Results tagged ‘ Brian Cashman ’
Cashman: Yankees “open for business” on trade front
Brian Cashman and his cell phone have been inseparable since the spring, when this rash of injuries started doing some real damage in the Yankees’ clubhouse, and that doesn’t figure to change as the July 31 Trade Deadline approaches.
“Man, I’ve been active already,” Cashman said today on a conference call with reporters. “I feel like up until recently we’ve been getting a new player in here [often] — they weren’t relatively big splashes, but it just feels like from mid-Spring Training on, we’ve been on overdrive mixing and matching stuff. I’m always open for business, if it feels like they’re incremental upgrades or significant ones.”
Cashman has shown that to be true this season — there have been the bigger moves, like trading for Vernon Wells and signing Lyle Overbay as a free agent, but the Yankees have also made tiny tweaks like acquiring infielder Reid Brignac from the Rockies in May because they believed Brignac represented an incremental upgrade over Chris Nelson (who was also acquired from the Rockies in May).
Now, with the First-Year Player Draft in the rear-view mirror, Cashman believes the stage could be set for transactions of a larger magnitude.
“The opportunity for significant upgrade trades obviously don’t usually take place until after the June Draft,” Cashman said. “We’re past that date so I think the atmosphere should be right about there. Activities in terms of conversations have definitely increased where clubs have turned their attention to, ‘All right, what are you guys looking to do, who do you need, who’s available?’
“Every GM is kind of cataloguing the available players and team needs. From that, obviously something can transpire over time with a few more conversations. Listen, because of the injuries that have hit us from the winter and March, we’ve been active and open to try to do something that would make sense for us. I think we’ve done a lot and we’re going to continue to try to do a lot. We’ll see where it takes us.”
Yanks GM Brian Cashman scheduled for surgery after skydiving mishap
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman didn’t escape unscathed from his parachute jump with the Army Golden Knights on Monday, but said that he still considered the event to have been an “awesome experience.”
Cashman’s first jump with the Golden Knights went perfectly at the Homestead Air Force Base, and the GM agreed to go back up for a second jump. That one didn’t go quite as well, and Cashman felt a pop in his ankle upon landing. X-rays revealed he suffered a broken right fibula and a dislocated right ankle, and Cashman is scheduled to have surgery on Monday evening.
“I’m in great spirits, and it was an awesome experience,” Cashman said in a statement released by the Yankees. “The Golden Knights are first class. While I certainly didn’t intend to raise awareness in exactly this fashion, I’m extremely happy that the Wounded Warrior Project is getting the well-deserved additional attention.”
Cashman was participating in the event to help raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project.
“It’s an opportunity to do something that a lot of people don’t do or will ever do, so that’s awesome,” Cashman said last week. “It’s called living. But it’s not on my list of something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m kind of excited for the opportunity to do it, but at the same time, big-time nervous about doing it.”
Cano doesn’t want to talk about Yankees’ “significant offer”
One day after general manager Brian Cashman revealed the Yankees have made “a significant offer” that could keep Robinson Cano in pinstripes, the All-Star second baseman said that he had little more to add to the discussion.
Cano said that he wants to let his agent, Scott Boras, handle any and all negotiations with the Yankees. The 30-year-old Cano is earning $15 million this year and can be a free agent after the season.
“I’m going to say the same thing that I said the other day, I’m just focused on playing baseball,” Cano said on Friday. “I’m going to let Scott and the Yankees discuss that. I’m not an agent. I’m just going to focus on playing baseball.”
Cano refused comment when asked if he and Boras had rejected the Yankees’ offer.
Boras told CBS Sports on Thursday that, by agreement, discussions with the Yankees “shall remain confidential” and “will cease if they are a distraction to Robinson’s performance and leadership of the 2013 Yankees.”
Cano said that he has not found the discussions to be a distraction as he goes through Spring Training. He is preparing to leave Yankees camp on Sunday to report for workouts with the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic squad.
