Masahiro Tanaka delivered almost everything the Yankees hoped to do when they signed him, apart from a trip to the World Series.
A day after Tanaka signed a deal to return to Japan to join his former team in 2021, general manager Brian Cashman subtly blamed the Astros for stealing signs for preventing the Yankees and Tanaka from there. they would arrive.
“I think he did everything he could to get us where we wanted to go,” Cashman said during a Friday Zoom call. “And in that little window we probably don’t want to talk about, he probably would have gotten us into a World Series if we hadn’t run into some mess.”
The Yankees lost to Houston in the 2017 ALCS in seven games, and it was later revealed that the Astros used a sign-stealing scheme to tip launches throughout the season.
Tanaka pitched well in a first game win and a 5th game loss in that series.
“That’s what I thought when he came back to Japan,” Cashman said. “It simply came to our notice then. Check many of these boxes when you have these dreams. He came to the United States to play, compete and perform at the major league level and ultimately, in doing so, he had the opportunity to compete in a World Series and it was potentially stolen from him, that opportunity.
Cashman also did not rule out the possibility of returning to the Bronx for Tanaka, who signed for $ 8.5 million with Rakuten.
“He was a great Yankee,” Cashman said. “He was a great Yankee. A tremendous competitor [and] a great loss to us. I am always open to evaluating the opportunities that present themselves. There are no closed doors from my perspective. Let’s say it like that ”.
Another Yankee veteran, Brett Gardner, remains available in the free agent market. Without Gardner, the Yankees don’t have a left hitter in the lineup outside of Aaron Hicks, who has changed.
Cashman noted that Gardner is still a free agent, he could not comment, but said: “Obviously we have been a big fan of Brett for a long time. He has been a great Yankee. We will see how things transcend in the coming weeks.
The Yankees have an outside field made up of Hicks, Aaron Judge, Clint Frazier and Mike Tauchman, with Greg Allen also on the 40-man roster.
Cashman got the salary relief he was looking for when he switched Adam Ottavino to the Red Sox, but that wasn’t where the GM expected the right-hander to end up.
Cashman said that “finally one had to be added [financial] flexibility. I’d rather the Boston Red Sox can’t provide that flexibility. “
But Boston, according to Cashman, took full advantage of Ottavino’s remaining $ 9 million contract, which allowed the Yankees to include a lower prospect than they would have ceded to another team. They have since agreed a one-year deal with another right-hander, Darren O’Day, and could use some of the remaining cash released to another player.
Ottavino was at Yankee Stadium when he learned he had been changed, according to Aaron Boone.
“He was there doing a pitching session and working out,” said Boone, who was also at the stadium. “It simply came to our notice then. It was a little weird. “
Both Boone and Cashman said Ottavino pitched better than his indicated numbers.
“The last thing I wanted to do was put it in the hands of our competitor,” Cashman said. “But ultimately, I’m not afraid to do business with anyone if it serves what our purposes should be.”
Cashman and Boone expect spring training to begin on time, at least starting Friday.
While discussions between MLB and the Players Association continue to analyze details and protocols, Boone said he feels “as if we’re in a position to be ready to shoot right now.”
The Yankees will open camp on February 17th.
“As late as [Thursday] they told us we were still on time, “he said,” so we’re getting ready and we feel very ready to get started. “