New York Yankees Brian Cashman
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees successfully conquered the 2019 offseason despite Manny Machado’s intentions. 

I think it’s safe to say that this year’s free agent class has been a rollercoaster ride. With Manny Machado and Bryce Harper on the market, a lot of teams have made it their priority to sign either one of them.

For the New York Yankees, even if they don’t sign either player, this offseason has been a successful one.

Say what you want, but Brian Cashman and the Yankees hit all their targets in the offseason. They added a starter to the rotation after acquiring James Paxton from Seattle. Re-signing J.A. Happ was a good move as people tend to forget that he finished the season off going 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA.

They grabbed a second baseman in DJ Lemaheiu, a solid hitter and a player who knows how to get on base—not to mention his skills with the glove. They also snagged veteran Troy Tulowitzki in a league-minimum deal.

Tulowitzki might not be what he used to be, but he’s definitely a guy you want in the clubhouse. A seasoned player with a lot of knowledge that can stem down to the rookies.

From the looks of it, the Yankees infield is pretty much set. Why is it necessary to sign Machado? Would signing Machado really solidify the Yankees’ chances of winning the World Series?

At this point, whoever thinks the Yankees haven’t had a smart offseason are simply the fans they don’t need.

The Yankees took care of their pitching situation, which was the main issue. Boosted their infield and still have Gleyber Torres along with Miguel Andujar, who was basically AL Rookie of the Year last season.

The outfield is already set and no need to think about that. Gary Sanchez is behind the plate and the bullpen is still as strong as it was last year. Despite losing David Robertson, they held onto relief pitcher Zach Britton.

The only real position that needs to be addressed is first base, but that can be occupied by Luke Voit and Greg Bird.

Whether or not Machado signs with the Yankees, Cashman, once again, executed a successful offseason. He likes throwing surprises once in a while, so don’t be too surprised if Machado signs.

[membership level="0"] [/membership]

Even with all the rumors floating between the Chicago White Sox and Machado, the Yankees can definitely top the offer, the question is– is it worth it?

Do you really want Machado that bad? Or do you want him because you’re so accustomed to grabbing the highest price tagged player on the market?

Plus, do the Yankees really need another right-handed batter in the line-up? I’m not the first one to jump on statistics, but it’s not bad to be ambidextrous either.

Machado is, no doubt, a great player, but he’s not worth all this uproar among the Yankee community. Soon, pitchers and catchers report to spring training and in two months the 2019 campaign begins.

The focus among the Yankee faithful should be towards the new season with the players we have now, not the players that are unsure of where they want to go.

By now, both Harper and Machado should have an idea of where they want to be in 2019 and if they don’t, that’s not necessarily a good look on them.

There is, no doubt, the Yankees have reached out. The ball is in Machado’s field at this point. Whether Machado winds up in pinstripes or not, the real success comes in October.