According to reports, New York Yankees and veteran free agent outfielder Brett Gardner was only negotiating last week, but that seems to have changed. The two sides will maintain contact and work together. The Yankees have agreed to re-contract left-handed outfielder Gardner, pending a physical, New York Post reporter Ken Davidoff said.
It’s a one-year deal of player and team options for 2022, according to famed MLB Network reporter Jon Heyman. Gardner, a Meister Sports Management customer, wins a $ 4 million guaranteeHe could get about $ 11 million if the Yankees choose the option next year, Heyman added.
The Yankees turned down Gardner’s $ 10 million 2021 option in favor of $ 2.5 million after last season, but this new deal comes as no surprise. After all, the 37-year-old has been a member of the club his entire career since making his debut in 2008 and remains an asset despite his advanced age.
Gardner is still adept at managing left and midfield, and once again put in an above-average attacking performance in 2020. While his batting average was not good, his overall line of .223 / .354 / .392 in 158 games in the plate was about 10 percent better than the competition average according to OPS + and wRC +. He is also a hugely respected member of the team’s clubhouse.
Gardner would serve as a highly rated fourth outfielder on a team with Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Clint Frazier lined up to start on the grass. The Yankees aim to stay below the $ 210 million before luxury tax threshold this year, and rehiring Gardner shouldn’t stop them from doing so, as Roster Resource / FanGraphs’ Jason Martinez estimates they are now just under 202 million dollar.