How deep introspection, bold moves help Yankees rebuild their October dream
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Follow UsBrian Cashman’s mood in a Scottsdale hotel elevator last November hinted at something brewing, just before the Yankees GM delivered a fiery, profanity-laden media session lasting over an hour. After months of being in the crosshairs for what he had labeled a “disaster” season, the longtime Yankees general manager was ready to set the record straight.
In a departure from his usual composed and optimistic tone, Cashman fiercely defended the Yankees’ internal processes — “we’re pretty good, personally” — attributing the team’s playoff miss to a combination of injuries and bad luck. He expressed unwavering confidence in the roster and predicted a significant turnaround in 2024.
Fast forward to this October at Progressive Field in Cleveland, and Cashman was a man transformed, beaming from a platform in center field as the Yankees celebrated their first World Series berth since 2009 after an extra-inning victory over the Guardians. Though he admitted to crossing himself when Juan Soto launched the decisive home run, the Yankees’ success was no act of fate.
Cashman proudly hailed the team’s resilience and the hard-earned opportunity to compete for a championship, clearly relishing the transformation from last season’s failures to this moment of triumph. “I’m proud of these guys, and proud we had a chance to earn the right to get to go to the World Series,” the Yankees boss told after ALCS win. “I’m looking forward to taking our chances.”
Yankees’ soul-searching brings dividends
Captain Aaron Judge has referenced the “ghosts” of Yankees lore during their playoff push, reminiscent of Derek Jeter’s famous exchange with Aaron Boone in 2003 about the mystical presence of the old Yankee Stadium, just before Boone’s ALCS-winning homer against Boston. While those legendary spirits may seem absent in the newer stadium, the drive behind this Yankees team likely stems from a more tangible source: the sting of last year’s 82-win disappointment.
That frustration prompted managing partner Hal Steinbrenner to call urgent meetings in Tampa, demanding that staff re-evaluate and defend their approach. Manager Aaron Boone reflected on that offseason as a time of intense introspection, with every department scrutinizing its strategy to ensure they were aligned and prepared for a bounce-back year.
The Yankees‘ period of introspection was both tough and essential. After calling the 2023 season “awful,” managing partner Hal Steinbrenner took steps to enhance the team’s analytics capabilities, partnering with Zelus Analytics, a firm led by former Dodgers executives. Contrary to reports that this was an internal audit, it was the Yankees reviewing Zelus’s methods to improve their own evaluation process.
While this partnership led to some tweaks in how the team assessed talent, the Yankees’ financial clout remained their biggest asset. Their boldest move came in December when they pulled off a seven-player blockbuster trade to acquire Juan Soto. Despite initial concerns over the high price, both in terms of talent—especially right-hander Michael King—and financial commitments, Steinbrenner approved the deal. This decision was a shift from his previous stance against the need for $300 million payrolls to build a championship contender.
Steinbrenner justified the Soto acquisition by emphasizing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to land a player of his caliber, stating it would have been a mistake to pass up when the finances allowed.
Soto’s arrival reinvigorated the team’s championship ambitions. It sent a clear message that the Yankees were ready to win now, especially with Soto expected to explore free agency under Scott Boras. The urgency was heightened by the fact that franchise cornerstones like Aaron Judge and Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole are in their prime, and the window to capitalize on that is closing.
Judge, reflecting on the 2023 season, said the Yankees underperformed, narrowly avoiding a losing season with a .506 record. He pointed to his own midseason injury—a toe issue caused by crashing into a concrete wall at Dodger Stadium—as a key setback for the team.
Aaron Judge’s recovery from injury drove him to begin his offseason training earlier than usual, and he found motivation in seeing many of his teammates join him at the Yankees’ Florida training facility. These memories came to the forefront during the tense final moments of ALCS Game 5, as he watched the Yankees secure the three defensive outs needed to clinch the series.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Judge expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to compete at this level, highlighting the dedication of the players who had gathered in Tampa after a disappointing 2023 season. He emphasized how their collective effort and commitment played a pivotal role in reaching the World Series.
Throughout the offseason, several players focused on self-improvement. Giancarlo Stanton made significant strides in his cardiovascular fitness, showing up in better shape than before. Carlos Rodón underwent a physical transformation, eager to prove himself worthy of his hefty contract. Anthony Volpe spent time fine-tuning his swing for greater consistency. Beyond the physical work, the team also cultivated stronger relationships, creating a supportive and tight-knit environment.
This atmosphere was particularly noted by midseason acquisition Jazz Chisholm Jr., who described his experience with the Yankees as more than just joining a team, likening it to becoming part of a family.
The Yankees’ performance—racking up 94 regular-season wins and seven victories in their first nine playoff games—seemed to validate general manager Brian Cashman’s earlier confident remarks about the team’s potential. While they showed some fielding and baserunning mistakes early in the postseason, their play overall suggested they were fully capable of contending for a World Series title.
Stanton, however, made it clear that simply making it to the World Series wasn’t enough. The team’s goal remained fixed on winning it all.
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Brian Cashman in my opinion is getting way too much credit. Enough things stayed to how they drew them up, despite how many trusts and turns the road took. The players know they have to help each other because for the most part, for front office reasons the coaches have been useless to them.