Cashman: My job has changed
-
- January
- 5
Brian Cashman made an appearance at Fenway Park today for the annual Hot Stove/Cool Music Roundtable. It’s a fundraiser for Theo Epstein’s charitable foundation.
For the first time in public, Cashman admitted what has become increasingly evident: That his job has changed since the Steinbrenner sons took control of the team.
“The dynamics are changing with us. When I signed up with this current three-year deal, and this is the last year of it, it was with full authority to run the entire program. George had given me that. But things have changed in this third year now with the emergence of Hal and Hank Steinbrenner and that started this winter,” he said, “I’m learning as I go along, too. But it is different. But one thing is that I’ve been with this family, the Steinbrenner family, for well over 20 years. So I’m focused fully on doing everything I possibly can to assist them in their emergence now as decision makers.”
Cashman’s contract runs out in October. Asked whether he wanted to return, he didn’t answer directly.
“Because of all the work that gets involved with doing the job, it kind of prevents me from really looking ahead past this year,” he said. “I’m just doing everything I possibly can to assist the transition with the new manager, the new owners, with the involvement now with the Steinbrenner sons. And then the rest will take care of itself at another time.”
Cashman nearly left the Yankees after the 2005 season before agreeing to a three-year deal that included widespread control over baseball decisions. It’s clear from these quotes that Cashman’s power has eroded since Hank and Hal Steinbrenner came to power. At the moment, there is an internal struggle over whether to pursue Johan Santana.
“Right now, the Red Sox and Yankees, at least, are in the middle of this Johan Santana stuff,” Cashman said. “What’s the right thing for the now? What’s the right thing for the future? These are the wrestling matches that go on in the organizations and you have very spirited conversations about what’s right and what’s wrong.”
Cashman and Epstein were joined by Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi, agent Scott Boras and Red Sox analyst Bill James. That’s an impressive group.
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on Saturday, January 5th, 2008 at 9:59 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Uh oh Pete, the hounds over at nomaas will be out for blood now!
Hopefully, this is just another example of Cash playing coy with the media.
Not good at all. If I had to choose between Cashman or Hank. I’d take Cash everytime.
Cashman is facing the wrong way. Who was on his shirt?
And, Pete. This is not what I had in mind when I requested a new thread to pick up the mood.
i wish i could have been there, what a great event this must have been
Chuck,
It was a sequined George Steinbrenner tee.
wow - interesting that Cash spoke out like that.
He usually plays things pretty close to the vest.
So it sounds like the Yanks could be trading Hughes, Melky, Marquez, another player plus Cashman for Johan. Maybe acquiring Johan id the deciding factor for Cashman to leave under his own terms. As I asked yesterday, where could Cashman end up should he decide to move on?
Mel-
Pretty, pretty funny once again.
Would take Cash over Steinnies at the moment.
Meanwhile, I still can’t believe I was such an idiot…
I would pay big bucks to see George or Hal slap hank upside the head.
Is that Cashman’s way of saying: “don’t blame me when they trade Hughes for Santana”?
mel: I’m guessing George has done that once or twice back in the heyday….
And recorded
And uploaded to YouTube
Possibly with a snippet of Springsteen for background music
I only think the soxs are in the Johan thing to try and drive up who the Yankees have to give up. They have enough starters, just as we do. I also think it is insane to give a 5-6 year deal to a pitcher.
And I really think that this will finally be the straw that brakes the camels back, espically if they insist on trading away the kids (something Cash has worked very hard at). I think this is Cash’s last year with us.
Interesting/strange stuff from Newsday…
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spclemens0106,0,5082256.story
Imagine that conversation?
How tall is Theo, or should I say how short is Cash?
jenn: And is one wearing platform shoes?
I really think the writing is on the wall, Cashman either gets back his power that he has earned or he walks. Only his connection of having grown up in the Yankees organization will enable keep him to stay dealing with his new job change, plus a huge contract extension.
Interesting, it would not shock me if Mcnamee came out and said he was mistaken about Roger using roids, and states it was lidocane and b-12.
Buddy,
Cash would have his pick of jobs. I hear the GM in Minnesota is on the hot seat.
How rich would that be? Cash quits, goes to Minny and FLEECES the interim GM Hank Steinbrenner.
God. What a joke.
mel-
At least then Cashman would have Hughes on his team.
I hope someone knocks sense into Hank and tells him not to do it. Others people besides Cash need to be telling him this. I’ve read that Johan could cost us $200 million!! (with luxery tax). That is insane I don’t care who you are!! And there is always a chance he goes out throws one pitch and is done for the year!
