports remain to swirl that the Yankees are attempting to profession Hicks as well as a minimum of several of the $30.5 MM staying on his agreement.
Cashman mentioned the Hicks/Cabrera/Florial triad as the group’s “default” for limbo instead of any kind of various other relocations, as well as kept in mind that the Yankees are captivated by what they see from their internal alternatives. Cashman stated that Hicks “is fully recovered now” from the knee injury endured in Game 5 of the ALDS, which maintained Hicks from joining the ALCS versus the Astros.
In various other wellness information, Cashman shared some information on Frankie Montas, adhering to recently’s information that shoulder swelling would certainly maintain Montas sidelined via the very first month of the period. Montas is just readied to start his typical offseason tossing program this coming week, as well as therefore he’ll require even more time to completely increase. The right-hander sawDr Neal ElAttrache 2 weeks back, Cashman stated, as well as the positive side is that Montas’ shoulder issue does not seem architectural. “All the diagnostic testing shows a thumbs up….and we’ll know a lot more as the throwing program commences,” Cashman stated.
With Montas currently sidelined for a minimum of component of the period, the Bombers’ purchase of Carlos Rodon has actually come to be a lot more vital, as the beginning team could not miss out on a beat with Rodon signing up with Gerrit Cole as well as Nestor Cortes at the front end of the turning. Cashman disclosed that the Yankees initially attempted to get Rodon from the Giants before the profession target date, as well as though the club “had our conversations with San Francisco” regarding a feasible bargain, the Giants decided to maintain Rodon due to the fact that they felt they still had a shot at both getting to the playoffs as well as re-signing the left-hander this winter season.
As it occurred, the Giants ended up 81-81 as well as missed out on the postseason, as well as Rodon left for the Bronx on a six-year, $162MM agreement. Even with the Yankees concentrated on Aaron Judge, Cashman stated the group “stayed in touch with [agent] Scott Boras and Rodon,” as well as the GM really felt the Yankees were assisted due to the fact that “I know that this is the place [Rodon] wanted to be.”
Rodon’s passion in putting on the pinstripes was an increase to a club whose whole offseason was basically postponed while Judge made his choice. Even among the fast-moving nature of this winter season’s freelance 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 kept in mind. Once Judge had actually formally consented to go back to New York, “ultimately we were able to pivot” to likewise land Rodon.
There was definitely some threat associated with the procedure of making such a top 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 stated. Still, the front workplace had little option yet to await Judge’s choice, specifically given that the AL MVP as well as his camp provided apparently little details regarding which means he was leaning, in spite of Judge’s public affirmation that he favored to stay with the Yankees.
“I felt like for a long time we were flying blind,” Cashman stated. “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, as well as the Bronx followers, Judge selected to re-sign for a nine-year, $360MM bargain, as well as he’ll stay as the focal point of New York’s schedule. In regards to an additional returning face, “hopefully we have pure health on DJ LeMahieu’s side,” Cashman kept in mind, “since he was a huge part that we lost last year, really the last two years with two separate injuries.”
A sporting activities rupture maintained LeMahieu from joining the 2021 postseason, while a tendon problem in his ideal foot/toe location sidelined him for in 2015’s playoffs. It had not been totally clear whether LeMahieu would eventually require surgical treatment to remedy the issue, as well as while Cashman really did not securely offer an upgrade on the infielder’s condition one means or the various other, the absence of information can be a promise that LeMahieu’s initiatives to rehab the injury without surgical treatment are functioning.
If LeMahieu is healthy and balanced, Cashman explained his duty as an infielder that can play on a daily basis while jumping around the infield, playing very first base, keystone, as well as 3rd base. Breaking down the beginning infield, Cashman mentioned Anthony Rizzo initially base, Gleyber Torres at keystone, Josh Donaldson at 3rd base, as well as Isiah Kiner-Falefa taking on celebrity leads Oswald Peraza as well as Anthony Volpe for the shortstop task. Naturally there still could be some change in this strategy, relying on LeMahieu’s wellness as well as the truth that Donaldson is likewise supposedly a gamer the Yankees are attempting to discharge in order to conserve some pay-roll area.
