The New York Yankees have reportedly been talking with the Chicago Cubs about a Brett Gardner for Starlin Castro trade this offseason. The Yankees have been talking with various teams about Gardner after trading for Aaron Hicks and the Cleveland Indians also could be a potential target for Gardner if they deal pitcher Carlos Carrasco.
Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports that sources have said that the Yankees have been talking with the Chicago Cubs about a deal involving Gardner. The Yankees are reportedly "willing" to move Gardner for the right deal and the team has "discussed" a trade with the Cubs for Castro. The Yankees just added Aaron Hicks in a trade and that could give Brian Cashman the chance to move Gardner for needs in other areas. Feinsand also reports that the Indians have "shown interest in Gardner" and they could send "a pitcher," possibly Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar in a deal if Gardner is traded.
Second base is a major need for the Yankees, as the team right now has Dustin Ackley and Rob Refsnyder as a platoon option if they don't bring back Stephen Drew. The Yankees want to upgrade at the position and Castro now is a second baseman after the Cubs moved him over to make room for Addison Russell at shortstop. Castro is coming off of a down season and that could give the Yankees the chance to acquire him for less than what he would have been worth last year or a couple seasons ago.
Castro still has $38 million on his contract over the next four years after signing a $60 million extension three years ago. Castro hit just .265 with 11 home runs and 69 RBI, but he has been an All-Star in the past and Brian Cashman may like the upside of making a deal for Castro. Cashman has done these types of deals before, including with Dustin Ackley and Didi Gregorius and he just pulled off another one with Hicks. All those players were considered to be highly regarded prospects that did not quite pan out and that allowed Cashman to acquire them without giving up too much.
The addition of Hicks in the deal with the Twins gives the Yankees the option of moving Gardner without losing any outfield depth and that could push Cashman to make a deal. Gardner has been generating interest on the trade market this offseason and he comes in after hitting .259 with 16 home runs and 66 RBI last season. The Cubs have been in the market for another outfield option, as the team has been mentioned in trade reports about Jackie Bradley with the Red Sox.
The Yankees likely want to add a second baseman or pitcher if they deal Gardner, as those are the two main areas of need for the team heading into next season. While Castro has fallen off from his All-Star level years with the Cubs, he is still young and would be a major upgrade at second base over what the Yankees had last season.
