Cashman's Escape From New YorkRosenthal Says Hank's To Blame

Ken Rosenthal thinks Hank Steinbrenner and his idiotic statements may result in a Brian Cashman exodus from Yankeeland:

This time, Brian Cashman should just bolt.

Cashman agreed to remain Yankees general manager when he was promised full autonomy after the 2005 season. But the disruptive influence of Hank Steinbrenner, the team's new co-chairman, is rapidly turning that guarantee into an empty pledge.

Who needs the aggravation? If Steinbrenner wants to hold Cashman responsible for failing to acquire Johan Santana and other perceived transgressions, so be it. Cashman, the Yanks GM since Feb. 1998, can go find another job.

Let Steinbrenner hire a puppet GM, order Chamberlain to pitch 300 innings and trade for his new favorite junkballer, Jamie Moyer. Cashman, whose contract expires at the end of the season, would not lack for opportunities.

If Cashman wished to stay east, he could replace Phillies GM Pat Gillick, who is expected to retire. Or, Cashman could return to D.C., where he attended Georgetown Prep and Catholic University, if the Nationals chose to replace Jim Bowden. Why, Cashman could even stay in the AL East if the Blue Jays dismissed J.P. Ricciardi, who has two years left on his contract.

People seem to forget the Voice of Reason - aka Hal Steinbrenner - has equal say in the Yankees universe and, as was the case with Santana, can protest or challenge every Hankism.

Hank: I'll Discuss Cashman Extension

Hank Steinbrenner wants to extend GM Brian Cashman. But he also wants to hold him accountable if Johan Santana wins 25 games and posts a 1.90 ERA for the crosstown Mets.

From the AP Wire:

"I want to concentrate on the season, and he does, too," Hank Steinbrenner said Monday. "But during the course of the season, we will talk. It will just happen. We'll be sitting together at the game, and we'll start talking about it. It's just that simple."

Cashman joined the Yankees as a 19-year-old intern in June 1986. He succeeded Bob Watson as general manager after the 1997 season.

"I've known Cash for a long time," Steinbrenner said. "He's been with our family for a long, long time. I think the big thing is with Brian is the organization he put in place. You know, it's not based on just one decision as far as do a trade or don't do a trade, or sign a free agent or don't."

Steinbrenner will be keeping a close eye during exhibition games on Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, the Yankees' trio of touted young pitchers.

"They're going to take it easy with them, build up their pitches," Steinbrenner said. "We'll be careful with them, but obviously everybody's going to be watching them."

Cash: Payroll's Too High

Brian Cashman is sick and tired of being chided as a baseball executive operating under an unlimited bank account. After watching the Yankees fail to win a World Series with an escalating payroll, Cashman reiterated to the AP yesterday it's time to cut down on expenses.

"We are high," Yankees GM Brain Cashman said in an interview with ESPN 1050 New York's Andrew Marchand. "If I could get our payroll lower [I would]. It is not going to happen -- not this year. But we have, at the end of the year, a lot of numbers coming off. The combination of building our farm stystem and getting our salary lines back to where they probably need to be. That's a process, too, and that takes some time. I'm not particularly proud that we have the highest payroll in the game.

"I just don't think you are going to get the type of bang for your buck at the type of dollars that you are paying."

"I don't think anyone is promised tomorrow," Cashman said. "It is something I don't really think about it. All I really care about, every day that I have had this job, is doing the best job I can while I've got it because I've had the fortunate side of having the rare opportunity of being one of 30 GMs in the game. While I do it, I'm going to do everything in my power to do the right way."

With Hal Steinbrenner supporting his financial conservatism and Hank publicly lobbying for Cashman to stay, it's altogether possible the Yankees GM re-signs for another three seasons. Contrarily, Hank Steinbrenner could just as easily dispatch Cashman should the Yankees fall short of the playoffs - or of the owner's expectations.

Hank's already begun griping over Cashman's decision to pass up Johan Santana - as well as place blame on the Yankees front office should Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy collectively add up to a six month season.

Cashman: "Things Have Changed"

During a charity event at Fenway Park today, Brian Cashman told reporters his job as Yankees GM has changed with the influx of new ownership.

