Could Soriano Save Brian Cashman's Off Off-Season?

It hasn't been the best of times for New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman in recent months.  It started after the Yankees were eliminated from the playoffs by the Texas Rangers. Since then,  Cashman has been rejected, accused, jerked around, questioned and now, overruled.

At Christmas, Cashman rappelled down the Landmark Building in Stamford, Connecticut.  He must have the same dangling feeling right now in the Yankees front office.

The signing of set-up man Rafael Soriano was the first significant addition to the team after a winter of rejections.  It may be the only saving grace for the Yankees dismal off-season acquisitions--but it did not come without controversy.

The battered GM admitted he recommended the Yankees pass on signing the 31 year-old Soriano, but said he was overruled by ownership.  Soriano has 88 career saves over eight seasons.  45 of them last year.

Cashman, who was given full control of baseball operations in 2005, said the signing will help the team but was against it because of the financial commitment and draft pick considerations.  Cashman insisted all winter that these factors would be deal breakers.  The Steinbrenners thought otherwise.

 "It's not my team.  I don't own it. They [Hal and Hank Steinbrenner] do," said the GM at Soriano's press conference.  "I'm a big boy.  In any job you better be prepared for every decision to not go your way."

Cashman continued by saying there were "internal debates and discussions" on how to proceed.  "Ultimately, Hal's in charge of making the final call in what he feels is the best direction at that time frame.  He made that call.  This is Hal Steinbrenner's and his family's franchise.  It's not mine and it's never been, obviously," he said.  "But this is not something that was done without me being aware of it.  I had my say," he made clear.

Being overruled by the boss (or Boss' sons) is not so bad as compared to the other career lows of Cashman's miserable recent winter.  It has been rough.

First, the whole Cliff Lee fiasco ended with the highly desired pitcher spurning Cashman's front-runner status and refusing the Yankees record-breaking contract to return to the Philadelphia Phillies.  For millions of dollars less!  It was a supernova implosion in the Yankee Universe.

Then, there was the drawn out he-said/they-said squabble over Derek Jeter's contract talks, culminating with the face of the Yankees calling out the team brass for leaking details of the negotiations to the press.  The future Hall of Famer was not so happy with Cashman and made it public.

Combine those ulcer-inducing episodes with the pressure to replace Lee with another top-notch starter and playing pattycake with 'will he or won't he return' Andy Pettitte.  Pettitte is still flapping in the wind.

The GM meekly admitted he even had discussions with Carl Pavano's agent about bringing back the loathed Yankee castaway and the PR nightmare it would cause.  Yankee fans could only hope the Steinbrenner boys would have overruled that move too.

Yesterday,  Cashman was thrust into the awkward position of introducing to the press a player he didn't even want.  If Soriano's press conference was any indication, Cashman probably told the party planner to use a Mets budget  The event was franks and beans compared to the festive soirees given to CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira or even Curtis Granderson at their intros.  You would think the Yankees would give the give their new 3-year, $35 million possible successor to Mariano Rivera a better coming out bash. 

The modest fete had none of the Steinbrenners or star players present and, instead of the Legends Room, it was held in the less opulent conference room.  Oh yeah, there was an interpreter and a table of coffee and donuts on the side.

Now, the only thing left for Cashman to do now is convincingly promote his new relief pitcher who makes "closer's money."

Cashman began by acknowledging that Soriano led the AL in saves last season for the Tampa Bay Rays and the righthander gives the Yankees a "dynamic punch" in the later innings.  Wow.

"Let me put it this way, I think 29 GMs would love their owner to force Rafael Soriano down their throat," said Cashman.  "It doesn't mean that I was right, or that it's the best approach, but it's who I am and still am.  But we are better in 2011 for this, there's no doubt about it."

Cashman, whose contract runs out this year,  made it clear he doesn't think the Steinbrenners have started a trend by overruling his input.  " If I have 10 recommendations, nine or ten get followed, but not every one of them," he reasoned.

Soriano, arguably,  does give the Yankees one of the best bullpens in the league.   Cashman can also take comfort in the fact that even though the team didn't get Lee or outfielder Carl Crawford, the Steinbrenners have a little George in them and will spend whatever it takes to help the team and save face.  Even overspend.