Where Have You Gone Brian Cashman?

The Baseball Winter Meetings have come to a conclusion and the Yankees have the same holes they had when Brian Cashman came to San Diego. In fact, in my opinion, they are actually worse off. After signing Andrew Miller, Cashman indicated that it was still a possibility that the Yankees would re-sign homegrown closer David Robertson. Well, Robertson ends up signing for 4 years at $48 million dollars. It was reported that the Yankees were prepared to give Robertson $46 million dollars. The problem is, despite Cashman's alleged interest, there was no communication between the player and the team. C'mon Brian!! There is no way that if Cashman was truly interested in Robertson that there would not have been any discussion.

There are a number of things that bother me about the Robertson situation. First, the Yankees gave Robertson a qualifying offer which meant that if he signed with another club the Yankees would receive that team's first round pick. Well, because the White Sox record was so bad they will not relinquish its first round pick and instead will get a sandwich pick. Big deal! Second, now the Yankees do not have a proven legitimate closer. Cashman's statements that they could go with both Betances and Miller as co-closers is plain out garbage. Pitchers, and especially closers, thrive on consistency and repetition. And finally, once again a homegrown player was allowed to leave the Yankees. So much for the Yankee Way. What kind of message does this send to the prospects throughout the organization?

The week before the Winter Meetings, the Yankees traded Shane Greene to acquire Didi Gregorius. Of course, they needed a shortstop and Gregorius fits the bill. However, by moving Greene, the Yankees now have two holes in their starting rotation and that is provided both CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka are healthy. The reports coming out of New York was that the Yanks wanted to re-sign Brandon McCarthy to fill one of the openings in the rotation. Well, forget that as the Dodgers signed McCarthy and Cashman is now saying that he knew McCarthy's market price was not going to be to there liking. Again, the Yankees made no offer to a "supposed" target. 

So coming out of the Winter Meetings, the bullpen has no proven closer and one of their targets to try to fill their rotation goes to LA.  Potential starting pitcher possibilities are coming off the board. The Red Sox acquired Wade Miley and Rick Porcello while signing free agent Justin Masterson. Ervin Santana signed with Minnesota and Mat Latos was traded by the Cincinnati Reds. In addition, the infield is still unsettled but for Gregorius and China doll Mark Teixiera. 

So my question is: What is the plan Mr.Cashman? As Yankee fans we deserve to know. I am not one to call for the Yankees to go crazy spending. Max Scherzer is a very good pitcher but the length of what he's looking for in term is too long. Adam Warren and David Phelps as your number four and number five starters? Give me a break. All we hear from Cashman and Joe Girardi is how important pitching is yet the rotation is a mess and there is no proven closer. And don't try to sell me on Jason Grilli and Sergio Romo. 

If Cashman decides to go with Martin Prado at third base and either Jose Pirela or Rob Refsnyder at second base, that's fine with me. But, the pitching staff is still a mess and any improvement in offensive output will be dependent upon Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann and Teixiera bouncing back. And then there is Alex Rodriguez. Who knows what the Yankees will get from him. 

At this point, the Yankees are not better than they were last year. I hope I'm wrong but it's troublesome to have to depend on aging players like Beltran, Teixiera and Rodriguez. Even more troubling is that Toronto and Boston have made moves to make their teams' better. But what has become even more troubling is that the Yankees inability to develop a strong farm system has prevented them to get in on the trade market for pitchers like Samardzija and Latos. Two guys who would upgrade the starting rotation dramatically. 

There is still two months until pitchers and catchers report to training camp so there is time for improvement. But based on no prospects that would be worth bringing in a quality pitcher or position player and no free agents who are worth the risk and the cost, it's looking grim for the Pinstripers. Particularly with a GM and an organization that seems to only be concerned about the bottom line and as a result perpetuate a myth that they are all in it to win it.