Cashman: Red Sox have the better team by Jared Carrabis
Yankees' GM gives the Red Sox the upper hand in the AL East


On Tuesday morning, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was in attendance for WFAN’s Breakfast With a Champion event.

Similar to how Christmas At Fenway was set up for Red Sox fans with Theo Epstein and other Boston front office members making themselves available to fan questions, Cashman opened himself to "Yankee Universe," and had a few notable quotes.

The big line that Cashman dropped that everyone is making a big deal about, is when he answered a fan who asked about Derek Jeter’s future. The Yankee GM responded by saying that he’d be surprised to see Jeter play all four years of his new deal at shortstop, and that he sees the Yankee captain moving to the outfield at some point before the contract’s expiration.

When asked how he was, Cashman replied, "I’d be better if I could get a starter." This is probably an unfamiliar response for Cashman, as missing out on Cliff Lee is the first time in the GM’s Yankee tenure that the Bronx Bombers have failed to get their man. In fact, you’re have to go all the way back to 1992 when Greg Maddux was a free agent to pinpoint the last time the Yankees whiffed on a free agent target.

Because of that, chances are they didn’t look too much into a future without Lee. When you’re shooting 100% for just about two decades as a franchise on the free agent market, your confidence when it comes to signing the big guns is far from a lack thereof.

Despite that, Cashmash was quick to note that, "[The Yankees are] one starter away from being a World Series contender.” Certainly a bold statement, given how thin the free agent market is for starting pitching in late January. Cashman said that Joba Chamberlain’s injury in 2008 has axed any plan to move him into the Yankees’ rotation, so any addition to the five-man will have to come via trade.

Finally, when asked who had the better team as January 25, 2011, Cashman simply said, "Red Sox". But the Yankee GM tried to quiet the boos in the room by saying, "But we have the better bullpen."

Ah, yes. You have the better bullpen because you signed that guy that you didn't want to sign, but you did anyway.

Who has the better bullpen remains to be seen, but we appreciate your honesty, Mr. Cashman.

-Jared Carrabis

Published on January 25, 2011

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