Yankees' Cashman: 'I am willing to walk through fire' to end World Series drought
The New York Yankees did not meet the organization's goal of winning a World Series and haven't claimed a championship since 2009, but that doesn't mean general manager Brian Cashman won't do everything he can to get back to the top.
"I am willing to walk through fire to accomplish something great," Cashman said during a media appearance five days after the Tampa Bay Rays eliminated the Yankees from the postseason, according to YES Network.
New York was sent packing in the final game of the division series after closer Aroldis Chapman allowed a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to Rays utility player Mike Brosseau.
The Yankees were eliminated in heartbreaking fashion for the second consecutive season after Chapman allowed a similar season-ending homer to the Houston Astros' Jose Altuve during the 2019 American League Championship Series.
Despite the tough loss, New York's GM remained optimistic about the team's future chances, with most of their core roster remaining intact entering 2021.
"I know we're that we're proud of the fact that we have a shot, that we've been in position to take that shot," Cashman continued before describing how a single play could have changed how things turned out for the Yankees.
"Ultimately, we've been in the arena to compete with extremely talented teams on the other end. Some of them we've navigated past, other ones we haven't, and that's just the way the October postseason works."
The executive then used the Los Angeles Dodgers as an example of another successful organization that has failed to capture a recent World Series. The Dodgers haven't won one since 1988.
"They've got eight straight division titles in the National League West. They're considered one of the prime examples of a greatly-run franchise that has terrific players, talent, strong process, but it doesn't guarantee the outcome, it doesn't guarantee any end result," Cashman said before pledging his commitment to Yankees fans to end the team's World Series drought.
"We'll keep fighting, the commitment of winning a championship will always be there."