Cashman: Struggling Yankees a team 'an opponent would want to play'

The start of the 2021 season hasn't gone according to plan for the New York Yankees, and it hasn't gone unnoticed.

"Right now, we would be a team that an opponent would want to play ... our strengths are not showing themselves right now," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday, according to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com.

The Yankees entered Monday on a five-game losing streak and own the worst record in the American League at 5-10. They're also coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium.

But Cashman is preaching patience.

"Our message to our fans is we are going to fight our way out of our start and hopefully, by the end of the month, you'll see a more reflective record that gets us back online and gets people's confidence back to where it should be," he said, according to Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

Though the club has only played 15 games this season, it isn't living up to the "Bronx Bombers" moniker. The Yankees are tied with the Texas Rangers for worst team OPS in MLB at .642, and they've totaled only 16 home runs (tied for 19th).

While New York is missing the bat of Luke Voit, who is rehabbing from knee surgery, the Yankees aren't as decimated by injuries as they have been in recent seasons.

"We're disappointed where we currently stand, but we know better days are ahead," Cashman said, according to James Wagner of The New York Times.

Voit and other reinforcements should be arriving in the coming months:

Despite the early struggles, Cashman hasn't lost confidence in manager Aaron Boone.

"He's doing everything he needs to do," Cashman said, according to Kuty. "Most importantly, supporting these guys."