The injuries to the Yankees this season not only exposed their age, it also exposed their farm system. With so many guys sidelined, the Yankees reached into their minor-league pool to fill positions. The problem was that the pool was very shallow, and some heads might roll because of it.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that there is “frustration and anger” amongst upper-level Yankee officials that the team has a lack of high-end prospects. Even after using a club-record 56 guys over the course of the season, the Yankees don’t appear to have the next homegrown star ready to take over the Bronx.
Long time employees Damon Oppenheimer, director of the draft – and Mark Newman, director of player development, may be scapegoats for the lack of talent, according to Sherman. Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman are safe; Cashman has one year left on his deal.
Earlier in the season, Hal Steinbrenner held a meeting in which the team’s farm system issues were discussed. Cashman understands the criticism, especially from the fans who will be without Yankee playoff baseball for just the second time in the past two decades.