"I would refute what you’re saying....doesn’t make any sense"- Brian Cashman clashes with interviewer over Yankees' trade deadline deals
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman got into a heated debate with WFAN Sports Radio host Brandon Tierney, who felt the organization showed a lack of urgency at the trade deadline. Cashman disagreed with the notion, saying the Yankees had made some useful moves at the deadline, and their efforts should be judged on whether they were able to win the World Series at the end of the year.
Brian Cashman has been the Yankees GM for over two decades. He started his tenure by leading the team to three straight World Series titles from 1998 to 2000. However, the most successful franchise in the MLB only has one championship in the 21st century and has not featured in the Fall Classic since 2009. Cashman has been under growing pressure from the fans for failing to rectify this.
On Thursday, Brian Cashman was a guest on WFAN Sports Radio with hosts Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata to discuss the Yankees acquisitions at the recently concluded trade deadline. During the show, Teirney said that he does not sense a great deal of urgency from Cashman and chairman Hal Steinbrenner to win the World Series based on their recent acquisitions.
“The retention of Aaron Judge. You’ve got an MVP. You’ve got a Cy Young Award winner. You got an MVP candidate imported at big money. You’ve got a retention of an MVP candidate a couple of years back with [DJ] LeMahieu when he was a free agent. These are just examples. All designed — as the payrolls go higher — of improving your chances, of trying to stay in it, trying to fight for it. So I would refute what you’re saying. It doesn’t make any sense,” Brian Cashman replied.
“When the dust settles, it just comes down to, did we win the World Series or did we not? And if we didn’t win the World Series, then obviously all this stuff comes into play, where you question their hunger," he added.
Cashman also defended the Yankees front office for being patient with Aaron Hicks and Joey Gallo, even though the pair struggled to make an impact at the Bronx after high-profile moves. Brandon Tierney had used them as an example of the inefficiency shown by the Yankees at the trade deadline over the past few years.
Brian Cashman seems vindicated after bright start from the Yankees trade deadline signings
The New York Yankees have added three new players to their roster at the trade deadline. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was acquired from the Miami Marlins on July 27, while relievers Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos were brought in on deadline day. The new signings will improve the team in some key areas, although many of the Yankees supporters feel more cover is needed.
Thus far, the new additions have hit the ground running as Jazz Chisholm Jr. recorded consecutive two home run games to help sweep the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this week. Meanwhile, Mark Leiter Jr. pitched shutout innings against the Phillies on each of his first two outings as a Yankee.
Therefore, Brian Cashman may feel vindicated for making these trades at the deadline. But as he had explained earlier, with the Yankees, it is always World Series or bust.