Brett Gardner 

Position: OF
Bats/Throws: L/L
Age: August 24th, 1983 (36)

Traditional Stats:.251/.325/.503, 26 2B, 28 HR, 74 RBIs, 108 K; 550 PA
Advanced Stats: 115 wRC+, .344 wOBA, 3.6 fWAR, 5 DRS, 3 UZR

In 2001, Brett Gardner walked-on to the baseball team at the College of Charleston, where he started his first three-years before declaring for the 2004 MLB Draft. Unfortunately, Gardner was not selected in the draft, which forced him to return to Charleston for his senior year. During his final collegiate season, Gardner went on a tear with 122 hits, which was tied for the NCAA lead. This stellar season led to the Yankees selecting him 109th overall in third round of the 2005 MLB draft.

Gardner spent his first year in the minors in the New York Penn League, where he finished in the top-five in at-bats (282), runs scored (62), and stolen bases (19). In 2006, Gardner moved to the Florida State League, where he was named an All-Star. Overall, Gardy hit .323 (third best in league), knocked in 22 runs, drew 47 walks (second best), and led the league with 30 stolen bases.

Despite missing time with a broken hand in 2007, Gardner still managed to steal 18 bases, smack  five triples, and hit for a .300 batting average and .392 on-base percentage in 54 games with Double-A Trenton. This earned him a promotion to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, where he finished out the season hitting .260 with a .343 on-base percentage, while swiping 21 bags in his final 45 games.

Following his strong season, Gardner was a top-five statistical leader in several categories in the Arizona Fall League including stolen bases (16), runs scored (27),  batting average (.343), on-base  percentage (.433), and walks (17). Gardner was named the 12th best prospect in the Yankees system heading into 2008 by Baseball America.

After starting the 2008 season in Triple-A, Gardner received a call-up to the big leagues making his debut on June 30. On July 28, Gardy was optioned back down to Triple-A to make room for veteran outfielder Xavier Nady after the Yankees acquired him at the trade deadline.

By August 15, Gardner was back up with the club and finished off his first season by scoring the final run in history at the old Yankee Stadium on a sac-fly from Robinson Cano. In 42 games as a rookie, Gardy slashed .228/.283/.299, drove in 16 runs and stole 13 bases.

Heading into 2009, Gardner won the starting center field job over Melky Cabrera. Although Cabrera eventually won the job back from him later in the year, Gardner still hit .270/.345/379 and stole 26 bases. He also appeared in all but one of the Yankees postseason games and helped them capture their first World Series title since 2000.

After the departure of left fielder Johnny Damon, Gardner emerged as the starter in this spot in 2010. Brett had a more than solid season scoring 97 runs, swiping 47 bags, while slashing .277/.383/.379 and led the majors with 4.61 pitches-per-at-bat. He also won the Fielding Bible award for best left fielder in baseball with a 25.8 UZR and 25 defensive runs saved.

During the off-season, Gardner underwent wrist surgery to remove inflamed tissue, but was expected to be ready for 2011. Despite his surgery, Gardner did not miss a beat the following season playing in 159 games slugging .259/.345/.369, scoring 87 runs and leading the league with 49 stolen bases. Once again, he captured the Fielding Bible award as the best left fielder in the game with a 26.1 UZR and 23 defensive runs saved.

The Yankees and Gardner reached a $2.8 million agreement in 2012 to avoid arbitration. Unfortunately, Gardner suffered an elbow injury and experienced a setback in July, which kept him out until September. It was a lost season for Gardner, who only played in 16 games and received eight plate appearances in the 2012 postseason.

With Curtis Granderson fracturing his forearm early in the 2013, Gardner took over as the Yankees primary center fielder. Brett finished the season leading the league with 10 triples, while also slugging .273/.344/.416 and stealing 24 bags.

In February of 2014, Gardner signed a four-year, $52 million extension. He would reward his team’s investment during the season setting a career-high with 17 homers and 58 RBI while hitting .256/.327/.422 with 21 stolen bases. Gardy made his first All-Star team in 2015 replacing Alex Gordon. Unfortunately, Gardy cooled down after batting .302 in the first half to hit a minuscule .206 following the All-Star Break. He was also heavily booed by the fans at Yankee stadium after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in his team’s Wild Card loss to the Houston Astros.

In the 2016 season, he won his first Gold Glove award with a 5.2 UZR and 12 defensive runs saved. His .351 on-base percentage and 70 walks drawn were both his highest marks in these categories since 2010. Gardy reached new milestones in 2017 hitting a career-high 21 homers and recording the 1,000 hit in his career on June 1 off Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada.

In 2018, Gardner played in 140 games and hit a career low .236 with 12 homers and 45 RBI. As a result, the Yankees declined his $12.5 million option and instead brought him back on a one-year $7.5 million dollar deal.

Gardy bounced back last season at the age-of-35 to hit a career high 28 home runs, while knocking in 74 RBI, scoring 81 runs, and slashing .251/.325/.503 with a 115 wRC+. He was also a plus defender in left field with a UZR of three and five defensive runs saved. After hitting his 100th career home run this past season, Gardner became the second Yankee along with Derek Jeter to smack over 100 home runs and steal 250 plus bases.

Contract 

Gardner is entering his age-36-season, but is coming off a 3.6 WAR season. He would certainly be an adequate addition for any team looking for a starting outfielder. The Yankees have already shown interest in bringing him back and he could receive a pay bump from his one-year $7.5 million contract in 2019. MLB Trade Rumors predicts he will get one-year, $10 million from the Yankees.

Recommendation 

The Yankees will most likely look to retain him after injury riddled seasons from outfielders Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Hicks, who is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery. Although he is no longer much of a basestealer, Gardy can still swipe a bag when needed (10-of-12) and is a plus defender in left field (3 UZR, 5 DRS).

His bat still has a ton of pop left, as well smacking a career high 28 homers and driving in 74 runs. The Mets are looking for center field help and could have him split time in center with Brandon Nimmo. Gardner played in 820 innings in center last season and despite having minus two defensive runs saved, he posted a 1.7 UZR. The Mets should at least kick the tires on bringing in the veteran, who would provide depth to their lineup and rotate in the outfield with Nimmo, J.D. Davis, Jeff McNeil, and Michael Conforto.