Brian Cashman

[cmaff051]

It is simply amazing to me how this guy STILL has a sparkling reputation in New York given his track record. He is friends with the right people, courteous to the media and the fans and has a generally pleasant demeanor, all of which I recognize are assets that Cashman has parlayed into a GM-for-life job.

But what about his actual record as GM of this team? Is there a single GM in this league who has squandered the amount of resources that Cashman has? Is there a single GM in this league who, despite being able to outbid every team in the league and having the most money available for scouting and player development purposes, has whiffed on pitching acquisitions time after time again? When is the last time Cashman put together a good bullpen? When is the last time we had a pitching staff that was above league average?

I could go on and on.

What does Cashman have to do to get his walking papers? It's been five years since he put a team on the field that could pitch well enough and hit well enough to make it out of the Division series. It's getting frustrating. Nobody in New York gets as many excuses as Brian Cashman. Isiah Thomas wishes he had as many lives as Brian Cashman.

[Wade2k6]

Because a staff of Sabathia, Burnett, Pettite, Chamberlain and Wang isn't good enough to get it done? Is it Cashmans fault that Wang has sucked this year? Is it Cashmans fault that the bullpen can't stay healthy? Is it Cashmans fault that A-rod was out of the lineup for half the season so far, yet they are still a game from first place...?

[PR07]

Igawa was a panic and a bad move, but Cash hasn't really made any other horrific signings. Carl Pavano sucked here, but don't forget the Red Sox coveted him just as much as we did.

He's gotten two younger MLB superstars in CC and Tex. The jury is out on Burnett, but he at least has the stuff to be potentially dominant (we need to see a lot more from him though at this time).

No one really could anticipate that Wang would suck. No one could anticipate that the bullpen would drop off this much after being pretty good last season. Those are our two glaring holes.

[nykgeneralmanager]

Looks like passing on Santana for top prospects may have been a good move after all. My main reason for supporting that non-move was because I just didn't think Santana had the durability to live up to a 6 or 7 year contract, not with the jump in his innings, decline in peripherals, and the issues with his velocity...too many red flags to give up a guy like Hughes.

[Dr. Detfink]

Now wait...until Hughes or Joba sniff 16 wins, the jury is waaaay out on that deal. Even still, at the deadline the Twins asked the YAnks for Wang and Melky. Cashman balked. Stupid.

Still, I can over look that. I can even over look Igawa because right now, the Red Sox can't give Dice-K away for a bag of balls.

I will never forgive Cashman for Carl Pavano who had a twitchy injury bug even before the Yanks. The worst part was, Cashman was trying to convince Hal Steinbrenner to pick up the 13 million option they had for him. Talk about witless.

Hard to quibble right now because the Yanks are playing so well...but you're right on Cashman being a bit overrated.Unlimited budget. Black checks to drop to CC Sabbathia, Teixiera, and AJ Burnett...and still more money for Nick Swisher? C'mon..

[j4remi]

Guys don't forget that some of Cashman's "mistakes" were more a result of pressure from the big boss man. He's finally gotten the restraints off the past two seasons and all of his moves imo have been great ones. I think his deals with Pitt were incredible, especially grabbing Marte who has disappointed but was a great move at the time. Keeping the youth was a huge positive as well and C.C. over Johan seems like the right call to me. Grabbing Tex and AJ again were the right moves, and of course having limited sources would make that impossible but having the balls to risk that much money on three guys...impressive.

[nykgeneralmanager]

Now wait...until Hughes or Joba sniff 16 wins, the jury is waaaay out on that deal. Even still, at the deadline the Twins asked the YAnks for Wang and Melky. Cashman balked. Stupid.

Still, I can over look that. I can even over look Igawa because right now, the Red Sox can't give Dice-K away for a bag of balls.

I will never forgive Cashman for Carl Pavano who had a twitchy injury bug even before the Yanks. The worst part was, Cashman was trying to convince Hal Steinbrenner to pick up the 13 million option they had for him. Talk about witless.

Hard to quibble right now because the Yanks are playing so well...but you're right on Cashman being a bit overrated.Unlimited budget. Black checks to drop to CC Sabbathia, Teixiera, and AJ Burnett...and still more money for Nick Swisher? C'mon..

You have to remember that with Santana, we wouldn't have touched Sabathia. So I don't care if Hughes never sniffs 16 wins, as long as he is a major league pitcher and Sabathia is our ace, it was a good idea to pass on the deal. There were a million rumors flying around at that time, and I personally do not believe for one tenth of a second that we could have landed Johan for Wang and Melky, it would have taken Hughes+ or Cano+.

I don't see why it is a knock against him for having such a great amount of resources, he has put a 95 win caliber team on the field year in and year out, so he is making the most of his resources, isn't that being quite successful?

[Wade2k6]

he has put a 95 win caliber team on the field year in and year out, so he is making the most of his resources, isn't that being quite successful?

Apparently not. Some fans have unrealistic expectations and think the Yanks can win every year. That isn't going to happen.

