3 Brian Cashman replacements Yankees must explore this offseason

The New York Yankees, with the power to become a financial behemoth that lords over the rest of the league at the drop of a hat, remain strategic spenders, only pursuing one long-term commitment at a time. Some would call it financial prudence. Others would call it weakness.

Still, though fans of the team wish the ownership group would spend more, it can’t be denied that one could put together a winning team with a similar payroll. Despite cuts back, the Yankees are still in the stratosphere, ranking third in baseball behind the Mets and Dodgers with a $211.2 million payroll in 2022.

That puts the man in charge of the allocation of resources under the microscope. Though Brian Cashman has long been impressive at uncovering diamonds in the rough at the margins, he can’t seem to stop himself from hamstringing the payroll by absorbing large-scale trash piles from other franchises or signing relievers, No. 4 starters and depth pieces to a cost that adds up to one (1) Justin Verlander.

Fair or not, Cashman is criticized for his inaction/holding onto prospects too long, then criticized when he inevitably cashes in some of those prospects for a target everyone agrees will help, but turns out to be a bust. Sonny Gray was good process! Unfortunately, Sonny Gray also stunk. Such is the circle of baseball.

Whether you believe in CashGod or not, you have to admit that one title in 22 years isn’t enough for a team with this much of a baked-in financial advantage. And that one title? Fully bought, won after a spending spree including Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia. Given the opportunity to do that, Cash is your man. Otherwise, it’s probably time for him to be promoted to “GM Emeritus,” while someone fresh gets the final say on things.

NOTE: Bizarre rumors of discontent surrounding Houston Astros GM James Click have begun to circulate, but … it’s impossible to imagine Houston letting Click go directly to the Yankees without receiving a promotion.

Even the Rays (and their top executive is included here) are more likely to relent and let New York give their employee a boost than the Astros, who’ve become the modern day Red Sox to the current failed Yankees.

Being slightly more realistic here…

3 alternatives to Brian Cashman for 2023 Yankees

3. David Stearns

Stearns, in charge of the Milwaukee Brewers’ rise at the margins, has long been an attractive candidate for big-city teams with higher payrolls who’d like to see him level up his roster-shaping with a bigger budget. Think Chaim Bloom, Andrew Friedman or any of the other Rays castoffs who’ve gotten a leg up on the competition simply by being Rays.

If Stearns can build a consistent winner/pitching talent pipeline in Milwaukee by fleecing opponents of undervalued assets, imagine what he can do when he’s also able to sign Jacob deGrom!

Sometimes, this philosophy pays off, and sometimes it doesn’t because the new GM isn’t quite as financially free as he believes he’s going to be (Bloom in Boston, uh, and whoever joins the Yankees under Hal Steinbrenner probably). That uncertainty hasn’t stopped the Mets from being heavily linked to hiring Stearns, who’s long been under contract in Milwaukee while fending off their advances.

If the Yankees want to crash Steve Cohen’s party while Cohen’s distracted by the Aaron Judge chase, they can plan their own unlikely pursuit of Stearns, too.

2. Erik Neander

Neander is currently the Rays’ highest-ranking baseball decision-making official, but don’t worry. They’ve got 12 more 34-year-olds with crew cuts lined up to take his place whenever some bigger-market team hands him the bag as GM.

The 39-year-old is the closest thing out there right now to the next Bloom/Friedman, and the only worry about potentially poaching him is that Steinbrenner would place him under the same constraints as Cashman/Bloom in Boston. “You can spend! Whoa, but not that way. Just a little bit here and there. Yeah, like you’re feeding fish.”

Is that narrative a bit overblown, though? Bloom paid top dollar for injured and fading pitchers last winter like Rich Hill and James Paxton. Cashman recently paid through the nose for Josh Donaldson, Adam Ottavino, Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton and JA Happ. Given the same amount of money, it’s doubtful Neander would pursue so many lottery tickets. He probably wouldn’t add a single reliever.

One other thing Neander has going for him? Presented with the opportunity to lock up Wander Franco, he got it done young, something the Braves/Rays have mastered, and something that’s eluded the Yankees forever. If Neander can convince Steinbrenner he knows how to present early extensions in a way that’s calculated and not wasteful, perhaps there could be a revolution in the Bronx, too, instead of “future money” being earmarked for Aaron Judge and Gary Sánchez that stays in a lockbox forever.