The Pessimist’s Viewpoint On the 2017 Yankees

The Outfield

I wonder if Brett Gardner has some luggage packed in a hallway closet, should Cashman finally find a taker for the reigning AL Gold Glove winner. It’s hard to believe that no club was willing to trade for Gardy at the Yankees’ asking price. Even if Cash was asking for a top 15 prospect, Gardner could easily slide to center field for a contending team in need like the Mets, Tigers, or Rangers.

The Yankees would have been wise to lower their demands before the new season began because at 33, Gardy’s best days are likely behind him. He doesn’t steal many bases anymore — his power numbers have dipped — and injuries have become a real nuisance. If this trend continues, the Yankees will have to practically give him away before his contract expires at the end of ’18 — should they want to open up left field for one of the kids.

What is there to say about Jacoby Ellsbury that hasn’t already been said? Even Cashman was recently quoted as saying, “We’re certainly looking for more from him.” Ellsbury hasn’t lived up to the money he’s making, and there isn’t a team on Earth that would take back that contract without the Yankees eating a huge portion of it. Every time Ellsbury shows even the slightest glimmer of hope, a nagging injury isn’t too far behind. It looks like Boston got the last laugh on this one.

Aaron Judge may look like Giancarlo Stanton, but now he hits more like retired Yankees relief pitcher Mike Stanton. Reports are that Judge has remade his swing this offseason, doing away with the big leg kick. Will it help? Well, it certainly can’t hurt. Should Judge continue to whiff at a record pace, a demotion back to Triple-A could become a reality.

Judge’s demise would benefit Aaron Hicks — not that anyone is planning on Hicks being the right fielder of the future. However, Hicks showed signs of life following the Carlos Beltran deal — but without steady playing time, Hicks won’t find his groove, meaning his worth to the club is as a late inning defensive replacement. Cashman even went as far as to call Hicks “terrible” and “horrible” as a part-time player. We can’t go through that again. And remember Mason Williams? Me neither.

The biggest negative of the above-mentioned issues is that until the Yankees come to a resolution, we’re unlikely to see top prospects, Clint Frazier or Dustin Fowler. There’s no point in calling up the future to sit the bench when they can get premium at-bats at Triple-A. Cashman himself admitted, “Right now, he’s (Frazier) on the outside looking in.”