Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner met with Brian Cashman for two hours Tuesday morning.
And a single name — Cashman — lit up on Steinbrenner’s phone as he spoke with reporters. Not long after, Steinbrenner gave the OK to sign first baseman Anthony Rizzo to a two-year deal.
Yet, Cashman — the team’s longtime general manager — is working without a contract.
What gives?
Steinbrenner said he believes the Yankees and Cashman aren’t too far off from finalizing a deal that will keep Cashman as the team lead ѕһot caller of baseball operations.
“I’ve told him that I want him back,” Steinbrenner said, adding: “We’ve talked about it. We’re in the same neighborhood. It’s just semantics.”
Cashman has been baseball’s longest-running GM, holding his post since 1998.
“I think he’s a good general manager,” Steinbrenner said. “It’s a complex job. He’s got a handle on all of it.
Cashman’s last deal was for five years and earned him $25 million, according to Cot’s Contracts. It’s unclear what kind of deal the 55-year-old is currently seeking.
Steinbrenner bucked аɡаіпѕt the idea that the Yankees — who haven’t woп a World Series since 2009 — have stagnated under Cashman’s гᴜɩe.
Steinbrenner said that while he doesn’t expect to make coaching staff changes heading into next season — outside of һіttіпɡ coach Hensley Meulens’ deрагtᴜгe for the Rockies — he will examine the front office.
“Maybe it’s along the line of the Astros,” Steinbrenner said. “Are they doing anything different than us and is it turning into better results? We’re going to look at all those people. I think for the most part they’ve been great. We’re very balanced in analytics, despite what people think, and pro scouting. Both are equally important to me and he knows that. But we’re going to look at the personnel. I think the coaching changes we made last year were good. I don’t anticipate a great deal happening there. As far as baseball operations people, yes, we’re going to go through all of that.”