Report: Yankees ownership overruled GM Brian Cashman in Alfonso Soriano trade

Alfonso Soriano went 0 for 5 in his first game back in pinstripes on Friday after being acquired for a minor leaguer. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) New York

Alfonso Soriano went 0 for 5 in his first game back in pinstripes on Friday after being acquired for a minor leaguer. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman advised team ownership not to make Friday's trade for Alfonso Soriano but was overruled, TheNew York Post's Joel Sherman is reporting.

Cashman, who has said in the past that he does not like giving up prospects, believed the Yankees' assets could be spent better than on Soriano, two non-Yankees executives told Sherman.

The Yankees owe the 37-year-old Soriano about $7 million over the next two seasons after the Cubs agreed to pay most of the $24 million remaining on his contract.

REITER: Alfonso Soriano’s debut shows he’s no Yankees savior

Cashman has disagreed with ownership on several key moves in recent years, according to the report, including letting catcher Russell Martin leave as a free agent this past offseason, signing reliever Rafael Soriano for three years and $35 million in 2011 and re-signing Alex Rodriguez in 2007.

From The Post:

Cashman would not directly confirm what he advised Hal Steinbrenner, but told The Post: “I would say we are in a desperate time. Ownership wants to go for it. I didn’t want to give up a young arm [Corey Black]. But I understand the desperate need we have for offense. And Soriano will help us. The bottom line is this guy makes us better. Did ownership want him? Absolutely, yes. Does he make us better? Absolutely, yes. This is what Hal wants, and this is why we are doing it.” In a press briefing yesterday to announce Soriano’s acquisition, Cashman never directly spoke of his vote against the trade. But when it came to future possible deals to help this year’s club, he said a few times he does not like to give up prospects and he “might need ownership’s help” to convince him to finalize such a trade.