Yankees GM Brian Cashman focused on improving pitching

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Brian Cashman typically avoids specifics at this time of year, but did not do so Monday in discussing the Yankees’ offseason priorities.

“We need to reinforce our pitching,” Cashman said at the annual general managers meetings. “We’ll gravitate toward anything that makes sense [free agents or via trade]. I’m interested in adding more than just one pitcher. I need, I think, to add multiples.”

Cashman has money to spend because this year the Yankees finally brought payroll under the $197-million luxury tax threshold, a long-held goal of managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner. But it shouldn’t be assumed Steinbrenner got under the tax so he can shoot past it again.

“I don’t want to speak for ownership, but I just think we’re always trying to be aggressive and we’re trying to be wise at the same time,” Cashman said. “We’re trying to make smart plays, smart investments, whether it’s prospect value, whether it’s free-agent value.”

The two biggest names on the market are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. Prudently, Cashman declined to publicly declare anything regarding either player.

“I’m going to be engaging the entire landscape on the free-agent market,” Cashman said. “I’m not going to say who and when, but we will make sure we check every box in terms of evaluating what’s available and the cost associated with what’s available in both marketplaces – free agents and trades.”

The Yankees have plenty of outfielders, so Harper isn’t a fit on the surface, though Cashman wouldn’t say that explicitly. “I’ll look at anything,” he said. “I’ll still be open to outfield stuff, even though outfield looks like it’s fine.”

As for Machado, it remains to be seen how much his eventful postseason will impact his contract. It included his telling FS1’s Ken Rosenthal that “I’m not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle,’ ” and that playing that way is “not my cup of tea.” Many in the industry think, regardless of his October, that Machado will still land a contract in excess of $300 million.

Cashman did not bite when asked about the “hustle” issue. “I can’t answer that only because it’s applying to a specific player, so I’m not going to do the round-about,” Cashman said. “Every year you’re charged with determining who would be a good fit for your club, who you want to move forward with and, obviously, who you don’t. We’ll make those determinations and act accordingly.”

What’s most likely with the Yankees and Machado is, unless his price drops significantly and he falls in their laps – much like Giancarlo Stanton did last winter, in that case the reduced price being prospects – the majority of the budget is likely to be spent on pitching.

Of the Yankees own free-agent starters, Cashman would like to retain J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia, in that order. A top target of theirs is Diamondbacks lefthander Patrick Corbin, who grew up a Yankees fan in upstate New York.

“I’d bet on that,” an opposing team’s executive said of Corbin going to the Yankees.

Nathan Eovaldi, a former Yankee who shined for Boston this postseason, can’t be ruled out, as the righthander was immensely popular among his Yankees teammates and coaches. Cashman also will talk to teams with available starters. The Indians, who might be open for business for Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, are one example.

Speaking of the Red Sox, Cashman said the Yankees won’t be any more aggressive after their archirivals won the title.

“The Red Sox winning doesn’t change the hunger level of trying to deliver a championship sooner than later for our fan base,” Cashman said.

Toward the end of answering, he smiled.

“The hunger and the effort and the passion’s there,” Cashman said, “despite the horrible outcome that took place in the World Series this year.”

By Erik Boland

erik.boland@newsday.comeboland11

Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.