“Like I said, I’m just going to focus on baseball and not let anything get in my head and distract not only me, but the team,” Cano said. “I don’t want to be a selfish guy. I just want to help the team win another championship and just prepare myself to help the team win another championship.”
It has been speculated that Cano could seek an eight to 10 year contract in the arena of $25 million per season he reaches free agency. Cano acknowledged that it can be difficult at times not to think about his contract status.
“It’s never going to go out of your head, that’s all I can say,” Cano said.
Cano said that he would let Boras decide about contract negotiations being cut off if, in fact, they do become a distraction.
“I don’t want to talk about this,” Cano said. “I hope after today, I don’t want to be a distraction to the team. I just want to come here, enjoy the team and focus on playing baseball.”
Mariano Rivera still wants that inning in center field
There were several light moments during last night’s charity event to benefit Yankees radio engineer and producer Carlos Silva, but one that sticks out concerns Mariano Rivera and his not-so-secret desire to play center field for an inning in a big league game.
A fan brought the topic up during the Q&A portion of the evening, and I was a little surprised to hear it — I assumed that’d been put to rest by last year’s injury in Kansas City. Yankees manager Joe Girardi answered the question fairly, pointing out that the only scenario where they’d even consider it would be a bad one for the Yankees — it’d have to be late in the season and already apparent that the team wasn’t going to the playoffs, since they wouldn’t risk losing their closer (again) with any chance of a World Series on the line.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman had a better response, laughing and saying that Rivera killed those plans for himself by crumpling on the warning track at Kauffman Stadium last May.
“My answer is, you saw what he did. He can’t play center field,” Cashman said, laughing. “The guy is an old man! He blew his knee out!”
That doesn’t mean Rivera has completely given up on the idea; brought on stage seconds later, he announced that we all haven’t heard the last of him in center field.
It should go without saying by now, but this Rivera guy doesn’t give up easily. Here’s how Girardi and Cashman handled the question:
More newsy notes from last night:
- Cashman said that the Yankees invited Hideki Matsui to Spring Training as a celebrity guest instructor, but Matsui declined because his wife is expecting a child. By the way, Jorge Posada – fresh off his appearance at Women’s Fantasy Camp – has hinted that he’ll be attending.
- Girardi said that there is “no formula” for how the Yankees will handle their catching, but they’re holding firm that it’ll probably be from the group of Francisco Cervelli, Chris Stewart and Austin Romine. The Yankees don’t view Stewart as a starting catcher, but Girardi said that he could see Romine – who remains slated to begin the year at Triple-A – playing in New York for “a substantial amount of time” in the near future.
- Cashman likened Yankees outfield prospect Mason Williams to former big league outfielder Otis Nixon with a little more power, which is a comparison I hadn’t heard before. He also said that Mark Montgomery has a real chance to land at the big league level this year, wielding a nasty slider that could have him help in a David Robertson-type role.
- Cashman on why the Yankees were so quiet on the free agent market: “This market, this winter, was bad.”
- Cashman on what he liked about adding Travis Hafner: “Big hairy monster. I keep saying that, but none of those guys have a lot of hair. He’s the profile we like; on-base percentage with power from the left side. He’s not someone that when he’s coming to the plate, a pitcher is going to be too comfortable facing, especially in our ballpark.”
Cashman: Travis Hafner will be a Yankee
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman dropped a little bit of news during an appearance on ESPN 98.7 FM this afternoon, confirming to hosts Ryan Ruocco and Stephen A. Smith that Travis Hafner will indeed be in pinstripes this season.
Hafner is expected to receive a one-year, $2 million deal that includes incentives, and he’ll serve as the Yankees’ DH against right-handed pitching. The deal has not been officially announced by the Yankees, pending the completion of contract language and a physical.
Most of Cashman’s interview, however, revolved around the Alex Rodriguez situation — and there is little Cashman is permitted to say at this time concerning the issue.
