INTENTS & PURPOSES
Cash states goal of bringing back DJ
DJ LeMahieu and the Yankees have yet to reach an agreement to keep him in The Bronx, but general manager Brian Cashman said it remains a priority.
“We have had discussions and our intent is there,’’ Cashman said Thursday. “We have good intent when it comes to DJ LeMahieu, when it comes to re-signing him, and think he has the same on his end, but free agency is very tricky when it comes to competition.”
Cashman added the team has contingency plans, but the focus remains on LeMahieu, who emerged as the team’s most consistent hitter the past two seasons.
“Like always, we’ll come up with what the best options are, but we’re gonna exhaust his option first, which is to try to keep him here,’’ Cashman said on the YES Network’s “Hot Stove” show. “He loves playing in New York. He loves playing for the New York Yankees. There’s a lot of things in our favor, but it ultimately comes down to the financial opportunity we provide compared to the financial opportunity others are providing. That’s the big unknown.”
➤ Cashman also hopes to upgrade the pitching staff, though he made no guarantees for a rotation that has just Gerrit Cole and a bunch of inexperienced arms in the rotation.
Luis Severino is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and won’t be back until midseason — if the regular season starts on time.
Then there’s Domingo German, who is pitching winter ball in the Dominican Republic as he prepares to return from a suspension for violating MLB’s domestic violence protocols in 2019.
Cashman pointed to Jordan Montgomery as a potential No. 2 starter and was encouraged by what he saw from Deivi Garcia following his debut.
Beyond that, Cashman mentioned Clarke Schmidt, Mike King, Nick Nelson and Miguel Yajure as other possible pieces for the rotation.
Still, Cashman acknowledged, “If I can add to our pitching, we will.”
That could come in the form of free agency or a trade, with the Yankees facing some of the same financial issues the rest of the league is dealing with in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
Cashman said the Yankees will have the highest payroll, but “certainly there are a lot more discussions and things to navigate.”
➤ As for the rest of the team, Cashman said he believes Gary Sanchez will rebound from his brutal 2020.
Asked if Sanchez was the No. 1 catcher heading into 2021, Cashman said he would be.
“Ultimately, I think going into the season next year, we’ll let it play out, regardless,’’ Cashman said. “But the expectation is a bounce-back year from Gary Sanchez. The talent level is there. He’s only a year removed from being an All-Star catcher.”
Cashman also thought Sanchez “lost his confidence at the plate, and I think it might have boomeranged into his defense, too.”
But he also pointed out that the Yankees tendered him a contract “because we still believe in the talent and the player.”
➤ He’s hoping Gleyber Torres plays better at shortstop with improved conditioning, but admitted Torres is a better second baseman. And he said he believes Adam Ottavino will pitch better in the final year of his contract.
“Ultimately, we have a team we feel can compete for a world championship,’’ Cashman said. “But it does need some additional help with that.”