Yankees January 2019 Approval Poll: GM Brian Cashman

We’re more than halfway through the offseason, so it’s time to start this year’s version of the Brian Cashman approval poll. At this time last year, 95% of Pinstripe Alley readers approved of the job he was doing as GM. His numbers started to dip as the team cooled off down the stretch. Following the Yankees’ early exit from the playoffs, his approval rating dropped all the way to 66%. Now he starts 2019 with a clean slate, at least for our purposes.

Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that Brian Cashman has been very busy this offseason. Not only did he wine-and-dine Patrick Corbin and Manny Machado, but the Yankees have been the most active team in the AL East by far. He focused on the rotation as a weakness, and then worked hard to improve it. The Bombers may have passed on Corbin, but they signed CC Sabathia and J.A. Happ. Even better, Cashman worked out a deal to acquire James Paxton from Seattle, and recently traded Sonny Gray to the Reds.

The bullpen has been the Yankees’ greatest strength for many years now, and Cashman ensured that it will stay that way in 2019. They may have lost David Robertson, but they brought back Zach Britton, and signed Adam Ottavino. This could be the best ‘pen they’ve ever had.

The only area that arguably has some glaring weaknesses is the infield. Right now, it looks like Miguel Andujar, Troy Tulowitzki, Gleyber Torres, and Luke Voit will get the starting positions. There are a lot of question marks here, however. Andujar really struggled defensively last year, Tulo hasn’t made it onto a baseball field in over a year, Torres (and Andujar) might take a step back offensively, and it remains to be seen if Voit is the real deal. They’ve also added DJ LeMahieu, who should represent an upgrade over Neil Walker.

Now that Gray has been moved, and the Yankees don’t seem to be the frontrunners for Manny Machado or Bryce Harper, it’s entirely possible that they’re done for the offseason. They may pick up another starting pitcher, but it’d likely be someone from the free agent scrap heap.

That brings us to the question of the hour: Do you approve of the job Cashman has done over the offseason so far? Should he have done more? Are you in the camp that you won’t be happy if they Yankees don’t end up with Machado and/or Harper? Vote in the polls below and let us know what you think in the comment section.