The Yankees need to fire Brian Cashman and spend less money. Yes, that’s correct fire a General Manager who has led the team to four World Series titles. It may sound crazy, but it just might work. Cashman has been at the helm since 1998 and during his tenure, the Yankees have won four World Series titles. In recent years though, he has been a less successful GM, and continues to overpay for free agents. He won three World Series in his first three years, a remarkable feat. It’s his success, or lack thereof in recent years, that has been disconcerting. The Yankees have missed the playoffs for the second time in two seasons this year, something that hasn’t been happened since 1993, and that looks to continue for most seeing the Yankees as a non playoff team in 2015.
The Yankees have always been about spending big on players, either through signings or acquiring a big name and contract via trade. This method has had its successes, like Masahiro Tanaka, who had he not gotten hurt figured to garner ROY votes, and Derek Jeter, the franchise player, and if not the most famous in team history, and closer Mariano Rivera, the record holder for saves. These big contracts have also had their failures, most notably, third baseman Alex Rodriguez, starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia, and first baseman Mark Teixeira. Before Alex Rodriguez joined the Yankees he was already a four time All-Star and had already won an MVP award. What team wouldn’t want him? So the Yankees went out and acquired him in exchange for Alfonso Soriano in 2004.
Following the 2007 season, Rodriguez opted out of his deal with the Yankees, only to sign a new deal worth $275 million over 10 years. Just two years later, Rodriguez’s name was getting tossed around as a potential steroid user, and while he adamantly denied it, there have always been whispers and suspicions about it. Of course the rumors were true and he received a 162 game ban, causing him to miss the entire 2014 season. More than his suspension however, Rodriguez has not played in more than 150 games since 2007 and over the last 3 years he is hitting just .269 in 265 games.
Rodriguez wasn’t Cashman’s only blunder. First baseman Mark Teixeira, who had driven in 100+ runs in four out of his first five seasons before joining the Yankees, falls into the same category as Rodriguez. Teixeira signed an eight year contract worth $180 million in 2009. Teixeira hasn’t been the same offensively since joining the Yankees. He’s lacked durability, averaging just 121 games a year in his six seasons in pinstripes. He also hasn’t made an All-Star appearance or hit above .290 since 2009.
Enough with the hitters though, on to pitching.
C.C. Sabathia already had a Cy Young Award, made three All-Star Appearances, and a Rookie of the Year runner-up finish in his eight seasons before signing with the Yankees. Since joining the Yankees, yes he has made three All-Star appearances and led the league in wins twice, but he’s also led the league in Earned Runs, pitched to a 4.21 ERA in his last three seasons, and thrown just 40 games over the last two. Sabathia signed a seven-year $161 million contract in 2009.
Despite the failures, Cashman has made some good moves, such as signing Brett Gardner, Dellin Betances, and Chase Headley. Cashman may have “cash” in the first part of his last name, and the team he works for may have cash, but if he wants to be successful again, save the cash and sign small-market, low-risk guys. But then again it’s the Yankees, so that may not be possible.
All that is certain, is that as long as the Yankees have money to spend, they will spend it, and if history does indeed repeat itself, then they will continue to overpay for free agents who won’t live up to their $100M+ contracts.
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