Cashman's Small Moves Paying Off Big Time

We all are aware of the fine job Brian Cashman did this offseason bringing in big name free agents CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira. These moves were a key to the Yankees 2009 success, but any GM with money and a clue could have done the same. Cashman has impressed me the most with the smaller moves, the ones that took some real GM work. And those are the ones that might have put this team over the top.

First, the trade for Jose Molina back in 2007 gave the Yankees a solid backup catcher for the first time in several years. In that deal Cashman sent the Angels minor league reliever Jeff Kennard for Molina. Kennard, 28, is now in the Reds organization, and is having a solid year for Triple-A Louisville, but has yet to make the majors. At the same time Molina has been one of the better backup catchers in the game.

Then, in 2008, Cash signed a relatively unknown pitcher out of the Mexican leagues. That guy was Alfredo Aceves. He now leads all MLB relievers in wins with nine, and has become one of the more versitile relievers in the game. It's no coincidence that once the Yankees called him up their bullpen turned around.

Nick Swisher was the next solid pickup for Cashman. Trading away struggling propect Jeff Marquez, reliever Jhonny Nunez, and roster spot waster Wilson Betemit. Besides the solid offensive production Swisher has also helped chance the culture of the clubhouse. Betemit played a grand total of 20 games for the White Sox this year, hitting. 200/.280/.311. Marquez had another rough year in the minors, going 2-8, with a 9.85 ERA for the Triple-A Charllotte Knights. And Nunez, also with the Knights, is having a decent year, but nothing special.

Cashman wasn't done. Once he finally realized that the 2009 Yankees had a weak bench, he got rid of the useless Angel Berroa and sent Casey Erickson and Eric Fryer to Pittsburgh for Eric Hinske. This move paid off immediately as Hinske did more in his first week in Pinstripes than Berroa had done all year. A month later Cashman sent Single-A catcher Chase Weems to the Reds for Jerry Hairston Jr, who has turned out to be a great pickup for the Yanks. He can play everywhere (and has), played hard, and he's not as easy an out as I or many others may have thought he was.

You can also throw in the signing of Sergio Mitre and the trade for Chad Gaudin. While neither of these guys has been spectacular, they gave this team much needed pitching depth. Mitre has pitched in eight games this year (started seven) and in those games the Yankees are 6-2. And while Gaudin has struggled, he has given the Yanks the ability to alter the Joba rules to what they feel is the best method, and he could play a big role in keeping other guys fresh as the regular season comes to a close.

These moves have turned what would have still be a very good team into a complete team. A team with a solid pen, a good bench, and rotation depth. That was one of the keys to the Dynasty teams of the late-90's. They were complete teams where everyone on the 25-man roster contributed at some point. Now, thanks to the work Cashman has done, this team is complete and may be on the verge of doing something very special.