New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is in the crosshairs thanks to the team's slow start.
Things have not exactly gone according to plan for the New York Yankees at the start of the 2026 MLB campaign.
The offense has been maddeningly inconsistent, the bullpen has been a complete mess and Aaron Boone continues to make questionable decisions that have many once again doubting his future as Yankees manager.
Not surprisingly, New York fans are directing the vast majority of their ire at general manager Brian Cashman, who did very little to this flawed roster over the winter.
It was clear after the Yankees' embarrassing ALDS loss to the Toronto Blue Jays last October that changes were needed. Instead, Cashman largely ran it back with the same roster, only acquiring Ryan Weathers in a trade with the Miami Marlins.
Yes, New York re-signed Cody Bellinger, which was critical, but otherwise, the Yanks didn't do much of anything else. In fact, they lost a couple of key relief pitchers in Devin Williams and Luke Weaver.
It seems very obvious that owner Hal Steinbrenner is closely monitoring the payroll, but Yankees fans are also unhappy with how Cashman has decided to spend the money allotted to him over the years.
Let me just say this: Cashman is a decent executive. Typically, he knows how to find value. He has made plenty of very shrewd trades, and oftentimes, his bargain hunting works.
New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.But the Yankees should not be bargain hunting. Especially not with Aaron Judge being 34 years old. This team needs to win now.
The fans' frustration, while sometimes a bit over the top, is absolutely understandable. The window for this group is closing. It's not just Judge, either. Giancarlo Stanton is 36. Gerrit Cole is 35. Bellinger and Max Fried are both in their 30s.
The core of this roster is not going to last forever, and it's getting to the point where New York is wasting what is left of Judge's prime.
Judge is still spectacular. We are still witnessing that. But there is going to come a time where he isn't going to be the Aaron Judge we have all come to know anymore, and it could happen sooner than you think.
Surely, Cashman knows this. He understands Father Time. But is he willing to put in the work required to make things happen in this limited timeframe?
Steinbrenner is to blame, as well. George, he is not. No one is (not even you, Steve Cohen ... as much as you try to be). It's fair, though, to expect Hal to care a little bit more about winning than he is demonstrating.
Cashman has about three-and-a-half months to improve this roster before the trade deadline, but by that point, it might be too late.
Work needed to be done during the offseason, and Cashman didn't do it.
For that, fans have every right to be livid.
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