TAMPA – After all, Brett Gardner is still a Yankee.
Gardner and the Yankees have agreed to a one-year deal, according to a source, which will bring the left-back back to the Bronx less than a week before the players show up for spring training.
Gardner, 37, was among the veteran free agents who failed to reach an agreement this season, and although manager Aaron Boone declared Clint Frazier the Yankees’ left-handed player, the team added a some depth in the field in Greg Allen, Jay Bruce and Derek Dietrich, a meeting with Gardner was never ruled out.
Asked on Friday that Gardner was not part of the Yankees “up to this point” on Friday, Boone said, “Up to this point.”
On Wednesday, Boone said of Gardner’s status: “You never know what might happen or transpire. We will see. ”
Gardner finished 2020 in a strong manner, going 13-for-33 with 1,190 OPS over his last 13 games of the regular season and was a significant factor in the playoffs.
The Yankees’ list of 40 men is full and they also agreed to a deal with left-wing Justin Wilson. Luis Severino, who is recovering from Tommy John’s surgery, may be included in the list of 60 days of injuries to open a place, but the Yankees should make another move.