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MLB trade rumors: 5 moves the Yankees should make

By Joshua Sadlock

May 8, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (right) reacts with right fielder Aaron Hicks (31) after hitting a home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (right) reacts with right fielder Aaron Hicks (31) after hitting a home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 8, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) hits a home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) hits a home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Move Brett Gardner

For the past two offseasons, the Yankees have not made it a secret that they would be open to moving left fielder Brett Gardner. The 2015 All-Star and 2016 Gold Glover is still a solid player, but does not appear to fit into the club’s long-term vision. Turning 34 in August, Gardner is enjoying his best power season ever, but it will probably not last much longer.

Gardner is a career .390 slugger, but he has slugged .481 so far this year with six home runs and five doubles. He batted just .205/.318/.329 in April before getting hot to begin the month of May with a .387/.457/.839 line. In reality, he is somewhere between these two slash lines. Now is the time for the Yankees to capitalize on Gardner’s perceived value. He is still under contract for 2018 and has a team option for 2019 that comes with a $2 million buyout. By this time next year, Clint Frazier needs to be playing left field for the Yankees. It’s fine if they want to attempt to hold onto Gardner for the rest of this year, but his trade value in December may not be as high as it is right now.

It’s not that the Yankees don’t like what Gardner can bring to their club. He’s a much more dependable option than Jacoby Ellsbury. If Gardner gets dealt, it will be strictly business as no team is taking on the rest of Ellsbury’s contract. If the Yankees find a deal that suits them, look for Gardner to be on the move later this season with Aaron Hicks being given a more prominent role or Frazier getting his first taste of life in the big leagues.

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