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00:00Hi, welcome back to the Carden Show.
00:02Craig Carden, Chris McMonaco, Big Mac, of course.
00:04Number to join, 888-808-1019.
00:08Happy to have on the show with us right now,
00:10the general manager of the New York Yankees,
00:13Mr. Brian Cashman.
00:14Brian, it's Craig and Big Mac.
00:15Good afternoon.
00:16Thanks for a couple minutes today.
00:17We do appreciate your time.
00:18Thank you, Brian.
00:19No, you got it, guys.
00:20All right, so obvious first question.
00:22You know Yankee fans are reacting to the inability
00:25for you guys to acquire specifically a catcher.
00:28How close did you come?
00:30And was the, at the end of the day,
00:32the asking price just too rich for your blood?
00:34Or is there another reason why you feel like
00:36you were unable to acquire a catcher this time around?
00:40Well, first, that lane, that shopping lane
00:43is very, very thin in terms of opportunities.
00:45That's why you didn't really see anything moving outside of there.
00:47There's one, there's different levels in that list.
00:51So obviously Adley Rutschman was the big, big fish,
00:54impact player.
00:55He's currently on the I.L.,
00:56but did come off sometime at the very least
00:59in mid-August from a wrist issue.
01:01So he's obviously an impact for, you know,
01:04an all-star caliber type, you know,
01:06that we certainly had conversations about
01:10without a doubt with Baltimore over the last three weeks.
01:14But, you know, ultimately,
01:16they took a big offer from Boston.
01:19They were expecting to get a lot.
01:21They did get a lot, and they made certain offers to us
01:24that, you know, essentially I could not be comfortable doing.
01:29So, you know, there were, you know,
01:31so were there opportunities that existed?
01:34Were there conversations that were going on?
01:35The answer is yes.
01:36But, you know, they did extremely well,
01:39as you would expect they would.
01:41Mike Elias is an excellent general manager,
01:44and he had an excellent player that he put to market,
01:48and he was able to capitalize on that.
01:51But, yeah, the price that, you know,
01:52was going to cost to us,
01:53I thought would be detrimental to the short term right now,
01:56and as well as the long term.
01:57So you're not,
01:59you were not the way many people were surprised
02:01at what they got from the Red Sox,
02:03but you thought the package
02:05that you would have had to have offered
02:07was just too rich for your blood at this moment.
02:09Is that fair to say?
02:10Yeah, it was a little bit of a combination
02:12of really tough, you know,
02:14hurt us on the current roster
02:16and hurt us in the future.
02:18The combination was, you know, tough,
02:21just too tough for, you know,
02:22so something that I would not recommend doing
02:25and wasn't sure if that was actually,
02:27it benefited us in one way,
02:29it hurt us in a lot of other ways too.
02:32But ultimately, the Red Sox were able
02:34to deploy their players
02:36and find a way to secure the player.
02:39You know, I can't tell you if I said yes
02:41that that trumps theirs anyway,
02:43but I was unwilling to say yes
02:45to what it would have taken to pull him down.
02:47Was there a thought after both Boston and Tampa
02:49got catchers that you guys would have pivoted
02:52to a guy like Stevenson in Cincinnati
02:54or one of the other players,
02:56maybe not as well regarded
02:58as the two guys that were the first two
03:00to go or did you not have conversations
03:03merely to get a different name in here
03:06to upgrade the catcher position?
03:09Yeah, the Tampa situation,
03:11they got a left-handed catcher in Hicks,
03:13so obviously thought,
03:14we don't need a left-handed catcher.
03:15So our aisle we were shopping in
03:17was a right-handed catcher
03:19or a bigger everyday upgraded catcher
03:22if it made sense.
03:24Now, while doing so,
03:26recognizing the limit of available players
03:29that would fit the profile
03:31that could handle our pitching staff,
03:32our catchers are doing an excellent job
03:35on the defensive side
03:36and managing the pitching staff.
03:38Wells, separately,
03:39has some significant offensive potential
03:42that has not materialized,
03:44especially this year.
03:45But I would have to acknowledge
03:47and recognize that
03:49the arrow is pointing
03:51in a stronger direction now
03:53in the last month.
03:54So the month of July, for instance,
03:56and now bleeding into August.
03:58And he had a good game yesterday
03:59again offensively.
04:01His arrow offensively
04:02is going in the right direction.
04:04So anyway,
04:05it's a limited market
04:07and we did engage on the players
04:09that we thought we could come in here
04:10and plug in
04:11and manage our staff
04:13on the defensive side
04:14or provide also
04:15that right-handed bat.
04:17But there was,
04:19you know,
04:19in terms of exhausting those options,
04:21there was a few
04:22that we tried to pull down
04:24to other ones
04:25we thought we were getting close to,
04:27but then they got away from us
04:28when, you know,
04:29the teams we were dealing with
04:30changed their minds
04:30and they didn't go anywhere.
04:32Brian, speaking about
04:33the catcher position,
04:34I know a lot of people
04:35have asked you lately
04:36about Ben Rice catching
04:37and I understand,
04:38I think most fans understand
04:39that it would be a tough transition
04:41to just do today.
