Brett

Gardner

Rosenthal adds that Gardner recently declined to pursue an opportunity with the Braves, and if he’s going to play again, it will likely only be for the Yankees. The Pinstripes are off to a phenomenal 23-8 start this season and it seems like they’ve decided to move on from the veteran outfielder after 14 seasons in New York.

The latest update comes courtesy of Gardner’s agent, Joe Bick, who told MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch that his client is staying in shape and waiting for an opportunity this season. The 38-year-old outfielder doesn’t appear to be generating too much interest, if any, from teams after hitting .222/.327/.362 with 10 homers and four steals in 461 plate appearances last year in New York.

It would be weird to see Gardner playing anywhere outside of the Bronx, but the Yankees have seemingly moved on from the 38-year-old as he aims to log a 15th season in the majors. He slashed just .222/.327/.362 with 10 home runs and four stolen bases over 140 games (461 plate appearances) last summer for New York.

Gardner became a free agent earlier this offseason after the Yankees declined his mutual option for the 2022 season. The 38-year-old veteran outfielder, who hit .222/.327/.362 with 10 homers and four steals across 461 plate appearances last year, has spent the last 14 seasons in New York. His agent, Joe Bick, told the New York Post recently that he would be willing to play for another team in 2022, but would “prefer to stay with the Yankees for the entirety of his career.”

Gardner had the option of picking up a $2.3 million player option, or the Yankees could have given him a $7.15 million team option. Both parties decided to decline, and instead the long-time New York outfielder gets a $1.15 million buyout. The 38-year-old was ineffective in his 461 plate appearances with a .689 OPS and 10 homers, and while he could be back with the Yankees as a bench option, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be a regular again going forward.

It’s the sixth time in his career that Gardner has reached double figures in homers, even though he never did in his 20s. He’s done solid work in the second half of the season, hitting .254/.352/.432 in 185 at-bats.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters that LeMahieu is dealing with a hip/groin issue and is day-to-day moving forward. He’ll take a seat on Saturday afternoon against righty Nick Pivetta after making seven consecutive starts at the hot corner. He hasn’t been hitting for much power, but he’s batting .292/.363/.348 with 15 runs scored, one homer and five RBI across 23 games since August 30. It’ll be Rougned Odor getting the start at the hot corner and grizzled veteran Brett Gardner occupying the leadoff spot at Fenway Park.

The go-ahead single was a pop-up into shallow left over a drawn-in infield, but it was one of the biggest hits of the season for the Yankees. It was just the second three-hit game of the season for Gardner, who is batting .227. His OPS is up to .694, leaving him just one good game away from rising above .700 for the first time since mid-April.

Most of Gardner’s homers these days are short porchers, but he hit one 408 feet off Alek Manoah tonight. He also had a 369-foot lineout to end the game. The homer was his seventh of the year. He’s hitting a fine .277 with a 17/14 K/BB ratio in 99 plate appearances since the beginning of August.

He’ll take a seat with southpaw Hyun-Jin Ryu on the hill for Toronto. Giancarlo Stanton will serve as the DH while Brett Gardner plays center field.