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New York Yankees Rumors: Is Brett Gardner Destined For Los Angeles Angels?

By Kenneth Teape

Jun 23, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) scores a run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of an inter-league baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner (11) scores a run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of an inter-league baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Yankees Rumors: Could the Los Angeles Angels be a match for the Yankees if they decide to trade Brett Gardner?

This has been a very quiet offseason for New York Yankees standards. They have not been connected to any of the big name free agents, opting instead to do their work on the trade market. They were able to upgrade their already strong back end of their bullpen by acquiring Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds and replaced the departed Chris Young by trading for Aaron Hicks from the Minnesota Twins.

While Chapman’s role has already been announced by manager Joe Girardi, as he will take over the ninth inning closers role from Andrew Miller, the role for Hicks has been less discussed. Hicks is a strong defender in centerfield, but has his struggles at the plate. He struggled with some maturity issues in Minnesota as well, making him a wild card of sorts for the Yankees this upcoming season.

One of the reasons his role is undefined is because the Yankees have a logjam in the outfield. With Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner already in the fold, and Aaron Judge not far behind, there isn’t much space for playing time in the outfield for the Yankees. One way to open up some playing time would be to trade a player. That is exactly what Nick Cafardo says could happen in the Sunday Baseball Notes Column of the Boston Globe.

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Cafardo believes that the Yankees and Los Angeles Angels could be a match, with Gardner being the centerpiece of the Yankees package being sent out west. Gardner heard his name as a part of a ton of rumors earlier in the offseason, but those rumors quieted down once free agents started signing. Also, the Yankees were able to acquire pieces they needed without needing to move Gardner.

But, the one thing that they did not accomplish off their offseason checklist was acquiring a young, cost-controlled starting pitcher. Cafardo believes that is exactly what they would be able to do if they traded Gardner to the Angels.

In the piece, Cafardo says, “With outfield prospect Aaron Judge not far off, the Yankees could deal Brett Gardner for pitching. It is plausible to imagine a Gardner-for-Andrew Heaney swap, considering Angels GM Billy Eppler was Brian Cashman’s assistant and likes Gardner’s defense, speed and leadoff capability.”

That would be a nice addition to a right-handed heavy starting rotation, as Heaney pitches left-handed. Heaney would also fit the bill as a cost-controlled, young arm as he is only 24-years old and isn’t eligible for free agency until 2022. That means the Yankees would have six years of control for Heaney before even running the risk of losing him.

Heaney was the ninth overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Miami Marlins. He didn’t pitch long for the Marlins, as he debuted June 19th, 2014 but was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the package that netted the Marlins Dee Gordon that offseason. He was barely a part of the Dodgers organization, as he was traded to the Angels that day for Howie Kendrick.

Heaney immediately became one of the top prospects in baseball after he was selected. He was never ranked below 43 according to Baseball America, and was the No.1 prospect for the Marlins in 2013 and No.1 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2014. He was also the highest ranked left-handed pitcher by MLB in 2014.

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Heaney would be a strong addition to the Yankees starting rotation and would provide them with the young pitcher they have been seeking this offseason. Gardner would be a steep price on paper, but with the players the Yankees already have to deploy in the outfield, and the players they have on the horizon such as Judge, it would be a loss they could easily overcome while filling another hole on their roster.

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