DUNEDIN, Fla. — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is expecting a call from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll after saying he wouldn’t stop quarterback Russell Wilson from getting an at-bat in an exhibition game.
“I’m not opposed to that,’’ Cashman said of Wilson, who is in camp to lend his experience and thoughts on leadership.
The plan is for Wilson not to get into a game, which likely comes from the Seahawks, who don’t want their Super Bowl-winning QB to get injured.
“Pete Carroll hasn’t reached out to me yet but after he sees that I am open to it I might get a call,’’ Cashman said. “I respect the hell out of Pete Carroll, so I look forward to hearing from him.’’
As for Yankees catching passes from Wilson, Cashman has reservations.
Asked if he would be opposed to that activity, Cashman said, “Yeah probably.’’
When it comes to Gleyber Torres, Cashman has stayed true to his original belief that if the talented prospect doesn’t start the season in the big leagues it won’t be because the Yankees want to gain another year of contract control by leaving him in the minors for the first two weeks of the season.
“It’s a full competition in camp and we will take the best player,’’ Cashman said. “The only question with Gleyber is he missed the second half of last year, and he is obviously very young. He has put himself in the mix because of his abilities. His experience is limited in the upper levels. That is something we will have to wrestle with, how the competition looks compared to him.’’
Torres, 21, suffered a left elbow injury in June that required Tommy John surgery. He has appeared in just 55 games above Single-A so the Yankees have more reasons than contract control to start Torres in the minors.
That would leave Tyler Wade, Ronald Torreyes, Jace Peterson and Danny Espinosa as candidates to play second. Espinosa homered in Tuesday’s win against the Blue Jays.