Gardner avoids arbitration, agrees to one-year deal with Yanks

New York, NY, United States (4E Sports) – The New York Yankees and speedy outfielder Brett Gardner have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract.

The Yankees did not release financial details of the agreement but it was reported that Gardner will earn $2.85 million next season, aside from performance bonuses.

The 29-year-old Gardner was arbitration-eligible for the second time and earned $2.8 million in 2012.

The Yankees see Gardner as either their starting left fielder or center fielder in 2013, enabling them to move Curtis Granderson to a corner outfield spot.

The outfielder was limited to just 16 games this year due to a right elbow strain suffered in April that required arthroscopic surgery.

Last season, he batted .323 (10-for-31) with two doubles and three RBIs. In his five years with the Yankees, Gardner has stolen 137 bases, 49 in 2011.

A career .266 hitter in 475 Major League games over five seasons, Gardner was a third-round selection of the Yankees in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

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