From LoHud:

For the first time in public, Cashman admitted what has become increasingly evident: That his job has changed since the Steinbrenner sons took control of the team.

“Things have changed here in the third year,” he said. “I’m learning as I go along, too. But it is different. But one thing is that I’ve been with this family, the Steinbrenner family, for well over 20 years. So I’m focused fully on doing everything I possibly can to assist them in their emergence now as decision makers.”

Cashman’s contract runs out in October. Asked whether he wanted to return, he didn’t answer directly.

"At the end of the day, if you have an opportunity to build something and be a leader in that situation, you stick to it. It's your way and you find a way to stick to it, despite the media pressures, the ownership pressures, the fans' pressures and realize, 'You know what? I believe in what I'm doing and I'll stick to it as long as you give me the opportunity and then get judged on the results at the end of the day.'"

Following the panel discussion, Cashman fielded questions on everything from dealing with the Steinbrenner brothers to Roger Clemens and the Mitchell Report.

"Everybody has their own style," Cashman said of the Steinbrenners. "And Hank has obviously taken charge on behalf of his father, along with his brother, Hal. They have different styles. Hal is more quiet and Hank is very available, but my job is to continue to line up the structure of the organization that can find the amateur talent."

“Because of all the work that gets involved with doing the job, it kind of prevents me from really looking ahead past this year,” he said. “I’m just doing everything I possibly can to assist the transition with the new manager, the new owners, with the involvement now with the Steinbrenner sons. And then the rest will take care of itself at another time.”

Nothing surprising from the report, other than the fact that Hank Steinbrenner has yet to issue a public rebuttle... yet.

Power Struggle: Cash vs Hank

Tyler Kepner of the New York Times believes payroll is at the heart of the Santana debate. A debate which has reportedly divided the Yankees seller (Hank) from the Yankees farmer (Cashman).

From NY Times:

Hal Steinbrenner’s primary responsibility is to oversee the Yankees’ finances, and he is reluctant to add another huge contract.

According to several people who have spoken to the brothers recently, that is the crux of the debate in the organization over whether to trade for Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins.

Both Steinbrenners want the team to keep winning. Hal Steinbrenner would try to do it with the existing payroll of roughly $200 million. Hank is more inclined to add Santana, largely to keep him away from the rival Boston Red Sox.

The result of the internal debate is that nothing has changed since the Yankees pulled their offer at the winter meetings in Nashville a month ago.

There is no standing offer, but from earlier trade talks, the Yankees know they would have to deal starter Phil Hughes, center fielder Melky Cabrera, the minor league pitcher Jeff Marquez and another prospect for Santana.

For the Yankees, the $140 million figure would be compounded by an additional $56 million they would owe in luxury taxes, because they are still charged an extra 40 cents for every dollar they spend. Investing almost $200 million in Santana for seven years — and the prospects — is clearly too steep a price for General Manager Brian Cashman.

Cashman wrested autonomy over baseball decisions from George Steinbrenner when he signed a three-year contract extension in October 2005. But Steinbrenner had already begun moving to the background, and his sons did not take an active role until last season.

So far, Hank Steinbrenner has listened to Cashman, endorsing his strategy of investing in amateur talent and developing and keeping homegrown pitching.

Hughes offered the Yankees two delicious glimpses into his future last season: his first major league victory, on May 1, when he fired six and a third no-hit innings until leaving with a strained hamstring; and his showing in September, when he went 3-0 with a 2.73 earned run average before earning a victory in relief in the playoffs.

Some Yankees officials believe Hughes could eventually be as good as Santana at a fraction of the cost. But Santana, despite an ordinary second half, is a two-time Cy Young award winner who would make the Yankees much more imposing to the champion Red Sox.

Kepner reminds fans the required inclusion of Melky Cabrera in any Santana deal would result in a defensive hit to an already shaky outfield.

He then brings up the possibility of the Yankees signing Mike Cameron to patrol centerfield, "a player Alex Rodriguez has been privately endorsing," though the ex-Met will miss the first 25 games of the season after testing positive for amphetamines.