Yankees sign Gardner to four year, $52 million extension

[Guest]

The New York Yankees and outfielder Brett Gardner have agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract extension, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The new deal will begin in the 2015 season. Gardner was set to hit free agency after this season, so the deal buys out his first four years of free agency.

Additionally, there's a fifth-year club option for $12.5 million, reports Jack Curry of YES.

Gardner, 30, hit .273/.344/.416 with 33 doubles, 10 triples (an AL best), eight homers, 52 RBI, 81 runs and 24 stolen bases last season. He played center field, but with Jacoby Ellsbury now in house, Gardner will shift back to left. That's a big deal, too, because when Gardner was a left fielder, he was among the most valuable defenders in all of baseball.

After signing Ellsbury, Gardner's name was a popular one in unsubstantiated trade rumors, but general manager Brian Cashman repeatedly said that he wasn't going to deal Gardner. With this signing, Cashman's words are obviously confirmed as the truth.

The Yankees now have their current oufield locked up for the next three seasons, as Ellsbury is signed through 2020, Gardner is now locked up through at least '18 and Carlos Beltran is signed through 2016.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-...-52m-extension

[NAHSTE]

Pretty interesting move, locks up their OF spots for the near future. I guess they want to make sure they keep some youth and speed in the org.

The Yankees better hope some quality infielders hit free agency in the next few seasons, because that roster is kind of a train wreck and they just filled one of the more easily upgradeable spots.

[SuperKevin]

Pretty interesting move, locks up their OF spots for the near future. I guess they want to make sure they keep some youth and speed in the org.

The Yankees better hope some quality infielders hit free agency in the next few seasons, because that roster is kind of a train wreck and they just filled one of the more easily upgradeable spots.

Seems like everyone is locking up their young shortstops though

[Goober]

JJ Hardy to the Yankees next year is a forgone conclusion.

[Slateman]

Gardner is 30. Not sure if his legs will hold up for the next four years.

[Goober]

Gardner is 30. Not sure if his legs will hold up for the next four years.

Huge concern, considering in four years he'll still probably be below the median age of the Yankees roster.

[Guest]

Pretty interesting move, locks up their OF spots for the near future. I guess they want to make sure they keep some youth and speed in the org.

The Yankees better hope some quality infielders hit free agency in the next few seasons, because that roster is kind of a train wreck and they just filled one of the more easily upgradeable spots.

Even if they sign a bunch of all-glove, no bat middle infielders, they will still be fine, so long as injuries don't hit that aging roster. With the age of some of the players and their track records, those injuries are pretty much a sure thing at some point.

[MVPete]

Current group of MI free agents for 2015

Mike Aviles (34) - $3.5MM club option with a $250k buyout
Asdrubal Cabrera (29)
Yunel Escobar (32) - $5MM club option
Rafael Furcal (37)
Alex Gonzalez (37)
J.J. Hardy (32)
Derek Jeter (41)
Jed Lowrie (31)
John McDonald (40)
Hiroyuki Nakajima (32) - $5.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Nick Punto (37) - club/vesting option
Hanley Ramirez (31)
Jimmy Rollins (36) - vesting/club/player option

Emilio Bonifacio (30)
Alexi Casilla (30)
Mark Ellis (38)
Rafael Furcal (37)
Chris Getz (31)
Kelly Johnson (33)
Nick Punto (37) - $2.75MM club/vesting option with a $250k buyout
Brian Roberts (37)
Ramon Santiago (35)
Rickie Weeks (32) - $11.5MM vesting option
Ben Zobrist (34) - $7.5MM club option with a $500k buyout

[SuperKevin]

That's an ugly group of names right there

[spursup]

I guess this is Cashman saying Gardner is a starter...13 million per year, he better produce at a high level.

[Slateman]

I guess this is Cashman saying Gardner is a starter...13 million per year, he better produce at a high level.

When he's healthy, he's a 4-5 WAR player.

Probably good to have him around as Ellsbury hasn't exactly been the epitome of health in his career. Gardner can slide over to CF if Ellsbury goes down.