04:43But last year we saw him catch
04:44and while Wells was struggling
04:46all year,
04:47how come there was never
04:48any thought at any point
04:50to get him catching
04:51on some level
04:52so if you did get to this point,
04:54a transition to Ben Rice
04:55doing some catching
04:55would be plausible
04:56at this point?
04:58No, it's a fair question
04:59and obviously,
05:00you know,
05:01the answer is the same.
05:02We are not going to deploy him
05:04as a catcher this year.
05:05That's, you know,
05:06for a lot of different reasons.
05:07And that was the plan
05:08all year long?
05:09Sorry to interrupt.
05:10Yes.
05:11It's been the plan,
05:12you know,
05:12in collaboration
05:13with the player
05:14going into the season
05:15that, you know,
05:16we felt like
05:20exposing him
05:21to the best outcome
05:23of success,
05:23especially on the offensive side
05:26while he's obviously
05:27getting baptized
05:28in a new position
05:29for the most part
05:29at first base
05:31and not messing
05:32with that
05:33at all
05:34so we don't,
05:36you know,
05:37degrade the offensive profile
05:38by all of a sudden
05:39transitioning
05:39and doing the workload
05:41at the same time
05:41behind the plate.
05:42We thought that would
05:43expose him to
05:44reduction in potential offense
05:46as well as potential injury
05:48by the workload
05:49management side of it
05:50and we just thought
05:52we're not going to mess
05:53with a good thing here.
05:54So I recognize
05:55it's easier to,
05:56you know,
05:58I understand the questioning
06:00and hey,
06:01you could do this
06:01so I'd say,
06:03you know,
06:03to be quite honest,
06:04he's not a choice
06:05for catching for us
06:06at all this year
06:07other than
06:07as a third catcher.
06:09Was this a frustrating
06:10trade deadline
06:12for you guys?
06:13I think they're
06:14always frustrating.
06:15You know,
06:16you always come away
06:17with pulling down
06:18things that,
06:19you know,
06:20when you find matches,
06:21the matches you do find
06:22you think
06:22they should,
06:24you know,
06:24their intent is to benefit you
06:26and so we're happy
06:28with who we brought in
06:29and how they fit
06:30and of course
06:31on the flip side
06:32you're disappointed
06:33that you couldn't
06:34have finished off
06:35certain things
06:36you were talking to
06:37or done more
06:38at the same time
06:39so I think that's
06:39a true feeling
06:41that you always
06:42come away with.
06:43As far as doing more,
06:44we mentioned the catcher already.
06:46I think the other position
06:46most everyone thought
06:48the Yankees would
06:49address is bullpen arm.
06:51As good as the bullpen
06:52has been,
06:53we've seen over the stretch,
06:55I know they played
06:55a lot of games in a row
06:56and that wouldn't happen
06:57in a postseason
06:57but when this pitching staff
06:59is stretched
07:00you see the impact
07:02it has on it
07:02and you traded away
07:05relievers for depth.
07:06How come you were unable
07:07to get a reliever in here
07:09to help this pen
07:10and then,
07:11you know,
07:11it's also not like you.
07:13I'll give Evan Roberts credit.
07:15I went back and double checked.
07:16This is the first time
07:17the Yankees have not acquired
07:18a reliever in any way,
07:20shape or form
07:20since 2016.
07:21It's been a decade
07:22since the Yankees
07:24haven't brought in
07:24a reliever at the trade deadline.
07:26Why this trade deadline?
07:28That's just how it played out.
07:29It wasn't with lack of effort.
07:31We explored it
07:32and bring in,
07:33you know,
07:34a starter,
07:34you know,
07:35potentially.
07:36In the event
07:36we traded a starter,
07:37we brought in
07:39conversations,
07:40extensive conversations
07:41on that.
07:42We had extensive conversations
07:43on,
07:43you know,
07:44leverage relievers
07:45were obviously the preference
07:46if you could find that
07:47if not righty lane guys
07:48or,
07:49you know,
07:50another left-hander
07:51if need be.
07:53But nothing was able
07:54to materialize.
07:55It takes two to tango
07:56to find matches.
07:57You know,
07:58the truth of the matter
07:59is we've had
07:59a lot of activity
08:01off of our
08:03farm system
08:04the last two years
08:05and trades in the winter
08:06and the summer.
08:07Previous trade deadlines
08:08and previous winter meetings
08:09and winter campaigns
08:11that have depleted
08:12our system.
08:12Our top end of the system
08:14is really strong
08:15with some high-end players,
08:16some of which are
08:17not accessible
08:18like the guy
08:19who's starting
08:19at shortstop tonight
08:20so Lombard wasn't in play.
08:24Legrani,
08:24you know,
08:25is down with a hurt shoulder
08:26and Dr. Kilby's
08:27another high-end guy
08:28and he missed half a season
08:29with a back
08:30and I'm not saying
08:30we wanted to trade
08:31those guys or not
08:33but part of our strength
08:34of our system
08:35is at the top end.
08:37Always try to stay away
08:38from those guys
08:39but you're not unwilling
08:40to discuss them either
08:41and then there's a
08:42drop-off,
08:43you know,
08:44in the middle of our system
08:45to some degree.
