Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman on Yankees’ progress before 2021

The Yankees roster is an incomplete puzzle according to Brian Cashman, who remains open to changes and improvements. Yet in the collection of players due to show up for spring training, the veteran GM once again sees the makings of a championship-caliber club. Over the past two weeks, Cashman

The Yankees roster is an incomplete puzzle according to Brian Cashman, who remains open to changes and improvements. Yet in the collection of players due to show up for spring training, the veteran GM once again sees the makings of a championship-caliber club.

Over the past couple of weeks, Cashman’s front office has reshaped the roster, inking infielder DJ LeMahieu while importing starting pitchers Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon, then making a rare trade with the Red Sox. An agreement with reliever Darren O’Day is expected to be officially announced in the coming days.

“I don’t know if the list is ever complete,” Cashman said. “At the same time, we are ready to do what we have. I think we have quality in all positions, and we have depth in the starting rotation with additions like Taillon and Kluber. We are certainly excited about the current crew we have.

Although there is logistical uncertainty regarding spring training due to the pandemic, Cashman and his manager Aaron Boone said they expected the camp to start on time, pitchers and pitchers. receivers to appear at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. on February. 16.

“We definitely have the feeling that we have been one of the best teams and rightly have championship expectations which we will have again this year,” said Boone.

Cashman and Boone spoke to reporters via Zoom on various topics on Friday afternoon. Here are five takeaways:

1. Health plan
“Next Man Up” has been the Yanks’ rallying cry for more than two seasons, with injuries prompting the overhaul of the club’s bodybuilding and conditioning programs last winter. Cashman said the team performed their due diligence on Corey Kluber and Jameson taillon, drawing heavily on input from Director of Player Health and Performance Eric Cressey, who has worked extensively with Kluber for years.

“Hope is definitely a fitting word,” Cashman said. “We got involved because we believe that despite the risk, it was a position worth taking. Now we’re going to test this, for better or for worse. In placing a bet we are going to rely on the best over the worst, but I cannot rule out the risk. I believe and hope that they will have a positive impact. “

2. Insufficient balance
With strike switch Aaron Hicks potentially the only starting player for the Yanks who can strike from the left side of home plate, Cashman said the team remained interested in opportunities to remedy the situation, although he said he did not. have found no one who would represent an upgrade on the current lineup. A meeting with Brett Gardner remains possible.

“Obviously we’ve been a huge Brett fan for quite some time, and I think Brett honored that assessment,” Cashman said. “He was a great Yankee. We’ll see how things go here over the next few weeks, but he’s obviously still a board member. I don’t really have more to add at this time. “

3. Farewell, Masa (for now?)
Cashman and Boone both threw verbal bouquets at the right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, who returned to the Rakuten Eagles of Nippon professional baseball league this week, concluding his seven-year run with the Yankees. Cashman said the theory was “two-for-one” in that Kluber and Taillon cost roughly what Tanaka would have earned. Cashman called Tanaka a “formidable competitor with class and dignity,” and he didn’t rule out Tanaka’s potential return in the future.

“We are always open to evaluating opportunities as they arise,” Cashman said. “There are never closed doors, let’s put it that way from my point of view. I wish him good luck and he will be missed. And it will be difficult to replace it at the same time. Our players really bonded with him, and for good reason. He was on top.

4. What is Kraken?
Gary Sanchez recently told ESPN he was confused by his lack of playing time during the 2020 playoffs, when the backup receiver Kyle higashioka has started five of the team’s seven games. Sánchez said he asked Boone for an explanation after the season ended, and they clarified things in a conversation. Boone said Sánchez would likely have started Game 1 of the American League Championship series if the Yanks advanced.

“The playoffs have been a completely fluid situation,” Boone said. “I didn’t make any decision to say ‘Gary is on the bench’. I would come home literally every night to discuss and sleep on which I was going to start the next day. One of the main reasons for this was the quality of Kyle Higashioka’s play. I think we’ve all seen how great a defenseman he is, but at that time of the year he was also swinging the bat incredibly well and hitting for a little bit of power.

5. Upward shipping
Adam ottavino was part of the Yankees’ first deal with the Red Sox since 2014, traded to Boston with hopeful Frank Germán in exchange for a nominee player or cash consideration. Cashman said his preference would have been to find another business partner, but the Red Sox offered the most financial flexibility, assuming most of Ottavino’s $ 9 million was owed.

“[Ottavino] was actually at Yankee Stadium when Cash made the deal, hosting a pitching session and practicing, ”Boone said. “He was there when Cash told him, then he and I got a chance to talk. It was a little weird. He is someone I have tremendous respect for, and he will be missed. He’s going to be tough on us.