The New York Yankees are reportedly open to the idea of trading both Brett Gardner and Chase Headley this offseason.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports the New York Yankees, along with being open to dealing Brian McCann, are open to trading outfielder Brett Gardner and third baseman Chase Headley.
Gardner, 33, has been in New York for nine years and has the fifth-highest on-base percentage among American League outfielders since and has just won a gold glove award.
The speedster is slated to earn $12.5 million in 2017, $11.5 million in 2018 and a team option for $12.5 million in 2019 which is really a bargain considering he led New York in the runs created category last season.
Headley, 32, slashed .253/.331/.385 overall in 2016 which is arguably mediocre but impressed at the hot corner with seven defensive runs saved, good enough for fifth-best in the AL.
The 2012 gold glover and silver slugger will make $13 million over the next two seasons.
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Do the Yankees really intend to carry Ellsbury until 2020? My god, what a stupid idea.
Gardner is cheaper, more durable and the perfect veteran to keep in the dugout, past his most effective days. Plus he's done by 2018, if the youth movement goes as planned.
Ellsbury? He's fragile, no better than Gardner and has no leadership skills. Worst of all, he'll clog up the roster and youth development for the next 4 years. If you think he's hard to move now, imagine how hard it will be to move him in 2018 or 2019! I know his albatross of a contract is the biggest problem and cheapskate Hal doesn't want to shell out money for a player who's riding someone else's bench. But if the Yankees don't move him now (using all the cash necessary to affect that trade), he'll cost them everything they owe him when his spot on the roster becomes untenable in 2 years time. At that point, they will have to eat the whole contract.
Keep Gardner. Dump Ellsbury while his performance is worth something to someone, even if they have to pay 3/4 of his contract. After all, they signed that stupid contract to begin with, even though everyone else could see what a bad deal that was the day it was offered.