About the Off-Season: We Are Here Already?

by Tim Kabel

October 27, 2022

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I'm afraid we are. We can all look at Aaron Boone and say, in the words of the late, great Oliver Hardy, "That's another fine mess you've gotten me into."

Today is Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. He once said, " Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." I feel confident that someone who followed that philosophy would have found a way to beat the Astros in at least one game. Boone's philosophy seems to be, "Blame it on the roof, and look at what the Red Sox did to us in 2004."

Today is also my dear friend Kristen's birthday. She is famous for saying to me, "Do you really think that's a good idea?" Usually, it turned out not to be.

Today, I am going to start my new series, "Should he stay, or should he go?"

I'm going to start with Brian Cashman and work my way down. Cashman just finished his 25th year as Yankees' general manager. He has never had a losing season. However, the last time the Yankees won the World Series was in 2009. That is a long drought. That is such a long drought that Yankees fans are about to call Burt Lancaster to have him make some rain.

That can't keep happening. I agree with Michael Kay that Hal Steinbrenner has to channel his father somehow and have a very serious talk with Cashman and his minions. They have to understand that this cannot continue.

If we look at the Yankees right now, things look promising, based of course on them re-signing Aaron Judge. If they do that, and make a few other moves, they could get over the hump and actually beat Houston. We will deal with the issue of Boone next time.

After the Yankees re-sign Aaron Judge, they should then sign Andrew Benintendi to play left field. He's a very good left-handed hitter, who gets on base a lot.

They need to find some way to jettison Josh Donaldson. He is finished. Unless he is willing to do what Matt Carpenter did last off-season and completely overhaul his swing, there is no way he can be productive. The Yankees may need to package him with a prospect or take on a big contract from another team. Either way, Donaldson can't be here next season, because if he is, he will be a bench player. Imagine how detrimental he would be to the team in that role.

Brian Cashman has a lot of young talent poised to contribute at the major league level. They need to be given the chance to do so. If that happens, and if Cashman continues to add pieces where he needs them, the Yankees will be in an enviable position.

I would bring Brian Cashman back because by and large, the Yankees are a very formidable team. He has constructed a team that if utilized properly by the manager, could conceivably overtake Houston and appear in a World Series.

Some of the moves Cashman made at the trade deadline last season could be questioned. Two of the players, Frankie Montas and Scott Effross were beset by injuries. You can't blame that on Cashman. I would simply let him know (if I were Hal Steinbrenner), that second place in the American League is not good enough anymore.

Cashman needs to understand that if the Yankees don't win or at least make at least one World Series during his next contract, it will be his last one.