Yankees' Brian Cashman on Not Landing Gerrit Cole: 'I Don't Regret Our Process'

Despite missing out on acquiring some of the best pitchers in the past two years, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman doesn't regret how the team approached building its roster. 

Per MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, Cashman was specifically asked about not adding Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Patrick Corbin. 

"I don't regret our process... I think we have a strong, healthy process. ... I can sleep at night with the process we have in place," he said.

The Yankees were reportedly interested in all three star pitchers before they wound up with their current teams.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported New York was interested in Verlander but opted to let him go through waivers without putting in a claim because of the $64 million remaining on his contract and the organization's desire to remain under the luxury tax. 

The Houston Astros worked out a deal with the Detroit Tigers for Verlander on Aug. 31, 2017. He's gone 42-15 with a 2.45 ERA in 73 starts since the trade and was named MVP of the 2017 ALCS when he allowed one run with 21 strikeouts in 16 innings over two starts against the Yankees. 

Cole was on the Yankees' radar long before the Pittsburgh Pirates dealt him to Houston in January 2018. The right-hander was drafted by New York out of high school in 2008, but he opted to attend college at UCLA. 

Per ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the Pirates moved on from the Yankees as a trade partner for Cole because of New York's refusal to include prospects like Gleyber Torres, Justus Sheffield, Estevan Florial or Miguel Andujar in any offer. 

Corbin to the Yankees seemed like the safest bet in free agency last offseason. The southpaw spoke openly during the 2018 season when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks about playing in pinstripes.

"It would definitely be great to play there," Corbin told Bob Nightengale of USA Today. "I grew up a Yankee fan. My whole family are Yankee fans. My mom, my dad, my grandpa, everybody. Really, every generation of my family has been Yankee fans."

New York's max offer to Corbin was $100 million over five years, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. He wound up signing with the Washington Nationals for $140 million over six years. 

The Yankees lost to the Astros in the ALCS this year, making this the first full decade (2010-19) that the franchise hasn't played in one World Series since the 1910s. 

Cashman and Yankees ownership will have a chance to be aggressive this offseason if they choose to because Cole will hit free agency for the first time in his career.