Cashman explains why Yankees failed to add starter

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the franchise "knocked on all doors" but were unable to make a move before the MLB trade deadline.

The Yankees were reportedly looking to add at least one starter before Wednesday's deadline and had been linked to Tanner Roark, Trevor Bauer, Madison Bumgarner, Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, Robbie Ray, Marcus Stroman and Mike Minor.

However, the Yankees failed to come away with any of those players and instead made just one move — acquiring minor leaguer Alfredo Garcia from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Joseph Harvey.

"My job is constantly trying to improve this club, and we've been doing it for a long time," Cashman told reporters. "Just in terms of the circumstances, we didn't get close to anything. But we certainly knocked on all doors."

Yankees ace Luis Severino has not pitched this season because of an arm injury while the rest of their starters have been inconsistent.

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Yet, New York finished play Wednesday in first place of the American League East with a 68-39 record.

"I feel comfortable with walking away from everything that was in front of me because those weren't real opportunities as far as my conversations were going," Cashman said. "The fallback is to look in that room at the players we have and feel really good about those guys."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he is confident his team can compete for a title as they are presently constructed.

"Nothing changes," Boone told reporters after the Yankees' 7-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. "Just in there celebrating a win with those guys and looking around the room knowing we have everything we need to be a championship club. That doesn't change.

"I have total faith in Brian [Cashman] and their staff in that they're always going to do what's best for this organisation. Whether that's short term, long term, all of those things. So, the fact that something didn't happen, it means it didn't match up. We're ready to roll and move forward."

The Yankees are set to begin a four-game series against rivals and World Series champions the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

Published 01 Aug 2019, 04:28 IST