The Yankees have said that they have other more viable options in the outfield, choosing to bypass Gardner despite his deep commitment to the only major league team he has called home. "The Blue Jays have a heavily righty hitting lineup. They would like to add a spare lefty-hitting outfielder with plate patience — an asset of Gardner’s throughout his career. If Gardner is interested in playing somewhere besides the Yankees, multiple executives told The Post they believe he could get a major league contract somewhere because he can still run, defend and is viewed as a hard-working clubhouse leader," reported the New York Post.
I'll tell you what, that quote could not be more true—hard-working clubhouse leader who can run, defend and adds dimension to any lineup. The Blue Jays have already stacked their team with winners including their newest first baseman Matt Chapman.
According to the New York Times, "Among the reinforcements brought in for 2022: starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (whose breakout 2021 season with the San Francisco Giants, with a 2.81 E.R.A., earned him an All-Star spot and a five-year, $115 million deal) and starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (who had a 4.41 E.R.A. last year as the Mariners’ lone All-Star). And, of course, there is Chapman, who arrived on Thursday from the Athletics’ spring training site in Arizona and was in the Blue Jays’ clubhouse at 5:55 a.m. on Friday." And could Brett Gardner be the next piece the contending team adds to their arsenal that includes Bo Bichette, George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and starting pitcher and Cy Young winner Robbie Ray?
According to the Post, "Gardner’s representatives has said the veteran intends to play a 15th season. But clubs that could be interested wonder if Gardner, 38, is so aligned with the Yankees that if he cannot latch on with them he just retires." The Blue Jays have engaged Gardner's representatives just in case he just decides to play out his career on a new team, in a different country but in the same division as his beloved Yankees.
So, we have not seen the last of Gardner. And I believe he is more than ready to contend, more so than his younger peers. I wish it was in New York, but I have to say, if he goes to Toronto, he may very well have an exciting final year, which could see a Jays-Mets World Series. And his Yankees go home empty-handed again.
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--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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