NFL Tickets
One of the names who keeps getting mentioned in trade talks with the New York Yankees is outfielder Brett Gardner. He is only 32 years old, tough and gets on base, which is why the Yankees need to keep him. Across the outfield is another player, Carlos Beltran, who should be moved instead.
Beltran is one of the better players of this generation, but does not fit the Yankees’ future plans. Over the past few seasons, general manager Brian Cashman has talked about getting the team younger, and a 38-year-old doesn’t do that. Sure, his .276 average was the best on the team during the 2015 season, but moving him would be in the team’s best interest. Despite making the playoffs a year ago, the Yankees’ best chance at another World Series isn’t for a few more seasons. They finally have enough young talent; now they just need to find a way to play and groom them.
Beltran is blocking future superstar Aaron Judge. The young ball player is a power-hitting right fielder who is listed at 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, and draws comparisons to Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins. He slumped a little in 2015, as he made his way up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but actually increased his home-run total by three in seven less games. He may not be a star just yet, but an extra year will benefit the Yankees of the future. They also have Mason Williams and Slade Heathcott in the minors, looking to make the team.
At 38, Beltran is not an everyday outfielder anymore, and requires some days at designated hitter. In other lineups, that wouldn’t be a problem, but not with the Yankees. The team is made up of players who need to DH at times, which will jam up the position. Alex Rodriguez is the full-time DH, and cannot play another position. Mark Teixeira and Jacoby Ellsbury are injury-prone and are going to need some days at DH. Gardner, Brian McCann and Chase Headley are also going to need days here and there to DH. That means seven players could need days at the position, and moving one would cause a little less congestion.
Trading Beltran could bring in some starting pitching, which they need desperately. Last season, Cashman sent infielder Martin Prado to the Marlins for starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. The pitcher was seen as a diamond in the rough before the trade, and blossomed upon arriving to New York. Before suffering an elbow injury, Eovaldi went 14-3 with a 4.20 ERA. Something similar would benefit the Yankees now and for the future.
Beltran still has some pop left in his bat, as he hit 19 home runs last season while driving in 67 runs. He would be better off with a younger team where he could mentor and still get plenty of at-bats without blocking anyone.
A team like the Seattle Mariners would make sense. The Mariners are in win-now mode, and could use the experience and power.
They could move Nelson Cruz to designated hitter full-time, which opens the outfield a little. Seattle recently signed Nori Aoki and traded for Leonys Martin, but could use another reliable bat in the outfield. Beltran would give Cruz and Robinson Cano some protection in the lineup and could DH when Cruz gets a full game off. A deal could bring in someone like James Paxton for the Yankees, who doesn’t become a free agent until 2020 and has pitched well in his first three seasons.
It would be sad to see a player as loved as much as Beltran go, but the sport is a business. Bringing in some younger talent, while allowing the future to start will benefit the Yankees sooner rather than later.
Mike Daniello is a New York Yankees’ beat writer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him/her on Twitter @mkdaniello25. Add him to your network on Google.
Share 
