Brett Gardner is returning to a crowded Yankees outfield.
After the club declined a $12.5 million option Wednesday on the 35-year-old Gardner, the sides agreed on a one-year contract for $7.5 million. Added to the $2 million buyout Gardner, the longest tenured Yankee, will play for $3 million less than had the Yankees picked up the option.
Gardner, who has been with the Yankees organization since 2005, when he was a third-round pick out of the College of Charleston, and a big leaguer since 2008, will return to an outfield that includes Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, Jacoby Ellsbury and possibly Clint Frazier.
Gardner figures to be the regular left fielder with Ellsbury a bench player despite having two years and $47 million remaining on his contract. Frazier could force his way into playing time against lefties if he is completely over the concussion issues that ruined his 2018 season.
By agreeing to a one-year contract, Gardner shunned becoming a free agent, a process he wanted no part of entering the 2014 season. Eligible for free agency after that season, Gardner signed a four-year contract that started in 2015 for $52 million.
Despite a subpar season from the left-handed hitter, the Yankees obviously still value Gardner’s ability to get on base, play above-average defense and be a clubhouse presence.
Gardner didn’t start the AL wild-card victory over the A’s or Game 1 of the ALDS against the Red Sox, in which Hicks left due to a hamstring injury. Gardner started in center in Games 2 and 3 and in left in the season-ending Game 4.
In 140 games this past season, Gardner hit .236, his lowest average since batting .228 in 42 games in 2008. His on-base percentage of .322 was his lowest since a .283 in 2008. Gardner is a career .261 hitter with a .344 on-base percentage.
His 2018 season looked like two different years. On July 9, he was hitting .260 with a .352 on-base percentage. From there Gardner hit .206 with a .285 on-base percentage in the final 65 games.
Despite his numbers falling off, the Yankees were a better club with Gardner hitting first than when he hit elsewhere, didn’t start or didn’t play.
The Yankees went 69-38 with Gardner leading off and 31-24 when he didn’t. And he saw 4.23 pitches per at-bat, always a plus for a leadoff hitter. That was 14th in the big leagues last year and tied short-time teammate Andrew McCutchen’s total between the Giants and Yankees. Hicks was ninth at 4.28.
The Yankees have exclusive negotiating rights with CC Sabathia, David Robertson, Zach Britton and J.A. Happ until Friday. After that the players can talk money with other clubs as well.