08:45some of which
08:46we tapped into
08:47in these trades
08:48to on the lower end
08:50we still have
08:50some really high-end
08:51guys we like
08:52but a lot of clubs
08:54we were dealing with
08:54didn't want to trade
08:55players to us
08:58with stuff
08:59going from
09:00our top portion
09:02where maybe
09:03the values
09:03weren't the same
09:05to dropping
09:06all the way down
09:07to the really
09:07high-ceiling
09:08exciting,
09:09talented player
09:10that might be
09:10farther away.
09:11They're like,
09:11nah,
09:11I don't want to do that
09:13and so you guys
09:14don't match with us.
09:15So that's
09:16as simple as that
09:17so there'd be a player
09:18maybe that would go
09:19elsewhere
09:20that they could get
09:21someone that's ready
09:22to, you know,
09:23so for instance
09:23like Elmer Rodriguez
09:25Cruz is a guy
09:26that's high-end for us
09:27and, you know,
09:28he has a chance
09:29to be a quality control
09:30starter for us
09:31a long time.
09:31You know,
09:33hey man,
09:33I'll do ERC
09:34for this rental reliever
09:36that's more of a
09:37middle reliever guy.
09:38I'm not doing that.
09:40But, you know,
09:40it doesn't make sense.
09:41Not that I want
09:41to trade Elmer
09:43but, you know,
09:44I've done trades
09:45many times
09:46and you have to
09:46give to get
09:47but that's kind
09:49of the dance
09:49of how it,
09:50to be quite honest,
09:51how some of these
09:51things play out
09:52where, hey,
09:54you know what,
09:54I don't see it.
09:56I don't see the,
09:57I don't have a match
09:58with you guys.
09:59I can do better
09:59elsewhere.
10:00I don't want to go
10:01drop down into
10:02the Florida Complex League
10:03or the Dominican Summer League
10:05where we love those guys
10:06but they're just
10:07farther away.
10:07I'd rather get somebody
10:08that I can count on
10:09coming into our system
10:09now or, you know,
10:11that type of stuff
10:11and so, you know,
10:13I'm going to have
10:14to access, you know,
10:16you know,
10:16if it was a controllable
10:17starter or a leverage
10:18reliever that's expiring,
10:19I need Will Warren,
10:21you know,
10:21or I need, you know,
10:22I need Weathers
10:23or I need, you know,
10:25you know,
10:25that type of stuff
10:26and it's like,
10:26no, that doesn't
10:27make any sense.
10:27So, so, uh,
10:29I'm comfortable
10:29with the nose
10:30that I provided
10:31even though, you know,
10:33you don't get a look
10:34in the mirror
10:34or the looking glass
10:36about what that was
10:37or wasn't
10:38but I'm,
10:39I can tell you
10:39I was happy
10:41with who we did
10:41bring in
10:42and I said
10:43and remind you
10:44that I frustrated
10:45that I couldn't
10:45do more
10:46but at the same time
10:47I can live with
10:49why I didn't do
10:51or say yes
10:52to some of the things
10:53that were proposed
10:54to me
10:54because it was,
10:55it would be,
10:55you know,
10:56they weren't beat,
10:57it would be a short-term gain
10:58but it didn't make sense
11:00the values were so far off
11:02that I was like,
11:02I can't do that
11:03and they didn't get
11:03those type values
11:04also where they just
11:05deployed them
11:05for a different level
11:07player that I couldn't provide.
11:09Talking to Brian Cashman,
11:10GM of the Yankees,
11:11of course,
11:12here on the Cardin Show
11:13with Big Mac,
11:14were any of the decisions
11:15you made
11:16or the game plan
11:17you had
11:17going into yesterday,
11:19which obviously
11:20predates yesterday alone,
11:22were any of them
11:23based on
11:24the knowledge
11:25that you have
11:26whether we're aware
11:27of it or not
11:27in the public
11:28or from a fan standpoint
11:29on the health status
11:31of Aaron Judge
11:33or Giancarlo Stanton,
11:34et cetera?
11:36Well,
11:37I think bringing in
11:38Ramos and Garcia
11:39help,
11:40you know,
11:41plug some holes
11:43and provide some,
11:44you know,
11:46they provide the now benefit
11:47and then when those guys
11:48come back,
11:49they can be deployed
11:50more readily
11:51or easily,
11:52you know,
11:53with their favorable
11:54matchup side
11:55where Ramos crushes,
11:56you know,
11:57lefties
11:58and Garcia crushes
11:59righties
12:00so they have
12:01a more expanded role now
12:03and if those other guys
12:05come back,
12:05you know,
12:06they can come laps
12:06and,
12:07you know,
12:07they'll deepen us
12:08and provide,
12:09you know,
12:09more choices to make
12:11and some of them
12:12will be more difficult,
12:13you know,
12:13about who's going to go
12:14where and when
12:14and who's sitting down
12:16but,
12:17you know,
12:17the hope and expectation
12:18is we get these other guys
12:19back,
12:19you know,
12:20and that's currently
12:21what the time frame
12:21is for the doctors
12:22so if I was told
12:24they weren't coming back,
12:26you know,
12:26for instance,
12:26you know,
12:27I guess we would add
12:28a calculus of
12:29don't do anything,
12:30you know,
12:30do you think you can win
12:31without them or not?
