After months of “they go, they won’t” thrillers, the Yankees decided to bring back their longest-serving active player, re-signing Brett Gardner. The deal, supposedly for just one year and $ 4 million, but with an option that could reach $ 11 million, it fulfills the two goals that the team had when negotiating with Gardner – to stay below the luxury tax limit and retain a central member of the club.
This is the second consecutive offseason in which there is the possibility of a separation between Yankees and Gardner and, although they ended with the same result, the process could not have been more different. Last year, despite the team’s intense focus on winning the Gerrit Cole draw, Brett Gardner was also a priority and was hired a few days after the star. This year, Gardner was left out until the Yankees’ camp had started in Tampa.
A significant reason for this change is the fact that Gardner is simply no longer a beginner. It quickly became apparent in 2020 that Gardner’s role on the team was changing from that of an ordinary player, and Clint Frazier ascended the full-time team for the first time in his career. Gardner still got his playing time thanks to a series of injuries on the outside field – and even started in the playoffs, despite a strong argument he shouldn’t have made – and that’s one of the main reasons for him to return.
Aaron Judge and Aaron Hicks will have many days off integrated, even if they stay healthy throughout the year. Although Gardner’s skills are in decline as he enters the 37-year season, he is a safe bet to get a significantly lower contract than he won last season. The option year is an interesting wrinkle, one I’m not sure how it works with a player and a team option. Without the details, I will assume it works similarly to Zack Britton’s option, and was designed that way for luxury tax purposes.
Gardner now supplants Mike Tauchman, who was the top candidate for the reserve outfielder, on the list. This does not bode well for Tauchman’s future ability to reach the baton, as it is unlikely that the team would take five outfielders into the squad, but the injury bug can always bring him back to the fold. Some of the other outfielders brought in through minor league deals, such as Jay Bruce and Derek Dietrich, now also face a tougher path back to the majors. It could be a spring competition just to see which outfielder of that group the Yankees hold on to, with none of their guaranteed futures.
The greatest benefit that Gardner brings to this team, even without entering the field, is the leadership mentality that he has. Gardner is loved by the Yankees club and is the only remaining link for the last Yankees championship. He will help keep the team together and, hopefully, throw a bat or two on the roof of the shelter when the referees are not looking.