It's got to be tough being Brian Cashman these days. Not only is his counterpart In Flushing out-finessing him at the winter meetings, but he's got to be feeling jet-lag from all the bi-coastal stalking of CC Sabathia.
Of course the tragic narrative of the Yankees thus-far unrequited love for CC has been well-documented. But the importance of adding CC has been underscored by reports of Cashman preparing for Plan B, as in a contract offer to the Brewers other free agent starter, Ben Sheets.
There’s only one problem here for anyone who’s a fan of the Yankees, and/or not losing in a division that might be the toughest in baseball: Ben Sheets is no CC Sabathia. And we’re not just talking about because Sheets is 100-pounds lighter, white, and right-handed.
Now let's not get it twisted, this is not to say Ben Sheets is a bad pitcher. In fact he'd be a great fit as a #2 starter for someone like the Mets. The Yankees, however, need a proven ace. Someone that pushes Chin-Mieng Wang down in the rotation. Someone you can book for 200 innings, and can handle the rigors of a full season in the American League.
Ben has been a solid pitcher, but he has toiled all his career in the NL for a mostly mediocre Milwaukee Brewers team. So before even accounting for his inability to throw 200 innings in the last four years, you have to wonder if the jump up in competition -- from the NL Central to the AL East -- and stage (i.e. New York vs. Milwaukee) would be a little too much bed for Sheets to cover.
One the Yankees side, it would certainly mean regression if Sheets is their ace. Which is why the prospect of signing him as their top free agent pitching prize can be be considered nothing less than a disastrous worse case scenario.
Which is also why it’s got to be tough for Brian Cashman to be thinking about it this early in the game.
