Funny, we aren’t hearing now from all those many Yankees fans who suggest GM Brian Cashman is a fool, a dope or an idiot. Or about how they generally want him out.
I get it. Fifteen years is a long wait between World Series. But they’re on the cusp now, and thanks largely to a bevy of prescient front office moves.
The detractors have gone silent, and for good reason.
There’s nothing to say, not unless someone wants to nitpick why Cashman didn’t go through with the potential deal to acquire Dodgers de facto ace of the moment Jack Flaherty, who may face them in the World Series now. (But as it turned out, Cashman used a key player discussed in those talks, slugging prospect Agustin Ramirez, to acquire Jazz Chisholm Jr., a New York necessity.)
Here’s why Cashman’s a candidate not for the chopping block but for AL Executive of the Year. (It’s either him or Royals GM J.J. Picollo):
1. Juan Soto
The Padres made out well by acquiring excellent starter Michael King, coveted prospect Drew Thorpe (who they turned into star starter Dylan Cease), depth starters Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez plus Kyle Higashioka, their starting catcher with punch. But combining the wunderkind Soto with Aaron Judge gave the Yankees a hitting tandem for the ages. Soto’s everything they hoped for and more, and his acquisition probably gave them an inside track in his eagerly anticipated free agency.
2. Luke Weaver
A bargain pickup for $2 million (plus $2.5M team option they should pick up now), Weaver turned out to be the outstanding closer they needed when Clay Holmes’ luck turned bad. Weaver had a 6-plus ERA in previous three years and in winter received 11 minor league offers, one for less money from the Yokohama Bay Stars and only one MLB deal — from the Yankees, who insisted on a team option that gives them a cheap closer in 2025.
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3. Jazz Chisholm Jr.
The Yankees always liked this uber-talented infielder/outfielder, and though he never before played third base, he filled the spot with aplomb. The Yankees aren’t sure the main piece sent to Miami, Ramirez, has a position, anyway. Meantime, the versatile Chisholm can move to second, where he’s outstanding, if Gleyber Torres leaves in free agency.
4. Luis Gil
He was their best starter for the first half and gives them a fine extra playoff option on a staff that’s in the best shape of any remaining team (the Dodgers’ rotation is decimated, the Mets’ bullpen iffy and the Guardians’ rotation inexperienced). The cost was only spare outfielder Jake Cave, too.
5. Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells and Clarke Schmidt
They all look like late-first-round gems.
6. Marcus Stroman
The Long Islander got his Yankees wish after he apologized for past retaliatory tweets responding to Cashman’s reluctance to acquire him via trade a few years back, because his stuff wasn’t quite good enough to make their playoff rotation. Well, it turns out Cashman’s explanation proved prescient. Stroman pitched solidly but not quite well enough to crack the October rotation.
7. White Sox relievers
Hard as it is to believe, the Yankees this season got two helpful relievers, Tim Hill and Jake Cousins, from the White Sox. Ian Hamilton came earlier from the South Siders, who could have used these guys (plus Michael Kopech, who’s now a Dodgers star) to avoid infamy.
