New York Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman is making quiet moves behind the scenes

New York Yankees, Yankees, Brian Cashman
Mar 8, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman prior to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The art of stealth is something that New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has perfected. Working quietly behind the scenes to evaluate potential trade pieces and free agents is something that Cashman has done well over the past few seasons.

His latest success was a Gerrit Cole, who signed to a nine-year, $324 million deal. If the money wasn’t enough, Cashman managed to call upon every piece to persuade him to the Bronx. From Andy Pettitte to the wine he shared with his wife in Florence on their anniversary, everything in between was utilized to grab arguably the league’s best pitcher.

The New York Yankees still can’t put the starting rotation together:

Nonetheless, the Yankees are still struggling with starting pitching and have a bevy of injuries in the bullpen. With Tommy Kahnle undergoing Tommy John surgery and Zack Britton on the injured list with a hamstring pull, Cashman is working to supplement the losses and hopefully bring in some talented players.

Recent reports have indicated that the Yankees are in contact with the Seattle Mariners for Taijuan Walker. The strong right-handed pitcher has enjoyed an adequate start to the 2020 season. He is 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.074 WHIP. He is currently striking out just about nine batters per nine innings.

Finding a reliable starter who can be slotted into the rotation is a necessity. With J.A. Happ struggling with his consistency and Paxton lacking his usual velocity, the Yankees desperately need more arms to utilize if they wish to make a World Series appearance in 2020. Things are falling apart at the seams with injuries to the star players. Currently, there without DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton. That only scratches the surface of injured starters.

If the Yankees can manage to bring in a solid player, it will likely cost them a pretty penny. Whether it be outfielders Miguel Andujar or Clint Frazier, giving away starting talent is never an ideal scenario. Both of them are probably waiting by their phones to hear of a potential trade. The better of the two recently, Frazier, is hitting .333 with two homers and eight RBIs. His defense has also taken a massive step forward, despite a small sample size. Ultimately, Andujar is losing this race and could be a trade piece at the deadline, a reality that most Yankee fans didn’t want to live out.

In addition, the Yankees have also been in touch with the Cleveland Indians. Whether it be regarding Mike Clevinger or Cincinnati Reds’ Trevor Bauer, both are stellar pitchers and would be significant additions to the rotation. However, it would cost them ample capital, and with Bauer on a one-year contract, it might not be worth the cost.