Brian Cashman, on pursuing a big-name free agent this winter
Don't tell my competition, but I spoke to Brian Cashman prior to today's Red Sox-Yankees game and intend to write about him for tomorrow's Newsday.
When I asked Cashman whether spending nine figures on another team's free agent would be inconsistent with his philosophies of building from within, not overspending and over-committing years and avoiding risk on big-league veterans who might not feel comfortable with New York, here is how he responded:
"No, not necessarily. Ultimately, what I feel is a strong reluctance to trade three or four assets to another team and then sign him to a multi-year contract. If you trade for a guy, give up three or four assets (and then pay him), then you've crushed your payroll and your assets at the same time."
"We have a lot of stuff coming off this winter. If you choose to play in that (free-agent) marketplace, the one thing you'd be sacrificing is a draft pick ...We're very protective of our draft picks, but for the right player and the right circumstance...I've always said were still big-game hunters. We're just going to be a little more prudent when we decide to take that dip."
In the first paragraph, Cashman obviously was referring to his decision not to trade for Johan Santana last winter.
In the second paragraph, he might as well have been referring to CC Sabathia. That's the kind of high-quality free agent he was discussing.
When I asked Cashman whether he felt the Yankees needed a frontline starting pitcher, the Yankees' GM responded, "I think we have two (Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain) sitting on the DL. They're frontline starting pitchers. Obviously, as we've seen this year, you can't have enough pitching."
Based on what has transpired since the trade deadline _ the continued problems for Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, more signs of slippage from Andy Pettitte _ a Yankees run at Sabathia makes more sense than it did even a month ago. Some Yankees officials are concerned about Sabathia's workload of the past few seasons, as well they should be, but that likely won't deter them too much.
But I still think that Sabathia very much prefers the West Coast and the National League.
I don't see the Dodgers signing Manny Ramirez, not when they already have two outfielders (Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp) who need to play every day and two others (Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre) who are going to be virtually impossible to trade. The Dodgers need starting pitching. With Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux and possibly Brad Penny coming off the books, and with just one year left on the perennially injured Jason Schmidt's contract, a run at Sabathia would make a great deal of sense.
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Comments (19)
It may be too early to call Joba a top flight pitcher right now. I've seen two many of these rookie wonders flame out. And at the very least Joba has to pitch a full season at the level he is showing without getting injured to be a top flight starter. The Yankees need another quality starter no matter what Cashman says.
I look at ARod this season and his poor clutch performing and only have to harken back to 2006 to be reminded of the exact same performance. At least his fielding isn't as miserable as it was that year. Last year, when he was plying for a new contract he stepped everything up a notch as expected.
Sandy, I think that A-Rod thing playing for a contract is so unfair to certain players. There are few players who out hustle A-Rod. (There are some but not many) Adam the fantasy baseball guy said before the season not to draft Rowand, and one of the reasons was he was playing for a contract last season. I called him out and said there's a million reasons not to draft Rowand but that isn't one of them. That guy will go all out no matter what the score/situation. I think A-Rod wants to be the greatest ever...and that maybe part of his problem.
Ken, there is no way Cashman is going to stand pat this year. I think they make a run at CC and TExieria. And though CC may want to play in the NLWest, I bet in the end, money will talk. I'm not saying the Yanks will be willing to pay the cost, but if they are...CC will have, "Always dreamed of donning the pinstripes."
Ken, I think Frank McCourt is a cheap owner. Yes he sign Andruw Jones, Juan Pierre and Jason Schmidt. But he has not pay a big money contract to anyone yet. What makes you think McCourt will pay Sabathia?
BTW, good stuff on interviewing Cashman. Or actually, getting Cashman to say anything meaningful. Especially on a day like today when its obvious that the season is over.
Because he has paid Jones, Pierre and Schmidt, Dennis. Those aren't big-money contracts?
Richie, aren't we in agreement on Cashman? That's why I put up this post, to show that Cashman was thinking about a big move. I think Sabathia is more likely than Teixeira.
I think we are in agreement over Cashman. I think he's doing the right thing in not trading his future for hte present.
What we were in agreement a month ago was that whoever signed CC was going to regret it. I still think the Yanks shouldn't sign him. I think the back end of his contract will be deadly and I think the front end in the A.L. wont be as great as they think it might.
As for Tex...I think he's slightly overrated. The big problem for the Yanks is I dont think there's a free agent I'm salviating over. But I know the Yanks being the Yanks have to do something big.
Both of them are worth two first round picks, and since money is no object, why not? But I'm just saying whoever signs these players are going to regret it.
Though I'm a fan of Michael Kay...here's some fodder for all the naysayers.
First he says Jason Giambi might have kept the Yankee playoff hopes alive...SINGLEHANDEDLY!! (Are you kidding me??? I guess Mussina sucked today)
And then he says you cant have a bigger day than Giambi had. That I agree with. People will forever talk about the time some Yankee went 2-2 with a HR, single and 3 RBI's.
