Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Sherman Thinks The Yanks Should Hire Pat Gillick

From Joel Sherman (hat tip to MLB Trade Rumors):
One of the most persistent rumors that circulated among baseball officials during the season was that Pat Gillick was going to move from Philadelphia GM to Mariner president and recruit Brian Cashman to be Seattle's GM.

That buzz ceased earlier this month when Cashman agreed to a three-year extension to stay.

But Cashman should still find a way to work with Gillick. Because the skills that define Gillick's career - skills that should lead him to the Hall of Fame - are traits the Yankees can use even on a consultant basis.

Gillick is renowned for scouting acumen, sagacity in decision-making and terrific people skills that help bridge disparate viewpoints.

He also finds the genius in little moves that net huge results - and the Phillies are one win away from reaching the World Series because of that theory.

The Yanks should jump at that, because Gillick can enhance their sketchy player-choosing process.

"He might be the best evaluator I have ever been around," said Philadelphia's director of major-league scouting, Gordon Lakey, who has worked with Gillick in three locales over 38 years.

Cashman considers Gillick the role model for all GMs. That admiration, in conjunction with Gillick being 71 and not wanting to be a GM any longer, should remove any threat Cashman would feel employing Gillick.

I'm not sure how interested the Yankees would be in bringing Gillick in, but I see nothing wrong with the idea. It can only help to have a guy like him in the organization.

If the Yankees did bring him in this would be his second go-around working for the Yankees; in 1975 and 1976 he was their scouting director before moving onto Toronto.

9 Comments:

Anonymous said...

That would make sense and actually be a proactive move to building a sound franchise. That's putting a little to much faith in the current group that runs the Yankees and confusing them with the group that ran them a generation ago and actually functioned with common sense.

Greg Cohen said...

I do think this move would help a lot. I like Gillick, he knows his stuff.

Anonymous said...

He really does know his stuff and the success of the Phillies over the past two seasons are a testament to the man's shrewd eye for solid talent.

Anonymous said...

Off topic, Greg are you enjoying the so called "Sox dynasty" being taken apart?

Jeteristheman said...

Can only help out if the Yanks hired him. Great talent evaluator, knows his baseball... I'd love to see him in the Yankee FO. Maybe the whole Joba debates would end once and for all

Greg Cohen said...

Yes Danny, I'm enjoying it a lot.

Anonymous said...

I have a better idea.
Fire Cashman.
Hire Gillick.

Mike B. said...

I'd like this move if the Yanks make it. Sounds good to me as I think Gillick would help out quite a bit.

Of course if they fired The Dweeb I'd have absolutely no objections, but that won't happen at this point....

Mike

Greg Cohen said...

Raven and Mike,

Gillick doesn't want to be a GM anymore, otherwise he'd be staying in Philly.