The Yankees announced this evening that both outfielder Brett Gardner and reliever Darren O’Day have reached free agency. Both players had contracts with player options that they each declined. Their respective deals allowed the Yankees to bring back either player by then exercising a pricier club option, but the team decided not to do so in either case.
It’s the second consecutive offseason in which the Yankees have declined an option on Gardner. Last winter, the club opted to buy the veteran out rather than bring him back for $10MM. After a few months on the open market, the career-long Yankee returned to the Bronx on a complex deal that paid him a $2.85MM salary in 2021. The contract contained a $2.3MM player option for 2022. Were Gardner to decline, the Yankees were left to decide between exercising a $7.15MM club option or buying him out for $1.15MM.
Both sides have chosen to decline their end, meaning Gardner will collect the buyout figure and hit the open market. This again raises the possibility that Gardner could land elsewhere after spending the past fourteen seasons in a Yankee uniform. It’s certainly still possible New York and Gardner’s reps at Meister Sports Management look to hammer out a new agreement that lands somewhere in between the respective values of the player and club options, but he’ll now be free to explore opportunities with other teams as well.
The 2021 campaign was something of a mixed bag for Gardner, who likely wound up thrust into a bigger role than the team had envisioned. With Aaron Hicks suffering a season-ending injury in May, the 38-year-old Gardner stepped in as the Yankees’ primary center fielder. Both Statcast’s Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved tabbed him as a roughly average center fielder, no small feat for a player his age.
Gardner’s production on the other side of the ball dipped, though, as he posted his worst hitting numbers since 2018. Over 461 plate appearances, the left-handed batter put up a .222/.327/.362 line with 10 homers. Gardner still walked in a fantastic 13% of his trips and struck out less often than average, but he’s posted low batting averages on balls in play for the last few seasons and the 28 homers he popped in 2019 looks like an outlier after back-to-back down power years.
While Gardner has spent his entire career in pinstripes, O’Day’s time in the Bronx might last just one season. The veteran submariner signed a free agent deal with a similar structure as Gardner’s last winter, albeit at a lesser sum. His contract paid a $1.75MM salary in 2021 and came with a $1.4MM player option for 2022. Once O’Day declined his end, the Yankees were left to decide whether to bring him back for $3.15MM or buy him out for $700K.
O’Day’s time with the Yankees didn’t go according to plan, as he was limited to 10 2/3 innings by injuries, including a left hamstring strain that ended his season in early July. Now 39 years old and coming off an injury-wrecked season, O’Day is looking at another low-cost deal this winter. Still, he seems likely to top the $700K gap between his buyout figure and the player option salary, so he’ll hit the open market in search of other opportunities. When healthy, O’Day has consistently been productive, posting a sub-4.00 ERA in every year since 2011.
Why did Gardener decline
Wondering that also if BR is correct and his player option was 2.3m. I don’t see him getting that. Maybe not even a guaranteed deal with that amount as the tops he could earn. Is he planning to retire?
I think he received the $1.15M buyout, so he’d need to find a deal worth more than $1.15M to exceed the $2.3M of his player option. It’s only about two and a half times the league minimum, but I still doubt he can find that on the open market.
@cainer18 is right. Gardner still got half of the $2.3M just by turning it down so he really only turned down $1.15M. Someone will pay him more than that next year. Same thing with O’Day. At first I was surprised he turned down $1.4M because he was almost useless last season, he’s super injury prone and he’s old as sin. Then I realized his buyout was half of it. O’Day was never going to agree to that option so I’m not sure why the Yankees put it in there. It must’ve been just an attempt to push money back to stay under the luxury tax for 2021. It doesn’t really work though because the buyout counts toward 2021 and he was going to take it no matter what. Considering O’Day had a $700k buyout that means accepting the option would have only paid him another $700k. The veterans league minimum is $720k so if O’Day we’re to accept that deal he would be making less than the league minimum. You have to figure someone will give him a chance next season for at least the minimum. He might have to settle for a minor league deal but even that would probably come with a full million if he’s healthy enough to make the roster. You can never count on O’Day to stay healthy but with his career track record even at $720k be could probably pick where he wants to play. Even if it were the full million he could do that. No reason for him to hang around for less than the league minimum. No reason for Gardner to hang around for $1.15 million either. They may not be special anymore but they will both make more than that pittance playing anywhere they want based off their names alone.
