New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman Wants to Sell, Ownership Does Not
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman may want to be a seller at the deadline while ownership wants to continue pushing for a title.
The New York Yankees are in an unfamiliar spot. The team is off to a 39-39 start and, while it is still early, trail the Baltimore Orioles by 8.5 games in the American League East.
The Yankees are only three games out of a Wild Card spot, so it is certainly not a time for panic in the Bronx.
But an article by Jon Heyman on Today’s Knuckleball makes it seem like the front office may be looking to trade some major names before the deadline at the end of the month:
"Despite the Yankees’ uninspiring standing and their overt flaws, the two at the top are advocating a wait-and-see approach. But word going around is that not everyone in Yankeeland is quite so sure that’s the way to go. Word among rivals is that general manager Brian Cashman may be less convinced that staying the course is the way to go and more receptive to the idea of a rare sale of stars (though Cashman himself doesn’t exactly admit that that’s the case). While folks around the league and team seem convinced Cashman sees the harsh reality of the situation, Cashman doesn’t stoke that potential fire. He says he’s merely “doing his job” by engaging teams for potential sales and buys."
The “two at the top” refers to Hal Steinbrenner and Randy LeVine, the owner and president respectively. It would not be like a Steinbrenner to give up on a season, and he may have reason to still believe in this team.
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After a disappointing 9-17 start, the Yankees have gotten back to the .500 mark to begin July. With the lack of a budget, the Yankees have the luxury of not having to dump salary at the deadline if the season does not look destined for a title in July. Instead, the team can rely on its stars and hope things turn around. Being only three games back in the Wild Card race means a playoff berth is well within reach.
The key will be to analyze the record at the end of the month and discuss the offers on the table. If the team falls to eight or ten games under .500, the Yankees would be foolish to turn down any major offers for someone like Aroldis Chapman or even Carlos Beltran, who Heyman mentions as possible targets.
If the record falls too far below the .500 mark the ownership in the Bronx will have to put ego aside and realize the season is lost, thus working to acquire assets to ensure the team is great once again in the near future. But that is simply not the Steinbrenner way.