 guys so Brian you got the white whale what's it feel like we're excited but now you know it's like the Adriana Grande it's the next you know thank you next and so the next would be how do we continue to look to maintain what we have on the field and with this roster or reinforce it in other ways that might present themselves via free agency or trade-over-time or waiver claims or minor league six-year free agent so it's a long time between now and August 31st but we're excited about the group we have assembled already I think something that resonated with a lot of people is the fact that he kept that sign for when he was 11 years old did you know that he had kept the sign were you impressed with the amount of Yankee history that he knew I had no idea he had to sign still in possession and the one thing I'm not sure if yes picked up or not but being up on the podium when he's putting on that uniform he started getting emotional and you know and so that was I mean I know how much this means to him even more so by watching you know that play out a little bit but then he maintained his poise and he was able to regroup himself but it's obviously it's a long dream coming for him since he was a little boy Brian over the last couple of years as you've built this team you've been very methodical you've stayed away from that big market purchase and free agency you've made smart trades this time you went all in why this guy well I mean we've we've I think we've gone on all in all in on various options and it's just opportunities that present themselves and and how we kind of value that individual at in that time and place so so you know we've we've constantly been around and you know the big game side of it we played on some big things last year but then you know we pivoted and did a lot of different other things you know which was La Mayhew and Britain and you know we traded for Paxton and and you know about a Vino and so so anyway I just I think we try to navigate the opportunities that present themselves and then try to strategic strategically make the best decisions we possibly can with the amount that we have available which our ownership has always been great at and certainly more than than most you know cities across the land but you know but in this case you know we felt like wow if you know this was a you know a rare opportunity I mean he's a very unique gifted individual that doesn't present themselves in free agency very often so so I would liken it to a CC or liken it to a Mike Messina you know so when they do present themselves yeah you do go all in if you can you mentioned the fact you signed Cole now it's all about what's next so what's next what do you see as though this roster still needs I don't know if it I'm not gonna say it needs anything per se like we're really excited by the group that we have and so it's more about being open-minded and listening to what's available via free agency and or trade what shows up on the waiver wire or the mind looks extra free agent side of it and you know you know we have a lot of depth and coverage in a lot of areas which will need and you saw how it paid dividends for us last season when we had all these injuries so we'll see I mean as you know I feel like we're ready if opening day was here to tomorrow we'd be comfortable with what we're doing and how we've positioned ourselves but you know it's not pencils down at any time until again August 31st so we'll just have to wait and see and navigate you know the opportunities as they come you're not going to show us your hand because that's not what you do and I wouldn't expect you to are you cool though with DD signing with the Phillies of having labor tours be your everyday shortstop or are you investigating other opportunities there yeah I mean certainly we we had to decide where to reinvest or invest our you know remaining flexibility and unfortunately you know in the case for DD we had more coverage on the infield side you obviously clearly with labor tours showing what he could do for us at at shortstop in April May and June and then obviously seeing how Estrada played and having Tyler Wade here available as well and we have a young guy named Kyle Holder pushing up in the mix to down below as a great defensive wizard so we had more coverage and reinforcement internally that we can turn to and obviously not even speaking to the rest Indian field with you know the coverage at third with with the guys we have their second and so then the outfield so obviously trying to finish off and we haven't officially done it yet with the with bringing back Brett Gardner but but obviously trying to reinforce the outfit issues with the injuries the Hicks and stuff that was more of an area of focus outfield front line of the rotation and that was gonna take up a lot more of our financial flexibility then then unfortunately trying to compete in the marketplace for someone as good and talented as DD Austin Romain also gone do you feel as though you've seen enough from Kyle Higashioka that he could be the everyday backup catcher and also what type of growth would you like to see from Gary Sanchez this year well I mean I think Gary Sanchez is one of the best catchers in the baseball I thought last year reinforced that so we're really excited that you know he continues to maintain the everyday status as our catcher and then and then we think Kyle Higashioka is ready we thought he was ready last year and beyond but he's gonna get the opportunities of right now the season starts tomorrow he'll be our backup catcher and and we have no qualms about that pitchers love throwing to him he's a lethal bat against left-handed pitching he can really you know pop pop one pretty deep you know so he's a nice threat against left-handers so so very comfortable with his receiving skills and especially the bat against left-handers and so he's during the right to be our backup doesn't mean that we're not open minded to other options and other opportunities but more likely than not you know I think the catching tandem the focus is gonna be more about what's the insurance policies waiting at triple I do you have any desire to still be involved with Dillon Patances who's still out there it's a great he's been a great Yankee and so I've stayed in contact with Jim Murray and you know we'll see if that that you know opportunity you know presents itself for us or not over the course of time so I you know I can't say we're out on anything but I know that we loved everything that Dillon's provided you know from his signing out of the amateur world local kid coming up and being an amazing talented impactful elite reliever and then to now free agency so so we'll see we'll stay in touch it doesn't you know we love our bullpen as is we don't feel like there's anything we have to do further but that doesn't mean that going an extra mile to try to further reinforce isn't gonna be into our benefit at the same time it just it's a competitive market then you don't know where that's gonna lead and and so we'll stay engaged final thing now you find out that Garrett did have that sign it's been in his closet he loves the Yankees you think I could have gotten from minimum wage yeah I mean there's a very expensive sign right the first thing I thought when he started showing the sign I was like it's a very expensive sign so you know you're smart to keep that that quiet in the closet for until the press conference so you know obviously we stepped up the Steinbrenner stepped up and we're looking for it to pay off for our fans in the big way Merry Christmas Brian YouTube all right that's Brian Cashman Yankee GM so