New York, NY

While describing a trade as unrealistic, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he's ready to listen to offers for third baseman Alex Rodriguez if teams inquire about his availability.

Cashman, during an interview with "Sunday Morning with Ian O'Connor" on ESPNNewYork 98.7 FM, said he expects Rodriguez to be his third baseman but he's ready to receive calls inquiring about trading for him.

"It's not like I'm going to hang phones up on anybody who wants to make any overtures about anything," Cashman said. "You're talking about realistic stuff and unrealistic stuff. I don't think it's realistic at all for us to be moving forward with anything but Alex Rodriguez at third base."

Cashman clarified that the Yankees are not keen on trading Rodriguez despite his postseason hitting woes, which forced manager Joe Girardi to bench him several times.

However, he agreed that A-Rod's days as a superstar are finished but remains as above-average third baseman.

"Do I expect him to return to the MVP-caliber type Alex Rodriguez? No," Cashman said. "But despite the age where he's at, he's still an above-average player at that position."

"Is he a superstar at that position? No. But I think when anybody signed that (10-year, $275 million) contract (in 2007), expecting him to be at that level at that age would be unrealistic also," he added.

During the interview, Cashman declared that Kevin Long's job as hitting coach is "safe" in wake of the lineup's collapse during Detroit's sweep of the American League Championship Series.

"He's safe. ... Kevin Long is without question one of the best hitting coaches in the game, and what took place here is a collective failure, not an individual one, and no one is going to be pointed at as a scapegoat," he said.

Cashman also revealed that CC Sabathia's left elbow might require a surgical "cleanup" in the coming weeks and ruled out the possibility of backup shortstop Eduardo Nunez being moved to another position.

"It's hard to say. I don't want to speak for Andy, but I know Andy loves what he does and he's obviously great at what he does. He can keep doing it if he so chooses. I wouldn't be surprised if he wants to keep going, but I just don't know," Cashman said when asked about Andy Pettitte's return next season.

 

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