MLB: Ross Atkins clear head of AL East general managers
By Bill Felber
New York Yankees, Brian Cashman, -0.3 games
Since last October, Cashman has presided over one of the most sedate rosters in MLB. He’s brought in only 14 new faces by trade, purchase, draft, free agency or promotion, and allowed only six to escape the Yankee orbit to another team.
By comparison with his fellow GMs, that’s a somnolent pace of activity.
Given New York’s standing – fourth in its division – that absence of activity is of course subject to change on short notice. We will see what Cashman has in mind as the MLB trade deadline approaches.
His two headline offseason moves involved the addition of a pair of pitchers. Jameson Taillon (+0.2) came over from Pittsburgh in exchange for three minor leaguers plus pitcher Miguel Yajure (+0.1). So that deal is a net whitewash.
Corey Kluber signed as a free agent and – given his health concerns – a bargain basement one at that. Kluber (+0.9) was 4-3 with an ERA in the low threes when he got hurt again. So if you’re happy with 10 starts and 53 innings in exchange for your $11 million, feel free to view that signing as a win.
Aside from that, Cashman – with a highly paid cast of under-achievers in place — has mostly tinkered on the edges. He acquired Rougned Odor (-0.3) from the Rangers for a couple minor leaguers, gave him the keys to second base, and got a .217 average.
He signed free agent Jay Bruce (-0.5) as a first base fill-in. Bruce was hitting .118 when it dawned on him that he was no longer major league capable and retired in April.
There was a day not long ago when Cashman could count on the team’s farm system to produce a Miguel Andujar, a Gleyber Torres, a Domingo German. No more. Cashman has only used four rookies in 2021, none of them impactful. The net impact of those rookies to date: -0.9 games.