Should the Yankees Part Ways With Brett Gardner?

Brett Gardner has seemed to struggle in the second half of the previous 2 years. It seems his skills are starting to decline at age 33. Is it time for the Yankees to part ways with him?

Longtime New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner recently turned 33. Guys who rely on their legs can sometimes decline quickly as they get older and that seems like it may be happening with Gardner. Without speed, Gardner doesn’t have much to his game. He usually only hits to a .260 or .270 average, doesn’t hit for a lot of power, and his arm in the field is underwhelming. So what is Gardner’s place on the team?

This year Gardner is hitting .257 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs with only 13 stolen bases. If you take a look at his stolen base numbers by season, they have gotten lower every year. From 24 in 2013, to 21 in 2014, to 20 last season, and now 13. Gardner has suffered a variety of nagging injuries in recent years, which could account for his unwillingness to run as much.

His power numbers show a similar trend, dropping from .422 in 2014, to .399 last season, and .363 this year. That would be a career low for him if he doesn’t pull that number up by the end of the year. Between his power and speed, it’s fairly obvious Gardner’s skills are declining and the Yankees need to find a taker for the veteran as soon as they can.

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We know the Yankees haven’t been shy about looking to trade Gardner. We’ve heard him being shopped around for young starting pitchers, including Carlos Carrasco of the Indians last winter. Carrasco was probably never a realistic target for New York, even considering Cleveland’s supposed surplus of starting pitching, but the idea of flipping Gardner for a young, controllable starter is a good one

One team that could be a fit for Gardner this winter is the Washington Nationals. With Ben Revere having a down year, they still have yet to find a solid lead off hitter, and Gardner would be an excellent fit. Plus the Nationals have tons of pitching that would interest New York, both in the big leagues and the minors.

One deal the Yankees should consider might be Gio Gonzalez for Brett Gardner. Even with Gonzalez having a “down” year, he has a 3.84 FIP and has been worth 2.4 WAR in 154.1 innings. Before this season, he’s been worth at least three WAR every year since 2009. He would easily slot in as the club’s second best starter for 2017.

It’s not like the Yankees don’t have a ton of backup options if they do move Gardner. They have many young, solid outfielders in Triple A that are ready to take his place. Clint Frazier looks like the long-term solution, but guys like Mason Williams, Aaron Hicks, and Rob Refsnyder can hold down the fort until he’s ready.

Next: Six Free Agent Bargains for the Yankees This Winter

The time is completely right for the Yankees to trade Brett Gardner this winter. They need to finally make the move, and soon.