COULD GARDNER BECOME A RED SOCK?

Source: NJ.com

When I heard that the Yankees could move on from Brett Gardner over the last couple of weeks I got sick to my stomach. Brett Gardner is one of the hardest working players this game has ever seen. He's got grit, determination and he pushes himself harder than some of the best players today. He is loved by his teammates, the Yankee front office, other ball players and fans. And now, Gardner is closer to a contract than you think. 

Source: CBS Sports

“I love Brett Gardner,” Cashman said on ESPN radio in December. “He’s been everything you could ever want since he was drafted and he’s as tough as they come. He’s great in that clubhouse. I’d love to partner back.” But since that interview, the Yankees have not moved on Gardner. This week, Gardner stated that he intends on playing somewhere in 2021 but he would like to play where he has always played since coming up to the bigs back in 2008. And he deserves to be in pinstripes playing the outfield like he always has. But this game today is different. It is about money and power; there is money for some and nothing for others. 

Source: Sports Illustrated

Jon Lester asked his team, the Chicago Cubs, to allow him to finish his days pitching for them. But they said there was no money, so he signed as a free agent with the Washington Nationals. Then the Cubs "found" money for Jake Arrieta and signed him to a one-year contract. I scratch my head. The only thought I have is that there is simply no loyalty today and maybe there never was loyalty, but only the appearance of it. 

Source: AP Photo/Matt Slocum

As far as Gardner, it is hard to say if there is loyalty on behalf of the Yankees for him. "NJ Advance Media reported on Feb. 10 that Gardner and the Yankees hadn’t had contract talks since mid-December when agent Joe Bick was told by Cashman that the organization first had to work out more pressing issues such as re-signing reigning batting champ DJ LeMahieu and remaking a rotation that had three veterans on the free agent market. All of that was accomplished last month," reported the NJ.com. 

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer

Earlier Saturday, the Yankees signed Jay Bruce to a minor league contract. Bruce is a pure hitter who also happens to play the outfield. Could this be a barrier for the Gardner signing? I would hope not. I would hate to see Gardner play for anyone else but the Yankees. And the recent movements in the Red Sox organization saw outfielder Andrew Benintendi sign with the Kansas City Royals and Jackie Bradley Jr. status with the Sox uncertain. Will Gardner get an offer to play for the Sox? Oh God, I hope not! 

Source: MLB Trade Rumors

This week we should learn the fate of our devoted and loyal outfielder, Brett Gardner. "According to spotrac.com, the Yankees are about $10.2 million under this year’s $210 million luxury-tax threshold, and it’s believed that managing partner Hal Steinbrenner wants to stay under due to about $250 million in losses during the pandemic-shortened, no-fans 2020 season.," reported NJ.com. If Gardner signs it will likely be for a moderate salary. Let's hope the Yankees and Gardy can agree to a contract and we see him back donning number 11 in the Bronx. 

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof

 

BRIAN CASHMAN HAS REGRETS

(Kim Klement/USA Today Sports)

It's only the first week of the 2017 season and it feels so much different then last year. This year is all about the excitement. The kids are up (finally!) and the veteran hitters are gone. We have a fresh new look compared to last year. It's nice, right? It's amazing to think about where we are right now compared to last year, and after reading some comments from Brian Cashman you can tell he feels the same way.

It's weird to think about the Yankees as being "sellers" and it sounds like it took Cashman a long time to convince ownership that really was the way to go, read some interesting information I found HERE. Think about it....I can just picture Hal Steinbrenner giving the answer "well, I’m not thinking the way you are at this moment in time, but keep making recommendations." It just wasn't the "Yankee way" to do things and now most of us are glad that Hal finally gave the green light.

(Sept. 22, 2016 - Source: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images North America)

So looking back at the Robinson Cano situation it would be easy to trade him away in retrospect especially if we could've just hit the fast-forward button to see that contract offer from the Mariners after all of the failed extension talks. If Cashman would've convinced Hal to sell off some veterans back in 2014 who else may have been let go and what would it have done for the Yankees? It's always easy to look back and go 'what if' but who knows if we would've been able to get the talent in our system that we have now. Or, who knows....maybe we would be that playoff contending team already, or the AL East favorite?

But we do know one thing for certain, and that is that Cashman had envisioned this youth movement back in 2014. If the team had restructured before Cano signed elsewhere this team could be in a completely different place. This is a stretch but maybe if the Yankees had traded Cano they wouldn't have jumped to sign Jacoby Ellsbury.

Sept. 12, 2016 - Source: Rich Schultz/Getty Images North America

Before anyone misinterprets this I want to make this clear. NO, Ellsbury was not a "replacement" for Cano since they obviously play different positions but the Yankees signed Ellsbury in hopes that his production may make up for some of Cano's offense which never made sense to me. Both players signed huge deals in 2013 and while both of them have a long way to go before their contracts are up it looks like Ellsbury's contract will be a mistake that we will talk about for years to come. And meanwhile, as much as I hate to admit it Red Sox nation is pointing and laughing at us and feeling great about choosing Jackie Bradley Jr over Ellsbury, especially after his great Opening Day catch on Sunday.

(Sept. 9, 2016 - Source: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images North America)

Maybe the Yankees have learned a valuable lesson from not trading Cano when they could have. Sure, it would have brought us some amazing prospects in exchange for Cano who was at the top of his game. We may have gained some amazing prospects and Cashman may have regrets but I don't. Maybe we have another Robbie Cano on the team now. I don't want to look back and wonder.

I think the Yankees needed to learn their lesson the hard way. Now they realize they can't be stuck in their ways and the game is evolving with new young blood. It's like Mark Teixeira said "you can’t just win through free agency. That’s not the way it works anymore." See....even the veterans get it. The future is bright, these are the NEW New York Yankees.

--Jeana Bellezza
BYB Managing Editor
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