Newsday

"I always thought that was a false narrative," Cashman said of financial discipline Yankees have shown in recent years.

There are more than a few examples of players brought in by the Yankees over the years who could not, of course, cautionary tales never fully out of Cashman's mind.

Gardner, 36, hit .251 with career-highs in home runs  and RBIs last season.

Yankees had been chasing their free agent trophy for many years.

With Hal Steinbrenner willing to surpass the highest luxury tax threshold, Brian Cashman was all-in for the game-changing righthander.

This is a stressful time for Cashman, as his entire operation remains singularly focused on Cole

Brian Cashman gets go-ahead from Hal Streinbrenner to make top-notch pitch to prized righthander.

Brian Cashman confident of his options to cover shortstop, including Gleyber Torres, Tyler Wade and prospect Thairo Estrada.

Girardi, whose last game as Yankees manager was a Game 7 ALCS loss to the Astros in Houston in 2017, said "word gets around."

STAMFORD, Conn. -- As Brian Cashman rappelled down the side of One Landmark Square on Friday, he spotted a piece of paper posted in the window of one of the offices in the 22-story downtown tower, with a message in large bold print: "Please sign Gerrit Cole."

Signing one of the premier free-agent starters would push the Yankees near the third luxury-tax threshold of $248 million.

In all, 40 players were non-tendered Monday, becoming free agents at least a year earlier than they otherwise would have.

But adding one of the two best free agent starters -- Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg -- will come at a hefty cost.

The first baseman was designated for assignment last week and declined a spot with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The lefthander went 5-1 with a 5.67 ERA in 33 games last season for the Yankees.