And before anyone says it is not my money! IT IS!! my seats went up $9.00 a game, others went up $100!! So it is your money.
Plus Action, IPK, AND Horne. Hank’s got such a hard on for Santana it’s not even funny anymore.
Jennifer-
Are you guaranteed All Star game tix with your plan?
Why is it that right now I look at George as being like the old, aging Vito Corleone, Hal as Michael, Cashman as stepson and consigliore Tom and Hank as some cross between Sonny and Fredo?
I asked about all star game prices….let’s just say, they’d have to be a wedding gift for me to be able to afford them!
My friend actually has the plan, I’ll pick up games here and there. It is the 16 game Sunday plan, so I doubt that the All Star game is included.
I would love to go, but I really don’t see how I’ll get tickets, with the network, and tickets needing to be made available to all teams. (how does it work anyway?)
Remember that with the tax, the Yanks are spending 40 cents to the dollar. A $100 million contract for anyone else costs the Yanks $140 what with the luxury tax.
This is depressing news. I hope that Hank isn’t pushing Cash out in order to fulfill a dream of being the megalomaniacal ruler of the Yankee universe.
Does anyone know if he has Daddy issues?
I bet with partial season ticket plans there will some sort of lottery for tickets.
just found this.
Holding penalty tacked on 5 yds to the 2-pt conversion attempt. Having no options, Rothlesberger tried to waddle it in. He was stopped 2 yds short of the goal line. This game is actually entertaining now.
Anyone else going up to or planing to go to Toronto this year? I am in July!
Hopefully I can get tickets.
That must of been interesting Cash hanging out with that lying slime ball, rat..oh sorry I mean Boras. I can understand Cash not liking Hank opening his mouth and telling the media everything BUT signing a pitcher to a $150m contract is not up to the GM at all, it is the owners call. Cash hasn’t done a thing to help this team with pitching. The bullpen is never a priority with him. People give Cash credit for the young pitchers but he really had nothing to do with it. Oppen/Newman and Contreras are the ones that picked the draft picks Cash had nothing to do with that he just didn’t trade any of them yet. If he left the Yanks and went to a team with a $70m pay roll I wonder if he would be an awful GM and not know what to do when he isn’t allowed to spend and waste millions. I would like to see him stay but I don’t think it would really matter in the long run if he left.
I went to the AS game in Sf this past year & paid $400 for Standing Room Only, sure enough I checked prices up until game time & they dropped to face value for excellent tickets. This was through the Giants official site, so it was legit. I plan on doing the same for game this year, just waiting until the last moment. Obviously, it’s different with the game being at Yankee stadium, I am optimistic & there is always ebay.
Damn the Steelers are making a game of this.
Buddy, did you originally buy the tickets thru a broker? Or was that the price you paid thru the Giants?
Mel.
I have a happy face tonight! lol
Everyone forgets Cash signed Mike Mussina, he has been a good pitcher for us.
Wow I cant believe you people are so willing to throw Hank under the bus. My worst fear has always been that when George died there wouldnt be anyone who would be willing to spend the money to keep the Yankees competitive. Now that Hank has taken over, it appears that my worries were unfounded and I as thankful as I can be that Hank has some power. In fact, given Cashman history of penny pinching (like when we could have had Beltran or Colon) I would take Hank a hundred times over Cashman. I am tired of watching Cashman try to save a buck or two rather than using the Yankees’ huge financial advantage.
Someone screwed up on that play, the reciever was no where near where the ball was thrown.
ray,
Harumph. Whistle-happy zebras. What a joke. Pistons make their free-throw. Different story. lol.
Actually, if Cashman had his way, we wouldnt have even resigned ARod this year. You can bet if Alex had talked to Cashman instead of Hank, Cashman would have told “Thanks but no thanks, I would rather try to build from within.”
Yeah, my parents are a bit angry….
and Jacksonville, come on. Don’t pull a Jets. Please?
Steve - I agree with you. I am glad that Hank and Hal are willing to spend money just like George.
Wow what a bs call.
Jennifer-
I bought it through ebay, but the Giants site allows season ticket holders to legally re sell them through their website for a piece of the action.
I believe the Yankees will be creating a Pinstripe Marketplace on their website as well, at least that was the plan when I was a season ticket holder 2 years ago.
Okay maybe not. stupid stupid stupid. They are going to lose this game now.
Steve-
Where did you hear that about A Rod? I know he doesn’t like signing pitchers to huge long term deals, but not position players.
Buddy, I heard the same. I think the Yankees are getting annoyed that other people are making money off their tickets and want a piece of the action. Can’t say that I blame them. I saw someone selling $800 season tickets for 8 grand. I hope the Yankees got wind of it, and revoked his plan.
mel,
“whistle happy zebras” huh? Regardless of the calls or the free throw missing by Detroit, I don’t think anyone anticipated that the new players on the C’s would gell together this quickly and this good.