Here’s a brief summary (you can listen to the entire 13-minute interview here) –
Initial response to the allegations: Cashman said that the Yankees’ media relations department received a letter last Friday from the Miami New Times, seeking a comment from A-Rod. The Yankees turned the issue over to MLB and the Commissioner’s Office, and have not commented further since then. Cashman said that the Yankees had no knowledge of the situation before receiving the letter, and the team is in full cooperation with MLB. Cashman later said he hasn’t spoken to A-Rod, and wouldn’t comment when asked if he would.
On potentially voiding A-Rod’s contract as a result of this: “Those type of suggestions and speculation are all premature until you have facts. You can’t act on anything, you can’t pursue anything, unless you have verifiable facts. That’s what Major League Baseball is determining. They have an office that handles these things and are very serious about these circumstances. We’ll just have to wait until there are facts, and see how it relates to every individual team and player if everything is verified. Obviously we have a very bad story that Major League Baseball is looking into right now.”
A-Rod in 2013: Cashman said that the Yankees continue to expect A-Rod to come back from his hip surgery in 2013, but his stance is that they’re not counting on it, and that’s why they gave $12 million to Kevin Youkilis. It’s a similar situation to that of rehabbing right-hander Michael Pineda, who is scheduled to help at the big league level in May or June, but Cashman said he can’t plan on it. Pineda has been throwing from a half-mound down in Tampa this week and it does not sound like he’s had any setbacks.
Derek Jeter update: Jeter is healthy and cleared for action, and the Yankees are taking him slowly because they have time. The goal is to have him at shortstop on Opening Day vs. Boston and Cashman said, “There’s no reason that’s not going to happen. he’s really 100 percent healthy and he’s now knocking the rust off.”
Jeter has been hitting off a tee and taking ground balls hit directly at him. Cashman said that the Yankees could clear him to run right now, but they’ll hold off out of caution. “His recovery is very predictable,” Cashman said.
Cashman: “We do have a team. A lot of people think we don’t.”
There has been a lot of talk about the quiet winter that the Yankees are having, and it’s justified in many respects. It’s difficult to look at the roster on paper and make the case that the team is now better than the one that was swept by the Tigers in last year’s American League Championship Series.
But while some are already picking the Blue Jays as the team to beat in the American League East, general manager Brian Cashman isn’t buying the suggestion that the Yankees won’t be competitive this season, as he told reporters last night at an event for Joe Torre’s Safe at Home Foundation dinner in New York.
Here’s a quick transcript of Cashman’s meeting with the media (thanks to MLB.com’s Mark Newman for passing it along):
On looking forward to Spring Training: “I am, especially in this kind of weather. It’s nice to get out there, and now we can actually show you that we do have a team. A lot of people think we don’t.”
On proving those people wrong: “That comes in the course of the season. I have until now and the Trade Deadline to solve all issues, and everybody usually has some area of vulnerability. We obviously have some that we need to shore up. I think the pitching staff’s not one of them at this stage, and we have a lot of quality players we are going to be running out there. So I’ll have some time between Opening Day and May 21 or whatever to continue to look for ways to shore up and improve those areas, such as the bench and right-handed bat for the outfield, that currently stand out.”
On the Yankees being better in 2013: “It’s too early to say whether we’ll be better. It’s hard to be better than a 95-win team anyway, it’s hard to squeeze out an extra win from 95 wins to 96 or 97 or whatever. It’s too early to say. It’s still evolving. We’ve got players who are getting healthy. We’ve just got to have more time to reinforce some areas but also see where we are with Jeter, Mariano and CC — all are expected to be fine, but until they’re out there doing what you’re consistently used to seeing, you’ve got to wait it out.”
On the offseason: “I’m in the marketplace both with free agent and trade, and I’ll stay that way, with available players and have conversations, whether it’s a non-roster invite or actually a Major League acquisition in some form or fashion. I mean, I’m open for it. Clearly, everything that’s taken place so far, either we passed on or they passed on us. We just keep working on it and see where it takes us.”
