Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in less than a week, and the Yankees have still not settled on a decision to bring their longest-tenured player back for another season.
Brett Gardner remains a free agent, and while recent reports suggested that the Yanks have yet to reach out to the 37-year-old outfielder with an offer, or even spoken with him at all in months, Jon Heyman told Moose & Maggie on Thursday that he believes a meeting will happen soon.
“I think they were supposed to talk this week,” Heyman said. “I have not heard that they have. He obviously wants to stay. He’s a true Yankee in any definition and a very loyal guy. They understand that and they clearly have the upper hand in the negotiations at this point, because he’s so loyal and wants to remain a Yankee.”
Gardner’s .747 OPS last season was his lowest since 2016, and a dramatic decline after smashing a career-high 28 home runs in 2019. With age quickly becoming a factor and a less lively baseball coming in 2021 that could threaten that recently discovered power, Gardner could have seen his final days in pinstripes. But Heyman still sees the Yankees making use of Gardner for outfield depth and to balance out a righty-heavy lineup that would likely include Clint Frazier, Gardner’s expected replacement.
“I do think they could use the left-handed bat,” Heyman said. “They’re pretty right-handed. It would be nice to see him stay and I’ll be surprised if they don’t get it done, but to this point I haven’t heard that there has been any progress. I do think that late this week they’re supposed to talk, so I think they’ll eventually work this out. But if they don’t, he’ll have to go somewhere else and play. He’s not retiring. So he’s interested in plaything, but first and foremost, he’s interested in remaining a Yankee, and I think that’s good news for the Yankees. He’s been a terrific Yankee.”
Gardner has spent his entire 13-year career in the Bronx, winning a World Series in 2009 and earning an All-Star selection in 2015. The Yankees bought Gardner out for $2.5 million after last season, rather than pick up his $10 million option. The team still has money to spend before hitting the luxury tax threshold, which they have made clear they want to avoid surpassing, which means a Gardner return can still happen, and leave room for the Yanks to address another area of need before the season arrives.
“By different accounts, they have about $5 million or $10 million, so they might be able to add another reliever,” Heyman said. “You throw Gardner in there, I don’t know exactly what he’s going to get, but you figure in the $3 million range or something like that, could leave a little extra room for another relief pitcher. I think the bullpen is something they still have in their minds.”
Listen to Heyman’s full interview with Moose & Maggie below!
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