NEW YORK -- Brian Cashman heard applause in enemy territory on Thursday evening, as the Yankees' general manager was honored by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), bringing home honors as the game's Executive of the Year.
Seated at a head table next to Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, Cashman lauded the "great rivalry" between the Yankees and the Red Sox, one that should only intensify this year with the introduction of slugging outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.
"You guys are no different than us at the Evil Empire," Cashman said. "You want to win, as do we. I think the rivalry is alive and well, as it should be."

Cashman was celebrated for a 2017 season in which his Yankees finished one victory shy of the World Series, riding the emergence of young stars such as Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino to a 91-victory campaign that exceeded the expectations of many.
Although the Yankees took the eventual World Series champions to the limit in a memorable seven-game American League Championship Series, Cashman reminded the audience that it was the Red Sox who won the AL East by two games.
"Despite whatever goes on, you won the division the last two years," Cashman said. "We are trying to catch you at the moment, not the other way around. So I'm doing everything in my power, and [with] all the players that we have on this club, to figure out a way to compete every time we run out on the field."
In his remarks, Cashman joked that the Red Sox and their fans have turned "into a bunch of George Steinbrenners: critical, passionate, you spend a lot of money on your team." He added that he has enjoyed watching Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi, both of whom were on hand for Thursday's festivities.
"Listen, we love to compete," Cashman said. "You guys [in Boston] are always awesome. The ownership group you have here has turned my life upside down a few times more than not. I've lost a lot of sleep. I've been forced to change my ways and evolve and grow and find different ways to figure out how to catch you.
"I congratulate the ownership group, the baseball ops department and everybody on that field we have to go to war with. It's a pleasure coming here to compete, and I appreciate being awarded this honor on behalf of the Steinbrenner family."