I find it very hard to believe people are getting on Cashman after he turned this team around in 1 off-season. They look so much better right now then at this time last year, and it's because of the players Cashman brought in and the moves Cashman made.

[nykgeneralmanager]

he has put a 95 win caliber team on the field year in and year out, so he is making the most of his resources, isn't that being quite successful?

Apparently not. Some fans have unrealistic expectations and think the Yanks can win every year. That isn't going to happen.

I find it very hard to believe people are getting on Cashman after he turned this team around in 1 off-season. They look so much better right now then at this time last year, and it's because of the players Cashman brought in and the moves Cashman made.

I agree, the Yankees have put some excellent teams on the field in recent years...unfortunately there are no rings to show for it and that disappoints people (and rightfully so). But it doesn't make a guy like Cashman a terrible GM, also for sure some questionable moves may have contributed to the lack of rings. However, if you put a team on the field that wins 95 games every year, you are doing your job as a GM...there are too many variables that decide who wins the WS every year. Few people would argue that the Yankees aren't the best team in baseball right now, but if we don't win it all this year will Cashman be considered a bad GM? He went out and got Sabathia and Burnett, we now have one of the best rotations in baseball even though Wang (who was our preseason #2 starter) hasn't contributed to one game positively all season. The bullpen has been remodeled 100% from what it was in April and has been the #1 bullpen in at least the AL since June 1st. Who would've thought that Aceves and Hughes would be effective 7th and 8th inning men, or that Coke would develop into one of the better left handed specialists? Good decisions by Cashman. Look at our lineup, the OPS is something like .880, that is freakin absurd. Sure he didn't make any big moves at the deadline, but the moves for Hairston and Hinske have improved the bench a ton.

It is also unfair to get on Cashman for questionable moves but then when he makes a good one (like Teixeira) to simply say "Well he better make that move he can just sign blank checks." Whether people like to believe it or not, the Yankees operate on a budget. They didn't sign a couple of left handed pitchers that they drafted in June even though they manhandled the Cape Cod League because they had reached their budget in the draft, even though these draft picks would have cost less than $1 million.

The drafts have also been greatly improved since 2005 when he first gained full control, so the scouting department has certainly picked it up under Cashman.

[Dr. Detfink]

Now Wait...if the Red Sox say "We're passing on Teixiera..." then your 1B this season is Mr. Nick Swish'n'Miss Wisher who sucks in the field.

The ONLY reason why the Yanks have Mark Teixiera was the fact, the Red Sox thought Scott Boras was bluffing when he said, "Raise your total offer by 16 million and he's YOURS. Otherwise, I have another team interested in paying that much."

[nykgeneralmanager]

I don't care why we have him, the point is we do. A lot of the bad moves over the last 8 or 9 years or so weren't even Cashman's doing, but you don't see me making that excuse. They happened under his watch so he is the one accountable, that goes for the good deals as well as the bad deals whether they are pure luck or the byproduct of Steinbrenner stepping in demanding to pay people big bucks when Cash doesn't want to.

[Wade2k6]

The thing I don't understand is why people just don't give him some credit. He gets Teixera and it's only because he could write a blank check. Yeah you're right that the majority of teams couldn't afford Tex, but give the guy credit for jumping in and stealing him from LA and BOS. This team is significantly worse without Tex in the lineup (especially if he is added to BOS or LA).

Give him credit for getting CC. Although Cashman offered him the most money, he still had competition from LA and SF (i believe). Give him credit for stealing Burnett from ATL. Without either of these 2 the yankees look much different this year, and are much worse.

Give him credit for the minor deals like grabbing Hinske and Hairston to fill out the bench. Everything about the guy doesn't have to be negative.

[Pharmcat]

yep hes made his mistakes

but he was 100% right on sanatana, unlike some of us (me)

[nykgeneralmanager]

The thing I don't understand is why people just don't give him some credit. He gets Teixera and it's only because he could write a blank check. Yeah you're right that the majority of teams couldn't afford Tex, but give the guy credit for jumping in and stealing him from LA and BOS. This team is significantly worse without Tex in the lineup (especially if he is added to BOS or LA).

Give him credit for getting CC. Although Cashman offered him the most money, he still had competition from LA and SF (i believe). Give him credit for stealing Burnett from ATL. Without either of these 2 the yankees look much different this year, and are much worse.

Give him credit for the minor deals like grabbing Hinske and Hairston to fill out the bench. Everything about the guy doesn't have to be negative.

Yup, imagine if Epstein stole Teixeira from Cashman at the last second like that? I doubt people would simply say "Well Epstein just gave him a blank check." He would be praised as the best GM ever and be given a 50 year extension.

[Dr. Detfink]

You have to remember that with Santana, we wouldn't have touched Sabathia. So I don't care if Hughes never sniffs 16 wins, as long as he is a major league pitcher and Sabathia is our ace, it was a good idea to pass on the deal. There were a million rumors flying around at that time, and I personally do not believe for one tenth of a second that we could have landed Johan for Wang and Melky, it would have taken Hughes+ or Cano+.