12:32We never had those conversations
12:34or do more
12:35because,
12:36you know,
12:36they're not coming back
12:37but that hasn't been
12:39a conversation
12:40that any medical staff
12:41has had with us yet.
12:41And we saw Stanton
12:43taking live batting practice
12:44yesterday against
12:45Carlos Rodon,
12:46of course,
12:46so it seems like
12:47he's going to come back
12:48before Aaron comes back.
12:50You know,
12:51fans are clamoring,
12:52you know,
12:52they want to know,
12:53they want to see,
12:53you know,
12:53their favorite Yankee player
12:55number 99 out there
12:56and stands bat back
12:57in the lineup.
12:58Is there a world
12:59that we live in
13:00in which you think
13:02it's a possibility
13:02that we see
13:04neither of them
13:05play again
13:05for the Yankees
13:06this year?
13:07I mean,
13:08I can't rule that out
13:09but that's not
13:10the world we're
13:12currently living in.
13:13You know,
13:13so the information,
13:15you know,
13:15obviously in Stan's case
13:16especially,
13:17it'd only be
13:17if he had some setback.
13:19Like as of right now,
13:19he's on pace
13:20and on,
13:21you know,
13:22but he was on pace before
13:23and then he had
13:23a new injury
13:25or a re-injury
13:25or,
13:26you know,
13:26I think it was just
13:27in the same area
13:28but a different spot
13:29so which put him back down.
13:31He was just on the verge
13:32of joining us.
13:33So could that re-occur
13:35or happen again?
13:36The answer is yes.
13:36But that's not factored
13:38into,
13:38you know,
13:39the thoughts
13:40that are taking place
13:41right now.
13:41Like in years gone by
13:42he comes back
13:44and joins us
13:45at some point
13:45when he's ready
13:46and so we're just,
13:48you know,
13:48giving him the time
13:49and the baseball work
13:51is being done
13:51and you saw him
13:52hitting on the field
13:52doing lives
13:53against Rodon
13:54as Rodon's
13:55fighting his way back
13:56and coming back
13:57sometime,
13:57you know,
13:59to mid to late August
14:01to join our rotation
14:02again once he's
14:03stretched out properly.
14:04But anyway,
14:05to answer your question,
14:07we are not operating
14:08with the anticipation.
14:09They're not coming back.
14:11But to also answer your question,
14:13is it possible that happens?
14:14I can't rule that out
14:15because that means,
14:16that would mean the scenarios
14:17and the information
14:18over the course of time
14:19has now changed.
14:20In Stan's case,
14:21it would be the circumstance
14:22of probably a re-injury
14:24or something like that
14:25or a new injury.
14:26and in Judge's case,
14:28it would be
14:28this healing is not done
14:30or gone
14:31during the time frame
14:32that was generally always
14:35to be the case.
14:36It's taking significantly longer.
14:38That thing would change
14:39that time frame,
14:39but as of right now,
14:40that's not what,
14:41that's not the course we're on.
14:42Do we have a date
14:44or an idea
14:45on when the next imaging
14:45will be done for Judge?
14:47We do,
14:48but I'll just keep that.
14:50We like that.
14:51We keep the stuff.
14:52I respect for Judge
14:53and everybody answered.
14:55The questions should come
14:56and rightfully so.
14:57It's a really important piece
14:58that we're all holding,
14:59but we're also trying to
15:01allow this thing
15:02to play out properly.
15:03So once we do the imaging
15:05and communicate with the player
15:07and everybody gets together,
15:09then he can tell us
15:10what he wants us to talk about
15:11or not talk about it,
15:12but yeah,
15:12we definitely know.
15:13Okay, well then,
15:14in fear of getting the same answer
15:15to this question,
15:16once that imaging is done
15:17and it reaches a level
15:18where you guys are comfortable
15:19with him beginning a process
15:21of doing baseball activities,
15:22do we have a time frame
15:24on that moment
15:24to when he could be back
15:25with the Yankees?
15:27We would get that.
15:28That would be when we could
15:30start playing around
15:31with that a little bit,
15:32which is all right.
15:33He's now allowed
15:33to do X, Y, Z,
15:35and then you could
15:36take a calendar out
15:37and then start working
15:38backwards from that date
15:39and kind of get a better feel
15:41for when and how long
15:42it would take
15:43and what's the safest way.
15:46And off we go.
15:47Certainly, we're all Yankee fans
15:49and our organization alike.
15:51We're going to judge you
15:52especially more than anybody.
15:53We're all anxious
15:55for that day to come.
15:56Do you think the Yankees,
15:58as they're currently constituted
15:59with the moves you made,
16:01are championship ready?
16:05I think we're championship caliber.
16:07And I think every day
16:09we take the field,
16:10we're ready to win.
16:12I think we have enough talent
16:14and enough players
16:16that can, especially with our pitching,
16:18can take a run for a title now.
16:20But I know that we'll even be
16:22in a better position
16:23to take a run for a title
16:24when we're fully healthy.
16:25And that would be true
16:25of anybody to say that.
16:26That's in this race.
16:27But we got a good team.
16:29We know we have a good team.
16:32And hopefully we'll find our stride
16:34when it counts the best.
16:36Are you guys collectively
16:37more surprised
16:38at Tampa staying power this year?
16:41Or the Red Sox resurgence
16:43over the last five, six weeks?
