5:08pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (via Twitter) that Gardner is not part of the current talks between the Yankees and Cubs. Sherman adds that the two teams are working on multiple scenarios in trade talks. Sherman also tweets that Jacoby Ellsbury isn’t involved in talks. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports characterizes the trade talks as “in early stages” (Twitter link).
4:53pm: The Cubs and Yankees are discussing a trade that would send infielder Starlin Castro to New York, report Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Rosenthal recently reported that the Cubs were in on Ben Zobrist but needed other moves to come together before they could bring him on board. Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reported last month that the Yankees and Cubs had discussed a trade involving Castro and Brett Gardner, though it’s not clear if Gardner is involved in this iteration of talks.
Moving Castro would open up second base to either give Javier Baez a full-time look or to clear a spot for a Zobrist signing. On paper, a swap of Castro and Gardner would make sense. The remaining $38MM on Castro’s contract is an exact match with the remaining $38MM on Gardner’s deal, though Castro is guaranteed that sum over the life of four full seasons, whereas Gardner is promised $38MM over the next three years. Both players have a club option on their deal — a $16MM club option for the 2020 season ($1MM buyout) in Castro’s case and a $12.5MM club option for the 2019 season ($2MM buyout) in Gardner’s case.
Castro signed a seven-year, $60MM extension with Chicago back in August of 2012 at the tail end of what was a second consecutive All-Star season for the then-22-year-old. Since that time, he’s sandwiched an excellent 2014 campaign in between a pair of awful seasons at the plate, leading to a cumulative .265/.303/.383 batting line from 2013-15.
Gardner, meanwhile, had a typically strong first half but wilted in the second half of 2015 as he battled a wrist injury. Yankees hitting coach Alan Cockrell told the Journal News’ Chad Jennings last month that a seemingly innocuous hit-by-pitch early in the season actually submarined Gardner’s production in the second half. Gardner’s bat began to fade once he had received the maximum-allotted three cortisone shots a player can have in any one season.
For Gardner?
I’m thinking more like Warren/nova and maybe heathcott and a bullpen piece would love if its Warren and ellsbury since find need lefty c.f. And pitching with yanks eating cash but a man can always dream
Yay, some movement on the Yankees front and I like Castro. Hope this happens!
Wonder if the Cubs move Baez as well (if they get Zobrist)
Also wondering what the Yankees give up? Gardner? Miller?
Miller would be a good swap
The Cubs aren’t getting Miller for Castro lol.
Yankees will have to include a little more.
And you’re out of your mind. Castro’s value is pretty low.
Low, according to you? He’s still just 26, just coming into his prime.
For the Cubs, absolutely. Awful trade for the Yanks, though.
I would love to have Castro but not for Gardner
In 10 minutes there will be report saying the cubs haven’t talked to the Yankees in 3 months.
Not for Gardner
I don;t see the value here for the Yankees. I suppose it depends on what they give up, but taking on that salary, and presumably trading someone cheap who can play second, plus whatever more quality player is needed to make the deal, doesn’t make all that much sense. Cubs, if they sign Zobrist, will need to do something here–let’s not overpay
What im guessing is that the gardner castro swap will happen. Similar contracts, cubs need a cf, yanks could use a 2b upgrade.
This would be a much better trade for the Yankees than Cubs. Castro is still only 25 years old and has nearly 1000 hits, if he puts on a little more muscle he can hit over 20 homers a year easily. He may even get 3000 hits in his career when you think about it, especially if he plays the way he played at the end of last year.
I definitely see that being a Cubs fan, would hurt to see him go
I get to at your saying but Castro has never had an ops above 115 and is owed a lot of money. He isn’t as good as he’s made out to be.
He’s also young. 32 year old outfielders who rely on speed as a nice part of their game aren’t as valuable as 25 year old middle infielders with over 1k hits already.
I think people forget how young Castro is. His contract and age make this a smart move for the Yanks. Obviously I would prefer the Yanks to trade Ellsbury, but his contract makes him unmoveable. Send Gardner over, as much as it hurts, to get the younger player at the more premium position for us.
I’d guess it’s probably Castro for Miller as a framework
that would be my guess also
Why would the Yankees do that. Unless the Cubs throw in a few good prospects I don’t see how it works.
Post says framework for a trade not a straight up deal. Absolutely the Cubs would have to add players. Could be multiple guys from both sides we don’t know yet all just speculation.
I really hope this isnt for Gardner, Castro has a much higher value, and it would be trading away young talent to make way for two old players. (Zobrist). Get rid of the strikeout machine Baez instead!
FInally some decent sized name trades.
I would hope the Cubs are looking at Severino. Dont think the Yanks want to move him at all, but maybe Castro, a mid level prospect (organizational top 10-15 guy), and Vogelbach would do it? Its hard to gauge player value with Castro’s ups and downs, plus you never know how a particular FO values certain prospects. What do you guys think?.