I don't see why it is a knock against him for having such a great amount of resources, he has put a 95 win caliber team on the field year in and year out, so he is making the most of his resources, isn't that being quite successful?

Who's to say Johan wasn't the better big game pitcher (and he is in the playoffs unlike CC)? Johan Santana didn't lose ONE decision in the second half of the season last year. Los Mets blew so many games that he would have easily had 20 wins. His bad luck continued this season as well but with the offense.

Again, Cashman BALKED at the Twins final offer: Wang and Melky. Foolish of Cash...

And if you think the Yanks are done spending on FA...c'mon...that rotation is not dominant. They have two solid starters and 3 complete question marks.

And the knock about Cashman's resources? Um, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY THE YANKS HAVE WASTED ON FAILED FA?

I don't even have to mention Carl Pavano's 40 million. BTW Pavano has more wins this season than all 4 as a Yankee. Or Igawa's 30 million. Or Contrearas?

Last, Teixiera was only a Yankee after the Red Sox balked at giving him an extra 16 million or so. They called Boras bluff...and didn't know the Yanks had made an offer. Otherwise, he is a Red Sox.

[Slamm Goodbody]

Dude Cano and Wang WAS NOT the final offer so stop saying it like a mantra. Minnesota had lukewarm interest in both of those guys because of their salary arbitration eligibility. They wanted players that were under team control a long way off from arbitration. Since they weren't thrilled with Melky as an asset they wanted all our young pitching - at least Kennedy and Hughes to start, plus Melky and another prospect. It wasn't worth the money and the prospects when you could save the money and spend this past offseason on a deeper FA pool. Stop repeating that line or provide some proof rather than parroting nonsense.

"Teixiera was only a Yankee after the Red Sox balked" - well, they balked and we won. Boras ALWAYS calls the Yankees before a final offer, Cash knew the call would come. He played Boras' game perfectly. Even if the Red Sox hit the number Boras wanted, he would have called NY.

People forget about deals Cash pulled off like getting Abreu and Corey Lidle at the deadline for NOTHING, or the already-commented on Pittsburgh deals, or Scott Proctor/Bubba Crosby for a washed-up Robin Ventura, or signing a litany of reclamation jobs off the scrap heap that turned out to be contributors for us.

As far as the FA mistakes - name me one GM that doesn't make bad decisions sometimes. Heralded Billy Beane hasn't exactly been batting 1.000 the last few years (see: Giambi, Holliday, etc.). Minnesota gave Tampa the assets it needed to go to the WS for a hyped outfielder that didn't warrant the hype. Cash's mistakes are just magnified in NY.

[Dr. Detfink]

You're right it wasn't Wang and CAno. It was Wang and Melky. Believe it. That was the last minute. End of story.

What, WAIT...What did Abreu do for us? The Yanks ATE one of the worst contracts outside of Raul Mondesi. Sure Abreu was a decent #3 hitter but good lord, he was SCARED sh*tless of the walls. He was also a party hound who boozed it up with Cano and Melky. When Melky was sent to the minors, it was a message to Cano...STOP PARTYING and slopping it in the field.

Corey Lidle...honestly, he sucked for us. I'm sorry he lost his life but he didn't do much of any thing for the yanks that year. When it came down to it, the Yanks stalled AGAIN..against the Tigers.

Again, you're missing something VERY obvious. Brian Cashman has a Huge margin of error. The Yanks have wasted nearly 200 million EATING bad contracts. If this was the NBA, they would be worse than the Knicks when it comes to contracts. The lack of a cap is what saves their bacon because the Yanks can spend MORE to cover up their short comings.

[Slamm Goodbody]

You're missing the point that Abreu/Lidle was a shrewd acquisition. We got Bobby in a salary dump that cost us virtually nothing and picked up a #5 starter that we desperately needed that year to boot. His performance in spite of his contract was quality for us. If he was that bad and costing us that much money, we would have declined his option. No matter how bad he was in the field he made up for it with his bat. I don't want to make it seem like Lidle was great for us - he sucked, obviously - but that Cash acquired two serviceable major leaguers at the deadline for absolutely nothing is a testament to his ability as a GM.

The economic factor isn't lost on me, but you can't make the argument on a hypothetical premise that if there was a cap he'd be failing miserably. He's working with the biggest payroll in baseball, we all know that, and that allows him some leeway when correcting mistakes. He's also working within the confines of the system in place. This isn't the NBA, there are many, many more players, tons of different places to scout, a significantly deeper draft pool, and tons more money involved in MLB. It's comparing apples to oranges. If the league went to a cap system, Cash would work within that and still more than manage to field a competitive team year-in, year-out, at least in part because of the changes he's made to our farm system.

Only in NY can we be complaining about our GM's performance when we're on pace to have the best record in the major leagues this season.