Jun LeeESPN3 minute read
NEW YORK – Brian Cashman knows Yankees fans are ready to hit the panic button. Injury bugs have swept the clubhouse, the roster looks like a shell in itself, and the team sits on the bottom.
Nonetheless, the Yankees general manager said he believes they can win the World Series if they get healthy.
“Don’t count us out,” Cashman said before Wednesday’s game.
It’s May 3, game 31 of the season, and the Yankees don’t look like a team on a $277 million salary. The $151 million-plus expensive clubhouse is on the injured list, with right fielder Aaron Judge and his hip problems, designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton and his hamstring, and pitcher Carlos Rodon and his arm injured. highlighted by backwards issues.
But it’s more than superstars. With Josh Donaldson, Luis Severino, Frankie Montas, key reliever Tommy Karnle, Lou Trivino, Jonathan Loisiga and Scott Efros all missing, the roster doesn’t have much depth.
“On behalf of all general managers, what is your biggest fear coming this season?” Cashman said. “I don’t want to get hurt early on.”
Cashman and the front office are looking into the trade market to deal with all the injuries, but with the season only a month into the season, other teams have shown little interest in trading. Cashman said the Yankees continue to explore trades they can deal with from their roster’s surplus infielders, but both in the offseason and early in the campaign, no deal has been made.
“It’s not like the NBA in the G League where you can pick and choose what you want when you’re injured,” Cashman said. “You have to deal with what you have internally here.”
Cashman and the team have been criticized for building a roster with an injury history, especially Judge, Stanton and Rodon, but the GM thinks these stars have a track record of success when they’re healthy. and dismissed those criticisms.
“They are elite players when they are healthy and we need to make them healthy. I know when they are healthy…and I look forward to them being healthy.Impact, talented players.”
Rodon is dealing with a stiff back after starting the season on the disabled list. Rodon is urging the team to start pitching to get back, but Cashman said the team stopped doing it out of caution and in an effort to keep him healthy for the rest of the season. In his eight seasons in the major leagues, Rodon only once he pitched over 30 games.
Rodon will undergo further testing on Thursday before the Yankees decide whether to step up his pitching.
“Carlos is frustrated. He wants to pitch again,” Cashman said. “I’d love to wait to get through tomorrow so I can be in a better position to feel comfortable enough. It’s more of a precaution and yes, we’re on how many days I also lost it, but it’s a safe way.” .”
Prospects and minor league depth weren’t enough for New York to keep up with baseball’s toughest division. Cashman hopes the current group can tread water until the roster is healthy is.
“In our position, we have to be grateful for a long season because we are in a very bad place right now,” he said. “If the season is short, we will be eliminated, but we will have time to recover.”
The Yankees have also dealt with strep throat for the past few days and experienced a mild setback with Nestor Cortez, who postpones the start from Friday to Monday. Reinforcements may be forthcoming soon as he will begin his rehab mission in .
Cashman knows this is a results-driven business. The season fell short of fan expectations and someone has to take responsibility.
“If you want to convict someone, convict me,” Cashman said.
