Cash: That’s it
GM says Yanks are done dealin’
AROLDIS Chapman and Matt Holliday may be it.
While continuing to stay engaged on multiple fronts and making ownership aware of potential acquisitions via free agency or trade, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Monday night that he doesn’t expect any more changes to the roster heading into spring training.
“Realistically, the trade front has been the more active conversation — not that there’s anything pending — and I do believe that we’re at 99 percent-plus (certainty) that what we have is what we’re going to camp with,” Cashman said on YES Network’s “Yankees Hot Stove.” “But you have to continue to stay engaged.”
Asked about where the Yankees stand regarding their conversations with the White Sox about left-hander Jose Quintana, Cashman responded: “I’ve stayed in touch, clearly. They are a team like we were last summer, open to moving players and pressing their reset button.
“I don’t want to say anything specific, but I think we set a high bar last summer with the trade returns (we received for Chapman and Andrew Miller). And this winter (the White Sox) followed that up with some significant deals with high-end returns (for Chris Sale and Adam Eaton), which I think has created a real high sticker price out there which more likely than not prevents a deal or deals to be more easily made.”
Quintana, who turns 28 on Jan. 24, would be an ideal fit. He is under team control for the next four seasons at an affordable $38 million. He’s also thrown at least 200 innings the past four seasons while pitching to a 3.35 ERA over that span. And Cashman has built a farm system with high-end prospects like Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier and James Kaprielian that other teams covet. But because the White Sox are rebuilding and Quintana is considered the best starter on the market, the cost to obtain him would be significant. Pittsburgh and Houston have also been connected to Quintana, as they may be willing to part with young talented pieces, unlike the Yankees.
Chapman (five years, $86 million) and Holliday were the team’s significant offseason additions.
Cashman wants several of his prospects — including those previously mentioned — to become part of the team’s next young impact core. Plus, with his team in re-tooling mode, he’s under no pressure to make a deal. Position battles will take place at first base (Greg Bird and Tyler Austin), right field (Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks) and at the back-end of the rotation behind Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia (Luis Severino, Bryan Mitchell, Luis Cessa, Chad Green and Adam Warren).
“I’m willing to put some high-end prospects on the table to get deals done,” Cashman said. “But the price tags out there are even higher than that and I think there’s an importance to having patience and discipline at the same time and not making a mistake. We just want to do what’s best for our franchise so our fanbase is happy for 2017 and beyond and so those are always difficult wrestling matches to have and a tightrope to walk.”
Cashman believes the fanbase is comfortable seeing young players like Gary Sanchez, Bird and Judge play every day — even if there are some growing pains along the way.
“(The fans are) willing to walk through that (the ups and downs) with you as long as they have some legitimate players they can really grow with,” Cashman said. “We’re really now in a better position to provide a group of talent where hopefully some will really be part of the next championship core.”
MIXING IT UP
The Yankees could be changing the top of their batting order.
Cashman said team has had internal discussions about breaking up No. 1 and 2 hitters Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury.
One of the two outfielders would presumably stay in the leadoff spot, with the other potentially moving down in the lineup. Righty Starlin Castro could move up behind either Gardner or Ellsbury.
Gardner, 33, has been the subject of offseason trade rumors. He’s due $25 million over the next two seasons. Ellsbury, 33, still has four seasons remaining on his seven-year, $153 million deal.