May I have your attention please, thank you. Can we have a
quick moment of silence for all the opposing pitching staffs that have to face
the New York Yankees here in 2018.
Thank you.
Now as we move on this morning, this winter and into this
spring I wanted to take a second to give my true appreciation to the General
Manager of the New York Yankees, Mr. Brian Cashman. Not only did Brian Cashman
build up an amazing farm system from the ground up, but Cashman showed a
willingness to use those prospects not only in trades, but at the Major League
level too. Cashman and his Baby Bombers made it all the way to the American
League Championship Series in 2017 and were one win away from heading to the
World Series. While most GM’s and teams would be happy with this, especially
given the fact that the Yankees weren’t expected by many to even compete until
the 2018 season, but Mr. Cashman obviously was not.
Cashman, with the plans and orders to get under the $197
million luxury tax threshold in hand, went out and improved the team this
offseason the best way he knew how, like a ninja on the trade market. Not only
did Cashman bring in the reigning National League MVP in Giancarlo Stanton for
essentially Starlin Castro and a couple table scraps, but he also unloaded
Chase Headley’s contract on the San Diego Padres to essentially even out the
financial commitment the team took on with the Stanton trade. Cashman then went
out and acquired an extremely useful and versatile Brandon Drury from the
Arizona Diamondbacks for a pair of prospects that would never reach the Major
Leagues as it stands today with the Yankees, I call that highway robbery.
It wasn’t just his trades that were seemingly unreal at
times, but his ability to bring back a veteran like CC Sabathia on a
team-friendly deal will never get enough publication or praise in my opinion.
The 1990’s Yankees Dynasty was great, but it wasn’t just the likes of Derek
Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera that
made it special. It was also the acquisitions of Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez,
Scott Brosius and others with a little bit of magic from the farm system
sprinkled in from time to time in players like Chad Curtis, Shane Spencer and
Alfonso Soriano that really made what those teams did magical. Build a core
from within, build up the middle and fill in the cracks via free agency and
trade. That’s the blueprint, and Brian Cashman has done that to a “T” lately,
this offseason especially. Cashman has just been masterful, and I don’t think
he receives as much praise as he should, so here it is…the official Brian
Cashman appreciation thread for the 2018 season.
Haters, leave your things at the door. You’re not welcome
here. Enjoy the day.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)