According to reports, the New York Yankees and veteran free agent gardener Brett Gardner hadn’t been in negotiations until last week, but that seems to have changed. The two parties will continue to be in contact and working together. The Yankees have agreed to re-sign left-handed outfielder Gardner, pending a physical examination, said acclaimed New York Post journalist Ken Davidoff.
It’s a one-year pact with player and team options for 2022, according to famed reporter Jon Heyman of MLB Network. Gardner, a client of Meister Sports Management, will earn a $ 4MM guarantee. It could get around $ 11 million if the Yankees choose the option for next year, Heyman adds.
The Yankees declined Gardner’s $ 10MM option for 2021 in favor of $ 2.5mm after last season, but this new deal comes as no surprise. After all, the 37-year-old has been a club member throughout his career since making his debut in 2008 and remains an asset despite his advanced age.
Gardner is still an expert in center and left field management, and recorded another above-average offensive performance in 2020. While his batting average was not good, his overall line of .223 / 354/392 at 158 appearances on the plate it was about 10 percent better than the league average, according to OPS + and WRC +. He is also an immensely respected member of the team’s clubhouse.
Gardner would train as a highly skilled quarterback on a team that has Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Clint Frazier lined up to start on the turf. The Yankees aim to stay below the $ 210 million luxury tax threshold this year, and re-hiring Gardner shouldn’t stop them from doing so, as Jason Martinez of Rooster Resource / FanGraphs, estimates they are just under $ 202 million now.