On feeling comfortable with this roster: “My job is never to feel comfortable. I never do. We had the ’98 world championship team, and I wasn’t comfortable. So I’ve never been comfortable — and that team was 125 wins and 50 losses. So I think it’s best to never feel comfortable.”
On former D-back and current Brave Justin Upton: “Did I ever have a conversation with Arizona about him? Yeah, but they weren’t focusing on us.”
Yankees react to the retirement of Hideki Matsui
Hideki Matsui was without a doubt one of the classiest players I’ve had the pleasure of covering, wonderfully balancing his graceful nature with a flair for the dramatic. His final game as a Yankee, the historic Game 6 of the 2009 World Series, could not have been a more perfect conclusion to his seven seasons in pinstripes.
Derek Jeter often called Matsui one of his favorite teammates, and that’s high praise — and well deserved. I was personally always amazed by Matsui’s pain tolerance; you’d see him 20 minutes after the end of a game in which he more often than not did something to help the Yankees’ cause, and he would be grimacing at his locker with huge ice bags strapped to both knees.
More than once, I can remember seeing Matsui before a game and thinking there was no way he’d be in that night’s lineup. Not only would he go through batting practice and wind up in the starting nine, but flash forward a few hours and I’d be scribbling a ‘HR’ in the scorecard next to his name.
Here is the press release from the Yankees announcing Matsui’s retirement, with statements included from Hal Steinbrenner, Jeter and Brian Cashman:
DECEMBER 27, 2012
NEW YORK YANKEES REACT TO THE RETIREMENT OF HIDEKI MATSUI
Mobbed by his former teammates, Matsui receives his World Series ring in April 2010.
Earlier today, former Yankee Hideki Matsui announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.
Matsui – nicknamed ‘Godzilla’ – spent seven seasons with the New York Yankees (2003-09), combining to bat .292 (977-for-3,348) with 536 runs, 196 doubles, 140 home runs and 597RBI.
Originally signed by the Yankees as a free agent on January 14, 2003, following a 10-year career in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants, Matsui became first player in franchise history to hit a grand slam in his Yankee Stadium debut, doing so on April 8, 2003 vs. Minnesota.
The two-time All-Star (2003-04) did not miss a game over his first three years with the Yankees, playing 518 consecutive games – which remains the longest streak of consecutive games played to start a career in Major League Baseball. He also drove in at least 100 runs four times during his MLB career, including each of his first three seasons.
In his final game as a Yankee, Matsui went 3-for-4 with a home run and 6RBI in the Yankees’ World Series-clinching Game 6 win vs. Philadelphia on November 4, 2009. The 6RBI is tied the World Series record for a single game (also the Yankees’ Bobby Richardson in 1960 and Albert Pujols in 2011), and sealed Matsui’s unanimous selection as the World Series MVP.
Matsui soaks up the scene as a champion along the Canyon of Heroes in Nov. 2009.
STATEMENT FROM YANKEES MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER HAL STEINBRENNER
“Hideki Matsui, in many ways, embodied what this organization stands for. He was dedicated to his craft, embraced his responsibilities to his team and fans, and elevated his play when he was needed the most. He did all these things with a humility that was distinctly his own, which is why he was such a big part of our success and why he will always be a cherished member of the Yankees family.”
STATEMENT FROM YANKEES GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN CASHMAN
“Hideki is proof that baseball is an international attraction that brings people from all over the world together in their passion for the game. He was the type of player and person you want young fans of this game to emulate. He played with pride, discipline and of course talent, and flourished when the lights were at their brightest. People naturally gravitated towards him, and that’s a direct reflection of his character. He was a true professional in every sense of the word and it feels good knowing he was able to raise the championship trophy as a member of the Yankees.”
