When New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called Cleveland Indians team president Chris Antonetti on a Saturday night in late July to accept a package featuring two of Cleveland’s top prospects for lefty reliever Andrew Miller, Antonetti was in his suite at Progressive Field with his top lieutenants, GM Mike Chernoff and assistant GM Derek Falvey.
There was no champagne, no celebration and no way of truly knowing they were agreeing to a legendary deal that could bring Cleveland its first World Series title since 1948.
No, the more than 100 conversations and texts with Cashman was an agonizing process that left Antonetti with hope but no certainty.