Yankees, Brett Gardner reunite on one-year, $12.5 million deal

George A. King III of the New York Post reports that the Yankees and outfielder Brett Gardner are back together on a one-year, $12.5 million contract. The deal includes a second year option worth $20 million.

Gardner, 36, is coming off of the strongest offensive season of his career, batting .251/.325/.503 with 28 home runs, 74 RBI, 86 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases over 550 plate appearances. While he has certainly lost a step or two with age, he still rates as an above-average defensive corner outfielder as well.

So, what chance do you support Gardner has of getting the club option picked up for 2021?

MLB Rumors: Angels Pursuing ‘Significant’ Starting Pitcher

Some examples of rumored goings-on with the Winter Meetings:

- The Angels are still reportedly planning to add a “significant” starting pitcher prior to the 2020 season and are pursing Madison Bumgarner, Hyun-jin Ryu, Dallas Keuchel or a trade for Jon Gray. (Jon Morosi, MLB Network)

- The Angels, after missing out on signing Gerrit Cole, have “expressed interest” in trading for Indians righthander Corey Kluber. A two-time Cy Young winner, Kluber is coming off an injury-filled 2019 season. Anthony Rendon remains the Angels’ priority, but they’re open to other options. (Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic)

- The Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians continue to engage in “serious” trade discussions for All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor. Cleveland is seeking a package from the Dodgers including top prospects Gavin Lux and Dustin May. (Bob Nightengale, USA Today)

- The Yankees are interested in free agent catcher Martin Maldonado. In 2019, Gerrit Cole posted a 1.57 ERA and .471 opponent OPS in 10 starts with Maldonado, his best with any Houston catcher last season. (Mark Feinsand, MLB Network)

This enough excitement for you, Sports Illustrated?

Aaron Boone, two Yankees players thrown out in win against Cleveland

NEW YORK – The war between the New York Yankees and league umpires escalated again on Saturday.

Manager Aaron Boone, outfielder Brett Gardner and pitcher CC Sabathia were all thrown out when tempers flared in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The disagreement began after Cameron Maybin took a borderline called third strike and questioned home plate umpire Ben May in a 6-5 win against the Indians.

That play was the last straw for Boone, who was unhappy with calls throughout the game. The Yankees manager had already gone down the tunnel when Gardner and Sabathia came rushing onto the field. Gardner insisted that he didn’t deserve an ejection, while Maybin placed some of the blame on the home plate ump.

On the one hand, this does make it clearer why Aaron Boone would consider the mercy rule a good idea….

Sparks fly in Toronto after Gardner ejected

TORONTO—The last time Brett Gardner slammed his bat into a dugout roof, it spawned countless T-shirts playing off the phrase “Savages in the Box.” This latest installment—let’s call it “I Didn’t Say One Word”—probably will not have the same marketing potential.

Gardner was ejected by home-plate umpire Chris Segal in the top of the fourth inning of Friday’s 8-2 loss at Rogers Centre, ostensibly for arguing balls and strikes. The ejection came after Gardner banged his bat in response to a pair of questionable calls against Cameron Maybin and Mike Tauchman.

“I didn’t even open my mouth, which is unusual for me,” Gardner said. “He was looking in the left-center-field bullpen and threw me out. He wanted to assume or wanted to take a guess, and he was wrong. Then he lied to me about it, which is a huge problem, and that’s what made me a little upset.”

Television replays showed Gardner protesting to Segal that he had not said anything to warrant an ejection; in fact, manager Aaron Boone, bench coach Josh Bard and Maybin appeared to be the ones chirping from the dugout.

*From the shadows, Alfred Hitchcock offers commentary concerning this state of affairs*