The New York Yankees evidently are willing to give Brian Cashman another chance.

Although the team has missed the postseason for the first time since 1995, the Yankees want Cashman to return as their general manager next season, team co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner told Newsday on Monday night.

"(Cashman) knows that we're with him, that we want him back," Steinbrenner told the newspaper.

Cashman, the Yankees' GM for the past 11 seasons, also told Newsday that he had discussed next season with the Steinbrenner family during the current campaign.

"Yes, we've talked," said Cashman, whose current contract expires on October 31. "(The Steinbrenners) mentioned that during the season."

Hal Steinbrenner told the newspaper that discussions took place between himself, Cashman, co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner and principal owner George Steinbrenner during the Yankees' road trip in Tampa earlier this month.

"We did talk in Tampa," Steinbrenner told the paper. "We didn't talk about dollars, but we talked about time frame, length (of a potential new contract)."

The Steinbrenners have asked Cashman to respond to an offer to return to the team by next week, according to a SI.com report.

It certainly has been a disappointing season for the Yankees, who have reached the playoffs each of the last 13 years. But despite a star-studded roster with a payroll well over $200 million, New York has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency throughout the season.

The Yankees have been without third baseman Alex Rodriguez, catcher Jorge Posada, ace Chien-Ming Wang, slugger Hideki Matsui and young pitchers Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes for prolonged stretches this season due to injuries.

But New York also has seen several of its position players, including Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and Robinson Cano, endure extended slumps at the plate.

The lack of offense along with a thin starting rotation has resulted in the Yankees chasing the Boston Red Sox and the first-place Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East Division standings throughout the season.

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Cashman has received some criticism this year for opting against trading young players, including Hughes, in a potential offseason deal for two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana.

While the Yankees' youngsters have flopped, Santana has been outstanding with the cross-town New York Mets, who parted with several prospects to acquire the lefthander from the Minnesota Twins.

However, the Steinbrenners still have confidence in Cashman.

"We all think Brian's done a good job," Hal Steinbrenner told Newsday. "We know we've got problems to fix. The fans deserve that."

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