2021-2022 Off Season Thread

[ThePinStripes]

My opinion on Gardner is quite simple... if they bring him back but also have a new SS, 1B (or resign Rizzo) and a new C, as well as an upgrade or two in the bullpen, then fine..
But if he is one of the centerpieces of the offseason, then what's the fastest way from Huntington, Long Island to the GWB?

It's not just the money. He's a bad hitter, and you should expect him to get worse at age 38. There's no reason to bring him back. Gallo can play CF. So can Judge in a pinch. So can Hicks (for a few weeks). There is absolutely no reason to think that one of the AAA guys can't do just as good, if not better, than him for less money. There's virtually no downside to performance. He is, at best a 4th outfielder. He should be playing, maybe, 20% of the games.

Even he turns out what would be a 2 WAR performance (which would be absolutely AMAZING- he was negative 0.6 on offense and negative 1.3 defense last year), over the few games he plays, it's basically nothing- less than half a win over the average replacement level player. You don't pay $1.5M for a player that is going to (should) play 30 games a year- especially if it's managed right and he's playing in lower leverage games to rest other players (Ie: your ace vs their call up on a really terrible out of division/league team) .

[Zimmer's Helmet]

The issues with re-signing Gardner (besides the fact he's toast):

1) He will once again prevent the Yankees from upgrading to a better 4th OF option.
2) He will end up playing at least 125 games at the expense of better talent because:
a) they're too in love with him
b) Hicks is brittle and when he goes down, Gardner will once again play CF on a regular basis (because they're too in love with him)
c) this organization is obsessed with excessive rest, ensuring Gardner gets additional playing time when Judge, Stanton and Gallo each sit out their mandatory 25+ games.

[TexasYank23]

Really hope the move on to florial and doesn't bring gradner back

[ymike673]

That sounds about right. Cashman can't resist parting with his double and re-signing him, you know, if only for his farewell Yankee tour and fan applause given his eminently mediocre career. I'm hoping someone else comes aboard to block that option, but confess my lack of faith that will happen.

On Gallo, I disagree with you slightly. I'd still like to see what a different batting coach might do to swell his numbers back up to .230 w/ 40 homers, along with--this part has to be acknowledged, I think--his above average OF defense and decent OBA.

I disagree. We need outfielders who can hit .280 or better and not strikeout 200 times. Don't care about 40 HRs. They have Judge and Stanton. Trying to get someone to raise his Yankees average 90 points to get to .230 is not enough insentive to keep him.

[Roberto Kelly]

if history has taught us anything, its that there's next to 0 chance that Gardner wont be back

[ymike673]

if history has taught us anything, its that there's next to 0 chance that Gardner wont be back

As long as Cashman is here unfortunately you are right.

[YFIB]

if history has taught us anything, its that there's next to 0 chance that Gardner wont be back

He's basically Tom Brady. Without the talent.

[Roberto Kelly]

As long as Cashman is here unfortunately you are right.

As someone here already mentioned, I'm sure theres already some sort of handshake agreement with him in place

[NelsonMuntz]

The issues with re-signing Gardner (besides the fact he's toast):

1) He will once again prevent the Yankees from upgrading to a better 4th OF option.
2) He will end up playing at least 125 games at the expense of better talent because:
a) they're too in love with him
b) Hicks is brittle and when he goes down, Gardner will once again play CF on a regular basis (because they're too in love with him)
c) this organization is obsessed with excessive rest, ensuring Gardner gets additional playing time when Judge, Stanton and Gallo each sit out their mandatory 25+ games.

Yep. They should be preparing to move on from Gardner and from Hicks. Make Hicks the 4th OF'er if they can't trade him. He can even platoon with Gallo. But they should be looking to upgrade CF. Starling Marte would be a good fit. I doubt it happens though. I'm fully expecting them to bring back Gardner on another on a deal worth more than his player option but less than the club option.

[Zimmer's Helmet]

He's basically Tom Brady. Without the talent.

...and without the championships, heroics, hair, etc....

[HelloNewman]

He's basically Tom Brady. Without the talent.

Not sure this works. Even Brady had to change teams.

[ymike673]

...and without the championships, heroics, hair, etc....

But you know he is the last link to 2009. Other than Cashman.

[False1]

I disagree. We need outfielders who can hit .280 or better and not strikeout 200 times. Don't care about 40 HRs. They have Judge and Stanton. Trying to get someone to raise his Yankees average 90 points to get to .230 is not enough insentive to keep him.

I don't disagree that it would be beneficial to upgrade from Gallo, but I would say that there are many other things I'd prioritize above that, particularly if the Yankees come to their senses and go with a Judge/Gallo/Stanton OF with Hicks as the backup (or preferably traded).

I'd love it for example if they got Marte and unloaded Hicks and Gallo, but I'd put SS, 1B and C way higher on the priority list.

While I agree that Gallo's hitting profile isn't ideal, I do think that what we saw of him after the trade is creating some recency bias. If he hits like he did in '19, or like he did last year prior to the trade, he's an asset. If he hits to his career averages then combined with his good OF defense he's not a liability. Especially if they make other roster upgrades that position him in the bottom third of the lineup.

[newhampfan]

The issues with re-signing Gardner (besides the fact he's toast):

1) He will once again prevent the Yankees from upgrading to a better 4th OF option.
2) He will end up playing at least 125 games at the expense of better talent because:
a) they're too in love with him
b) Hicks is brittle and when he goes down, Gardner will once again play CF on a regular basis (because they're too in love with him)
c) this organization is obsessed with excessive rest, ensuring Gardner gets additional playing time when Judge, Stanton and Gallo each sit out their mandatory 25+ games.

Perfectly said!

[bucky]

Really hope the move on to florial and doesn't bring gradner back

(Kinda frustrating isn't it and I felt this way with Clint, too, who lost all valve) I think the FO only looks at their WAR numbers. I like both Florial (10 AB) and Allen (37 AB). I feel they are definitely better than Gardy. I was very impressed watching Allen mid season. But you can't think this was a hand shake (others) a mutual agreement ... Why else would Gardy turn down his option (3M) knowing FO would decline the 7M club option and take 1M buyout? He would have retired like Posey did (I don't think SF was not going to pick up the option and he had no option and didn't want to be a FA he retired). It's an organization problem. I hope you are right but they got Gallo now and Hicks will be back.