Yankees: Trading Gardner?

The Yankee buzz so far today has been that there is a lot of interest in Brett Gardner since the signing of Carlos Beltran.   But the truth is, there has always been a lot of interest in Brett Gardner, he's a great defensive OF, and though he's a little hot and cold at the plate, due to injuries, never becoming a Brett Butler level bunter, and his up and down willingness to take his walks - he's still usually at least average and better than that for streaks.  So what you have is an elite defender who isn't a black hole at the plate.   And he has one year of control left.

Since the Yankees are going to lose him after this season, they should consider trading him now or by the trade deadline.   I think they'll trade him now.   So I hope they do it wisely.  Rather than throwing him in exchange for an older player like Brandon Phillips, they should trade him for upper level prospects to supplement the shortfall they have created by giving up three picks in this year's draft.  Thus, I would only move him to a team that has a good farm system and that's willing to give something off the top of it.

They should probably sign Infante to play second for right now, unless Gardner can be used to get a young, high upside 2B.   I don't think there's anyone out there available like that.  Maybe the kid in Seattle who just lost his job to Cano.     But, otherwise they should look for an elite prospect.

Trade deniers, you know the type, the kind that will always say team X doesn't have the pieces, might wonder why the Yanks should hold out for an elite talent.  It's because that's what they are giving up.   Brett is probably the best defensive OF in baseball right now and he saves runs.   If they don't play him, and instead play him in the OF with Ellsbury and Beltran the Yanks will have insane D out there and Beltran won't have to move much.   So, anyway, I hope they are marketing him as elite because of his D and offensive upside, instead of throwing him for an old player.    Infante can patch second.  They need an infusion of youth.