16:46I don't know.
16:47That's a good question.
16:48I mean, Boston,
16:49we always expected
16:50to be in this thing.
16:51So what was more surprising
16:52was Boston having such a rough start
16:55that, you know,
16:57that wasn't part of anybody,
16:58including their calculus.
17:01So they've righted themselves now
17:03and they're flying high
17:05and, you know,
17:06back to where they were supposed to be,
17:09which is part of this conversation.
17:11Tampa was also supposed to be
17:13part of the conversation.
17:14So listen,
17:14they're a really excellent run organization.
17:17They've got a lot of talent.
17:19And, you know,
17:20so they're a handful,
17:21Boston's a handful,
17:22but hopefully they think
17:23we're a handful too.
17:24Did you guys,
17:24just out of curiosity,
17:26were there any financial limitations
17:28on what Hal
17:29and the ownership group
17:31were going to allow you
17:32to do yesterday?
17:34No.
17:35Hal's told me,
17:35take everything to me.
17:37So,
17:37because I had that conversation early on
17:38because obviously in Scoogle's case,
17:40I think he was making 31
17:42or 30 million,
17:43whatever it was at the rate of,
17:44and that's a big number.
17:45And then you double it
17:46because the tax with us,
17:48you know,
17:48and they didn't pay any,
17:50they weren't looking for
17:52limiting that carry case.
17:55So anyway,
17:56Hal,
17:56I took everything to Hal.
17:59You know,
17:59as we walk through it,
18:01now in the end,
18:02he wasn't in a position
18:03to say yay or nay
18:04to a big number
18:05because we didn't match up.
18:07But I've kept him abreast
18:08of the conversations
18:09and at any point
18:10he could have told me
18:10to shut it down.
18:12I'm not letting you do that.
18:13He didn't take that position.
18:15He took the position
18:16of you bring me everything
18:19and, you know,
18:20make sure that I'm aware
18:21so, you know,
18:22I can tell you yay or nay
18:23or I can overrule you
18:24or what have you.
18:25And so I,
18:26of course,
18:26did that.
18:27Brian,
18:28I want to ask you
18:28a question about urgency
18:30that I think the fans
18:32bring to me a lot,
18:33bring to us a lot.
18:34Whether it's
18:35they haven't won
18:35a championship since 09,
18:37the work stoppage
18:38of next year,
18:38judges prime,
18:39there's several reasons
18:40why many people felt
18:41that the urgency
18:42should have really been
18:44heightened in this
18:44trade deadline.
18:45Is that any of those things
18:47something you
18:48as a general manager
18:49think you can take
18:50into account?
18:50Is there a sense
18:51of urgency
18:51that builds for you
18:53in the organization
18:53or do you look
18:54at every single move
18:56under the guise of
18:57is this smart for us
18:58long-term,
18:59short-term,
18:59as you talked about earlier?
19:00Or are there situations
19:02like the ones I mentioned
19:03that eventually
19:03will build a sense
19:04of urgency
19:05and make you
19:06maybe more willing
19:07to do things
19:08you wouldn't be
19:08in previous years?
19:11I mean,
19:12it's all the above.
19:13We're acting
19:14constantly urgent
19:15and we're trying
19:17to win at all times.
19:18So we're,
19:19you know,
19:19now you can straddle it
19:21with, like,
19:22do I hold on
19:23to Lombard
19:24because I believe
19:25he has a chance
19:25to be a valuable player
19:29as we move forward.
19:30Yeah,
19:31I hold on to him.
19:32So that's a future,
19:33that's a now
19:35and future move.
19:37You know,
19:37so I guess
19:38if that contradicts
19:39urgency,
19:39and I've done that
19:40obviously with prior guys
19:42as well,
19:43that, you know,
19:44have a lane for us
19:45that look like
19:46that they have
19:48the ability
19:48and also they provide,
19:50you know,
19:51payroll flexibility
19:52as these young guys,
19:53you know,
19:54that can come in
19:54to allow us to carry
19:56in the, you know,
19:57the exclamation points
19:58to your urgency
19:58question that you get
20:00from fans are,
20:00if we weren't acting
20:02urgently,
20:03then why would we
20:04keep Cole
20:05instead of let him walk
20:06or sign Cole
20:07in the first place
20:08or extend Cole
20:09when he had a chance
20:10to opt out?
20:10Why would we
20:11sign Max Freed
20:13to a huge contract,
20:14you know,
20:15and then why would we
20:18retain Bellinger,
20:19you know,
20:20in the free agent market?
20:21Why would we
20:22sign Judge?
20:23All these things
20:24on top,
20:24they all get layered,
20:25they all count a lot
20:26and they add a lot more
20:27on top of your arbitration
20:29guys and the deadlines
20:30on before,
20:31whether it's
20:32importing Jazz
20:32and then retaining
20:35Goldschmidt
20:35or they all add up
20:37and then,
20:37you know,
20:37and so we're constantly,
20:39I think,
20:40acting with urgency
20:41and trying to find pieces
20:42that can propel us
20:44and put us
20:45in a position
20:45of success
20:48and at the same time,
20:50you know,
20:51deploy,
20:52you know,
20:52young players
20:53that are also capable
20:55of mixing with the veterans
20:56and have a nice,
20:57you know,
20:58collection of guys
20:59that can take a shot
21:00of the title
21:00and so this is the,
21:03you know,
21:04the 2026,
21:05you know,
21:05version that's going
21:06to finish us off
21:08and take us
21:08to wherever it's going
21:09to go.