Go ahead Jim...happy birthday. And you asked who I'm voting for? I'm not going to go into reasons why...but Obama. (I know someone that woulda been surprised a year ago haha)
RG - but Obama is "soft" on drug testing..and doesn't want Congress involved.
From last week's piece - repirnt from the Milwaukee Sentinel..
"Obama was asked what he thought about the congressional hearings held to exam the issue of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. “I’d like to see the baseball commissioner handle this without Congress being involved,” Obama said. “We’ve got a lot of stuff on our plate.” "
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Fehr gave to McCain in the past wjhn he was head of the Senate Commerce Committee, but told me two years ago that it was a huge mistake to do so. He has no contributions listed on fec.gov so far.
RG - Obama wants to empower unions - a vote for him is a vote for Don Fehr!!!
Richie G. my birthday is still three months away but I will gladly accept an early happy birthday! In light of the high cost of gasoline, maybe we should both agree to stay home on Election Day since we will only be canceling out each other's votes?
I thought there wasn't a single thing I agreed with Obama on but Bob T. brought to light one area: I also don't want Congress involved in baseball or any other sport. They are a bunch of incompetents. However, I do prefer the GOP incompetents to the Democrat ones.
The Yanks could have easily folded up the tent and go down with no fight. They trail 2-0 heading into the 7th inning today against Jon Lester. Giambi comes up and ties the game at 2-2 with a pinch-hit 2-run home run, and then wins it in the 9th with a single and the Yanks win 3-2. Rignt now if your Girardi and the Yanks, you have your team win as many games as you can the rest of the way. It may be too little too late for the Yanks, but you can't just lay down and quit.
Base on what Cashman said, the Yanks are going to spend the money in the off-season.
With Willie as the manager, the Mets were a very SOFT team. But with Jerry Manuel as the manager, the Mets have become a more mentally tough team, especially after devasting losses.
Richie all I'm saying about ARod was last year he was a man on a mission and brought it. He showed that he truly should be the best player in the game, and what that consists of (until October). He somewhat lacks that other years. I'm not saying he is a dog, what I'm saying is to not be booed, to be acclaimed as a $30 million dollar best player in the game he needs to bring it every single day of his career. Not 85-90%-- 100% every single day. Myself I think Albert Pujols is the best player in baseball, not ARod.
Now what I'm trying to figure out this afternoon is if this funk started when the announcement came that he was dating Madonna and his wife left him (and becoming somewhat a laughungstock in the process) or before. I'm quite tired of all the sensitive psyche, fragile ARod wants to be loved b.s. He brings all that part on by himself, just by being who and what he is, dislikeable.
Dennis the Yankees have too many players playing for new contracts for them to lie down and quit. So unless word comes down from above that young players have to be given tryouts, the Yankees should be playing hard to the bitter end.
Bob I love it....but a few things.
1) I agree with Obama that Congress shouldn't be involved in the baseball steroids mess. If they can rid the DH...then go for it, but that's it.
2) I am in a union. I have no problems with unions. I just dont like Major Leaguers going on strike.
3) I really want Obama for two/three main reasons. But there a bit too controversial for this baseball blog.
Sandy, I think A-Rod brings it every game. Not like (John Stearns alert) Stearns, Hudler, Fox did, but pretty much he hustles more than most. The fact that he has sucked in many clutch situations during his Yankee career, doesn't mean he doesn't try. Which is why he will never be booed by me. And because I'm not a Yankee fan. (He maybe booed by me if he's playing the Mets but that's just because I'd be having fun)
Jim, no deal. I have $50 bucks on Obama, though I am willing to sell my vote. All you can get is my word but that is good enough.
Dennis, I'm not saying you're wrong, but you hit on one of my biggest pet peeves. You said it would be easy for the Yanks to lay down. Its too bad its made a joke, because his point was dead on. But you play to win the game. Why else are you out there?? Why would anyone just lay down? I've seen it (Lakers in fianls anyone??) but it should never happen.
Josh Beckett has been scratch from his start tomorrow against the White Sox and will go see Dr. James Andrews to have his ailing right elbow check. When you send a player to see Dr. James Andrews, that's not a good sign. The Red Sox better hope that Beckett's injury is not serious otherwise their chances to repeat this year go down the drain.
Dennis, not sure if they go down the drain, but it hurts. Losing Manny, Becky, and Schilling is a lot.
Roger Ebert really hammer Jay Mariotti in a open letter to Mariotti in the Chicago Sun-Times today. Ebert happens to work for the same newspaper that Mariotti left. Ebert said that he been with the newspaper for 24 years before he arrived and call Mariotti a rat.
Great column by Murray Chass about Mets pitching. Here is the link: http://www.murraychass.com/?p=137.
Ken, I thoroughly enjoyed your column on Cashman/The Plan in today's paper. I don't understand your Hughes comment, though, about him going down the drain at AAA. He had two poor outings against the same team on Aug. 17 and Aug 22. But his last outing was pretty good and his other two weren't bad at all. I thought after his performance the other day he had earned a call-up sooner rather than later. I am a little mystified with the negativity.