Brian Cashman talks Yankees needs at Winter Meetings

Cashman arrived Sunday at the Signia by Hilton Orlando saying he has been given no firm payroll caps, being instructed to bring every potential move to ownership. He looked and sounded like a general manager expecting to make progress at this weekâ€s Winter Meetings.

“Itâ€s that time of year. You hope you run into some things,†Cashman said. “Last year, I know we were able to get a lot of things done from the Winter Meetings and beyond. I donâ€t think thereâ€s as deep a need as there was last year, but thereâ€s things Iâ€m obviously trying to do.â€

A year ago, Cashman had to pivot when Juan Soto chose the Mets on the first evening of the Winter Meetings, a decision that set the Bombers on their course to fit Max Fried, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt for pinstripes.

A reunion with Bellinger remains on the table; Cashman has been open about his pursuit, saying Sunday he is maintaining contact with agent Scott Boras about Bellinger and others. If Bellinger is not the Yankees†leading offseason target, he is certainly near the top of their list.

“Cody Bellinger would be a great fit for us,†Cashman said. “I think he’d be a great fit for anybody. I think he’s a very talented player that can play multiple positions at a high level, and hits lefties, hits righties. He’s a contact guy, and I think our environment was a great one for him.â€

Bellingerâ€s ability to hit right-handed pitching makes him a conceivable fit for a roster that the GM acknowledges is “without a doubt†too left-handed — Austin Wells, Ben Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon and Trent Grisham all swing from that side, while switch-hitter Jasson Domínguez (a career .136 hitter against lefties with a .530 OPS) lags from the right.

“I acknowledge that we are left-handed dominant throughout our lineup,†Cashman said, “so to get more choices for our manager would be a great thing for us to do.â€

Speculation about Kyle Tucker (also a lefty) continues, but there doesnâ€t seem to be much smoke. Despite Tucker being a Tampa, Fla., resident, the team has not hosted him to tour its facilities, as the Blue Jays recently did at their Dunedin, Fla., complex.

For now, Domínguez is the favorite in left field, with Spencer Jones expected to make a push in camp.

“Weâ€re very high on Domínguez and what he brings to the table,†Cashman said. “I think thereâ€s a lot more to come.â€

The Yankees believe their 94-win roster forms a strong foundation, even after a postseason exit in the ALDS. They led the Majors in runs (849) and homers (274), and Cashman returned often to the idea that the core is “part of the solution rather than a problem.â€

“First and foremost, letâ€s start with the premise that we have really good players on this roster,†Cashman said. “We are covered in most all areas that you need to be covered.â€

The pitching staff will open the season thin, with Carlos Rodón (left elbow surgery in October) projected to return by April into May and Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March) tracking toward late May or June. The bullpen needs help, too, after losing Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. Cashman said he never made Williams an offer before the reliever signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the Mets.

Cashman also leaned hard on the concept of “challenge trades,†deals where talent goes out and talent comes in — he offered the 2012 trade in which the Yankees acquired Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero as an example. The Yankees are exploring them as a way to rebalance the roster, though Cashman admitted they are often hard to pull off because he likes the players currently in place.

“Our division is the toughest division in baseball,†Cashman said. “It typically is — the beast of the East. We know our work is cut out for us. We also know we have a really strong roster of quality, talented players. But the job is to try to add to it.â€

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