Cashman: We're still going to spend plenty

TAMPA, Fla. -- Brian Cashman said the Yankees' transition to a lower payroll doesn't mean they're going to be a franchise run on the cheap.

"We're still the Yankees; we're still going to outspend everybody else. That's not going to change," the general manager said Friday morning at Steinbrenner Field before his team played the University of South Florida in an exhibition game. "We're still going to be there for our fan base and try to make sure every year is a year that they have legitimate hope that this could be a special season. That's never going to change."

The change in philosophy relating to the payroll -- enunciated publicly for the first time Thursday by managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, who said he wants the payroll at $189 million by 2014 to avoid paying the luxury tax -- involves an alteration in how the organization pursues championships: primarily, by being smarter and more economical, a large component of which is continuing to focus on the draft and player development.

"Look at the Minnesota Twins, look at the Tampa Bay Rays, look at a lot of clubs that are having massive success, going about it a different way," Cashman said. "We can incorporate every way . . . We, the Yankees, had failed years back to recognize the draft being the most important day in baseball. It is. And July 2 the next most important because of the international amateur pool. That's where we got [Jesus] Montero, which allowed us hopefully to be able to capitalize on [Michael] Pineda later on."

For purposes of the luxury tax, the Yankees' final payroll in 2011 was $212.7 million, so the Yankees are thinking about a $23.7-million reduction by 2014.

It requires a patience that wasn't always a part of the George Steinbrenner Yankees. While not indicting The Boss, Cashman stated what has been obvious for at least the last few years under Hal Steinbrenner: There is a budget in place.

Does the $189-million target make his job more difficult? "I think it's easier when you have parameters," Cashman said. "It was very difficult when [in the past] it would change on a daily basis, which was, don't lose the player at all costs. That's not a good negotiating position to be in. You're basically in the position of getting rolled and it's a one-way negotiation. Having parameters allows you to walk away. Having parameters gives you the ability to say no and mean it versus faking a no."

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Those parameters will be challenged after this season when Russell Martin and Nick Swisher, two players whom the Yankees like, can become free agents.

"Can we retain him? I don't know," Cashman said of Martin. "He's going to have opportunities, we're going to pursue retaining him, but there's no guarantee we'll have him."

The following year becomes even more of a challenge when Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson can become free agents.

Steinbrenner on Thursday didn't completely rule out going against team policy and negotiating extensions with Cano and/or Granderson. Neither did Cashman. "I don't think it's in our best interests to say what we would or wouldn't be likely to do," he said.

He later added: "I think everybody here is smart enough to survey the landscape, as we move forward, to read the tea leaves," perhaps an indication that an attempt to sign one or both to extensions could be made.

When asked if the Yankees will be able to afford Cano and Granderson, Cashman said: "I wouldn't say. All these things . . . I think the market will dictate. I know the Cardinals wanted to retain Pujols, but the market took him to another city."

That would be Anaheim, as the Angels signed Albert Pujols to a 10-year deal worth more than $250 million.

Joe Girardi, for one, isn't about to complain about the payroll decreasing a bit.

"I know Hal talked about a number; it's not like that number's a low number," said Girardi, whose Opening Day payroll was just under $15 million when he managed the Marlins in 2006. "What manager wouldn't like to have a payroll of that [$189 million]? I'm still really blessed to have the payroll we have."