Yankees ownership overruled general manager Brian Cashman on the signing of reliever Rafael Soriano, but a senior Yankees executive said today that it was an isolated decision and there is no rift in the organization.
“He has not lost one iota of control over baseball operations,” the executive said. “He has not lost one shred of credibility in the eyes of ownership.”
Cashman was against signing Soriano, but ownership thought the Yankees needed an insurance policy if Mariano Rivera was ever hurt. Cashman felt Joba Chamberlain or David Robertson could fill that role, but Hal and Hank Steinbrenner along with team president Randy Levine wanted Soriano.
The Yankees and Soriano agreed to a three-year, $35 million deal Thursday, pending a physical. Soriano can opt out after the first or second year.
The Yankees executive said this was only about Soriano and in no way reflects a lack of confidence in Cashman or his plan for the team.
“Reasonable people can disagree,” the executive said. “There is no rift.”
The Yankees were plagued by in-fighting in the early 2000s before Cashman went to George Steinbrenner to ask for full autonomy after the 2005 season.
The Yankees executive said that while Cashman maintains control over baseball operations, the Yankees are like any business with levels of management and ultimately the owners make the final decision on moves.
What made this disagreement look worse were Cashman’s comments last week that he would not surrender the top draft pick for any of the remaining free agents. Those comments came when Soriano and his agent were asking for a four-year, $56 million contract. When they came down on their demands, the Yankees decided to sign him.