NEW YORK – Outer defender Jay Bruce signed a minor league contract on Saturday with the New York Yankees and will try to win a job in spring training for the major league.
The 33-year-old has an opportunity as a left-handed baton in a mostly right-handed team. The Yankees’ outfield features center hitter Aaron Hicks and right hitter Aaron Judge.
Clint Frazier, another right-handed hitter, is the leading candidate for the left field, with Michael Tauchman and Tyler Wade, both left-handed hitter, also contenders, but more likely to spend time as reserves.
Brett Gardner has become a free agent and is talking to the Yankees, but the team and the 37-year-old left-handed hitter are separated by money. Gardner joined the Yankees in 2008 and was the oldest player.
Bruce hit 0.198 with six homers and 14 RBIs for Philadelphia in 96 attacks during the shortened pandemic season. He’s a three-time All-Star with an average of 0.245, 318 home runs and 948 RBI during 13 major league seasons with the Reds (2008-15), the Mets (2016-18), Indians (2018), Mariners (2019) and Phillies.