MINNEAPOLIS — The firing of Cubs general manager Jim Hendry yesterday immediately led to speculation across baseball that Brian Cashman would be Hendry’s successor.
Yet, it appears White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn is the favorite to move from the South Side of Chicago to the North Side.
That doesn’t mean Cashman isn’t coveted by other clubs. The Orioles are monitoring what happens to Cashman and the Yankees after this season ends.
Cashman is in the final season of a three-year deal and there hasn’t been talk of an extension.
Current O’s GM Andy MacPhail’s contract is up after this season and his departure seems to be agreed to by he and O’s owner Peter Angelos.
Having worked for George Steinbrenner, the 44-year-old Cashman has experience dealing with a hands-on owner. Yet, The Boss spent whatever it took to mold a winner. Angelos went that route earlier but not lately, and the O’s are the worst team in the AL.
There has been talk O’s manager Buck Showalter will leave the dugout for the GM’s office next year.
Days before the All-Star break in July, it appeared Hendry would be fired before play resumed on July 14, with Hahn taking over.
Eight days later, Hendry was told by Cubs owner Tom Ricketts he was being let go. Hendry stayed until yesterday to guide the woeful Cubs through the July 31 trade deadline and the Aug. 15 signing deadline for draft picks.
As for Cashman, he refuses to discuss his plans beyond this season.
“If I couldn’t do it with Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Joe Girardi, how can I do it with myself?” Cashman said in mid-July of talking to Hal Steinbrenner about an extension during the season. “I can’t be a hypocrite. It will come up at the appropriate time.”
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Having thrown a complete bullpen session and displaying no problem throwing his signature split-fingered fastball, Freddy Garcia‘s preference was to start tomorrow against the Twins.
Nevertheless, because the veteran right-hander hadn’t worked since Aug. 7 because of a cut right index finger suffered in a kitchen accident, the Yankees believed a minor league outing Monday would be better. Garcia was placed on the 15-day DL yesterday.
“He wanted to pitch Sunday but we made the decision to wait,” Girardi said.
If Garcia comes through Monday’s game for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre OK, he will start one of the doubleheader games a week from today in Baltimore.
“That’s their decision, I don’t have much to say,” Garcia said. “I’m fine, that’s the decision they made.”
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Mark Teixeira‘s three RBIs last night hiked his career total to 1,000 and tied him with Darryl Strawberry for 270th place on the all-time list Hank Aaron leads with 2,297.
“I almost can’t believe it,” the nine-year veteran said. “You play every game and every year it’s a grind and it’s never easy. Then you see 1,000 RBIs in nine years and you say, ‘I’m doing all right.’ Hopefully there are more to come.”
Teixeira raised his season total to 94, two shy of team leader Curtis Granderson.
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The Yankees claimed lefty reliever Aaron Laffey off waivers from Seattle yesterday and the 26-year-old will join the club tonight at Target Field.
Laffey’s numbers this season weren’t good. In 42 2/3innings he allowed 54 hits and 16 walks. Left-handed batters hit .250 (18-for-72). Right-handers devoured him, batting .343 (36-for-105).
Putting Garcia on the DL made room for Laffey on the 25-man roster and the Yankees designated catcher Gustava Molina for assignment to clear space on the 40-man collection.
“The first three months, he was good,” Girardi said of Laffey. “He has struggled lately. I will talk to him about that.”
Girardi said Laffey can do more than simply be a lefty specialist