Is Brian Cashman in the final 12 weeks as Yankees general manager?
Cashman’s three-year deal worth $6 million expires at the end of the season and after 14 years he could decide that’s enough. Or Hal Steinbrenner could opt to bring somebody else in.
Recently, the 44-year-old Cashman’s name was linked to the Cubs job which is expected to be open when owner Joe Ricketts sacks Jim Hendry, but the supposed front-runner for that spot is White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn.
Eight years ago Cashman introduced a policy of not doing contract extensions in the middle of a season. Now, he is sticking to the rule.
“If I couldn’t do it with Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and [manager] Joe Girardi, how can I do it with myself,” Cashman said. “I can’t be a hypocrite. It will come up at the appropriate time.”
Because Steinbrenner ignored Cashman’s recommendation not to sign Rafael Soriano to a three-year, $35 million contract this past winter, can Cashman operate as usual despite being a lame-duck general manager as the July 31 trading deadline approaches?
“I will be the same way,” Cashman said. “If I think it’s a bad deal I will say so. If I think it’s a good deal that’s what I will say.”
If Cashman doesn’t come back, who takes over? And where does he surface, presuming he wants to stay in the game.
Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski is in the final year of a contract and has a track record the Steinbrenner family would be impressed with.
He was the general manager of the World Series-winning Marlins in 1997. He constructed the 2006 Tigers that reached the World Series after beating the Yankees in the ALDS.
Internally, head of pro scouting Billy Eppler, head of amateur scouting Damon Oppenheimer and minor league boss Mark Newman likely would be candidates.
How about Girardi, who has a solid relationship with Steinbrenner, moving upstairs? Late in his playing career Girardi was viewed as future general manager. Of course, that would create a managerial opening and there aren’t many men who can manage the Yankees.
As for a potential landing place for Cashman, who has been employed by the Yankees since he was 19, it’s hard to tell in mid-July what jobs will be open in October.
New ownership in Houston and the worst record in baseball could cost Ed Wade his job.
The Orioles were expected to be a lot better than 36-52 and that could get Andy MacPhail fired after five years. But that means working for Peter Angelos, the man who ruined baseball in Baltimore.
Seattle’s Jack Zduriencik might be on shaky ground after his third full season. Mariners ownership was very interested in Cashman in 2008.