Photo Courtesy of NoMaas
That was Brian Cashman’s answer when he was asked by WFAN’s Mike Francesa if he feels like he has enough starting pitching on the roster right now. I transcribed that portion of the questions and answers (Someone tell Mo to double my salary!) for our readers. They are as follows:
Mike Francesa-”Do you have enough on your current roster to go to Spring Training right now, as far as Starting Pitching goes, or in your mind do you have to add a Starting Pitching component?”
Brian Cashman-”I think I’d like to add if I could. It’s just that the prices on some of these (free agents) are prohibitive, and it’s a very limited list as well, the list that we would have an interest in. It goes from a comfort level of knowing this will help, versus the choices of players that you want to take flyers on, and hey, you might get lucky and catch lightning in a bottle like we’ve done in years past with certain guys. That’s kind of where it’s at right now. If we go that route (the latter) we’ll obviously pour more money into a position player addition or so. Or if we want to go with more certainty, we play on one of the more obvious players that are out there. That’s the wrestling match, it all depends on the conversations (with agents) and how they go. That can push it one way or the other. ”
Mike Francesa-”So you could be a player for one of the prominent guys out there? It’s not out of the question.”
Brian Cashman-”I wouldn’t rule anything out, but some things are harder than others. “
Sounds like Lackey is someone who’d have to come way down on his price for the Yanks to have any interest. A ‘lightning in a bottle’ guy could be a Kelvim Escobar or even a Chien Ming Wang in the spring, once they’ve had a chance to see him pitch. Even Ben Sheets at 7-8 mil (plus incentives) sounds like it could be difficult, but I wouldn’t rule it out from what Brian said. He clearly would like to add a pitcher, but spending that kind of money would mean he’s pretty much done for the off season. With the Damon talks breaking down, the 9 mil they offered Johnny could go to bolstering their rotation with a player like Sheets. When he said “it all depends on the conversations” with agents, it’s fair to assume that since the Damon talks didn’t go well, Cash will now be pursuing his Plan B. If that means Sheets, that would also mean one of Joba or Hughes would likely go to the bullpen, according to Brian. He said later in the interview that getting a “killer” pitcher could very well change one of their roles as starters. It remains to be seen if Ben Sheets would qualify in that regard, coming off elbow surgery.
If he misses out on adding some pitching, the position player he was referring to could be a Mike Cameron (who’d be a perfect fit in every way) or a Nick Johnson or a few bench players. Toward the end of the interview, he reiterated that the he has a firm, set payroll for 2010, and it will be lower than the 2009 payroll was. He’d have to get approval from Hal Steinbrenner to exceed that number, and he made clear that is something Hal doesn’t do lightly, the way his father did.
To listen to the interview in its entirety, click here.
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12 Responses to "I'd like to add, if I could"
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TIQ IQ
That sounded like a shout out to Matt Holliday :)
I know you’re only half serious, but I don’t see that at all. If anything, they appear to be shopping one of their OF right now with the recent rumors about Brett Gardner going to CHI. I could see them adding Cameron, but as a 4th OF type who plays a lot. Not an everyday LF.
I’ve always maintained that the Yanks don’t want to commit long term to anyone for LF. It’s the easiest OF position to play, so they can keep it open for one of their outfielders as they age, or for Jeter/A-Rod when they get to a point where they have to be moved for defensive reasons. In Jeter’s case, that could be a year or two away.
I’ll have to listen to the interview in its entirety later but right up front I will say if Francesa didn’t go on one of his Joba to the pen tirades, he has no gonads.
He certainly did mention it, but he’s discussed it so many times with Brian that he has to approach it from different angles to avoid sounding like he’s beating a dead horse.
If they were to get a Ben Sheets and put one of Joba/Hughes in the bullpen, the 2010 team would be very imposing. But if you view both of them as starters long term (I do) you have to let them do it at some point. I have no issue with breaking starters in slowly as relievers, I think that’s useful for the team and kills two birds by getting them experience and helping the team. But starters are far more valuable than relievers, and you don’t waste your best arms in the bullpen, unless you’re talking about a closer.
I still see them giving Joba & Hughes shots as starters and Wang resigning as depth/safety valve with a very cheap but incentive laden contract.Makes the most sense to me, especially if Cashman is being honest about the 15 mil reduction in payroll and that isn’t really a sham designed to make Damon & Matsui more reasonable.
Mike Cameron,Mike Cameron,Mike Cameron,what’s it with you scribs and Mike Cameron?
He’s TOO OLD and K’s WAY too much (especially when you add Granderson’s strike outs to the lineup). Can’t you come up with a more creative idea?
It is a creative idea. It’s sacrificing some offense for excellent defense. The less creative things are signing or trading for another outfielder in the Damon mold.
-He crushes Lefties, which complements Granderson well
-He plays very good defense
-He has pop, so he’s a good late inning PH facing a LOOGY (and defensive replacement)
-He’s one of the really good guys in the game, so he’s a + in the clubhouse
I get that he strikes out. But I don’t want him to play everyday and his positives clearly outweigh his negatives. When ‘the scribs’ all agree on something, take another look. We discuss these things a lot, and chances are we’ve already considered the downside, but it appears you haven’t look at his upside.
Regarding Cameron, in the words of the great Yogi Berra, “That guy wasn’t good when he was good.”
I would rather that they sign someone to a one-yr deal than give any free agent 6 or 7 years.
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The one year deal sounds good, ok.
Myself, I would (if everyone keeps talking defense/as do I) have CG in LF or CF and Brett in LF or CF. Brett has always started slow when moved up. Last year until he was hurt, he was good, after the injury (I still think he came back to soon), he was way out of sorts. This kid can be a game changer at very little money, if he can’t cut it…he can always be sent down or to the NL. I think he is better then he showed in the 2nd half, people remember the 2nd half of the season and forget the 1st part.
If one has a hand injury it affects everything, just as a leg, back etc., injury does…maybe even more so, because one can’t control the bat as well.
He is an every day type of player, not coming off the bench to steal a base or PH, he also does ok handling leftys, as well if not better then CG.