The New York Yankees are reportedly open to trading outfielder Brett Gardner. With the additions of Carlos Beltran and Jacoby Ellsbury, Gardner is now believed to be the team's best trade asset, ESPN reports.
The addition of Beltran made the Yankees more open to hearing trade offers for Gardner.
"The Yankees have had a good amount of interest in Gardner this winter, a source confirmed, and are more open to dealing him now because of their outfield depth and their hesitancy to sign any of the high-end free agent pitchers," ESPN's Andrew Marchand wrote on Monday.
While the Yankees aren't expected to pursue Matt Garza, Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jimenez, the team reportedly does have interest in Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. New York, though, is pessimistic about their chances of acquiring the ace from the Tohuku Rakuten Tigers.
Gardner finished the season with a .273 batting average, .344 on-base percentage, eight homeruns and 52 RBIs. He becomes a free agent after the 2014 season.
Trading Gardner would enable New York to add talent to one of its weaker positions, such as second base, the starting pitching rotation and the bullpen. Should the Yankees keep Gardner, he's expected to play left field with Ellsbury in center field and Beltran and Alfonso Soriano alternating in right field.
New York is also pursuing Detroit Tigers free agent infielder Omar Infante, who could fill the Yankees' need at second or third base. He had a .318 batting average, .345 on-base percentage, 10 homers and 51 RBIs last season with Detroit.