I think the Yankees are pretty smart here. With the right hitting coach and system, Castro can go back to getting 180-200 hits a year but with even more power. The Cubs really need a leadoff guy and CF, so that makes sense for the Cubs, but Yankees are getting a better deal.
Being a Cubs fan who would love that, I know that would never happen. Yankees dont give up Severino without asking for young, tier 1 mlb ready guys like Schwarber, Russell, and Bryant
I hope this is a joke
Yanks won’t even consider trading Severino for Jose Fernandez, so why would they offer him for Castro? Not going to happen. Not only that, but the Yanks have Greg Bird in the wings, so they don’t need Vogelbach either.
fair enough, just dont see what else the cubs could really want. yanks have no other starting pitching, their outfielders (gardner/ellsbury) are aging and coming off of bad years (not to mention that speedsters don’t age well). And it seems unlike this FO to be targeting Miller given their approach to the bullpen (grab an overabundance of cheap guys and let them compete as opposed to a smaller number of more expensive, “better” guys).
As to Fernandez, could be a classic case where the Marlins value him more than anybody else. Lets not pretend he’s not coming off TJ; TJ success rates are higher then ever, but control can be an issue post TJ and there’s no guarantee that he won’t have arm problems down the road. So the fact that they won’t take Fernandez has little to no bearing on whether or not this is good trade.
There’s no doubt that there’s a lot of questions/concerns about Castro, but opportunities to grab a cost-controlled 25 year old who is a 3 time all star don’t just come along every day. His glove seemed to play a lot better at 2nd (which is where the Yanks would likely play him), and let’s not forget that no one on the Yankees hit better than .276 last year (which Castro is definitely capable of doing).
Again, I don’t know what proper value is, and really I’m just spitballing here, but other than Severino I just don’t see what the Yankees could offer that would be all that enticing (unless the Cubs are looking for a purely salary dump move to free up money for Heyward, which admittedly may very well be the case). .
Gardner is coming off of a season where he had a .343 OBP and .399 SLG, as well as a 106 OPS+ and 3.3 rWAR and you call it a bad year. What do you call the season Castro had? Castro had a .296 OBP and .375 SLG with an 83 OPS+ and 0.6 rWAR.
As a Rays fan, I would love it if the Yankees traded Gardner for Castro.
Whether it’s Brett Gardner or Andrew Miller, this would be a great deal for the Cubs. It would then allow them to sign FA Ben Zobrist and keep Javier Baez as another versatile player with better potential than Castro.
It will be neither.
Gardner (good contract) for Castro (bad contract)?
And Miller brings good prospects, not failed prospects.
Castro is a “hope he bounces back” risk.
Castro and Gardner have the same contract in monetary value, his contract is also longer so there is less to be paid per year.. Gardner is an aging center fielder past his prime while Castro is 25 years old and could very well be entering it. Castro is by no means a failed prospect, where do you get that from? One bad year and a below average first half of 2015?
garnder ( bad contract) for Castro (good contract) will not get the job done. Yankees would have to add more pieces.
If the Yankees somehow move Ellsbury for Castro while eating a lot of money I may do backflips. Doubtful, but let me dream a little…
That’s what I’m hoping for, but never going to happen.
No Gardner. Hmmm. Prospects?
Yeah, it’s weird MB. Watching MLB most of last 2 days and they are saying same thing. This is a strange one indeed. Both would be (to me) about equal value and fill a need. Why not?
Cubs have a very top heavy farm system anyway, can’t see them wanting what the Yanks have prospect wise, unless maybe it’s that speed demon kid.. What’s his name? Mateo? Long distance prospect to dream on to help fill up the lower ends of their system.
The cubs actually don’t have much top end now that they graduated Bryant, Russel, Schwarber, Baez. The strength of the system is more it’s depth.
I don’t like this development as a Cubs fan.
The only way I like it is if it fills a need. There’s still a rotational need and a need in center. I dont see many viable rotational options from NY, considering Severino is more than likely untouchable, and if Gardner isnt involved, I have no idea where this is going
Andrew Miller is my only other guess. I don’t love it though, especially if it’s only getting done to open a spot for Zobrist.
Def. not miller … More like Nova ..
I’d much rather Baez, but I kind of doubt NY would meet the asking price.
If you get more than three cortisone shots in a year is it considered PED’s? Seems like a multimillionaire could get some under the table shots if they don’t test for cortisone.
I think it is more a means of the league not being accountable if a player has liver failure from too much cortisone
Go for Baez instead
Castro is not good.
he’s great.
Andrew miller for castro? I hope some of you guys were joking..
Yeah, the Cubs would be giving up way too much I agree. They already have a good closer in Hector Rondon, and the rest of the relievers are pretty good too. Why would they even want Miller?
Miller,Nova for Him?
