NEW YORK – Fieldworker Jay Bruce has agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on Saturday and will try to get a job during major league training.
The 33-year-old has the opportunity to have a left-handed bat in a predominantly right-handed lineup. In the Yankees’ outfield, Aaron Hicks and right-handed right-handed fielder Aaron Judge are featured.
Clint Frazier, another right-handed hit, is the best candidate for the left field, with Michael Tauchman and Tyler Wade, both left-handed victims, and also a chance to spend time as a backup.
Brett Gardner became a free agent and spoke to the Yankees, but the team and the 37-year-old left-handed hitter were no money. Gardner joined the Yankees in 2008 and was their longest-serving player.
Bruce hit .198 with six homers and 14 RBIs for Philadelphia in 96 at-bats during the pandemic shortened season. He is a three-time All-Star with a .245 average, 318 home games and 948 RBI during 13 major league seasons with the Reds (2008-15), the Mets (2016-18), Indians (2018), Mariners (2019 ) and Phillies.