21:10We hope it's going
21:10to be the promised land,
21:12but I would refute
21:13there's no urgency
21:14here.
21:14I think the actions
21:16speak louder than words.
21:17I think there's always
21:18noise because of the passion
21:19around things,
21:20but I think we're
21:22constantly importing
21:23another log in the fire
21:24every year,
21:25you know,
21:26in the wintertime,
21:27we,
21:27you know,
21:28shot assets
21:29to bring in weathers.
21:30It's been a really
21:31good import for us
21:32and,
21:33you know,
21:33to deepen our staff
21:34and,
21:35you know,
21:36so there's a lot
21:37of things
21:37that are going on,
21:38but,
21:39you know,
21:40we're,
21:41you know,
21:41we're constantly
21:42trying to win
21:42and we're always
21:43with urgency
21:44and I think
21:44those are examples
21:45of that.
21:45Last couple minutes
21:46here with Brian Cashman,
21:47general manager
21:48of the New York Yankees.
21:49Walk us through
21:50the decision making
21:51to bring Lombard up
21:52specifically for
21:53tonight's game
21:54and obviously
21:54send Anthony Volpe
21:55back down to the
21:57minors.
21:57Let me start
21:58from the Lombard
21:59side of things.
22:01Was this a gut thing
22:02in reaction
22:03to what happened
22:04yesterday?
22:04Was this a plan
22:06all along?
22:07Walk me through
22:08the decision
22:08for Lombard
22:09to come up
22:09for tonight's game
22:10and then second
22:11to that,
22:13the deal
22:13with Anthony Volpe
22:15and his future
22:15or lack of future
22:16now with
22:17the Yankee organization.
22:19Start with Lombard,
22:19please.
22:20Go ahead.
22:21Yeah,
22:21we wanted to get
22:22through the trade
22:22deadline
22:23and,
22:24you know,
22:24so this was,
22:26listen,
22:28this is all
22:28about George Lombard.
22:29He has earned
22:31this opportunity.
22:33He's,
22:33you know,
22:34obviously climbed
22:34the ladder.
22:35He's a very exciting,
22:36young,
22:36talented player.
22:37I don't know.
22:38We're all going
22:39to find out
22:39how this plays out
22:40here in the short term,
22:42you know,
22:42whether this is,
22:43someone's going
22:44to hold this position
22:45and never let go
22:46for a long period
22:46of time
22:47or is it one
22:47of those situations
22:48where there's
22:49volatility,
22:50there's some
22:50successes,
22:50failures,
22:52you know,
22:52you know,
22:54will he be,
22:55you know,
22:55on the shuttle,
22:57you know,
22:58at some point
22:58because,
22:59you know,
23:00you try it,
23:01you know,
23:01you dip your toe
23:02in the water,
23:02it doesn't work
23:03or not,
23:04but he's earned
23:05the right to be here.
23:05We celebrate that.
23:08He's an exciting kid,
23:10so good for him,
23:11you know,
23:12and hopefully he helps
23:13assess the intent.
23:14This was a plan in play
23:16that I thought about hard.
23:19Is he ready at this stage?
23:21I believe the answer
23:22to that question is yes.
23:23I wanted to get through
23:24the deadline
23:25because of the,
23:27you know,
23:28how our team
23:31organization sits
23:32with our prospects.
23:33I knew there was
23:34to be some challenges
23:35going into the trade deadline
23:37with the gaps
23:38in our system
23:38from really high-end stuff
23:40down below
23:41and the farther away side
23:42versus the up-end stuff
23:44that there was a gap
23:45in the middle
23:46that was going to challenge
23:46us for matching up
23:47with teams.
23:48So that's why
23:49I was very open-minded
23:50to deploy
23:51and listen to people
23:52on our major league roster.
23:54And so I needed
23:55to get through
23:55the deadline
23:56to see how
23:58things played out
23:59in any conversation
24:00that would materialize.
24:02Some might be
24:04by my own
24:06initiation
24:07and some might be
24:08by initiated
24:08by other clubs.
24:09You never know
24:09where they go.
24:10So we had a lot
24:11of conversations
24:12about a lot of guys
24:13on this major league roster
24:14right now
24:14that ultimately
24:16didn't lead to anywhere
24:17but outside of Duvall
24:19going to Pittsburgh.
24:20But
24:22so I wanted to get
24:23through the deadline
24:24because I didn't know
24:24how this roster
24:25would look.
24:26So why make the move
24:28earlier a week ago
24:30or three days ago
24:31and then all of a sudden
24:32I have to undo
24:33a move
24:33because I did
24:34a different move
24:35and I've got to
24:35bring somebody back
24:36and so I just want
24:37to get through the roster
24:38and make it clean.
24:39And so that's why
24:40but Duvall earned it.
24:42Now in Volpe's case
24:43I think he's still
24:45an exceptional player.
