Brett Gardner Discusses Future With New York Yankees

After the New York Yankees lost to the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card game, Brett Gardner told ESPN's Marly Rivera that he hopes that it was not his last game with the team and that he wants to return next season.

Brett Gardner on whether he believes he played his last game with the Yankees: "I hope not. I hope I am back next season."
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) October 6, 2021

Gardner has a player option that would pay him $2.3 million. However, if he rejects it, the Yankees have a $7.15 million club option for next season if the team accepts it. If Gardner wants to play it safe and ensure he has a spot with the team next season, he may want to just accept his player option and take less money.

Gardner has played for the Yankees since the 2008 season. He is the last remaining player from their 2009 World Series team as well. In 140 games this season with the team, he had 10 home runs, 39 RBIs and a .222 batting average.

Over his tenure with the Yankees, he's had a good amount of individual success. In 2011, he led the American League in stolen bases. In 2013, he also was the AL's leader in triples. He also has been excellent in the field, as he's won three Fielding Bible Awards and a Gold Glove Award in 2016. He also played in one All-Star during the 2015 season.

If everything goes wrong this off-season and this marks the end of Gardner's time in New York, it's been a nice ride. In 1,688 games in the Bronx, he has 139 home runs, 578 RBIs and a .256 batting average. We will have to wait and see if the 38-year-old outfielder is back with the team next season.