The New York Yankees are liking the state of their team right now. After signing players like Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran to big contracts, their batting order got a big boost. Now, their outfield is more crowded than ever, giving the team opportunities to make trades. While attention first started on Brent Gardner, now Ichiro Suzuki is drawing most of the attention.
The New York Daily News reports that Yankees would prefer to trade Suzuki over Gardner if possible. One or both of those players are on the outs, it just depends on who garners the best offers from teams. Right now, both players are without starting spots. Ellsbury will likely take over the center fielder spot and Beltran will move into right field. The Yankees will put Alfonso Soriano in left after acquiring him in the middle of the 2012-13 season. Vernon Wells will stay on and could be a designated hitter since New York does not have a full-time player at that spot.
So where does that leave Gardner and Suzuki? After the Ellsbury signing, reports surfaced that the Yankees did not want to trade Gardner, leaving Suzuki to be the best trade bait. Suzuki is in the final two years of his contract, set to make $6.5 million in 2014. Many have questioned how he would adjust to the fourth outfielder role, leaving the Yankees to shop him.
The soon-to-be 40-year-old put up a .262 batting average last year. Gardner is the better of the two players. While they are around the same at the plate, Gardner has led the league in stolen bases. He also put up 24 last year. It is unknown what the players could get the Yankees in return, but many believe they would be worth a back-end-rotation pitcher.
SFGate.com reports the Giants are major players in the trade talks with the team. San Francisco is content on waiting until the winter meetings, but will start negotiations with New York. The Giants are seeking a left fielder to pair with Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence. Since both players are nearing the ends of their current deals, the Yankees will likely have to eat some money, but will get plenty of interest.
