Jay Bruce is finally a Yankee.
Leftist Bruce signed a minor league contract with the Yankees, a source confirmed on Saturday, and he could provide a much-needed left-handed baton for the squad if he is on the roster.
But Bruce, who turns 34 in April, has been much less productive in recent seasons than he was at the beginning of his career.
The All-Star three times hit six home runs and had an OPS of 0.721 in 103 plate appearances with the Phillies, battling hip injuries in the short 2020 season. He was solid in 2019, which he split between Philadelphia and Seattle.
Without DH in the National League this season, it made sense for Bruce to sign with an AL team and he could take advantage of the small entrance on the right at Yankee Stadium.
With Brett Gardner still a free agent, the Yankees have just replaced Aaron Hicks and Greg Allen and left-handed hitters Mike Tauchman, Mike Ford, Estevan Florial and Tyler Wade on the 40-player roster to potentially balance the lineup.
The Yankees, a source added, have not yet ruled out the possibility of bringing Gardner back, as he would occupy a different role than Bruce.
Bruce’s chase by the Yankees dates back to at least 2017, when they were confident they had placed him in a negotiation with the Mets before that year’s unresigned negotiation deadline, only to see him strike a deal for Cleveland.
Bruce will earn $ 1.35 million, plus bonuses, if he is on the major league list. And if he’s healthy, Bruce can also play on first base, as well as on the right and left fields.