A FINER APPRECIATION OF TODAY'S FEISTY GENERAL MANAGERS

Source: Newsday

In baseball today, being a dynamic and down right feisty general manager is not optional, it’s essential.  In the past, the general manager for a baseball team used to be a guy with a business background working behind the scenes to build the team, looking for new players to recruit, and providing overall team management. Sure the anomaly was George Steinbrenner- perhaps the feistiest of all GMs and luckily for us New York fans, our GMs are as engaged, dynamic and perhaps as feisty when it comes to their agendas for improving their teams and the moves they need to make to meet and even exceed team goals.

Source: NY Daily News

Brian Cashman and Brodie Van Wagenen have done a terrific job during the offseason picking some key new players as well as negotiating contracts with team veterans. They also know what is best for their respective teams and what deals they should pass on, such as Manny Machado as BYB reported yesterday in THE IRONY OFFER THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

Source: USA Today

Machado wanted a monster deal to top Giancarlo Stanton’s 13-year/$325M contract. Even though Cashman hosted him at Yankee Stadium, the team ultimately decided against a deal with multiple years attached. Of course, getting Machado would’ve been a great pickup, but it wasn’t worth the price. This, of course, makes Padres GM A.J. Preller look great, but the team isn’t anything to worry about as 2019 will most likely be a building year for them. If Stanton and Aaron Judge can be the dynamic duo we know them to be, I think we can forgive the Yankees for not snagging Machado and Bryce Harper.

Source: NY Times

Cashman has made some great moves the past few seasons, especially getting Stanton to create one of the best offenses in baseball. To beef up pitching, Cashman acquired James Paxton, who the NY Times say will "bolster" the starting rotation. He also reached an extension agreement with Luis Severino for 4-year/$40M, avoiding an arbitration hearing.

“To know he’s going to be here the next four years, I was really excited and really happy for him,’’ said Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who expects Severino to be his opening day starter. “You get excited when hard work and people you respect are rewarded," reported NJ.com.

Source: MLB.com

In Queens, Van Wagenen had a busy offseason. Excitingly, there has been a lot of rebuilding in the bullpen with the addition of All-Star closer Edwin Diaz and getting back Mets veteran Jeurys Familia. This in addition of Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo, I think the Mets bullpen is one to be feared this season.

Source: NJ.com

The Mets also showed little interest in pursuing Harper and Machado, but the lineup has received upgrades that should not be overlooked. Van Wagenen brought All-Star Robinson Robinson Cano back to New York and signed one of the best catchers on the free agent market, Wilson Ramos. Van Wagenen didn’t stop there. He reached out and signed Jed Lowrie after his best season of his career. 

“He’s going to be in our lineup virtually every day,” Van Wagenen said. “He’s going to hit at the top of the order. His switch-hitting ability, hitting in front of Cano and after (Brandon) Nimmo, potentially, as we start to configure the lineup, I think is something that is really attractive,” reported CBS Local.

Source: USA Today

Sure, Machado didn’t end up in New York and Harper most likely won’t either, but there is no reason to be disappointed as some great moves were moved during the offseason. The best option now is just to hope the GMs were right and make sure they stay feisty in their hunt for a championship.

--Missy O'Rourke
BYB Contributor
Twitter: @missy_orourke