Left field-Brett Gardner
This is, by far, the most difficult spot in the outfield to project. Cashman has loads of potential options to fill his spot in left field. In the end, look for him to bring back the longest-tenured player in the organization.
Gardner gets the slight nod over Andrew McCutchen here because he’s a left-handed hitter. There’s a real shortage of those in Aaron Boone’s lineup. He isn’t the power hitting lefty Yankee fans are craving, but he does give the lineup a bit of balance.
For the record, you shouldn’t take Gardner against the field here. There are lots of guys who could swoop in and claim this position as their own. It’s another potential landing spot for Harper. Another free agent like Nick Markakis could easily decide they want to don pinstripes in 2019. This is an attractive opening that will draw lots of interest.
Gardner just feels like a guy who’s going to find his way back to the Bronx. Locking him up for a reasonable, two-year deal would give Estevan Florial an opportunity to grow into the team’s long-term starter in left. Anything could happen here, but Gardner is the most likely single option at the moment.