Brian Cashman is now in his 28th season as the general manager of the New York Yankees. The longest-tenured GM in Yankees history recently racked up his 2,500th win with the team on March 29 in a blowout 20-9 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
In a recent interview with MLB.com, Cashman discussed his career accomplishments but highlighted Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, using a bold four-word verdict, calling him a “once-in-a-generation” player.
Is Aaron Judge a Generational Player?
Cashman wasn’t exaggerating when he called Judge a generational player, as the Yankees’ superstar is off to a similar pace as the legendary Babe Ruth. We’ve seen Judge hit an astounding 58-plus home runs in two of the last three seasons, including 62 in 2022.
Aaron Judge had 321 HRs in his first 1000 games with the Yankees.
Babe Ruth had 321 HRs in his first 1000 games with the Yankees. pic.twitter.com/pm08CAltAH
— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history)
With six homers in 12 games to start the 2025 MLB season, Judge is picking up right where he left off. If he can stay healthy, another 50-plus homer year is well within reach.
If you combine the 2021–24 seasons, Judge has 196 home runs — not only the most in MLB but 18 more than the next closest, Shohei Ohtani. With that in mind, there’s no doubt that Judge is the best power hitter of this generation.
The next step for Judge is to win his first World Series.
Where Does Brian Cashman Rank Among MLB GMs?
Cashman has to be considered one of the best GMs in MLB history — a 28-year tenure that’s still active is no easy feat. This is an executive with five World Series titles under his belt and the chance for more, as the Yankees remain contenders. That’s the most in MLB among active general managers, so you’d have to think Cashman is a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Keith says Brian Cashman deserves another World Series ring so he is properly appreciated.
Listen: https://t.co/jLLhkpXlmS pic.twitter.com/C5dlbqNTYj
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660)
While Cashman wasn’t able to keep Juan Soto this past offseason, credit is due for locking up Judge to a nine-year, $360 million extension back in 2023.
We’ve also seen some smart trades recently — like when Cashman acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Miami Marlins for three prospects, headlined by catcher Agustin Ramirez. Chisholm is still only 27 years old and appears to be fitting in nicely with the Yankees, homering four times in just 12 games so far.
We often hear complaints about Cashman from Yankees fans, but it’s time they embrace what they have and stop taking one of the best GMs in the game for granted. One thing is for certain, another World Series would get every unruly fan off his back for awhile.