The New York Yankees are bringing back outfielder Brett Gardner, who agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $12.5 million.
After reeling in the big fish of Gerrit Cole this week to a record-breaking contract, the New York Yankees aren’t done. Now that they have their ace, the Yankees reportedly are bringing back veteran outfielder Brett Gardner on a one-year deal.
Can confirm that the Yankees and Brett Gardner have agreed to a one-year, $12.5 million deal. There is an option for 2021 that is valued at $10 million (not $20M).
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) December 12, 2019
There was mutual interest for Gardner to return since the offseason started. Currently the longest-tenured Yankee, Gardner has agreed to a one-year deal worth $12.5 million, per George King of The New York Post. There is also a second-year option for $10 million in 2021.
Though there are conflicting reports on the second-year option, Gardner is coming back. The $12.5 million deal is a significant upgrade from the $7.5 million deal he got before the 2019 season. With his consistency and versatility in the outfield, the Yankees are giving a solid pay day.
Gardner is $10M for 2020, $10M club option for 2021 with a $2.5M buyout. #Yankees The 2020 breakdown is $2M signing bonus, $8M salary. #Yankees
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 12, 2019
Despite entering the 2019 season holding a reserve role, Gardner became a mainstay in the outfield. He wound up playing 141 games while slashing .251/.325/.503 with a career-high 28 home runs and 74 RBIs. The 117 OPS+ he recorded was the second-highest of his career. There is no doubt that Gardner had a career year in 2019, but hopefully he can even attempt to replicate half of this production next season.
The Yankees are likely to be without Aaron Hicks for the majority of the 2020 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery. This left them needing a centerfielder to fill in. Mike Tauchman emerged as a candidate given his strong play in 2019, but Gardner was the veteran they wanted to bring in all along.
Now, the longest-tenured Yankee on the roster is back for another season in 2020 and potentially even another one after that.