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Time to Cash Out

The Yankees have given Brian Cashman a three year extension and this has caused a rift in Yankees fans. People either love Cash and call him a genius or absolutely despise him, there’s no middle ground. Since Cash has been the GM, they have won 7 AL pennants and 4 world series. Now I am a guy that gives credit when credit is due, and credit for all the success since Cash has been there goes to Gene “Stick” Michael, the Boss and Joe Torre, not Cashman.

It’s no secret that the Boss was a very, VERY involved owner. He would always be at the stadium during games, always be in the clubhouse after games, especially after a loss. He expected the best and nothing came before winning, except breating. With the Boss being involved in every single aspect of the team from 1973 when he bought them up until 2006 when he left the team to the sons, Cashman had to do absolutely nothing. The Boss signed players, the Boss hired the managers and the Boss did the firings, a lot of firings. Since the sons took over, and Cash had to actually be a GM and make decisions, what has the team done? Let’s take a look:

2006: First in the division. Lost ALDS to Detroit 3 games to 1.
2007: Second in the division. Lost ALDS to Cleveland 3 games to 1.
2008: Third in the division. No playoffs
2009: First in the division. Won World Series against Philadelphia 4 games to 2.
2010: Second in the division. Lost ALCS to Texas 3 games to 2.
2011: First in the divison. Lost ALDS to Detroit 3 games to 2.
2012: First in the division. Lost ALCS to Detroit 4 games to 0.
2013: Third in the division. No playoffs.
2014: Second in the division. No playoffs in back to back seasons for the first time since 1993-1994.
2015: Second in the division. Had a seven game lead at one point and did NOTHING at the deadline. Lost Wild Card to Houston.

Not a bad run, made the playoffs in 7 out of 10 years and won a World Series. But we are the Yankees and 1 World Series in 10 years with the talent the team had is not acceptable, the Boss taught us not to settle. Now those of you defending Cash might bring up the 2008 offseason and the big 3 he signed that lead to the 2009 title. AJ Burnett was a good pitcher and left the team in 2011, he definitely helped win the 2009 title. No complaints there. Mark Teixeira, played great in 2009 and 2010, instrumental in the World Series. However, his play has consistently declined since 2011 and he has spent extended time on the DL every season since. From 2012 to 2014 he played in 123, 15 and 123 games each season respectively; an average of 87 games per year. He was given an 8 year $180 million contract in 2008, the third largest contract in MLB history at that point given to someone not named ARod. He’s under contract for one more year and due $22.5 million. CC Sabathia, also instrumental in the 2009 World Series run, was given a 6 year $142 million contract. He is 35 years old with a history of knee problems, his fastball has disappeared, and the Yankees still owe him $25 million! Following the 2010 season he had arthroscopic surgery on his knee to repair a small meniscus tear in the same knee that knocked him out of 2014. A year later he lost 25 pounds to take pressure off his knees. This past offseason, he lost even more weight. Despite being in better shape, his fastball continues to slow down and his performance has suffered every season since. So yes, the team did win a 2009 World Series, but at what cost? The team is stuck with two rapidly declining players and their ridiculous contracts. Not to mention the absolutely ludicrous ARod contracts Cash handed out. So since the Boss passed and the sons know nothing about baseball, it has all been on Cash. He has handed out insane contracts to injury prone players that are clearly on the way out and there is nothing they can do about it.

By: Jim McIsaac Getty Images Sport
By: Jim McIsaac Getty Images Sport

So what about the other four World Series titles the Yankees won? Cash had a hand in those though right? No. Fans who actually know their Yankees history know that. Cash inherited an immensely talented lineup from Joe Torre and Gene “Stick” Michael. In 1990, Stick was made GM of the Yankees, during this time he built the farm system and planted the seeds for their dominance during the 90’s. The team began building young talent for themselves, rather than trading it away. During Stick’s tenure as general manager, they drafted or signed such names as: Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams and so on. Stick also traded prospect Roberto Kelly for an outfielder named Paul O’Neill, whose passion and fiery play would become a cornerstone for the team of the 90’s. From 1996-2002, Stick served as VP of Major League scouting for the Yankees, and in 2003 was promoted to VP and senior advisor. With Stick scouting, Torre managing and the Boss being the Boss, Cash had nothing to do but sit back and receive credit for winning five World Series titles. What exactly had he done to help?

Let’s fast forward to the 2010 offseason, Derek Jeter became a free agent for the first time in his career. He appeared to be on the decline and understandably so, he was 36 years old. Cashman acknowledged that Jeter might need to shift to the outfield due to declined play. Wait, what? Cashman actually wanted to move Derek Jeter, the captain and shortstop of the New York Yankees, to the outfield? Yep, he did. Jeter stated that he wanted to remain with the Yankees and negotiations became tense. Jeter’s agent, Casey Close, said that he was “baffled” by the Yankees’ approach to the negotiations, and Cashman responded publicly that Jeter should test the open market to ascertain his value, which angered Jeter. That’s right folks, your GM that received a three year extension basically told Derek Jeter, your Captain, to try and sign elsewhere. If Jeter wasn’t so level headed and didn’t love the Yankees so much and actually went to another team, would you all still be praising Cashman? I can guarantee 100% of you would not be.

So yes, the Yankees have had great success while Cashman has been with the team, but you misplace the credit when you give it to Cash. The year he did actually win a World Series without the help of Stick, the Boss and Torre, 2009, he handed out 2 ridiculous contracts that ties the team’s hands financially for the next 2 years. The other 4 titles were the result of Stick building home grown talent in the Core plus Bernie and signing Pauly; the Boss being a hands on owner and being involved in signing players; and Joe Torre being one of the most respected and successful Yankees manager of all time.

Since I am not completely ignorant, I can admit that Cash has made some moves that turned out well. Bringing in Ichiro at the trade deadline in 2012 has turned out well, he is one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game. Alfonso Soriano played well for us in 2013. Trading Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda has clearly worked out in the Yankees favor since Pineda has been unhittable when he’s healthy and Montero is just a blob now. He made some good moves this season, such as bringing in Chase Headley, Brandon McCarthy and Martin Prado, but all that did was delay the inevitable. The Yankees missed the playoffs and in the end that is all that matters, it is World Series or bust for the Yankees. So bringing in some good players for half a season means nothing when there is no October. We have been spoiled as Yankees fans the past 2 decades and people say we now know what it feels like to be like every other fan. We have no reason to complain we’ve seen 5 title wins in our lives. But as the Boss said, “Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing. Breathing first, winning next.” We deserve better than Cashman.