Brian Cashman Couldn’t Have Done It Without the Money
July 16, 2011 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
In an interview following the seventh game of the 1958 World Series, victorious New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel told a television audience the secret to his success:
“I couldn’t have done it without the players.”
General manager George Weiss, one of the least loved but one of the most successful evaluators of talent, put together a Yankees team whose eight starting players and pitching ace were all home grown.
He added some key players before the trading deadline to complement the regulars, and the Yankees went on in 1958 to become World Champions for the eighth time since the end of World War II.
In 2011, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is faced with a situation in which he must strengthen his team.
The Yankees have weak starting pitching, a suspect bullpen—after one mentions Mariano Rivera and Dave Robertson—and need a defensively reliable infielder.
Both Brian Cashman and George Weiss had money available, but the difference is that in the 1950s, Weiss didn’t have the advantage of plucking a star or two from a team that couldn’t afford to retain a player once he became a free agent.
The last World Championship the Yankees won was in 2009. Cashman had little do with the acquisition of Mark Teixeira, A.J. Burnett or C.C. Sabathia, all of who were signed as free agents for an obscene amount of money. Cashman didn’t lose any players.
Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia have been fairly effective for the Yankees, although three months does not a season make. Still, Cashman was wise in signing them. All it cost were small amounts of money.
As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, it is becoming obvious that Cashman is going to have make some tough decisions because the Yankees are going to have to trade for help, not buy it.
Cashman has made two trades that time proved wrong.
If he had not sent Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen and Jose Tabata to the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trading deadline in 2008, the Yankees would have a solid starter in Karstens to follow Sabathia in the rotation. Karstens pitched the Pirates into first place last night and is 8-4 with a 2.34 ERA this season.
Cashman’s second mistake was trading Ian Kennedy in a three-way trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers. The Yankees obtained Curtis Granderson, who is having a solid season, but Kennedy is 9-3 with a 3.44 ERA.
The Yankees sent scout Jay Darnell to scout Colorado Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who would help the Yankees, but it has been reported that the Rockies want some of the Yankees top prospects.
The names of Jesus Montero, whom they would use at first base, as well as pitchers Manuel Banuelos and Dellin Betances have been mentioned. Cashman has forced his bosses to keep the team’s top prospects, which he must do once again.
Jimenez started out 0-5 but has pitched better recently. Last year, he was 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA, but he faltered badly in September, failing to get his 20th win.
George Weiss would never include Montero in a trade because Russell Martin is not the answer to the Yankees catching problems. He would never trade either Banuelos or Betances because they have tremendous potential.
Cashman must obtain a pitcher such as Matt Garza of the Cubs, Francisco Liriano of the Twins, Anibal Sanchez of the Marlins or Jeremy Guthrie of the Orioles in order to retain the Yankees’ top prospects.
Cashman’s contract expires at the end of the season. He is a man of great integrity who will do everything in his power to give the Yankees a chance to have a successful season, but he realizes that it cannot come at the price of mortgaging the future.
Yes, it is a completely different mind set, but Sandy Alderson of the New York Mets may be willing to give up on 2011 in the hope of becoming a stronger team in 2012.
Cashman agrees with that approach, but he must once again stand up to those who run the Yankees and prevent them from making an egregious error.
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