SU has always viewed Brett Gardner as a very good 4th outfielder.  He’s a good guy in the clubhouse, excellent defensively, fast (although never tries stealing enough given his speed) and has a high on-base percentage.  He will hit .260 with 10-15 home runs and 40 rbis.  Solid.  You can win with him starting if you have some boppers in the other positions which the Yankees have had the last couple of years since the end of the Chase Headley Era.

But…. if the goal is to catch up to the Astros and Red Sox, are the Yankees on the right path?  SU says it does give you insurance in case Hicks leaves as a free agent, and also depth when someone gets hurt which Hicks always does and Judge did last year.  My concern is does this hurt Clint Frazier’s chance to win a starting spot or will he be a concussion risk for the rest of his career?  The wild card is Jacoby Ellsbury who is a paper cut away from being out 4 months.  It’s a 1-year deal so that’s good and it’s for less money.  SU is a bit torn here.  I want Frazier to get a legitimate shot to win an outfield position and Gardner will hold him back.  Cashman can’t count on Ellsbury but he must have at least 2 more years left – maybe 3 on his awful contract.  Of course, if you are going to trade Stanton in the off-season and that’s why you re-signed him, SU is all in.

Bottom line: it’s not an upgrade.  The team needs starting pitching and hitters who can hit the ball other than home runs.  Feels like they are standing pat.  Is SU wrong on this?