STATEMENT FROM YANKEES SHORTSTOP DEREK JETER (Matsui’s teammate from 2003-09)
“I’ve said it numerous times over the years, but it’s worth repeating now. I’ve had a lot of teammates over the years with the Yankees, but I will always consider Hideki one of my favorites. The way he went about his business day in and day out was impressive. Despite being shadowed by a large group of reporters, having the pressures of performing for his fans both in New York and Japan and becoming acclimated to the bright lights of New York City, he always remained focused and committed to his job and to those of us he shared the clubhouse with. I have a lot of respect for Hideki. He was someone we counted on a great deal and he’s a big reason why we became World Champions in 2009.”
Cashman, Yankees sorry to see Martin leave for Pirates
Inbetween practice jumps down the side of the Landmark Building in Stamford, Conn. on Friday, as preparation for the city’s upcoming Heights and Lights festival, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman responded to Russell Martin’s decision to ink a reported two-year, $17 million contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cashman said that the Yankees had interest in retaining Martin this spring (offering him a three-year, $20 million deal, according to reports at the time), but the Yankees seemed to recognize that Martin’s departure was a very real possibility as they headed into the winter. Cashman said the Yankees never got around to making Martin an offer after the season, instead choosing to focus on pitching.
We will have full coverage on MLB.com later today, but here are some quick reaction quotes from the Yankees GM, who said the team may very well have their starting catcher on the roster right now in Francisco Cervelli, Chris Stewart, Austin Romine or Eli Whiteside:
On the aforementioned group of replacement catchers:
“Listen, without a doubt, in terms of catching and throwing and running games, I’d line those guys up with some of the best catchers in the game on the defensive side, game planning and handling a pitching staff. The bats, a couple of guys have the potential to become everyday catchers because of their bats, if they develop. Other guys really are more backup oriented.”
On the blow of losing Martin to Pittsburgh:
“I like Russell Martin. I’m a big Russell Martin fan. But ultimately we have a lot of holes to fill and we have to be very careful how we spend our money. The market for Russell was aggressive, as it should have been, and again our focus has been our pitching. After that, I’ve got a lot of different holes to fill. We need to be careful how we allocate our remaining funds to make sure that we can fill all the holes. Now, I feel fortunate to have had Russell Martin for the two years that we had him, and I’m sorry to see him go. The Pirates got a really good one, but at the same time, I think we’ll find ways to cushion the blow like we always try to do.”
On if Martin’s departure creates another hole to fill:
“No, when he left for free agency, that was the hole. That hole has been there. This isn’t something that caught us off guard. It’s something we were very well aware of, and the agent was very honest with us, as well as the player, Russell. The best shot we took at retaining him was in Spring Training, and after that, obviously it became more difficult and now he’s moving on.”
On if the Yankees were willing to offer the three-year, $20 million deal again:
“No, we were prepared to do that in Spring Training. We never made an offer. … We never got to that point.”
On if the Yankees will play on the high-end catching market:
“At the end of the day, we have holes to fill. In the catching area, we do have placeholders there. We have people that can handle and run the game. The offense is an area that currently what the rest of our roster provides will be a downgrade from what we’re used to, but the most important aspect — listen, when Girardi was catching for us, he was a defense oriented catcher. We played him at the time ahead of a young Posada and an older Leyritz. They were more offensive oriented at those times, so it’s not like we haven’t gone with defensive oriented first situation. We transitioned from Mike Stanley to Girardi while Posada was being cultivated and growing still. We had Girardi, we had gone away from Leyritz who was offensive oriented. I only point that out because it’s not the first time we’ve been in this position, but it’s an acknowledgement that the offense that is provided off the roster at that position right now certainly isn’t what we’ve been accustomed to. The defense is special in our opinion, no matter what name we’re going after. If you want to throw Stewart’s name, Cervelli’s name, or Whiteside, who we claimed off waivers but recently designated. Romine is young and up and coming and had a very good Fall League; a lot of good things coming. He just missed a full year of Triple-A development, unfortunately. He’s back on track, he’s healthy. At the very least, that’s our fall back, but we are going to have to pursue a lot of areas on this club — the bench, right field, potentially catching. Maybe not. It’s possible that our catchers are right here on this roster, right now. That is very well possible and more likely than not, to be honest. We’ll see. Patience is a virtue and good things come to those who wait.”
