New York Yankees News: Brett Gardner Wins AL Gold Glove Award

Brett Gardner has officially ended the New York Yankees drought without a Gold Glove Award winning outfielder.

According to numerous reports, Gardner is the first Yankees outfielder to win the award since Bernie Williams did so in 2000. Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira were previously the last Yankees players to win a Gold Glove, as infielders, in 2012.

Gardner finished just ahead of Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon and Houston Astros’ Colby Rasmus. This voting was done by players and coaches from around Major League Baseball who were not allowed to vote for players on their own team.

Gardner didn’t have his greatest season ever at the plate batting just .261 and hitting seven home runs, but his defensive play eventually led to the voters taking notice. He posted a .989 fielding percentage as an outfielder for the Bronx Bombers in 147 games played while committing just three turnovers. Although Gardner is now 33 years old, he did look rejuvenated I the outfield.

Gardner still has two years remaining on his contract in which he is scheduled to make $23 million in base salary, but his future is somewhat murky among the Pinstripes. Gardner has been the center of many trade rumors over the years Whether or not the Yankees decide to retain Gardner after 2018 remains to be seen.

Yoenis Céspedes has been in free agent rumors around the Yankees, but it’s going to take a lot for the New York Mets to let their Cuban superstar leave Queens. The Yankees have missed the playoffs three of the last four years, and many are calling for General Manager Brian Cashman to step down.