The buyout amount and the extra year it covers is included in the AAV for the CBT hit. So Gardner’s latest contract costs the Yankees ($2.85+$1.15)/2= $2 mill/yr for ’21 and ’22 against the CBT. The math for O’Day is the same. The difference for Gardner is he already had a CBT charge for ’21 from the similarly structured deal he signed for the ’20 season. So his CBT hit for ’21 is a combination of the 2nd year AAV from the ’20 deal (I think it was around $4-5 mill) and the $2 mill from the ’21 deal.
Buyouts are popular for ownership because it spreads out the CBT AAV. From a players perspective it’s simply a deferred payment that they openly negotiate.
Because his head got too big.
Ba-dum-tss!
Gardner’s head really is huge. I don’t know if he’s ever failed any screens but he definitely has that steroid/HGH head thing going on. I’ve met some juicers and a lot have huge heads like that. Gardner looks like he might be one of those people from American Horror Story who is a half breed mix between a human and a Gray race alien. That giant head is a site to see. I’ve seen heads that are too big to fit the body before. Gardner’s head is too big to even fit his face. He must’ve been on that Kentucky Derby horse steroid junk to look that weird.
Yankees should just move on from Old Man Gardener.
Is this the year Gardner finally hangs it up?
Gardner will be the Yankees manager one day. Wether that be when Boone’s contract is up or if he gets fired
I would absolutely love to see his arguments with the refs!!!
Umps*
I died of laughter when he gave the Mets the thumbs down during their brawl lmao
Gardner for “Head” Groundskeeper, not manager.
Both had player options larger than their buyouts. Easy decisions honestly, especially for Gardner
Easy decision? There is no way the Yankees exercise either of those team options.
Gardner declined the player option for 2.3mm, and the Yankees give him a 1.15mm buyout. Now he is gambling that he can get a new contract for more than 1.15mm to make a profit.
Gardy should be bench coach. He’s playing days are over he’s taking up a roster spot meant for Rosario or someone else
I prefer going big if the Yanks are moving on from GGBG. Starling Marte is a top 10 defensive CF who would also give the Yanks that speedy leadoff hitter you’ve been pining for, @mlbnyyyfan.
That’s the outfield addition I’d like to see Cash make.
If they don’t promote Florial, then surely they trade him?
Florial has a Bernie Williams-esque skill set. He just needs 40 games to establish himself as a major league regular.
So funny that everyone wants Gardy to go. But he gave his heart and soul to the Yankees. Maybe it’s time for him to hang it up. But he was a true Yankee and a tough gamer. Any real yankee fan will miss him. I hope.
I’ll miss him but would have preferred to be missing him sooner than the 2022 season.
I’m a Red Sox fan and appreciate his play. I don’t get the hate. He’s old school for sure. Every championship team needs a Gardy.
I’m a Yankees fan myself most of the hate I see on Gardner appear to be from most of the fly by night or average Yankees fans . Any true baseball savant appreciates his skill set and what he brings to a game.
Also the fact he doesn’t hit 40 home runs a year is probably why most of these ” fans ” want him gone..They’re the same group of people that wanted melky Cabrera to be the everyday center fielder in 2009 and wanted Garber relegated to a 4th outfielder role
Well 14 years and 40+ WAR later it looks like the Yankees kept the righr outfielder.
I’m a RS and I agree. He’s too old to be a starter for a contending team, but at his salary, I think he’s a pretty good #4. For the folks advocating he be non-tendered, the first question absolutely has to be, what is your OF going to be in 2022?
It’s time the Yankees move on from Gardner
Rumor has it the Mets are reaching out to Gardner for…
Beating a dead horse?
Well, some dead horses deserve to be beaten.
LOLMETS will forever be funny, no matter what.
is it dead yet?
Dunno, Dark.
Go ahead & give it a kick to find out.
But Gardner declined to be interviewed for…
He couldn’t catch up to 90 mph fastballs. It’s time to say hello to retirement .
Damn.
Was hoping O’Day would exercise his option. I liked having a sidearmer in the ‘pen. I definitely agree with the Yanks on this one though. Happy to gamble on that hamstring for 1.4 mil but not 3.15.
Yanks bullpen doesn’t need all that much.