More Mo! Rivera tells Yanks he wants to pitch in 2013
NEW YORK – You will be hearing “Enter Sandman” over Yankee Stadium’s speakers once again in 2013.
Iconic closer Mariano Rivera has informed Yankees general manager Brian Cashman that he intends to pitch next season, thus answering one of the biggest questions of the club’s offseason.
“He called me yesterday and told me that he’d like to play in 2013,” Cashman said. “Now [agent] Fernando Cuza and I will work behind the scenes and do our jobs in making that happen.”
Rivera, who turns 43 next month, suffered a season-ending injury on May 3 in Kansas City, tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament. Rivera underwent surgery in June and is expected to be ready for Spring Training.
Baseball’s all-time saves leader with 608, plus a record 42 more in the postseason, Rivera is currently a free agent after his two-year, $30 million contract expired.
It is likely that the Yankees will offer less than $15 million for the 2013 season, considering Rivera’s age and the fact that he is coming off an injury.
But Cashman said that the Yankees trust Rivera can return to the closer’s role, which he has filled in the Bronx since inheriting it from John Wetteland for the 1997 season.
“I believe in his ability to fill that job that he’s always done,” Cashman said. “He’s never failed and I know that knee is going to be good, so we look forward to returning him to the closer’s role.”
Rivera made just nine appearances this year, going 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA. In 2011, Rivera was 1-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 64 appearances, converting 44 saves, and had saved at least 25 games in 15 consecutive seasons (1997-2011).
After Rivera’s injury, the Yankees’ closer job was held down by Rafael Soriano, who helped the club get to the postseason by converting 42 of 46 save opportunities. At the direction of agent Scott Boras, Soriano opted out of his contract last week, taking a $1.5 million buyout instead of a guaranteed $14 million salary for next season.
The Yankees issued Soriano a one-year, $13.3 million qualifying offer on Friday, along with identical offers for right-hander Hiroki Kuroda and outfielder Nick Swisher. Soriano and Swisher are expected to decline in favor of seeking multi-year deals on the open market; those three players have until Friday to accept or decline the offers.
“We have a qualifying offer on Soriano, so it’s still possible we’ll have him,” Cashman said. “From our perspective, we’re still in play.”
Cashman: Mariano isn’t coming back this year
Yankees GM Brian Cashman was on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio channel this morning, where hosts Jim Duquette and Mike Ferrin asked about reports that closer Mariano Rivera may be able to play this season.
Cashman again splashed cold water on the idea, going a little bit further to call out Dr. Keith Pyne for unprofessional behavior. Pyne is the rehab doctor who is working with Rivera; he spoke to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman earlier this month, sparking what Cashman says is false hope of Rivera’s return in 2012.
Host/Jim Duquette: “Mo, is there a chance he could come back? We saw some reports that he might be able to come back.”
Brian Cashman: “No. I mean, his physical therapist that he’s working with, I thought was unprofessional and went public with things. I mean, medical personnel should be quiet. And it’s not our physical therapist, it’s someone he’s got that we’ve signed off on. But those guys should not be doing interviews and he provided an interview that was, you know, not a fair reflection of where this player’s at. His over-enthusiasm, I thought, provided improper information. He’s not coming back this year and I wish he was, I wish he was, but unfortunately people get excited. They want to get their name out there for whatever reason and so he got a day in the sun, but he’ll be proven wrong in the end unfortunately. So, he got all our fans excited and a lot more media attention for myself to deal with, but he’s not coming back this year. I wish he was.”
Rivera has said that his goal is to return in 2012 but he doesn’t want to commit to it for fear of creating disappointment. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has pointed out that it would be difficult for Rivera to prepare to pitch in postseason games since there is little Minor League action in September. After his right ACL injury, the all-time saves leader vowed to pitch in 2013.
Bryan Hoch
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