24:47I think that
24:50it's just again
24:51it's the way
24:51the way the world
24:52you know
24:53is the
24:54we've had a number
24:55of different areas
24:55on the roster
24:56that you know
24:57we're constantly challenged
24:59can we find ways
25:00to get
25:01you know better.
25:02Lombard started
25:03pushing himself
25:04into the mix
25:04to be considered
25:05with
25:06in the competition
25:07with Caballero
25:08or Volpe
25:09even though he wasn't here
25:11he was down there
25:12and he's never done it before
25:13but he's earned that right
25:14from me
25:14to flip the script
25:15and so we flipped it
25:16and since we can't have
25:18more than 26
25:19on the roster
25:20unfortunately
25:20Anthony has to go down
25:23you know
25:23he's
25:24I'm sure
25:25going to
25:25dominate
25:26excel
25:27it doesn't change
25:27what we think about him
25:28we think he has a chance
25:30to be
25:30still without a doubt
25:31a player
25:32in our present
25:33and future
25:33as we move forward
25:34but I just don't have
25:36I think he's a major league
25:37player right now
25:37at AAA
25:38and that's unfortunate
25:39but I got no choice
25:41right now
25:41but to find ways
25:42to improve this team
25:43on every way level
25:44I can
25:45Will he play short
25:46in the minors
25:47or will he play
25:47second base
25:48in the minors?
25:49I think you're going
25:50to see him play both
25:51you know
25:52I think adding
25:52to his profile
25:53is
25:54and first of all
25:55he's an exceptional
25:56defensive shortstop
25:57so
25:58playing shortstop
26:00is not a problem
26:00for Anthony Volta
26:01you know
26:01he's got the
26:02gold glove
26:02in his background
26:03and so
26:04if balls hit his way
26:05I got no concern
26:07that that's not
26:07getting converted
26:08into an out
26:08but I do think
26:10expanding his profile
26:13is going to be
26:13a benefit
26:14to him
26:15and therefore
26:15for us
26:16because right now
26:17you know
26:18if
26:18say George Lombard
26:19holds this position
26:21and excels at it
26:22right out of the gate
26:23who knows
26:24if that's going to be
26:24the case
26:25maybe it may not be
26:26but if there's
26:28an injury
26:28that occurs
26:29you know
26:30on the infield
26:31and we have to
26:32redeploy
26:32and consider
26:33other alternatives
26:34now Caballero
26:35he's played third
26:35he's played short
26:36he's played second
26:37Anthony hasn't done that
26:38so to get more
26:40comfort level
26:41on you know
26:43that type of
26:44I know athletically
26:45he's more than capable
26:46of doing any
26:46and all of it
26:47so I think getting
26:48some exposure
26:49especially in second
26:49bases
26:50is just a smart play
26:53it's you know
26:54it's basically
26:54moving a short stop
26:55over to second
26:56but he is a short stop
26:58and an exceptional
26:58one at that
26:59so but I think
27:00just you know
27:01I think if you're
27:01the manager
27:02and you're looking
27:02on your
27:03you deploy
27:04your choices
27:05and you know
27:06one's done it
27:07one hasn't
27:07you can gravitate
27:08more to the one
27:09so I just think
27:10a lot of
27:10getting in that position
27:11to be part
27:12of a conversation
27:14and I think
27:15that'll just benefit
27:16him in there for us
27:17Brian last one
27:18for me
27:19correct me
27:20if I'm wrong
27:20but I believe
27:20this is the last
27:21year of your
27:22current contract
27:22I don't want
27:23to ask you
27:24to speak for
27:24the Yankees
27:25or the Steinbrenners
27:26but for you
27:27have you given
27:28any thoughts
27:28so far
27:29to your desire
27:30to continue on
27:30as GM
27:31of the New York Yankees
27:32that's not
27:33you know
27:33that's stuff
27:34that always gets
27:34pushed
27:35towards the end
27:36of the year
27:37and it'll play
27:37out the way
27:38it plays
27:38but it's not
27:39it's never been
27:40something that
27:41ever gets focused
27:42on whether
27:43you're the manager
27:43whether you're
27:44the general manager
27:45or in any other
27:46category
27:47you know
27:47that's how
27:48we operate
27:49so I
27:50it's not
27:51the fact that
27:51you just asked
27:52that it's almost
27:52like a reminder
27:53of something
27:53that's not on
27:54my mind
27:54right now
27:55was Mason Miller
27:56a consideration
27:56for you guys
27:59I wish he was
28:00but he
28:00he wasn't in play
28:02you know
28:03they weren't
28:03trading him
28:03it felt like
28:04there was a lot
28:05of that to go
28:05back to that
28:06just for a second
28:06it felt like
28:07Shangaliers
28:07either guys
28:08got hurt
28:09or guys
28:09ended up
28:10not getting
28:10moved
28:11Jeffords
28:11with Minnesota
28:13it almost felt
28:14like
28:14and I'm not sure
28:14if you can't
28:15talk about it
28:15but it almost
28:16felt like a lot
28:16of your targets
28:17heading in
28:18eventually became
28:19guys who weren't
28:20moved
28:21yeah you know
28:22it's interesting
