NEW YORK – Gardener Jay Bruce accepted a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on Saturday and will try to earn a spot in the big league spring training sessions.
The 33-year-old has a chance as a left-footed bat in a mostly right-handed lineup. The Yankees gardens feature ambidextrous center fielder Aaron Hicks and right fielder, right fielder, Aaron Judge.
Clint Frazier, another right-handed batsman, is the top contender for the left field, with Michael Tauchman and Tyler Wade, both left-handed hitters, also contenders but more likely to spend time as substitutes.
Brett Gardner became a free agent and is talking to the Yankees, but the team and the 37-year-old left-handed batter have been separated for the money. Gardner joined the Yankees in 2008 and is the longest-serving player on the roster.
Bruce hit 198 with six homers and 14 Philadelphia-driven runs in 96 turnovers during the season shortened by the pandemic. He is a three-time All-Star with an average of 245, 318 homers and 948 RBIs during 13 Major League seasons with the Reds (2008-15), the Mets (2016-18), Indians (2018), Mariners (2019) and Phillies.