 want to get it back out to San Diego right now. Jack and Meredith standing by with Brian Cashman. Meredith take it away. Thanks Bob. Brian obviously congratulations are in order to you. Four-year contract announced it was signed today. We will get to that in just a minute but every Yankees fan wants to know about Aaron Judge right now so can you shed any light on what the conversations have been like and whether or not you believe he's gonna be in pinstripes next season? I mean we're we're certainly hopeful but we're not driving this bus obviously Mr. Judge is and you know he put himself in a great position clearly with a historic season and he's had an amazing career thus far and you know one that if he continues is take him all the way to Cooperstown but we want every stop along the way between now and and hopefully that final destination to be here in the Bronx for us so you know balls in his court still you know he's you know assessing market value marketplace life decisions you know and yes we are certainly an active negotiations you know with him. Ryan you mentioned that Aaron is driving the bus but what can the Yankees do to try and push that bus across the finish line so to speak and to help consummate a deal? Load it up with a lot of a lot of coin right you know slow that bus down a little bit I guess by by putting some heavy dollars on board so he's gonna make a lot of money either way because again he's a great player in one of the games best and so again we just hope you know in the end that you know he recognizes obviously the you know the financial offer that Hal Steimer is gonna put forth and has put forth is is obviously big time you know you know Hal's you know has already said publicly you know he's he's walking the walk by you know you know he's already talked to talk he's walking the walk I promise you that you know what's you know the efforts are there from the financial standpoint and you know I think you know we're really proud of the organization that we have and how we support our players and and you know the competitive teams that are on the field and and I know Aaron judge you know loved being a part of that but he's got to evaluate all opportunities before him so we'll see you know I know you're probably not going to say this publicly but there have been reports of an eight-year deal $300 million range how close are those reports to being accurate and how how far will the Yankees go to keep judge fair question can't really answer because we're in these active negotiations and certainly wouldn't want to compromise any of them but you know again at the end of the day we're doing you know what we think we can do to try to retain you know a great player that's been a great Yankee thus far and and certainly want that relationship to continue and you know time will tell it's I have to be patient here and see how it plays out you know if we held all the cards we don't you know I'd be able to answer your questions a lot easier but you know we're just going to make continue to make the best attempts we possibly can and hopefully bring him back and then and not just him it's about the rest of the team too we need to continue to refine it at it whether it's coming from below or outside the organization you know that's the job Brian you mentioned Hal Steinbrenner earlier when I spoke to him this offseason just as it was getting under way he had said that he was active in talking to Aaron judge how active has he remained in the negotiations and trying to get him in pinstripes for the duration well I know it started right when the season ended so unfortunately when our season came to an end the very next day you know you know Hal Steinbrenner and myself got on the phone there and judge directly and where Hal was able to communicate you know his thoughts right to the player and then clearly you know the negotiations have been handling I've been handling them on behalf of how but how has been dictating the negotiations to you know so on our end and I've been dealing with the agents and you know they have a good relationship a really good relationship I think how and Aaron judge and there's a comfort level there and hopefully one that'll service well because you know like anything else it it does take money but the relationships are important to and I think we have really good relationships that's gonna play a very key factor in this with the player but it's also a business too we know it on our end they know it on their end and so we're you know we're trying to make sure that we we make it hard for him to leave have you spent a significant amount of time discussing a plan B if things don't work out with Aaron judge or is that something you're just trying not to think about it this particular juncture and certainly you know every year every winter you know the available free agent and trade markets are always different you know different strengths different weaknesses and that we don't want to look at any plan B's or C's or D's or E's whatever you want to call it we you know our hopes and goals are about us to retain our player and and hopefully we can continue to calm our player but we'll see over time it's just gonna take a little probably a little more time the winter's night ago forever sometimes players don't sign all the way till spring training I don't see that happening in this particular case but I'm just guessing now on that you know again you know Aaron judge will make a decision for him and his family you know with his agency at some point and the active in the negotiations are still active Brian you've been the general manager for a quarter of a century as Meredith mentioned sign on for four more years you obviously don't need a Yankee history lesson I don't think Aaron judge does either but how much has the legacy of the Yankees come up in your conversations and the idea of how badly and how desperately does he want to be a Yankee and spend his entire career in pinstripes and be part of that legacy I mean I think I think he does I mean he's