In Cashman We Trust (2018 Trade Deadline Edition)
Yankees fans have
witnessed an incredibly fast turnaround over the last two plus years. An old,
overachieving team that didn’t stand a chance against Dallas Keuchel in the
2015 Wild Card Game has been transformed into one of the most exciting young
teams in baseball. The Yankees of 2018 are overflowing with good young players
–– several who would be starting on many MLB teams (lol Mets) are buried in AAA
with no clear fit on the 25 man roster.
Going back even further,
this was a lineup the Yankees trotted out exactly five
years ago. A dark time between the Murderers Row Plus Cano of the last truly
contending Yankees team from 2009-12 and where we are today.
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| Photo Credit: NJ.com |
At the center of this on
the fly rebuild is Brian Cashman, who is now by far the longest tenured GM in
the game. Cashman has transcended the uninformed, Yankee-hater view of “they
just buy championships” by emphasizing youth and athleticism in line with
modern MLB trends.
The organization has
invested in analytics and player development, and the proof is in the pudding
–– the Yankees simultaneously have one of the best teams in baseball and a
top-tier farm system according to all independent rankings. He’s also made some
pretty amazing trades (Didi for Shane Greene and Hicks for JR Murphy, anyone?)
Which brings me to this
trade deadline. As we do, Yankees fans have been shouting their hot takes on
Twitter and talk radio about what we should and should not do. My hot take is
that I trust Cashman to make the right decisions in the best interest of the
team this year that do not mortgage the near-term future.
The Yankees window to
win it all is now. They are also set up to be strong contenders over the next
half-decade. But when you have a chance to win it all, you go for it. That’s
the benefit of building a strong and deep farm system –– to convert it into
impact talent that helps the MLB team win.
Three years ago teams demanded Aaron Judge and Luis Severino in
deals for top starters including Cole Hamels and David Price. Cashman wisely
said, hell no. I trust him to make the same calls when evaluating the right
deals to strike between now and July 31.
Despite the clear need
for starting pitching, there are no top-flight starters equivalent to 2015
David Price or Cole Hamels on the market. If Cashman believes that adding
strength to strength by slotting Manny Machado into the middle of the order
and/or replacing Chasen Shreve with Brad Hand to shorten the game even further
gives them the best chance to win the World Series, then let’s do it. While the
price on Hand will be high since he has multiple years of control, reports are the Yankees won’t include their
best prospects for a rental –– even if he is a superstar like Machado. Good.
The great thing about
the position the Yankees are in is that they can potentially get Machado and a starter (or two) without giving up
Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield.
The depth of the system
gives the Yankees leverage. They can offer teams attractive MLB-ready pieces
like Tyler Wade, Brandon Drury, Jonathan Loaisiga and Dillon Tate as well as
high-end talent in the lower levels like Albert Abreu, Estevan Florial, Clarke
Schmidt and Matt Sauer. The 40-man roster crunch is real and they can’t keep
all of these guys. So, trade some of them who are not viewed as long-term fits
for players who can help us win it all this year.
Of course if Blake Snell
is obtainable, then go get him. But, the price will be justifiably high if the
Rays decide to sell on him –– he is under control through 2023 and the
Rays likely view him as a long-term piece to build around. deGrom, Syndergaard,
and Bumgarner would cost even more than Snell, but there is no credible reason
to think they will be moved before July 31.
The Yankees of 2018 are
the most exciting team we’ve seen in the Bronx since the early part of this
decade. Cashman will do what it takes to put the team in the best position to
win the division and succeed in the postseason. Anticipating the coming moves
to fortify the club, I feel good about going up against any team in October
with the best lineup in baseball, the best bullpen in baseball and a rotation
fronted by Severino, CC, Tanaka and whoever we get to bolster the rotation before
the deadline.
It has been the case for a while now that the best solution for the starting rotation is Gray straightening himself out.
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