Report: No trade interest in Yankees' Castro, Headley, Gardner
After getting huge returns for several key players last season, it seems as though teams are hesitant to deal with New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
The club has reportedly made Brett Gardner, Starlin Castro, and Chase Headley available through trade but have received no interest in the three veterans, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
| Players | Age | Years remaining | 2017 salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castro | 26 | 3 (2019 club option) | $9.85M |
| Headley | 32 | 2 | $13M |
| Gardner | 33 | 2 | $12.85M |
Cashman has been strapped for money to spend on free agents due to being over the luxury tax for the 14th consecutive year. As penalties for being over the threshold become more severe under the new collective bargaining agreement, the club's attempt to shed salary and continue the youth movement seem logical.
Cashman spending on free agents - specifically relievers - coincides with the struggles to find takers for Headley, Gardner, or Castro, Sherman notes. With the club aiming to come in under the luxury tax threshold in 2018, it's possible Cashman eventually finds a trade partner for one, especially if they up their values in 2017.
Aroldis Chapman (five years, $86 million) and Matt Holliday (one year, $13 million) combined for almost all of the team's available spending, Cashman admitted. The Yankees, who remain in the market for upgrades in the bullpen, were linked to reliever Sergio Romo before he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.