Steve Lombardi wrote:

Cashman has proven (see 2004-2008) that he is not capable of building a ring-team thru smart trades and the farm system.

June 20, 2000: Traded Jim Leyritz to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Received Jose Vizcaino and cash.

June 29, 2000: Traded Zach Day, Ricky Ledee and Jake Westbrook to the Cleveland Indians. Received David Justice.

July 21, 2000: Traded Ben Ford and Oswaldo Mairena to the Chicago Cubs. Received Glenallen Hill.

Do the Knoblauch and Clemens trades count? Bringing Orlando Hernandez along count?

Cashman was there before 2004, ya know

Corey wrote:

All I hope is that before, if, they do decide to pull the trigger on a Doc deal, that they first check with the Marlins to see what Johnson would cost and do the prospect math to see which deal is better.

From your lips to God’s ears. The guy’s a beast, and he’s young and has serious talent. If we’re going to part with good young players, ideally we should get a good young player in return, otherwise patch up and wait for next year’s FA market. Unless we steal him (unlikely) I’m not convinced Halladay is a good trade for us.

Steve Lombardi wrote:

@ Corey:
@ YankCrank:

Cashman has proven (see 2004-2008) that he is not capable of building a ring-team thru smart trades and the farm system. So, the only way to win, with Cashman, is to buy and spend. Thus, if this is the hell that we’re forced to live in, we might as well win while we’re at it, no?

it’s important for everyone here to remember that rodriguez(trade), cano (develop), hughes(develop), chamberlain(develop), cabrera(develop), gardner(develop), robertson(develop), coke(develop), molina(trade), marte(trade), swisher(trade), aceves(develop), etc. did nothing to help this ring-team either during the regular season or the playoffs. never mind jeter, posada, rivera, or pettitte either. it was all cc, burnett, teixeira, and damon. what’s more, it’s also important to remember that this was the first team in the history of baseball, past yankees teams included, to win with the help of big money free agents. even going back to the dawn of free agency, reggie jackson did not help the 77 or 78 teams win their rings, and it has been that way ever since. the yankees and their general manager have entered unchartered territory by adding free agents that helped take an already good team to the next level. excuse me i meant take the whole team on their back and win it all because the yankees had nothing in place to win pre-2009 with their team that was almost entirely traded for or developed from within.

Corey wrote:

All I hope is that before, if, they do decide to pull the trigger on a Doc deal, that they first check with the Marlins to see what Johnson would cost and do the prospect math to see which deal is better.

Agree 100%. I’ll gladly send Montero and Joba or Hughes over to FL for JJ in a second.

Steve Lombardi wrote:

I’ve said all along, many times, if you’re paying attention to all what is written and not just what you want to remember, that I’m no fan of buying a ring, BUT, if the choice is to buy a ring or lose without buying, give me buying.

So you feel it’s perfectly fine to regularly discredit a man for buying when, as you said yourself, you prefer buying over the alternative?

All I hope is that before, if, they do decide to pull the trigger on a Doc deal, that they first check with the Marlins to see what Johnson would cost and do the prospect math to see which deal is better.

@ Corey:
@ YankCrank:

I’ve said all along, many times, if you’re paying attention to all what is written and not just what you want to remember, that I’m no fan of buying a ring, BUT, if the choice is to buy a ring or lose without buying, give me buying.

Cashman has proven (see 2004-2008) that he is not capable of building a ring-team thru smart trades and the farm system. So, the only way to win, with Cashman, is to buy and spend. Thus, if this is the hell that we’re forced to live in, we might as well win while we’re at it, no?

YankCrank wrote:

So are you on the side of win at all costs, or win “the right way,” which is a payroll close to everyone else? I’m confused.

Good point.

Steve Lombardi wrote:

See me previous comment.

You do realize that we’ll be swapping essentially “free” players (Joba, Hughes, Montero, etc.) for a man that will be costing us $20 million+ a year, right?

For someone who slams Cashman for his payroll number and how the Yankees can’t develop players and win at a premium, advocating this trade doesn’t fall in line with what you’ve been preaching this last week.

So are you on the side of win at all costs, or win “the right way,” which is a payroll close to everyone else? I’m confused.

@ Steve Lombardi:
Don’t discount the work of Wang, Veras, Ramirez, Clagatt early in the year.