3 Brian Cashman replacements Yankees should target in offseason

1. David Stearns

How about … someone younger, though? According to MLBTradeRumors.com, the terms of Brewers general manager David Stearns’ contract aren’t known, but there’s a belief he could be a free agent after 2022 (or possess some sort of vesting option for 2023). But then there was a report from SNY’s Andy Martino suggesting that if the Brewers don’t make the World Series, he’ll remain under contract through 2023.

The Mets tried to poach him this offseason, but made no traction.

However, if he loses the NL Central to the St. Louis Cardinals, does that change what Brewers owner Mark Attanasio had in mind? Stearns, who is just 37 years old, is one of the brightest young minds in the game, and perhaps that’s the fresh perspective the Yankees need at this moment.

Stearns took over for the Brew Crew in Sept. of 2015, and the “rebuild” lasted one year. After six straight years of no postseason berths, Stearns got the Brewers back there in 2018 (which featured a seven-game NLCS loss to the Dodgers), and they’ve reached the postseason every year since.

That’s been with a bottom-half payroll to work with, too. What if Stearns is allowed some aggression? Perhaps he’ll target the right free agents, considering he’s been largely restricted from doing so the past seven years. On top of that, he’s fleeced countless teams in trades, so he’ll always have that working for him (Cashman’s favorite thing to attempt to do, but which he only does half the time).

Though his draft track record isn’t the best … it really can’t get worse than the Yankees’, who have only recently improved their wildly flawed system/philosophy that’s persisted under Cashman for two decades. Nonetheless, Stearns’ proven track record in his first years on the job as a big-time executive is all the Yankees need to interest them, should they look for a Cashman replacement.

Does Brian Cashman’s job hinge on a Yankees World Series appearance?

Based on how things are looking at the moment, it seems as if general manager Brian Cashman's job is hinging on a New York Yankees World Series berth.