Yankees have discussed trading Brett Gardner for Cubs’ Starlin Castro

Here’s more from the NY Daily News. 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 past year or a couple seasons ago.

NY Yankees trade rumors include Brett Gardner getting sent to the Chicago Cubs.

The NY Daily News reported Friday that the Yankees have been in discussions with the Cubs regarding a trade involving Castro. 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. (Shortstop Didi Gregorius isn’t switching positions.) The 25-year-old – who only played shortstop from 2010-15 – played 38 games at second base for Chicago last season.

The Yankees have discussed Gardner with “many teams” according to a major-league executive, and while it’s no certainty that the outfielder will be traded, the team appears willing to move him for the right price.

The Yankees have a bit of a logjam in the outfield, and Gardner is probably the easiest piece to move. He is owed $38 million over three years on his current deal. Castro would figure be an improvement; he played an above-average second base in 2015.

Gardner, 31, hit. 259 with 16 home runs and 66 RBIs in 2015 with the Yankees, his eighth with the club. Gardner has been generating interest on the trade market this offseason and he comes in after hitting.

Castro would fill a need for the Yankees at second base, where they now have a platoon of Dustin Ackley and Rob Refsnyder. He’s got defensive versatility, as well, as he’s now played both middle infield positions – and, as mentioned, he’s a three-time All-Star.

For the Cubs, Castro is extremely expendable as the team has Javier Baez ready to take over as the permanent second baseman. Though he is on the wrong side of 30 now, Gardner could also add a spark to one of the better power-hitting lineups in baseball.

Both Brett Gardner and Starlin Castro have been at the center of trade rumors for a number of years now. Gardner doesn’t have an obvious fit on the Cubs, but this would allow them to forgo signing Dexter Fowler, which could save them a few dollars down the road.