New York Yankees: 5 things for fans to be thankful for
By Sean Dyer
Brian Cashman
Some Yankees fans may be upset with Brian Cashman after he seemingly ran Joe Girardi out of town. Believe me, I’m still not entirely over that either. However, Cashman has done a fantastic job with this team over the last few years.
I’ve seen fans say that Cashman’s decision to trade Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran, and Ivan Nova at the 2016 trade deadline was a no-brainer and that Cashman gets too much credit. But that was not a no-brainer at all.
In fact, when it comes to the New York Yankees, admitting defeat and selling at the trade deadline is the exact opposite of a no-brainer. Cashman even had to persuade Hal Steinbrenner to let him make those trades (something Hal’s father George would have never allowed).
Because of Cashman’s clear eyes and good judgment back in 2016, the Yankees now have one of the MLB’s best farm systems. However, even more impressive than the young talent in the minor leagues is the job Cashman has done constructing the major league roster.
He’s the one who signed Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino out of the Dominican Republic. He’s the one who drafted Aaron Judge, Greg Bird, Dellin Betances, and Brett Gardner, among others.
Cashman pulled off the trades for Didi Gregorius, Aaron Hicks, Chad Green, Sonny Gray, David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, and Starlin Castro. Cashman also originally drafted Robertson and Kahnle and traded Adam Warren for Castro only to get Warren back in the Aroldis Chapman trade, essentially getting Castro for nothing.
Deciding to “retool” in 2016 was not an easy decision and there’s no guarantee every general manager would have done what Cashman did. Thanks to Cashman, that “retool” didn’t even last a full season and the New York Yankees are now expected to be perennial contenders again.
We can be mad at Cashman for the Girardi saga, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be thankful for him. I get mad at my brothers on almost a daily basis but I’m still thankful for them.