Someone is doing a little shopping this off season. Yes, I'm looking at you Brian Cashman

A couple of years ago, I could be counted as one of the most vocal critics of Brian Cashman after he refused to give up a package including Phil Hughes for Johan Santana and then refused to even consider a trade for Dan Haren because reportedly they were asking for Ian Kennedy. My main point: Cashman was far too much "in love" with his own prospects, believing that his personally rebuilt farm system was nearly untouchable.

Fast forward to this off season.

I can't even remotely make that kind of a statement with a straight face anymore. Cashman has shown a wonderful ability to target his top prospects (Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Jesus Montero, etc.) and keep them in the organization, and then make other top prospects available for the right player.

Austin Jackson has big upside and could eventually turn around and be a major player. However, Cashman wisely determined that Jackson's upside probably wasn't much higher than what Curtis Granderson is right now, so he traded the kid. Same thing with Ian Kennedy. There is a wonderful chance Kennedy, with pinpoint control and a nasty changeup, develops into an above average pitcher, but what were the chances of him doing that in the AL East as a Yankee? Cashman made the decision that it was highly unlikely. So, out the door he went.

Now, Cashman has traded for Javier Vazquez and international super spy, Boone Logan (officially the greatest name in sports right now). To get the former Braves, the Yanks gave up Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn, and some double A pitcher who, evidently, has some talent (let's face it, if Atlanta wanted this kid, he must be pretty good since they don't usually swing and miss on many pitching prospects).

It is yet another example of Cashman playing the right chips with the right cards. Reportedly, when the Tigers and Yankees were discussing Granderson, Mike Dunn's name kept coming up. Cashman refused to give up the hard-throwing lefty and the Tigers finally relented, accepting Phil Coke instead. That made everyone assume that Dunn had reached a level of top-tier, almost untouchable status. I mean, if you're not going to trade Dunn for an All Star like Granderson, who, exactly, would you trade him for?

Well, Cashman answered that, and picked up a starter along the way.

Trust me, my first reaction to hearing that Javier Vazquez was coming back was to nearly black out when disturbing memories of game 7, 2004 ALCS, came streaming into my consciouness, but the truth is Vazquez is a pretty darn good starter and has been the majority of his career. He is usually good for 200 innings, high strike out totals, and double-digit wins. You just can't argue with that type of consistent production, especially considering the Yankees didn't give up one top-echelon player.

I think there were some questionable decisions this off season, like replacing Hideki Matsui with Nick Johnson, but, for the most part, Cashman has hit a home run. And, when you consider that the Yankees still have Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Jesus Montero, and pretty much all of their top lower-level prospects, along with a few mid-level guys who might be able to help the team even next year, his decisions have been even more impressive.