Brian Cashman met the media on a conference call a few hours after the Yankees formally announced his new three-year contract. To the surprise of absolutely nobody, pitching will be the team’s focus for the 2012 season.
Memo to those dreaming of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder: You have wild imaginations.
“I don't anticipate a bat being a need at all,” Cashman said. “Offense is not a problem with this club despite what happened in the Detroit series.”
The Yankees batted .260 in the five-game ALDS loss to the Tigers with 19 of their 28 runs scored in Games 1 and 4. That didn’t dissuade Cashman from picking up Nick Swisher’s 2012 option. Despite Swisher’s .160 in three postseasons as a Yankee, Cashman said it was an “easy call” and his October performances were no cause for concern.
I address the free agent market for starting pitchers here and there’s always the possibility of a trade, something Cashman wasn’t able to pull off last winter. He also said he’s willing to listen to anyone courting A.J. Burnett and the final two years of his $82.5-million contract, in addition to anyone without a no-trade clause. Furthermore, the GM had this to say when asked about Yu Darvish, an interesting take in light of the failed Kei Igawa experiment.
“I think like with anything else you learn over time,” Cashman said. “I think we’re more prepared today (to evaluate Japanese players) than we have been in the past.”
You also have to assume that a second left-handed reliever is another of Cashman’s offseason goals. Boone Logan was wildly inconsistent in 2011 and there’s no telling when Pedro Feliciano (entering the second of a two-year deal off rotator cuff surgery) will return. MLBTradeRumors.com has an updated 2012 free agent list and the top lefty relievers include Mike Gonzalez and 40-year-old Darren Oliver.
One player most likely not returning is Andrew Brackman. The Yankees’ first-round selection (30th overall) in the 2007 MLB Draft and going into 2011 rated the third-best pinstriped prospect by Baseball America, Brackman is a free agent after the team declined to pick up his option. The 6-10 right-hander went 15-29, 5.11 in three Minor League seasons. Called up on September 22, Brackman pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, but walked three (1.74 WHIP).
The decision to decline Brackman’s option creates an opening on the Yankees’ 40-man roster.
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