communicated that both publicly to our fan base through through our media and then privately you know he this is where he wants to play but it doesn't always work out that way so you have to kind of you know caution and caution yourself a little bit with it but you know there's I'm sure if you're any player there's a curiosity of elsewhere right and the one feedback I constantly get which you know I make sure I communicate to our owners when players aren't with us anymore or they come and come back I do know that they appreciate what the Steimer family provides for our players you know whether it's facilities travel security you know there's so many different amenities that the Steimer family go above and beyond for to try to put the players this is tough environment in New York right playing in New York is not easy you know our fans rightfully so are demanding and expecting winning on a year in and year out day and day out year in and year out basis and so you know ownership on top of that is trying to make sure that they're comfortable and happy and their families are taken care of and they they take a lot of great pains and providing enough support in that arena and so when players have played here and played elsewhere but they come here from elsewhere they're like wow they're blown away with all the extra stuff that we do to try to support them and so I think I think Aaron judge knows that but at the same time like any free agent they're curious they're going to be curious they're going to curious about what their marketplace is value is and what other places provide but I can tell you this from what I understand most other places don't provide what our fan base provides what our ownership provides and hopefully that carries some weight to brand you've been clear the organization has been very clear crystal clear you want Aaron judge back but you also have to look to that 2023 season and put together a roster so from your perspective the waiting game how difficult is that for you in knowing there are moves that need to be made it's difficult but but at the same time you know we have a really strong roster you know I'm certainly staying in touch with our trainers about how digital may use coming along and you know because you know we've lost some important pieces along the way in season so so getting them back and healthy will be important you know we got flavor tour is down playing winter ball right now and so we're keeping track of our players and we've got some young guys pushing up so yes without a doubt we're trying to improve in some cases on the fringes on the edges and other past cases obviously we have a vacancy in left field we have obviously a big vacancy in right field you always want to improve your pitching and so we're certainly having some exploratory trade talks and staying in touch with the free agent group but the big ticket item Aaron judge is obviously you know gonna take up some time with DJ Lamehy there was some uncertainty exactly whether or not he would need surgery is there any clarity there what is he doing right now I'd say right now in the in this part of the winter it looks optimistic that we're gonna try to avoid surgery he's feeling really good it's still premature and early so I'm not saying he's out of the woods and anyway way shape or form but I know he's responded really well to the rest and he's putting himself to physical activity and testing right now and he's responding well to that whether it's running hitting fielding his position so a lot of that stuff is going on he's down in Tampa and and the feedback has been really positive so you know fingers crossed that we can avoid a surgery fingers crossed that this heals on its own with time and if that's the case obviously we're gonna get a great player back we know what DJ Lamehy means to us and what he can be Aaron judge is in Tampa tonight in fact he's at the Buccaneers game but there is a report that he will be in San Diego tomorrow he will be here what should we read into that I have no idea I mean it's again I don't control the itinerary for the player and so there are no plans to meet face to face with him tomorrow I've got no there's nothing set up for the Yankees with Aaron judge we're not aware either way I've seen the reports I can't verify him either way so I have no hidden ball trick here if he is coming you know no one's made me aware of it other than the media reports so judge aside you've talked about some other needs that this team has in your mind what is the biggest other issue that needs to be addressed I don't you know Aaron judge is the biggest clearly and then after that you know left field is is an area of importance you know you got Ben attendee we'd love to bring him back if that's possible but then there's alternatives if it's not that we also have you know some young kids that you know stepped up and showed some interesting things for us this past year that we like and and feel we can grow with you know and then you know you always look at the starting pitching although I think our starting pitching on paper is really good going into the season it doesn't mean you don't want to reinforce it and add to it bullpen you know so pitching pitching pitching but left field right field of the biggest needs right now so what's going on in that room right now when you get back up there you know a lot of ideas you know I just left the meeting with with an agent you know about one of their players and you know so I bounce out of the room meet with somebody in a separate room bounce back in here like a like a bee flying back to the hive with with the honey of information and and so you know that's what's going to be going on you know obviously the next few days we're just going to stay locked in with our phones texting calling clubs agents meetings see where it takes us well we know you have a lot of work to do and you have to get back upstairs but thanks as always for stopping by thanks for having me thank you Bob we'll set it back to you in the studio alright