YANKEES

Yankees Add four years of Gardner Deal

TAMPA , Fla. - From the moment the Yankees signed Jacoby Ellsbury on December 7 , speculation began that they were going to trade Brett Gardner. Who , after all, would need two center fielders fast leadoff ?

But the Yankees insisted that Gardner wanted to keep playing left field with Ellsbury in center. And it showed on Sunday when they agreed to sign a four- year $ 52 million contract extension that begins in 2015 with a club option for 2019. Gardner already had one year, $ 5.6 million deal for 2014.

Gardner could have waited and become a free agent after this season, but he said there was nowhere else I wanted to play .

" A lot of pressure is needed," he said. "The idea of free agency as I was intrigued , but also as it scared me . I love it here , and I love that everyone in the organization . "

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General manager Brian Cashman said he first proposed the idea of ​​an extension to the Gardner agent , Joe Bick , shortly after signing Ellsbury to a seven -year, $ 153 million contract in December. Cashman said the four -year, $ 48 million to the Cleveland Indians center fielder Michael Bourn the last year was a guide .

" I love Brett Gardner ," Cashman said. " I think it's a great piece of our puzzle . "

Cashman said that with acres of space on the left and center field in Yankee Stadium, he was happy to have essentially two center fielders patrolling the grounds, and basically first two bats , too.

The 30- year-old Gardner, who has a career .352 on-base percentage , was on base 34 percent of the time last season and hit 10 triples, the most in the American League. He also had eight homers and scored 81 runs, tied with Robinson Cano for most Yankees.

"Sometimes he was one of our best players last year," Cashman said. "It's one of the best center fielders leadoff the game can offer. "

Cashman also noted with satisfaction that Gardner is a homegrown Yankee , the latest position player every day, the team has developed from Cano. Gardner was selected in the third round of the 2005 amateur draft and made his debut with the Yankees in 2008. Has long been a favorite Cashman, who recalled that former hitting coach Gary Denbo minor league Gardner predicted would become the center fielder for the Yankees.

" His character and makeup are very special ," Cashman said. " He has made himself into a very special player . "

The agreement Gardner has no no-trade clause , but he has a $ 1 million bonus if negotiated .

" I feel like if I stay on the field and stay healthy and treat people the way they are supposed to be treated ," he said , " and go about my business the right way and do things in the field to help the team win , I'm not worried about it. "

As excited as I was about Cashman extension Gardner , who downplayed the signing of former Boston Red Sox reliever Andrew Bailey to a minor league contract . Bailey, American League rookie of the year 2009 with Oakland , missed the second half of last season after shoulder surgery and is not expected to return until the second half of 2014 , at best.

" Look for it August or September to help the major league team , in any case, " Cashman said.

OFF to Kalamazoo? Derek Jeter, who missed most of last season was lost with leg injuries , ran the bases with other position players and said it was fine afterwards. When asked if they planned to join the team for spring training trip to Panama in mid-March , an expensive heart of Mariano Rivera event was postponed .

" Next year I 'll Kalamazoo " he said of his hometown in Michigan.

First, a winner of the Heisman The Yankees play their first preseason game on Tuesday against Florida State University , and Jameis Winston , quarterback Heisman Trophy winning field and a member of the baseball team, is expected to play . Nuno Vidal starts for the Yankees. Ivan Nova will start on Wednesday Grapefruit League opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates .