BOSTON -- Brian Cashman isn't the least bit interested in shattering David Ortiz's illusion, especially as the iconic Boston Red Sox slugger goes through his final season. But Cashman was asked to set the record straight, so here it is:
No, the New York Yankees general manager insists, the late George Steinbrenner never reamed him out for not signing Ortiz before the Sox did during the winter of 2002-03.
"It's an urban myth," Cashman said in a phone interview. "Essentially what occurred here was, any time the Red Sox signed anybody, anything that was on ESPN -- 'The Boston Red Sox today announced the acquisition of whoever,' a free agent, a trade, whatever -- George would turn to me and say, 'Why didn't you sign him?