Yuck, no one on the Yankee’s roster that’s a plausible deal I’d want to see on the Cubs. Their roster is all wings and prayers. I”m sure this is just Hendry trying to get one of his favorite signings back.
I hear it’s Castro for Sabathia and CC will be hired at Murphy’s as a bouncer.
Oh God it’s Elsbury
If all this comes to pass, this would be a brilliant maneuver by the Cubs. If either Ellsbury or Gardner is acquired and FA Ben Zobrist is signed, the Cubs have their lead-off man and #2 hitter in the batting order. Zobrist would become the regular at 2B and have the versatility to move around the field when manager Joe Maddon micro-manages each game. This would also allow the Cubs to keep Javier Baez over Castro as the more versatile player with better potential. Baez has the ability AND also profiles as a SS, 2B, 3B and OF.
A move that might involve Andrew Miller also makes sense. The Cubs can use a lights-out late inning southpaw setup man in their bullpen who can also close games. Either way, this deal benefits the Cubs immensely, especially with a Zobrist signing as well.
I like Castro and Baez both playing everyday better than Zobrist. Horrible moves the Cubs are making. I really hope they fall through and are only left with the Heyward option.
As a Cubs fan, I wouldn’t mind getting Gardner in return. Would love to get Miller too but would likely cost us a couple of prospects along with Castro and I don’t think that’s something Theo will do in this deal. On the other hand, what if the Cubs targeted Pineda instead of Gardner? He doesn’t hit free agency until 2018 and would be a solid #4 pitcher in the rotation. Still young and has potential to get better also.
Yankees are decent and don’t have a ton of sp depth. Makes no sense for them to trade a sp for castro
What was that you said lol …
Nobody wanted Castro and his contract for free when he was on waivers last year. A month and a half of production to end the year isn’t going to make a huge difference. Granted, it was an excellent month and a half, but it’s not going to be enough to bring back a legit return. It was basically good enough to get someone else to take a chance on him – that’s it.
My guess is Nova + Heathcott/Gamel if Gardner and Ellsbury arent involved.
Def. think Nova is a part of this one ..
Brendan Ryan for Castro
Ryan for castro why would the cubs do that ?
I could see the Yanks doing Nova + prospects for Castro. Nova could provide depth for the Cubs, or fill the No. 5 slot in the rotation.
It’s gotta be Castro for pitching. Gardner has like 6 or 7 years on Castro. That’s as bad as the cubs trading Lou brock. Castro for severino. Straight up. Cubs pay 100% of the 40+ mil left.
The Cubs could pay 200% of the 40+ mil left, and that would still be dumb for the Yankees
lol
Castro for Pineda???
More like maybe Nova and some Prospects …
Trading Castro is a bad move. At 25, he has a lot of upside, a few hits shy of 1000 and a selfless team leader, as shown last year when he lost his job. Baez is a better candidate to be traded especially for Gardiner who has a lifetime BA 40 points less than Castro. Baez is also too egocentric for a team concept.
Castro’s been gaining a lot of weight. lately.
Baez is 23 and has hit 37 dingers in a single season in the minors.
If we can get a 250 average 20 homerun season out of him at second
and he’s already one of the best offensive second basemen out there.
Send the JUDGE over to the Cubs
No way Severino or Miller goes in the deal.
Love how people think the Yankees are gonna trade Severino or judge for Castro. Are these people on drugs?
Not happening ..
Actually Castro and a top prospect for Severino is a pretty good deal for the Yankees.
Unless that top prospect is named Kris Bryant or Addison Russell, no, it’s really not. They apparently don’t want to give up Severino for an ace like Fernandez. He’s not going anywhere.
Doubt Yanks move Severino for Castro, they didnt move him for Price or any other front line starter last season doubt they do it for Castro
Not sure why the Yanks are not trying to Unload some of these contracts ? CC Tex Beltran A-Rod etc. They are all in there last year of their contracts . I’m sure someone would take them on, send some cash even half of what is owed and get rid of them … I think Castro would be nice also J. Upton would be a great fit for them in RF. Shed some of this Dead Weight !
I think the same thing everyday and then I remember they all have no trade claused because Yankees give them out like candy on Halloween ellsbury, beltran cc tex arod
Very true I guess … Still should find a way .. SHIP THEM No Return Address !
Castro for Gardner and have refsynder play Lf with ackley and hicks , makes them even younger then they wanted to be with 25 in 2b and 24/25 in Lf
Could open up opportunity for Cubs to move Soler if they get Gardner. Gardner can play center and Zobrist in right.
Gardner would have been ridiculous. Warren and Ryan is very reasonable. Smart play by Cashman.
Why did the cubs trade Castro, sign zobrist then acquire Brendan Ryan. Unless they flip him for bullpen pitchers. He’s always been bad.
Casto’s a great trade for Warren and if they take Brendan Ryan even better for the Yanks!!