28:23there's
28:23I think there's
28:24and it's true
28:25of whether it's
28:26politics or sports
28:27or whatever
28:27it's very tough
28:28when you're trying
28:29to cover these
28:29sports
28:29there's speculation
28:30there's rumors
28:31and stuff
28:31like that
28:32but there's
28:32a lot
28:32of players
28:32we're linked
28:33to that
28:33weren't
28:34available
28:35but we were
28:36linked to them
28:36for quite some
28:37time
28:37so like in
28:38Jeffords
28:39case
28:39the Minnesota
28:40Twins are
28:40competing
28:41and Jeffords
28:42have been linked
28:42to the Yankees
28:43for two months
28:44two months
28:45and he was
28:46never available
28:48but yet he was
28:49heavily linked
28:50I think people
28:50expected
28:51if there's
28:51probably Vegas odds
28:52which I don't
28:52do that stuff
28:53but if there's
28:54Vegas odds
28:54you would have
28:55had him probably
28:55high on the list
28:56of being converted
28:57somehow
28:57they're going
28:58to move
28:58to the Yankees
28:59and stuff
28:59like that
28:59and he was
29:00never available
29:00because that
29:01team's in the
29:01playoff hunt
29:02and most teams
29:03it seemed like
29:03are in a playoff
29:04hunt
29:05you know
29:05within a one
29:06or two game
29:06stretch of
29:07being the
29:08postseason
29:08so they were
29:09really buyers
29:10not sellers
29:11did you consider
29:12kicking the tires
29:12on Francisco Lindor
29:16oh
29:16you're really
29:17trying to
29:17get your ratings
29:18to go through
29:19the roof
29:19that's a good one
29:21you didn't say no
29:25that's why
29:25that's why
29:26you get paid
29:27the big
29:28everybody on
29:28this call
29:30you make the
29:30most money
29:31out of us
29:31all
29:32that's probably
29:32true
29:34alright so you're
29:34not going to
29:35answer it's fine
29:35last thing for you
29:36because we're up
29:37against Yankee
29:37pregame as it is
29:38and we do
29:38appreciate the
29:39time this is
29:40Brian Cash
29:40from Yankees
29:41GM
29:42just walk me
29:43through what
29:43for you
29:44knowing that
29:45you're going
29:45to be criticized
29:45over the lack
29:46of deals
29:47you made
29:47yesterday
29:48when Garcia
29:49gets up
29:50hits the
29:51two run
29:51home run
29:51to right
29:52center
29:52gives the
29:53Yankees
29:54the one run
29:54lead for the
29:55moment
29:55obviously the game
29:56didn't work
29:56out
29:57but did you
29:58have a guttural
29:58emotional reaction
29:59to that specific
30:00at bat
30:02the only reaction
30:04was I was happy
30:04for the kid
30:05because he saw
30:06the joy
30:06you know he's
30:08supposed to be a
30:08really exceptional
30:09guy I've met him
30:09I said hello
30:10and that was it
30:10but just seeing
30:12how he reacted
30:13not clearly our
30:14fans but I was
30:15happy for him
30:15because it was a
30:16special moment
30:16and unfortunately
30:17it didn't last
30:18long for us
30:19but now that
30:19nothing about me
30:21you know
30:22players
30:23are going to
30:24come in
30:24and compete
30:24and do well
30:25and not do
30:25well
30:26but I think
30:27he's a good
30:28fit for us
30:28I think
30:30he's going to
30:30fit in that
30:31club as well
30:31he's going to
30:31compete
30:32we just need
30:33as many of
30:33those guys
30:34that aren't
30:35afraid
30:35are willing
30:36to compete
30:38being the
30:39GM of the
30:39Yankees
30:39you know
30:40you're going
30:40to get beat
30:40up
30:40and that
30:41comes with
30:41the territory
30:42that's not
30:43a concern
30:43or bother
30:44that I know
30:45I'm going to
30:46get beat up
30:46either way
30:46so
30:48I won't say
30:49I'm all good
30:50with that
30:50but I get it
30:51and I understand
30:52it
30:52so
30:53everybody just
30:54wants us to
30:55win
30:55and so
30:55that's how
30:56it gets
30:58magnified
30:58that it just
30:59gets translated
31:00that way
31:00I can't believe
31:01the Mets
31:01wouldn't need
31:01Lindor's contract
31:02that's shocking
31:04to me
31:04anyhow
31:05Brian
31:06always appreciate
31:07your time
31:08please tell
31:08Jason Zill
31:09I appreciate
31:10him setting up
31:10for us as well
31:11and good luck
31:12for the last
31:1340-50 games
31:13or so
31:14and appreciate
31:15you spending
31:15a few moments
31:16of your
31:16day with us
31:17today
31:17thank you
31:17I'm hoping
31:18we give you
31:19guys nothing
31:19but awesome
31:20stuff to be
31:20talking about
31:21you always do
31:22positivity
31:22with our Yankees
31:23no just like
31:24if we play
31:24well
31:25then your shows
31:26I'm sure
31:27are going to
31:27be much more
31:27enjoyable
31:28and I'm
31:29certainly hoping
31:29we're going
31:30to provide
31:30that the rest
31:31of the way
31:32but you know
31:32so let's flush
31:33last night
31:34down the toilet
31:35and today's
31:36a new day
31:36sounds good
31:37appreciate your
31:38time Brian
31:38thank you
31:38bye
31:39thank you
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