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Report: Yankees, Gardner agree to 1-year, $4M deal

Rich Schultz / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The New York Yankees and veteran outfielder Brett Gardner agreed to a one-year, $4-million contract that includes a player and team option for 2022, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

If the 2022 option is picked up, Gardner can make close to $11 million in the deal, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Gardner, 37, has spent his entire 13-year career with the Yankees, playing 1,548 games in pinstripes. The veteran outfielder has hit .259/.343/.401 for his career with 129 homers and 270 stolen bases. The former All-Star recorded a .747 OPS (108 OPS+) over 49 games in the pandemic-shortened campaign.

The Yankees declined a team option on Gardner's most recent contract that would have been worth $10 million in 2021. Instead, New York paid a $2.5-million buyout and Gardner became a free agent.

Gardner rejoins a Yankees club that was largely idle this winter apart from additions to the starting rotation. The former Gold Glove winner will compete with fellow outfielders Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, and Clint Frazier for work. Jay Bruce and Mike Tauchman are also in the mix to earn playing time in the outfield. Judge and Frazier are both righties, while Hicks is a switch-hitter. Bruce, Tauchman, and Gardner hit left-handed.

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