Could the New York Yankees really lose GM Brian Cashman? Well, ESPN’s Senior MLB Reporter Buster Olney thins so but under specific circumstances.
Olney stated that Mets’ new owner Steve Cohen could pursue Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman, but it would have to be for an elevated position, above general manager.
The standard operating procedure in Major League Baseball is that teams will allow their employees to interview for jobs with other clubs if the change represents a promotion of some kind. In theory, Cohen (or any other owner) could pursue Cashman by dangling a club presidency or vice presidency as part of the pitch (ESNP+).
Whether or not Cashman would be interested in that kind of overture remains to be seen, given that the Yankees are the only major league team he’s ever worked for. But the possible allure of Cashman for the Mets would be obvious: He is highly regarded among his peers for the way he has handled the inherent challenges of being a Yankees executive — the constant pressure to win and the outsized media inquiries while working for the Steinbrenners, most notably George, with whom Cashman frequently sparred.
Ex-Marlins President David Samson stated on his show, “Nothing Personal with David Samson,” that the report was bogus, and there was “zero chance” that Cashman would end up with the Mets, as reported by CBS.
“Mets fan, here’s the chances that Brian Cashman will be the new general manager of the New York Mets: zero. Brian Cashman has two years left on his deal with the Yankees,” Samson said. “If the Mets called the Yankees and say ‘may we have Brian Cashman? We’re going to promote him and make him president of the team,’ the Yankees would say ‘screw you.'”
You be the judge of this fluff, but the Mets stealing away Cashman is about as realistic as Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge playing an entire season. Cashman is currently in the middle of a five-year, $25 million deal, and considering the Bombers are the only team he’s ever worked with, I highly doubt this pipe dream for the Mets even comes up in a professional setting.