NY Yankees Rumors: Brett Gardner To Chicago Cubs For Starlin Castro?

While Castro would upgrade the second base position for the Yankees, an argument could be made that is not their most pressing need.

The $38 million owed to Gardner is an exact match with the $38 million owed to Castro.

The Yankees have talked to the Cubs about a deal that would send Gardner to Chicago in exchange for second baseman Starlin Castro, according to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News.

The Chicago Cubs continue to explore the trade market, and as part of that process, the team is having trade conversations with the NY Yankees.

The Yankees have discussed the outfielder with "many teams" according to a major-league executive, and while it's no certainty that Gardner will be traded, the team appears willing to move him in the right scenario. Over the next three seasons, the Yankees owe Brett Gardner $37.5 million and then have a team option for $12.5 million in 2019 that also has a $2 million buyout.

Not the first time that Castro has found himself in the midst of trade talks, the 26-year-old has four years and $38 million left on his current contract that began as a seven-year deal in 2012. With the Cubs' most recent center fielder in Dexter Fowler becoming a free agent and the Yankees' lack of an option at second base, the deal did not seem that farfetched.

Since the baseball offseason officially began, there have been quite a few NY Yankees trade rumors involving Brett Gardner.

For one, the Cubs would be taking on more money. He's got defensive versatility, as well, as he's now played both middle infield positions - and, as mentioned, he's a three-time All-Star.

Castro would fill a need for the Yankees at second base, where they now have a platoon of Dustin Ackley and Rob Refsnyder. This could be a trade with the Indians for one of their young starts like Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar, but early reports seem to indicate that the Indians are unlikely to budge with their cost-controlled pitching unless they absolutely must. But it sounds like the sides at least have the building blocks in place for future discussions regarding Castro and Gardner. The Yankees have also received a ton of interest on Gardner, and they aren't boxed in to trading with the Cubs, allowing them to weigh a number of offers.