General Manager Brian Cashman recently lauded the Yankees’ uncanny ability to pull off important and unheralded moves late in the off-season, weeks after other notable free agents had signed.

Last year, Cashman quietly plucked Hiroki Kuroda in January and Raul Ibanez in February. In 2011, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Eric Chavez — all important contributors — signed late and without much fanfare. There have been countless other examples.

Cashman’s point, which he made during a conference call to discuss the signing of Kevin Youkilis, was that while fans may panic and pundits may question the team’s lack of activity during a given winter, a surprising late signing or trade acquisition can salvage an off-season.

But Cashman, with few options on the free-agent market and without many tradable assets on his team, might need to pull off a late miracle this year.