NEW YORK – Former outfielder Jay Bruce agreed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees on Saturday and will try to win a job in the big league spring training sessions.
The 33-year-old has a chance as a left-handed bat in a mostly right-handed formation. The Yankees playing field features center fielder Aaron Hicks and right fielder Aaron Judge.
Clint Frazier, another right-handed batsman, is the top candidate on the left field, with Michael Tauchman and Tyler Wade, both left-wing batsmen, also candidates, but more likely to spend time as backups.
Brett Gardner became a free agent and is talking to the Yankees, but the team and the 37-year-old left-handed batsman have been separated for money. Gardner joined the Yankees in 2008 and had been their oldest player.
Bruce hit .198 with six homers and 14 RBI for Philadelphia in 96 bats during the pandemic season. He is a three-time All-Star with an average of .245, 318 homers and 948 RBI during 13 major league seasons with the Reds (2008-15), Mets (2016-18), Indians (2018), Mariners (2019) and Phillies.