Cashman Is Not Managing As If His Job is On the Line

By Derek McAdam

December 3, 2021

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Going into the 2021 off-season, many questions were being asked about the front office. Would Aaron Boone return as manager of the team and would Brian Cashman get the ax after another disappointing season?

Boone received a new three-year deal with a club option for 2025. Cashman is in the final year of his contract and may not receive an extension for several reasons. But he does not seem to be worrying too much about his job, considering the current nature of the team.

This is not a shot at Cashman for not signing a top free agent for big bucks. Max Scherzer and Marcus Stroman are two pitchers who did not want to pitch for the Yankees. There is no reason to sign Marcus Semien and Corey Seager to such long contracts when there are two shortstop prospects that can be ready in 2023.

Starling Marte is 33 years old and signed for four years with an AAV well over $15 million. There aren’t any top catchers on the market and there haven’t been any big first basemen that have signed a deal yet.

But what about Justin Verlander? He took two years, $50 million from the Astros whereas the Yankees offered him a one-year, $25 million deal. If the Yankees gave him the two years would he have signed? It is much more of a possibility if that did happen. But Cashman had no chance if the Astros gave the upcoming 39-year old two years. It must be mentioned that Verlander has yet to sign that contract.

Let’s take a took at shortstop. Freddy Galvis was one of the better shortstop options who could come to the Yankees for one year on a cheap contract. Instead, he opted to go to Japan. He isn’t a player that can come in and save the franchise offensively, but he would be an upgrade at shortstop over Gleyber Torres. He was a name that never came up in the Yankee rumors.

There are still plenty of options out there for the Yankees at shortstop but they still have not solved that problem going into the lockout.

Instead of letting Gary Sanchez, Luke Voit and Miguel Andujar walk, Cashman decided to tender each of their contracts for the 2022 season. This may have strictly been because of the lockout nearby, they would at least be guaranteed to have a catcher and first baseman for next season.

Here’s the problem. When Hal Steinbrenner comes out and says that the team has to get better, that should be a cue that recycling the same roster is not working. If Cashman is not given money to spend, make trades and give up some prospects. Don’t assume that a prospect will turn into something great (it’s funny I say this when the Yankees are waiting for their top two shortstop prospects to come up), but trade for someone who has proven themselves at the major league level.

Cashman may be waiting for the lockout to end to begin his spending spree. There are still top names on the free-agent list including Freddie Freeman, Trevor Story, Carlos Correa and Carlos Rodon.

One thing is for sure. If Cashman does not make any moves, this will be his last season in the Bronx. This current roster has not accomplished much and will not make it to a World Series. And one big signing will not do the Yankees any justice. They will need multiple signings or trades to get them to the biggest stage.

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