Brian Cashman talks Yankees’ offseason priorities, analytics, hitting coach requirements

After missing the postseason for the first time since 2016, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman met with the media during the GM meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. on Tuesday and he had plenty to say.

Cashman, who has helmed the Yankees since 1998, defended the organization and his front office after the Yankees’ 82-80 record in 2023, and his own deals over the last few years.

"I've been here with the Yankees for a long time,” Cashman said. “Whether that's a good thing for our fans or perceptions or not. I'm proud of our operations. I think we have a great group of baseball people.

“I think we have a very great process that has served us well until what happened to us in this particular season. That does cause for evaluation, self-reflection, which is always the case even when we’re flying high… this winter we go back at the wheel and it’s about 2024 and look to be a phoenix rising out of the ashes to find a way.”

Cashman later added this nugget about the Yankees' staff and their organizational process.

"We've got good people. I'm proud of our people, and I'm proud of our process. Doesn't mean we're firing on all cylinders, doesn't mean we're the best in class, but I think we're pretty f----- good, personally, and I'm proud of our people. I'm also looking forward to '24 being a better year than '23."

Here are some other takeaways from an eventful hour-long conversation…

YANKEES OFFSEASON PRIORITIES

The Yankees and Cashman will look to improve the team for the 2024 season through trades and free agency, but what positions are they looking for? Some are obvious, but Cashman gave an honest look into what they are hoping to obtain over the winter.

“We need two outfielders because with Jasson Dominguez being hurt I need a center fielder,” Cashman said. “I need a left fielder, preferably left handed. Always look to try and reinforce our pitching. We have infield surplus. Do we find a lane to get [Oswald] Peraza involved? We have Gleyber Torres in the last year of his contract… He was our second best hitter last year behind [Aaron] Judge. Gotta get [Giancarlo] Stanton up and running again.

“He’s injury-prone, but he’s never not hit when he’s playing and this is the first year that that’s happened.”

Cashman also said that DJ LeMahieu saw some promising signs at the end of the 2023 season and believes he can contribute like he did in the past.

He's also waiting to hire a hitting coach before they figure out how to get Stanton back up and running for the upcoming season.

When Shohei Ohtani was brought up, Cashman kept it general and said the Yankees will be "interested in everyone that can make us better. And ultimately Hal Steinbrenner will make the final call on what those price tags are and how they will fit."

"He's a great player, we all know that," Cashman said of Ohtani. "We will certainly have discussions and find out what's workable and what's not and what's attainable and what isn't."

ON YANKEES’ USE OF ANALYTICS

A common criticism of the Yankees is their reliance on analytics. While all teams use analytics in various ways, Cashman and the Yankees seem to rely heavily on data to manage games and players.

The Yankees GM pushed back on the claims from fans and the media on the team’s analytics use.

"Do you know we have the smallest analytics department in the AL East? Is that a shocker to you guys?” Cashman said on the notion the Yankees are analytically driven. “We have the largest pro scouting department in all of baseball. Is that a shocker to everybody? Shouldn't be, but no one's doing their deep dives.

"No one is doing their deep dives, they're just throwing bulls--- and accusing us of being run analytically. Analytics is an important spoke in our wheel and it’s an important spoke to every team. To say we're guided by analytics as a driver is a lie."

Cashman also clarified the role of Zelus Analytics and said that they are just looking into how they run their analytics and compare it to how the Yankees run. They’ll ask questions on certain algorithms that they aren’t using and see if it’ll work for them.

WHAT YANKEES LOOKING FOR IN BENCH/HITTING COACH

With the Yankees needing a new hitting coach and, with the Mets’ signing of Carlos Mendoza, a new bench coach, Cashman and the rest of the organization will have to seek out who the new voices in the clubhouse will be.

Cashman was asked what they are looking for in a bench and hitting coach.

“First and foremost, especially with a veteran team that a lot of these guys are run on auto-pilot. We want people who know swing mechanics. You have to be able to partner and communicate with the players. You’re looking for someone that has the ability to communicate and dissect swings and use every tool in the toolbox, especially whether it’s using tech, analytics, performance science, strength and conditioning, and knowing swing mechanics inside out and knowing every hitter is different.”

Cashman points out that the Yankees have a lot of veterans so he wants a culture where the players have access to everything they need whether it’s analytics or someone who can help them in the old-fashioned way.

“The culture I want is to make sure to create in that clubhouse that every player has access to what they want…I need dual threats that can provide everything. The head guy with the team they put together is going to be a full-service operation. That’s the hope.”

As for bench coach, Cashman is looking for someone manager Aaron Boone can rely on. Mendoza ran a lot of spring training games and the team will look internally to see if they have someone who can handle that aspect but the bench coach should be able to handle lineup construction, use of analytics and have Boone’s ear.