Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano aren’t going to be free agents until after next season, but Yankees general manager Brian Cashman isn’t ruling out the possibility of opening negotiations prior to that.
“We don’t do stuff in-season, but this winter, we’ll be forced to look at some of these things,” said Cashman, who normally doesn’t deal with contracts until players are free agents. “It doesn’t mean anything will happen.”
So far, nothing has.
“We’ll have a conversation with ownership, but no one has initiated anything from our end or their end,” Cashman said.
The GM pointed out the Yankees briefly discussed an extension with Russell Martin before this year, even though he wasn’t a free agent — so exceptions have been made.
For now, though, Cashman is focusing on 2012, although he doesn’t anticipate making any major moves by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
“I think it will be very difficult to improve on this roster,” Cashman said. “Going into the deadline, I’m very skeptical.”
With CC Sabathia due to return to the rotation tomorrow against the Blue Jays and Freddy Garcia filling in ably for Andy Pettitte, the starting rotation has held up — as has the left-field platoon in Brett Gardner’s absence.
“You do some gambling to some degree,” Cashman said of continuing to rely on Andruw Jones and Raul Ibanez in left. “I’d rather get away with it and bet on Gardner coming back and if I’m wrong, I’m wrong. I believe in what we’ve got…. But I believe Brett is gonna be back.”
Gardner played in a simulated game in Tampa yesterday and will wait to see how he feels in the coming days before the Yankees take the next step. In his previous two comeback attempts, his setbacks occurred in rehab games.
In addition to Gardner, Joba Chamberlain also should be back next month to add another arm to the bullpen.
“Do we have the best team? I wouldn’t say that,” Cashman said. “We have a championship-caliber team. … I’m not sure how much better we can make it, to be honest.”
A year ago, Cashman had the same theory and didn’t make any trades. He’s prepared to do the same this time around.
“I just don’t know if it’s gonna be worth shooting all the bullets it’s gonna take to get somebody else in here and hope they can help us in the short-term,” Cashman said. “But just because I’m skeptical does not mean I’m saying we’re gonna do nothing. … My opinions don’t always carry the day. We’ll stay engaged.”