New York Yankees Rumors: Gardner Could Still Sign; Sabathia, Stanton To Recruit Cole, Strasburg

The New York Yankees are always active during free agent season and this winter looks no different. The Bronx Bombers are linked with a possible approach to free agent and long-time Yankee Brett Gardner. Plus, both CC Sabathia and Giancarlo Stanton have turned into recruiters in the pursuit of two free agent pitchers.

Brett Gardner Could Return to the Bronx

The Yankees have reason to worry somewhat about their outfield for next season. Giancarlo Stanton had an injury-curtailed 2019 and Aaron Hicks is recovering from the Tommy John surgery. The latter will miss at least some time to start the 2020 season and may take a while to get back up to speed.

Therefore, it is unsurprising that the Bombers are seriously considering making an offer to Brett Gardner, according to CBS Sports. The 36-year-old has played his whole career in pinstripes and is coming off of a good season.

In 2019, Gardner posted a .251 batting average, .325 on base percentage and a slugging percentage of .503. The South Carolina native also swiped 10 bags and finished with a career-high 28 home runs.

A year ago, the two parties were in a similar position to now. At that time the Yankees and Gardner agreed a one-year deal worth $7.5 million and such a sum would not be out of the question this winter.

CC Sabathia Recruiting Gerrit Cole

Another long-time Yankee is making headlines this offseason. CC Sabathia, former starting pitcher and highly-regarded free agent, has spoken to blue chip free agent starter Gerrit Cole about pitching in New York.

Speaking in a preview of his new “R2C2 is UNINTERRUPTED” podcast, Sabathia revealed, “Me and Gerrit Cole have spoken at length many times about me pitching as a Yankee as a West Coast Guy. If you give [him] enough money, he's going to want to come here. I am speaking from experience,” the New York Times reported.

With their seemingly endless cash supplies, the Yankees are expected to be big players in the Gerrit Cole sweepstakes. However, they are not considered front runners for the former Houston Astro. As Cole is a west coast native, his preferred destinations are thought to be the Los Angeles Angels or Los Angeles Dodgers.

However, as the big man said above, money talks.

Giancarlo Stanton Wants Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg in Pinstripes

CC Sabathia isn’t the only west coast kid who wants Gerrit Cole in the Bronx. In fact, star slugger Giancarlo Stanton has told the world that he wants the Yankees to sign both Cole and Stephen Strasburg, the two most sought after free agent starters of this winter.

Speaking to TMZ in his native Los Angeles, Stanton said Cole was a childhood Yankee fan so he would make a good fit. Meanwhile, the fact that both Strasburg and Stanton were rookies in the NL East in 2010 is good enough for the outfielder to think he’d be a good signing as well.

Furthermore, Giancarlo Stanton said that he never wants to leave the Yankees organization, solidifying his claims that California kids can do well in the big apple. Signing either seems like a momentous task, let alone both, but if one organization has the money to do it, it’s the New York Yankees.