Joe Girardi has seen the Yankees try to win the old-fashioned way, by going out this time of year and signing some of the most expensive players available.
But the last two offseasons have been different, and the manager says he’s on board with the change — even if it has cost him a pair of important young arms.
“I love what we’re doing,” Girardi said. “We expect to win. I think it’s important that you get as athletic as possible. We have young players coming. Starlin Castro is a young guy, and we got Didi [Gregorius] last year.”
Castro’s acquisition from the Cubs came at the expense of Adam Warren. The addition of minor league pitching depth sent lefty Justin Wilson to Detroit, and there remains no guarantee Andrew Miller will be back as closer if general manager Brian Cashman is wowed by an offer.
At this point, it’s hard to predict who will be in the bullpen by Opening Day.
“We lost two really important pieces, [and] I think we will work now to fill those holes as we’ve had to sacrifice to get what we needed,” Girardi said Monday after taping an episode of “CenterStage” for the YES Network in Midtown.
“We dealt from a position of strength. … We’ll work the rest of it out as we move forward.”
That may include inexperienced arms such as Nick Rumbelow, James Pazos and Branden Pinder — all of whom were singled out by Girardi — as well as more trade acquisitions by general manager Brian Cashman.
“I think some of these kids can be really helpful,” Girardi said. “I think they will continue to grow and provide us with some good arms down there.”
But he expects more moves.
“It’s a long time before we go to spring training, so those names could be different than the cast of characters we’re pulling from now,” Girardi said. “It’s probably going to get bigger.”
In contrast to previous years, when the Yankees have sometimes been attached to every high-priced free agent, that has not been the case in 2015.
“Some of our players that have been here a long time are nearing the end of their contracts and are older,” Girardi said. “We’re filling [spots] with younger players, which I think is important. People have asked me about, ‘The Yankees didn’t make a big splash this offseason.’ Well, every one of our position [players] is in a long-term contract. If you do make a big splash, where are you putting him?”
That’s led Cashman and the Yankees to travel a different path as older players like Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran approach the ends of their deals — all while attempting to get back to the postseason.
“It hasn’t been difficult because I think our veterans have done a really good job with the young players and helping them,” Girardi said of the transition. “You think about Alex going out and talking to Didi about playing short and Carlos talking to him.”
In the meantime, Miller and Brett Gardner — two trade assets — remain Yankees, though Girardi knows that status could change.
“You deal with it when it happens,” Girardi said of the potential of losing more important parts of last year’s team. “We’re doing everything we can to win a World Series as soon as possible, and that’s the most important thing.”
Could that happen in 2016, even with all the question marks?
“It could be,” Girardi said. “I like what our guys did last year, and I think we can do better.”
Girardi also said he saw Mark Teixeira on Saturday and he was “much better” as he recovers from a fractured right leg that cost him the end of the 2015 regular season.