Brian Cashman knows it’s his job to improve a Yankees team that is very lucky to be 2 ½ games behind the A.L. East-leading Blue Jays.
“I am ready to rock and roll,’’ Cashman said of his attitude about reshaping his team that needs at least one starter and would greatly benefit by adding a bat through trades.
Of course, it takes two teams to dance, so Cashman waits for the trade market to unfold.
“We are fortunate to be [2 ½ games] out with poor performances and injuries,’’ Cashman said before the Yankees lost, 4-3, in 12 innings to the Rays on Monday night at Yankee Stadium in their 81st game of the 162-game season. “I don’t care about the division, I care about us and we have a lot of issues we have to deal with.’’
With the Blue Jays six games over .500 and leading the second-place Orioles by 1 ½ lengths and the Rays in last and 10 games out, Cashman isn’t closing any team out.
“I wouldn’t discount anybody,’’ Cashman said. “Boston just came in here and what are they, six games out? This whole thing is up for grabs. There are some things we need to do and I am trying to get them done. Hopefully we get guys healthy and guys producing.’’
With Jeff Samardzija, David Price and possibly Cliff Lee (if healthy) available before the July 31 trade deadline, there will be difference-making arms to get. However, Cashman admitted making deals for high-end starters isn’t easy.
“It’s always difficult to acquire anything impactful and significant. It gets harder rather than easier,’’ Cashman said. “We have to go through it and try to figure it out, run into something that is going to be impactful.’’
As for getting well ahead of the July 31 deadline, Cashman is in a “now’’ mode.
“I am ready to rock and roll,’’ Cashman said. “Those who have [trade chips] are taking their time. If they get what they want, which is an extreme haul, they are ready to move.’’
Cashman wouldn’t tip his hand on what he would have to include to get a difference-maker, but was encouraged by what other clubs think about his chips.
“We have personnel that are very attractive to other clubs,’’ Cashman said.
CC Sabathia’s next minor league rehab start will be for Double-A Trenton. Sabathia threw a bullpen session Monday at the Stadium.
“I think it’s way too early to make a judgment on that,’’ Joe Girardi said when asked about Sabathia’s return date. “We will let it play out.’’
Girardi was going to talk to trainer Steve Donohue about when or if Carlos Beltran is going to resume a throwing program. Beltran came up with a tight right forearm June 22 and hasn’t thrown since.
Bronx-born superstar singer Romeo Santos will visit Yankee Stadium Tuesday to get familiar with the venue he will play July 11-12.
With Michael Pineda in the third day of working back from a terres major muscle problem Cashman said it’s likely the right-hander won’t be available to the Yankees until August.
Pineda last pitched April 23 when he was ejected for loading his neck with pine tar. A 10-game suspension followed and he was hurt throwing a simulated game in Tampa.
With the voting closing Thursday, Derek Jeter continues to lead A.L. shortstops in the race for the starter in the July 15 All-Star Game. Jeter has 2,924,686 votes, compared with the White Sox’s Alexei Ramirez’s 2,325,527.
Brian McCann is third among catchers with 1,624,214 votes. Baltimore’s Matt Wieters, who’s out for the season, is first with 2,103,385, and Oakland’s Derek Norris is second at 1,924,049.