Clinton and Richardson came off well in the Democratic debate tonight.
McCain and Guiliani came off well on the Republican side.
Buddy
I am sorry, I wasnt clear enough. I dont know whether Cashman talked to Arod or not. I was just saying that we all know that Arod went Hank Steinbrenner on his own without Boras. But we dont know whether he went to Cashman and I think it is pretty clear that he didnt. And I for one, wonder why he didnt speak to Cashman. My theory is that he knew Cashman wouldnt commit to a huge contract like Arod eventually got so Arod pulled the old end run and went straight to Hank to avoid Cashman’s penny pinching ways.
Cash did sign Mussina which was obviously a good deal. BUT he just wasted money signing him to a 2 year deal when it should of been 1 year or 1 year with an option year at the most. No other GM would of gave him a 2 year deal. Too much money has been wasted on garbage. Cash worries about over paying for relievers but the organization threw money at Igawa and Wright for no good reason. That is why I think them not knowing if they want to trade for Santana is more about not wanting to trade Hughes then the money. If Santana gets hurt on opening day then what is the big deal the Yanks will just eat the money like they always do. Money was never a problem, trading Hughes seems like something they don’t want to do over the $140m being the problem.
“No other GM would of gave him a 2 year deal.”
You don’t know that. He was coming off a good season and not yet 40. I would hazard to guess that a few GMs would have given him a contract for more than one year. Especially considering the 4 year deals being thrown at average-at-best starters.
ray,
See the pinch-hitter post from today. Winning creates chemistry.
You got 2 all-stars who got get-out-of-jail cards. Really, I’m happy for the Celtics because they sucked for sooooooo long, but Ray Allen is one of my unfavorite guys. His jealousy of Kobe has jaundiced him. It’s really ugly. KG is o.k. But he said some very unprofessional things about the Lakers front office this season. And after they paid his cousin $2.1M to ride pine last year? Harumph.
mel
I certainly agree that winning creates chemistry but it is also the old “chicken/egg” question of what comes first because I also think that chemistry goes a long ways towards contributing to winning. Sadly (lol) what you say is true……I think they have sucked since the retirement of Bird, McHale, Parish, and others. I will admit to my ignorance….who is KG’s cousin?
So maybe someone would of offered him a 2 year deal but I do not think it was a smart thing for the Yanks to do. He said he would only pitch on the east coast close to home. So I would think the Yanks had a good chance of him coming back if they only offered an option year.
Shammond Williams is his first cousin. He was playing in Europe and in an attempt to lure KG they signed him. Well he was the 4th guard off the bench. (I’ll totally ignore the fact that he had hip problems). Anyway totally suckage. He had Smush Parker, Jordan Farmar(rookie), and Sasha Vujacic in front of him. KG was like “the reason he didn’t insist on a trade to LA is because the front office is a mess”. C’mon dude. Where’s the class you had in Minny? Well now Kupchak is looking pretty smart for holding onto Bynum. Anyway, I’m just kidding with you. I like the Patriots, but you can have your other teams.
mel,
Just one more quick thought. I’m not defending KG for whatever he said about the Laker front office, but to put it in perspective Kobe said some really ugly things about the Laker front office and they are paying him a whole lot more than 2.1 million.
“In fact, given Cashman history of penny pinching (like when we could have had Beltran or Colon) I would take Hank a hundred times over Cashman. ”
uh, Colon?
the Angels spent $51M on 587 innings of 4.66 ERA. he got $5
in other words, he was a terrible TERRIBLE signing.
what is your point?
ray,
I see what you’re saying. But wouldn’t you get mad at me if I said your mother is ugly? Even though you told her the same thing when you got mad at her? lol.
I would love to have had Colon. Hindsight is 20/20 and we dont know what would have happened to Colon had he signed with us. When you are Cashman, you have the luxury of making mistakes like that. Hell, he gave 40 mil for one year of Pavano, why not take the risk with someone like Colon who had a much better trach record than Pavano ever had.
mel,
You make an excellent point! That is precisely why I think Yankee fans can sometimes be really critical of some aspect of the Yankees on here and it is okay, but it really is different if I as a Sox fan said it because I am not part of the family so to speak. So I do appreciate why Yankee fans become upset when Sox trolls come on here simply to make stupid statements.
Anyways….I know you are kidding with me and it’s all good because you are very cool.
ray,
Good times. lol.
