Jay Bruce is finally a Yankee.
Bruce, left-handed, has signed a minor line deal with the Yankees, confirmed a source on Saturday, and could provide a much-needed left-handed bat if he were on the roster.
But Bruce, who turns 34 in April, has been much less productive in recent seasons than previously in his career.
Three-time All-Star hit six homers and had a .721 OPS in 103 plate appearances with the Phillies, battling four-point injuries in the shortened 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 could take advantage of the short porch right on Yankee Stadium.
With Brett Gardner still a free agent, the Yankees have just hit Aaron Hicks and Greg Allen and left-handers Mike Tauchman, Mike Ford, Estevan Florial and Tyler Wade on the 40-man roster to potentially balance the range.
The Yankees, a source added, have not yet ruled out bringing Gardner back, as he will play a different role from Bruce.
Bruce’s pursuit of the Bruce goes back at least to 2017, when they were confident they landed him in a deal with the Mets before that year’s trading deadline, without seeing him, going into a business in Cleveland.
Bruce will earn $ 1.35 million, plus bonuses, if he is on the major leagues. And if he’s healthy, Bruce could play first base, as well as right and left field.