Yankees, Brett Gardner agree to 4-year extension

The New York Yankees and outfielder Brett Gardner have agreed to a four-year extension worth $52 million, per Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News.

In addition, the Yankees have a team option at $12.5 million (with a $2 million buyout) for 2019.

Gardner hit .273 last season with an AL-high 10 triples, eight homers, 52 runs batted in, 81 runs and 24 stolen bases. In his career, Gardner has stolen 168 bases on 199 attempts for a success rate of 84 percent.

One of the faster players in baseball, Gardner will play left field this year with the Yankees signing Jacoby Ellsbury in the offseason. In addition to Ellsbury, the Yankees signed Carlos Beltran this offseason.

All three of those outfielders are under contract for at least the next three seasons: Ellsbury (2020), Gardner (2018) and Beltran (2016).

In my 2014 fantasy outfielder rankings, I currently have Ellsbury, Beltran and Gardner ranked seventh, 27th and 44th, respectively.

Brett Gardner named Yankees starting CF

Bill Madden of the NY Daily News might have wrote about New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter eventually making the transition from shortstop to centerfield to make way for prospect Ramiro Pena. However, 2009 starting centerfielder was named yesterday.

The New York Yankees named Brett Gardner as their starting centerfielder. He beat out Melky Cabrera, who will remain on the regular-season roster in a reserve role.

"Right now I think Gardie has a little bit of the edge," Girardi said after the Yankees beat the Pirates 9-8. "He brings a little more speed to the lineup."

He was hitting .385 this spring with five stolen bases in 22 games. Last year, he was 13 of 14 on his stolen base attempts.