On the player front, C. C. Sabathia’s contract is up, Masahiro Tanaka can opt out of his and, because of new rules governing the signing of international players, the chase for the Japanese two-way talent Shohei Otani — who could fill a spot in the rotation and a gaping hole at designated hitter — will not simply be a matter of emptying the treasure chest.
While Cashman seems unlikely to be going anywhere — the principal owner Hal Steinbrenner has shown little inclination to fire people with far less merit — the case of Girardi is more complicated.
He just completed his 10th season with the Yankees, and though he shepherded the club through several transitional years while keeping the team competitive and was duly praised for his work this season, questions remain about whether his relentless style — amid the attendant scrutiny of New York — has a shelf life.
Credit
Ben Solomon for The New York Times
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