TAMPA — In December Brian Cashman informed Brett Gardner’s representatives the Yankees were interested in retaining the speedy outfielder with a contract extension despite having signed Jacoby Ellsbury to a seven-year, $153 million deal to play center field and bat leadoff.
The general manager made good on his word Sunday when the Yankees and Gardner agreed to a four-year contract worth $52 million. The deal starts in 2015 after Gardner plays the coming season for $5.6 million. The contract includes a Yankees’ option for 2019 for $12.5 million with a $2 million buyout. Gardner, 30, doesn’t have a no-trade clause, but would get $1 million if dealt.
“He has made himself into a tremendous major league player and he has a mental toughness that we love and he is great teammate,’’ Cashman said of the 5-foot-10, 185-pound outfielder who walked on at College of Charleston and developed into a third-round pick in the 2005 draft.
Because Gardner was going to be eligible for free agency following this season, there is a chance he left some money out there by signing the extension.
Yet Gardner’s love of The Bronx and pinstripes was more important than the possibility of making more money if he had a solid 2014 season.
“I let it be known that I wanted to be part of this,’’ said Gardner, who batted .273, stole 24 bases in 32 attempts and had an on-base percentage of .344 last year after playing in 16 games the year before due to an elbow injury. “I learned from guys that have come from other places that there is no better place to play. I am looking forward to staying here and helping the team win.’’
Gardner, who some believe is a better center fielder than Ellsbury, will play left field and likely hit eighth or ninth in Joe Girardi’s order.
Always candid, Gardner admitted he wasn’t wild about playing a season with free agency lurking. The deal is for more than the one Michael Bourn – four years and $48 million — inked prior to last season with Cleveland.
“It takes a lot of pressure off, going out and having to perform in a walk year,’’ Gardner said. “Free agency was something that intrigued me, but also kind of scared me. I have never been anywhere else. I love it here and this is where I want to be.
“This is probably the biggest decision I have ever had to make in my life and I put a lot of thought into it, but at the end of the day it’s a lot of money where I come from and it’s not going to change my life.’’
While other organizations don’t value Gardner as much as the Yankees, he has a big fan in Cashman.
“Obviously, we signed Ellsbury this winter so a lot of conversation and speculation [was] that [Gardner] was someone who would be traded,’’ said Cashman, who received several calls from other clubs asking about Gardner’s availability. “I stated repeatedly that I loved Brett Gardner and had no interest in moving him. Not only that, I thought he was an important piece to the puzzle.
“I started having conversations immediately with [agent] Joe Bick. We started the dialogue not sure it would go anywhere, but I told him we would be open to an extension to see if we can keep him here.’’