The 2024 Cashman All-Stars! Catcher and Infield!

 

Want a breather, folks? 

Well, you're in luck, because it's time for the annual, Brian Cashman All-Star selections.

That is, the players Brian Cashman (and, to be fair, Hal Steinbrenner) traded away, got outbid for, or simply turned up their respective noses at. 

Guaranteed: almost every single one of these players could, simply by themselves, have won multiple pennants and World Series for the Yankees over the past eight seasons.

Catcher—J.T. Realmuto. A perennial selection to the All-Stars here—just as he is in real life!

Realmuto has not only been the best catcher in the major leagues for the past 8 years, he's also been practically the only catcher—at least, the only receiver who can both hit and field at a high level. 

Yanks might have got him back when Derek Jeter was being forced to dismantle the Miami Marlins, in 2018-2019. Or, maybe, once he was a free agent, after 2020.

But no, Cashman never showed the least interest. Hey, we had Gary Sanchez!

This year, there are two back-ups at the position: Luis Torrens, who was actually signed by the Yanks back in 2012. In true Brian fashion, he reacquired Torrens before the season, and in limited action this year, he has delivered some big clutch hits and won at least one game with his fielding...for the New York Mets. Yes, the Yanks sent him to Flushing—for a bag of money. Not like we needed a good fielding, back-up catcher or anything.

And then, incredibly enough, there's old friend Ben Biceptvedt, he of endless weight reps, injuries, and a .118 batting average for us. Brian sent him earlier this year to Tampa Bay, for whom he has been healthy enough to put in 200 plate appearance, hit .270, and play some decent D. 

You know, from that you'd almost think there was something wrong with our training and instruction methods.

But c'mon: how the hell else would we have acquired Jon Berti?

First Base—Freddie Freeman, the guy Cashman ignored when he became a free agent after 2021. All Freeman has done is hit a combined .320 since going to the Dodgers, while continuing to be a doubles, ribbie, and OBP machine. But hey, Cashie chose to bring back Anthony Rizzo, who is a lefty, as opposed to Freeman...a lefty. But look, Rizzo was born on August, 8, 1989...while Freeman was born on Sept. 12, 1989. Well, there is the DL—Freddie has missed...3 games since going to the Dodgers. Three. Total. In three years.

Middle Infield—Thairo Estrada, Ezequiel Duran, Ezequiel Duran.

Hey, I promise: it's NOT about all those pharaoh headdresses I still have in that Bronx warehouse! Thairo has had off-year this season, but put in two, very strong campaigns in 2022-2023, with OPS averages over .700 and some pop—while playing almost everywhere on the field.

But then, the Giants offered the Yanks the kind of player they just can't resist: cash.

Ezequiel Duran was that kind of player last season, playing a vital role in winning the Rangers a World Series. He's done a little less well this season, and has been sent down to AAA.

But not to worry, Yankees Rangers fans! Josh Smith, a player with great potential, has stepped into the breach, hitting .293 with 10 homers so far, while playing third, short, second, and DHing. 

How did Texas get these infinitely useful players? In a trade with the Yanks, of course! But don't despair, Bomber fans: we got an actual player for them both...Joey Gallo.

Shortstop—Corey Seager. There were any number of shortstops the Yankees could have signed as free agents...and almost all of them would have been better than Anthony Volpe who, let's admit it, is just not going to make it. Even Francisco Lindor would've been an improvement. 

But Seager—a left-handed power hitter and a good fielder who had already been Rookie of the Year and a World Series MVP by the time he was a free agent after 2021—seemed an obvious choice. Hey, all he's done since is win another Series MVP and finish second in the season-long MVP race.

Third Base—Manny Machado. The man who supposedly offered the Yankees a discount to sign with them, when he was a free agent. Since then, he's slugged 151 homers and counting in San Diego, as well as winning a Silver Slugger, making two All-Star games, and finished second in an MVP race.

But why worry? We are set at third!

Tomorrow: The Brian Cashman All-Star Outfield!