Another RH middle reliever would be a defensible luxury item. But the bullpen & our pitching in general is in pretty decent shape already.
Which hasn’t been the case heading into winter in awhile, man.
@Ducky. Love Brett Gardner!! Would love to see him as a coach, but his time as a player needs to be over!!!
We need to have flexibility going into 2020, this includes having viable choices for the fourth outfield spot. Maybe we spend big on CF, in which case we have to spend cheaply for that 4th outfield spot. Or maybe we save our money for a SS or 1st baseman and need a solid 4th outfielder that will be called upon to play a fair amount of time, Gardner no longer is suitable for either role.
I agree that the Yankees’s biggest needs are not on their pitching staff, although I would never turn down an addition to our pitching staff at the right price. I still say their two biggest needs are catcher and SS!
Same here, @Mick.
He seems to be a total knucklehead grinder. I have a tendency to relate to players like him.
He reminds me of Roy White. Another guy on my forever-cool-with-me list. But yeah. Looks like his time has come. I could definitely see him coaching in the future, too.
Yeah. Be nice to do a little something with the rotation. But it’s not really all that necessary. & Cash loves his relievers, man. So I basically expect him to add an arm to the ‘pen.
Personally, I have SS & CF as my offseason priorities. A stance that does not endear me to the Yankee faithful on the board.
Hey Ducky..
I’ll agree with u on Roy White being a totally cool old time player. he was one of the FEW NYY guys who was easy to approach way back (at Winter Haven, Sox old ST home) during a time many players on both teams really didn’t like each other. He seemed to be on road trips quite often from fairly distant Ft Lauderdale to WH when they played. He usually had a smile and was amiable towards fans, unlike most of the others then. Remember cpl times having conversations with him.
IMO- Roy White is the most underappreciated Yankee since I became a Yankees fan in 1965.
@Silver & @SteveB –
Roy White was one of (if not the) first autographs I got. My grandfather (who taught me baseball – amongst other things) lauded his style of play. He didn’t have a weakness as a ballplayer. So I was brought up to appreciate him. But – yeah – he gets overlooked all the time.
Hicks is signed through 2026.
He’s a fine 4th OF as he can play all 3 positions, is a switch hitter, and a solid veteran. If the Yankees don’t want him I’m sure a 8-10 teams (with the money) would be interested in trading for him.
I live in MN.
So I saw him play out here. As a kid, he had baseball skills smeared all over himself. He could run, had that huge arm, some power, & an uncanny & discerning eye at the plate. He still has all those tools. I know you don’t care for defensive metrics, but they’ve soured on his work somewhat in CF the last couple seasons.
& as you point out, as a switch hitter that can play all 3 OF spots there is value there. & a $10 mil AAV is hardly onerous.
But.
He really struggles to stay on the field. Monumentally. That’s going to severely impact his trade value. BTV puts his value at a negative $24MM. I’m not sure he could even be a salary dump at the moment.
I saw him play in AA. He was bigger than any other player on the field, ran faster and hit harder and further. Looked like a monster.
He’s like James McCann of the Mets and others – if a team tries to start him he wears down and is a candidate for an injury. He should be moved to a 4th OF role where he starts maybe 80-90 games a year, and comes in later in the game for D, pinch hitting, or to relieve an injured player. The problem with him assuming a limited role is his contract – which is pricy for a small market team, a bit steep for a mid market team, but within range for a large market team. If the Yankees don’t keep him, I see him going to contenders via in-season trades for the next 5 years.
Bet he did.
He reminds me more of Mondesi or Buxton: incredible tool collections whom have all had some success in the bigs but just can’t stay on the field. Guys you hope you can get into ~ 100 games/year & can make it to & through the postseason. Key word: “hope”.
I can definitely see him as a finishing piece for a good outfield if it wasn’t for all the injuries. But that 4th outfielder role is the one I hope the Yanks are looking for from him. Depending on him for more has become untenable.
Hicks is a teaser, an injury prone guy who looks like a terrific player but never lives up to expectations.
My friend, don’t forget the Rotator Cuff strain during the season for O’Day. Not much trust with that going forward for a 39 year old
I did forget that.
Good catch, @B. Still for 1.4 mil, seems like a pretty decent roll of the dice. O’ Day seems to think he can do better. For whatever that worth.
