IS IT TIME TO SAY 'GOODBYE' TO BRETT?

I'm a nostalgic girl. I go home to New York pretty often. It's nice to go, and then it sucks to leave. So when it comes time to go I never say 'goodbye' to friends and family I always say 'see you later' because let's face it, goodbye sounds like forever. It's permanent and it sucks.

So I am at this point now with a particular Yankee. The World Series is over now and the Yankees have to make a very difficult decision. Do they pick up Brett Gardner's $12.5 million option for next season? If they choose not to pick it up they owe him a $2 million buyout. Number and strategy should make the decision easier than what it is. Too bad things aren't always as easy as it seems.

Photo: New York Daily News

The Yankees have a lot of talent, and that is especially true for guys that play in the outfield. It's a logjam, actually. It's hard to see a clear future for him when you see other guys like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks and Clint Frazier still trying to make his way back from his concussion. Oh yeah, and there is some guy out there named Jacoby Ellsbury who is essentially nothing but dead weight for the Yankees.

He's magically supposed to be relevant again next season in case you missed it read DON'T WORRY...JACOBY ELLSBURY WILL BE READY. I know, I laughed too!

Anyway, so what waits for either Ellsbury or Gardner remains to be seen. Personally, I couldn't care less about Ellsbury. Gardner on the other hand isn't as cut and dry.

Is Gardner on the decline? Yes, he's 35 years old and he hit .236 this year. He played in less games because again the Yankees outfield is full of younger talent. It's just how the game goes now. But what Gardner hasn't been able to contribute to on the field he's made up for in the clubhouse. As our Core Four went into retirement, Gardner and CC Sabathia stepped into leadership roles.

The Yankees value Gardner more than just what he has done on the field. Clearly, Brian Cashman believes Gardner is worth more to the Yankees on the field then anything he was ever offered for him in the past. "Nothing ever came closer for a trade for him because we always valued him more than the industry, correctly I believe,” Cashman said. “We felt the trade attempts were weak because he was very valued here. There were knocks on the door, but it was a head-scratcher for us because he was disruptor on offense, a difference-maker on defense. He has unique skills and we have been lucky he is ours" read more HERE.

I've always admired Gardner because he had one hell of a journey to get to where he is today. If you haven't heard all of it THIS is a good summary of it. How can you not root for the scrappy kid who tried out for the College of Charleston as a walk-on but failed to make the cut and somehow still makes it in the end? He's the example of not giving up even when someone tells you 'no.' It's a story we all tell our kids and want them to believe in.

So this is more than just a $10.5 million decision. It's one that comes with a unique history and circumstance. I wish this decision was about Ellsbury instead because that would be a no-brainer. Gardner is a not just a good guy for the organization to have....he's a GREAT guy for the organization to have. But is he great enough for the Yankees to find room for him?

I dread this answer. So are the Yankees going to say "goodbye" and how would you feel about it? If this is the end it sucks knowing we watched Gardner play his last game against the Red Sox, who are now World Champions. I think I am going to be sick now...

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @Nyprincessj