Report: Blue Jays Offered Lifetime Yankee A Contract In Spring Training

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is reporting that this could be the end of the line for 14-year veteran and career-long New York Yankee outfielder Brett Gardner. Rosenthal says that Gardner turned down a 1-year, $6M offer from the Toronto Blue Jays in spring training. 

The report also states that the Atlanta Braves approached Gardner after they lost Eddie Rosario for at least a couple of months, but he turned them down as well.

It's looking more and more, at this point, that if the Yankees don't come a-calling, Gardner's career has come to an end.

Brett Gardner turning down 6 mil from the Blue Jays bc he wouldn't play for any other team but the Yankees is the way I expected Gardner's career to end

— Gabe (@PlayoffTanaka_) May 13, 2022

Back in spring training, Yankees GM Brian Cashman, when asked about the possibility of considering a Gardner return, said "Right now we’re focused on what we have."

And what they have, is a team with the best record in the majors, and very unlikely—injuries aside—looking to make changes. 

The 38-year-old Gardner spent his entire 14-year career in the Bronx, with a lifetime average of .256 with a .740 OPS. He swiped 274 bases to go along with 139 homers. He made one All-Star team, won one Gold Glove, and one World Series—the last one for the Yankees—in 2009.

Photo Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports