NOT CASHING OUT
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — So here’s where the Yankees stand in free agency as the Winter Meetings come to a close, courtesy of pilot Brian Cashman:
“Right now, we’re circling the airport, and we’re waiting for clearance on the runway. And that’s not from ownership. It’s more we’ve got the signal that it’s a safe landing spot, and we’re comfortable with it and excited by that. We’ve got enough gas in the tank that we can keep circling for a while.”
Being $30 million under the $197 million luxury-tax threshold, the Bombers have the following needs: a starting pitcher or two, and perhaps an infielder capable of playing second or third.
“We need to address some things, but patience is a virtue,” Cashman said on Wednesday.
CC Sabathia, 37, has received interest from the Angels and Blue Jays. Cashman has spoken with Sabathia’s agent about a possible return.
“He’s obviously someone of interest,” Cashman said of Sabathia. “But because of who he is and what he’s continued to do, he’s of interest elsewhere, too.”
Another free-agent aside from Sabathia could be Alex Cobb, who may wind up with the Cubs.
The Yankees could also make a trade for a starter, and have checked in on the likes of Pittsburgh’s Gerrit Cole, Detroit’s Michael Fulmer, Arizona’s Patrick Corbin and Kansas City’s Danny Duffy. They have several potential trade chips, including Clint Frazier and a deep pool of pitching prospects.
“We’re engaged with a number of opportunities — whether it’s the trade market or the free-agent side,” Cashman said. “I don’t know where it’s going to take us, but we’re working at it.”
Trades of Starlin Castro and Chase Headley have opened spots at second and third. If the Bombers decide to go young at those positions, Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar may end up with starting spots. But Ronald Torreyes, Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada could also figure in the mix.
Other possibilities could include resigning Todd Frazier, bringing back Eduardo Nunez or acquiring Brandon Drury. There didn’t seem to be anything to Manny Machado-to-theBronx, at least as of now, though rival officials were rightly concerned over the possibility.
Torres, the team’s top prospect, turned 21 on Wednesday. Had he not suffered a season-ending injury that required Tommy John surgery, Torres could’ve been up with the Yankees last season, preventing the team from adding Todd Frazier.
Even when Didi Gregorius got hurt prior to the World Baseball Classic, some of the team’s coaches wanted Torres to open the season at shortstop. Cashman decided otherwise.
“We just felt it was important for him to crawl before you walk, and walk before you run, and I didn’t want him drinking out of a fire hose in April,” Cashman said. “So I took my time, and I think it was the right move.” OF NOTE: Cashman does expect to lose players in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday. The team will not pick anyone . ... Tyler Austin could serve as the backup first baseman to Greg Bird . ... Aaron Judge’s batting cage work will be delayed given that he’s recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, however, Cashman said, “in terms of hitting the ground for spring training, he should be fine.”