Brian Cashman turned job he didn’t want into a Yankees dream

Part 30 in a series analyzing the New York Yankees.

There was a time when Brian Cashman wanted no part of being George Steinbrenner’s general manager.

“Early on I was with [GM] Woody Woodward, whose nickname was ‘The Pharmacist’ because his office drawer was filled with vitamins to try and keep him healthy while he was under such siege from The Boss,’’ Cashman recalled recently while on a fund-raising call for Family Center’s Emergency Family Assistance Fund. “I remember saying to myself, ‘I would never want that job.’ Why would I not want the job? Because it is a no-win, so stressful.’’

Games or no games, this is Cashman’s 23rd year in a job he never wanted but landed on Feb. 3, 1998, after Bob Watson stepped down.

Across the 52-year-old Cashman’s 34 years working for the Yankees, there have been challenges, successes, heartbreaks, difficult decisions and failures.

“It has been an amazing magic-carpet ride which has led us to this season,’’ was the way Cashman described being part of the organization since 1986, when he was a 19-year-old intern in the minor league scouting department.

This season was supposed to start March 26 in Baltimore, but the coronavirus shut down spring training on March 12. The players and owners are attempting to get an 82-game schedule launched in July. Health, safety and financial issues will decide if there are games or not.

Should it start, the Yankees would be among the favorites to add their 28th World Series title. It’s an expectation Cashman never ducks.

“We believe we have another championship-caliber team on our hands, and we just want to deploy it the best way we possibly can. We have been knocking on the door and are always in championship mode,’’ Cashman said.

The addition of free agent right-hander Gerrit Cole immediately pushed the Yankees to the top of the AL heap. It was a move orchestrated by Cashman and Hal Steinbrenner approving a nine-year deal for $324 million.

Yet, if simply throwing millions of dollars at players delivered championships the Yankees wouldn’t be looking for their first World Series title since 2009.

Signed through the 2022 season, Cashman’s care of the Yankees’ minor leaguers in the final days of this past spring training, when he led a contingent of staffers feeding the players and handing out money, was appreciated and didn’t go unnoticed by those who work under him.

“Brian plays a crucial role in our success, and I’ve known for quite some time how fortunate we are to have him leading our baseball operations department,’’ Steinbrenner said after Cashman was named Baseball America’s Executive of the Year in 2017. “He cares deeply about this franchise and our fans, and he skillfully navigates the many challenges that come with holding the position he does in the media capital of the world.’’

Though Cole is the headliner, Cashman has made several lesser-known moves that have paid off very well.

Getting first baseman Luke Voit from the Cardinals for relievers Chasen Shreve and Giovanny Gallegos provided a power-hitting first baseman.

Acquiring outfielder Mike Tauchman from the Rockies for lefty Phillip Diehl gave the Yankees depth last year when Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton missed extended time.

Trading closer Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs for Gleyber Torres in return in 2016 was a good move even before Chapman returned to the Yankees as a free agent following the season.

Adding free agent infielder DJ LeMahieu to the mix with a two-year contract for $24 million before last season was a big plus. Landing relievers Chad Green and Luis Cessa from the Tigers for Justin Wilson in 2015 was a steal. Getting Gio Urshela from the Blue Jays for cash considerations turned out well.

Of course there have been misses such as Jacoby Ellsbury. Not retaining Didi Gregorius could backfire if Torres can’t play short. But if there is a schedule, expect the team Cashman constructed to be playing in the postseason.