The Pinstriped Baseball Lane

New York Yankees‘ outfielder Brett Gardner has been the team’s longest tenured player, but now, the Yankees can’t afford to wait for Gardner to snap out of a slump at the plate, especially with the impressive plays of Mike Tauchman and the return of Clint Frazier, both significantly younger players.

For now Frazier is getting a shot because Stanton is on the injured list, but he will have to face the reality of getting send down to the minors again when Giancarlo Stanton returns. Frazier never fully can break into the majors because the team has a packed outfield, but what if there is a loophole that can make everyone happy.

The only way for Frazier to get a full-time position on the team is if the Yanks shed contracts, and right now Gardner looks like he is the odd man out. At the moment, the Yanks have him on the payroll with a 1 year/12,500,000 contract.

During this pandemically-fractured season, in 75 at bats, Gardy has managed to accumulate 13 hits; 3 homeruns; and a .173 batting average. Along with those numbers, he put together 9 runs; knocked in 6 ribbies; stole 3 bases; and currently is slugging at a .333. Over his career, he compiled a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 42.5, had 5295 at bats, stole 270 bases, and launched 127 long balls.

Brett Gardner is currently my favorite baseball player, but honestly as much as it hurts me to say it, the time has comes Gardy to step off the field as a player and take on the role of a coach or a manager. Like many fans, “Brett The Jet”, is the nickname I like to call him by. Throughout his career as a Yankee, “BTJ” has become known for his slick speed on the base pads and for that reason, I would like to believe that it makes perfect sense to have him take on an advisory role with the Yanks.

By far Gardner has earned the title when it comes down to being more superior and by far more gritty, but even with his tough at-bat approach that works pitchers into tough pitching counts and his respectable presence as a veteran outfielder, I think it is time that he passes the torch onto a younger athletes that can offer the position more pop.

Whatever way you look at it, the Yanks are committed to keeping their longest vet in the lineup, despite his rapid decline in production at the plate, and some slight decline in his outfield play. Throughout his career with the club, the Yankee universe has seen Gardy be one of the most grittiest outfielders that ever put on the pinstripes, so how do you keep him in the Yankee uniform after this season?

Lets not forget, even though Gardy is not known much for his homerun power, he is really great at putting together disciplined at bats. That aspect of Gardner’s game can serve well to the up and coming youth in the Yankee farm system, as he could serve as special advisor/hitting coach after he retires.

I know I will probably get some heat for this, but he would certain be a pick for manager or some type of special advisor in my book