If they add, I really hope it’s Iglesias. He could rotate with Chappy & Lasagna as our CPs if one needs a rest, or injured…again.
That would be something alright, @Clipper.
But Cash put work into the pen over the season: Holmes, Peralta, Rodriguez as external additions & found some interesting kids (King, Ridings, et al) too.
IMO, he has already out together a postseason worthy bullpen. Reminds me of the ’19 A’s. A couple studs on the back end & 5-6 above average, matchup, & specialty relievers.
I like buttressing middle relief with a nonpower RH. O’Day, Chisek, Green, Boxberger, Romo, etc. The Ray’s always have a pitcher or 2 like that in their pens. A pretty cheap yet straight up copy cat move.
Love O’Day. He used to bounce at a bar when I was in college when he was still a walk-on at UF.
Pretty cool! Damn
Braves should bring back O’Day if its a cheap deal.
There are better options at roughly the same price as Gardner and O’Day. Time to move on.
I like Gardner, but I’d like a roster spot for a younger player more.
I want to see Gardy come back one more time for a value between the team and player options. He had 1 WAR which is worth $3M to $9M on the open market. I also cannot imagine him playing anywhere else. I think he should be a Yankee Lifer. Maybe a repeat of this contract. 1 year/$2.85M w/ a $1.15M buyout on an option of some kind.
I don’t think Gardy is done and the Yanks might bring in someone younger but I doubt they’d be way more effective.
“1 WAR which is worth $3M to $9M” that’s a misconception based on the assumption that market value is a linear function of WAR. It’s not. A 10 WAR player is worth much, much more than 10x what a 1 WAR player is worth, because there are only so many slots on a roster or players you can put on the field at a time. A 10 WAR player only takes up one of your player slots; to get 10 WAR out of 1 WAR players would take up your entire game lineup.
No way the Yakees will let Brett Gardner walk. He’ll be starting in LF 10 years from now
Thanks Gardy, let them go! Time to make some major changes and become more athletic. Do not get suckered and sign a big ticket SS and pitcher. Take a step back and retool
Not sure any team out there will pay 2 million for a lifetime .256 hitter and average of 40 RBI a year. Then there is the “ Genius” Cashman. The 3rd worst Prez of Baseball OPS or GM whatever they call it now only behind Jon Daniels and “ how do Is till have a job” Preller. Of course Yankee fans have both Gardner and Crashman in the HOF.
Not sure why Gardner declined the player but I’m not going to judge a gift.
Thank you Mr Gardner.
Because he knows he’s probably the third best OFer the Yankees currently have and Cashman’s penchant for repeating the same roster mistakes is incredibly encouraging for him. Frankly, Gardner is the least of our worries if Cashman doesn’t improve the OF.
Marte?
Maybe they have a handshake agreement and now he opens up a 40 man spot so they can protect another young player ahead of the rule 5.
Bye bye I was getting tired of seeing those soft pop ups.
@Ducky definitely like Marte to leadoff but he’s right handed only. I wonder if Greg Allen could make the leap to full-time player. He’s cheap and could lead off. Allen could be 4th outfielder if he’s not ready for everyday status. The Yankees definitely need to get stronger up the middle. Replace Sanchez, New SS or either Hicks or someone else in center.
I was on the Mississippi River duck hunting this morning. My goal – like always – was to bring home some canvasbacks. Best eating duck I can name. But. Didn’t see any. I did – however – bring back some geese, coots, & various diver ducks. It is what was available.
I agree Marte would be a perfect fit if he was a LH batter. Hell, a switch hitter would be even better, uh? But like the canvasbacks this morning I am presented with what I want versus what is actually there.
To me, Allen is – at best – a Kevin Kiermaier type. Excellent defense. But a #9 hitter.
I am with you that upgrading the Yanks up the middle is necessary. I have SS, CF, & Higashioka as the upgrades I would pursue (improve Wade, Gardy, & Higgy, which would leave plenty of $$ left for Rizzo).
Keep Brett around just to piss off Cole!
Ideally i’d like to see Gardner back as a backup OF just because hes been a lifelong Yankee and he brings good things to the clubhouse. My only thing is every time this happens it just turns out that hes in the starting lineup more often than not and blocking a younger player from having a chance.
He should retire. He can’t run anymore, never could throw, and he’s just a guy who will get hurt because he’s done. Just retire.