Yankees re-sign Gardner to one year contract, lose Romine to Tigers

The Yankees have been extremely busy in free agency so far this off-season.  After signing Gerrit cole to a massive nine year, $324M contract the Yankees kept at it with the re-signing of Brett Gardner.  The long-term Yankee is now the lone player left from the 2009 World Series Championship team.

Gardner signed for one year and $12.5M, with a player option for 2021 as well.  Gardner is the perfect plug-and-play outfielder, as the Yankees will need him to play regularly due to the injury to Centerfielder Aaron Hicks.  Mike Tauchman would most likely be the everyday CF, with Gardner rotating both there and Left Field.

In addition to being a contributor on the field last season with a career-high in home runs (.251 BA, 28 HR, 74 RBI), Gardner was the clear leader of the clubhouse.  Along with C.C. Sabathia, Gardy used his wisdom and fiery persona to motivate the young Yankee team.  He was so fiery in fact that the Yankees started using his patented “bat smash” as a celebration for each of their hits.

Unfortunately, because the Yankees can’t re-sign all of their players, Austin Romine has moved on from the Yankees.  Romine signed a one year, $4M deal with the Detroit Tigers.  His brother, Andrew, formerly played for the Tigers as well.  Romine looks to become the starting catcher for the Tigers after years of being a fantastic backup catcher.