Are you watching this game? Down to the wire. Rothlesberger sacked and fumbled. One less threat to the mightly Patriots.
Hey, I called both football games today!
Good football game. Glad that Jacksonville won.
“I would love to have had Colon. Hindsight is 20/20 and we dont know what would have happened to Colon had he signed with us.”
umm, ok.
so now we are criticizing Cashman for NOT making a terrible signing. that makes sense.
i am sure if Colon had been on the Yankees and pitched with an ERA over 5.00 in 3 of the 4 seasons he signed for, you would be here defending Cashman for that.
Colon was a huge bust.
your point is ridiculous.
I am just curious. It seems like most people on here were cheering for the Jags. I am wondering why.
No one has less respect for that smoke-stained gasbag Hank than I do, but Cashman’s comments (at a freakin’ Blosox charity event no less!) border on treason and call for an immediate and public smackdown.
Somebody here mentioned “The Godfather” earlier. Cash must have missed the part about not publicly speaking out against the family, particularly while you’re playing kissy face with our two most hated enemies, Epstein and Boras.
If Cash has a problem with Jim Dolan Jr. (and he should) he should express it to the powers that be behind closed doors, not in a snarky comment from the bowels of Beantown.
And does he really need to be showing up at a Boston charity event? Last I checked, there’s still plenty of kids in NY who could do with a handout.
Wow. June Jones resigns from UH. I bet he’ll end up with the Falcons.
J-Dawg, watch out. We’re coming after Norm Chow.
I would defend Cashman for being aggressive and using the Yankees huge financial advantage. I dont criticize Cash for going after Pavano even though there were better options available. The fact is as the Yankee GM you have to not be afraid to take chances and not be afraid to eat contracts when they dont work out. For example, I am still angry at Cashman for not eating all of Randy Johnson’s contract so we could have gotten better prospects from Arizona. I heard that Arizona would have been willing to trade Micah Owings if they didnt have to pay any of Johnson’s remaining salary. But Cashman was determined to only pick some of the contract and thus we didnt get the best package we could have.
I find Cashman…sexy. lol. Just kidding. But he’s loyal and committed. Willing to fall on the sword.
mel,
Just finished watching the Jags pull one out after almost coughing it away. Terrific game.
I read where June Jones interviewed with SMU. Maybe he got an offer. I think he took that program as far as it can go and is smart to get out on top.
Hey Pete, get ready for my Jags baby!!!!!!!!!!
Lets go Jaguars!!!!!!
where was george mitchell for this event? surprising he wasnt there considering hes in the sox organization. maybe while cashman was out of the office he was digging around the clubhouse looking for clemens dna
Yanksrule,
Great game. Had no rooting interest, but I ended up cheering for the Jags.
Jones did fly to Dallas yesterday. It’s breaking news right now, but basically he resigned. Head booster said that they’re still hoping to get him back, but like you said he took the program as far as he could. In related news, the boosters raised the funds to buy out the AD. He screwed up with the schedule, which ironically worked out for us. But he dilly-dallied on replacing the basketball coach and 6 weeks ago Jones told the booster that he was frustrated that the extension was taking so long.
Either way, I don’t care. I’d like to see Cal Lee get a look-see, too. He’s an asst @ UH and was the long-time coach at the local version of Mater Dei. And of course Norm Chow’s an offensive genius.
Jags–Titans would tear this blog apart, wouldn’t it?
mel- Keep Hawaii far away from Norm Chow.
I was hoping that the Steelers would win, just because there is no lovelost between the Jags and the Titans. And of course I am picking Tennessee to beat San Diego, because I am a blatant homer. 
I wasn’t there to hear Cashman, obviously, but those appear to be the words of someone who may not be the GM after this season. It will be interesting to see how everything unfolds.
Knew it was a matter of time before somebody ripped Cashman for supporting Theo’s charity. Randyhater, take a bow.
Meanwhile, please tell us what you did to help poor kids today.
As for him speaking out, the truth is the truth. As I always say about Brian, he may not always comment. But when he does, he tells the truth. You have to admire that.
I haven’t read the above comments, and I bet that 10 people have said this already but: I am extremely frustrated with the steinbrenner sons and how they are trying to take cashmans responsibilties away from him even though he will obviously do a much better job at managing the ballclub. I am fed up with it and I bet you Cashman is extremely fed up too. Unless the yankees ownership changes (which would be an absolute blessing) don’t expect Cashman back with the yankees in the future. Ever. Why would he come back?
