New York Yankees’ Brian Cashman to approach market cautiously – MLB Update
The window for exclusive negotiation with players ended at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, November 3 and free agents, who have still not been tapped in by their respective teams, are eligible for talks with interested teams.
One team which is certain to play an active part in negotiations is New York Yankees. After crashing out to Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series, the management has voiced a desire to strengthen the bull-pen for 2012. A first for them was
the extension of CC Sabathia’s contract till 2016, locking in the ace after he performed commendably throughout the regular season. Sabathia had little support, if any, from the bull-pen and Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman believes that with offence
strong, the defence needs to be improved.
In this regard, a few names have come to the forefront who might be potential candidates to assist Sabathia as the number two pitcher in the rotation. C.J. Wilson and Mark Buehrle are expected to get into talks with Yankees, but nothing is certain as far
as the complexities of the deal are concerned. Another name that has come to the forefront is of Japanese star Yu Darvish, a heavily priced player who has no experience of Major League Baseball.
While the list of potential candidates is long, Cashman hinted that the ballclub might consider moving A.J. Burnett if an opportunity arises. The Yankees may use Burnett as a compensation for the pitcher that they sign, because there will be very few takers
for the pitcher given the current status of his contract. Burnett still has two-years and 33-million-dollars left on the contract with a partial no-trade clause.
Cashman’s intent came to the limelight when he asserted that Burnett will surely stay in the rotation ‘if’ he stays with the ballclub. Cashman added that A.J. has given the Yankees some valuable contributions over the last two years, but did not comment
on his ERA being above 5.00 in both seasons. One achievement, which deserves admiration, was his pitching in Game 4 of ALDS. Before that game, it was certain that Burnett will not be a Yankee next season, but a win, when the team needed it the most, changed
things for the right-handed veteran.
With nothing much in the bull-pen currently, it will be interesting to see how Cashman approached the free agent market.
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