Karse
How would a change in Yankee ownership be a blessing? Would you prefer a Carl Pohlad type owner? Because you are more likely to get one of those than to get a Steinbrenner. I, for one, a incredibly thankful for having an ownership group that is willing to spend money to get players. The Steinbrenners are the best thing that has happened to the Yankees in a long time and any Yankee fan should recognize that instead of bashing the guy for stepping it up when Cashman refuses to.
He will come back because no other team will pay him the salary he wants and has a 200 mil payroll
I think that I might have mixed up my words in that last sentence about Cashman, and I meant to say that it appears that he is growing a bit weary of everything. He was nearly at the end of his rope in ‘05 before deciding to come back, so anything’s possible. He probably just wants to keep his options open and abstain from making any premature judgments about his future.
Karse: good.
Steve: bad.
Yeah, ok, the Steinbrenner sons have a ton of money that they spend at will. That doesn’t change the fact that they are obnoxious, I don’t like (some of) the decisions they’re making or the way they’ve treated people within the organization (Torre, Cashman).
I don’t need an everyday press briefing. Hank thinks that because he’s “the owner” everybody wants to bow down to him and cares so much about what he says. Cashman is a good GM who I credit for the Yankees farm system as well as (partly) the good team they have right now.
A lot of people can come to a team (as an owner) and spend tons of money, but some owners have character. I feel like Hank’s presence in general makes me feel ashamed to be a Yankees fan.
Pete,
If you think Cash (or Epstein or Boras for that matter) where at that ego-stroke, circle-jerk event because of their civic-mindedness, you’re more naive than I thought.
As to Brian “Honest Abe” Cashman’s statements, the fact that they’re true doesn’t make them appropriate. If he has a problem with his boss, or is having a crisis of faith about his longterm dedication to the team, he should voice it behind closed doors and/or keep it to himself. Pouring his heart out to the media assigned to our most hated rival isn’t helpful.
As to what I did for kids today: I coached 8 to a rousing, early morning basketball victory, took one to karate, and put together Thomas the Tank Engine puzzles with another until the eyes almost fell from head. How about you?
Epstein and his brother Paul run a charitable foundation. Today’s event was a fundraiser. Cashman didn’t drive 3 hours to get his ego stroked. You don’t know the guy, he doesn’t do that.
What kind of person criticizes somebody for doing a charitable thing? Randyhater, apparently.
Hope you and those kids playing hoops never need somebody to help you out. Karma’s a bitch.
I still dont understand why the Steelers went for the 2 point conversion after the holding penalty negated Wards’ beautiful catch early in the 4TH???It put them on the 12 yrd line and Rburger only got 9 yrds.
Gee he much hate George Stein too for giving money to the Jimmy Fund a few yrs ago!!!
A rivalry on the field is one thing……this was for charity.
Pete,
Sorry I poked some fun at your hero. If the forces of karma visit a pestilence on my son’s basketball team I’ll be sure to let you know. Maybe you can get St. Theo to make the pain go away.
I wouldn’t be reading too much into Cash’s words yet. Remember it was assumed he was leaving before he signed his current contact and a lot of that was based on information he was sending out through the media. He negotiates for a living, so this may signal the start of his negotiations for his new contract.
Jennifer –regarding resale of tickets MLB has made a deal with Stubhub and some teams have deals with ticketmaster so that you will be able to re-sell your tickets on these sites without fear of losing your tiket license andthe teams will get a part of the re-sale. Ticketmasters program is called ticket exchange. In the letter to season ticket holders itsays that shortly this will be available via yankees.com.
“If Cash has a problem with Jim Dolan Jr. (and he should) he should express it to the powers that be behind closed doors, not in a snarky comment from the bowels of Beantown.”
Good point. Of course Pete doesn’t see anything wrong with it, he is, after all, a Sox fan.
It was interesting to read Cashman’s subtle hints of frustration in regards to the Lil Stein’s interference.
My guess is that the Lil Stein’s want to hand over Hughes and whatever is needed to get this done, while Cashman wants to keep Hughes and would prefer not to do the deal. Period.
Boston is in this just to drive up the Yanks offer. Lester is progressing to be a very good starter. We already have a #1 and good depth in the rotation.
We do not need Santana. Could we use him? OF COURSE. But, at the cost of prospects, plus the huge long term deal, it is not a smart move.
This will come down to a battle between Minaya and the lil Stein’s. The ace in the hole to win this, literally, will be Phillip Hughes.
God do I love Hank.
Holy Cow! If you take the counter point on every deal Mr Brian Cashman has made in the last 8 years..[being realistic…please…]…we wouldn’t have won less championships…would we? Geez…it’s like he’s a god because we finally have some talent in the pipeline..talent that so far has not won us a freakin’ thing so far BTW. Come see me when Robbie et al has a ring on his finger…[or two]