Jay Bruce is ultimately a Yankee.
The left-wing, swinging Bruce has signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, a source confirmed Saturday and he could offer the team a much-needed left-handed bat if he is ranked.
But Bruce, who turns 34 in April, has been much less productive this past season than earlier in his career.
The three-time All-Star hit six homers and had a .721 OPS in 103 record appearances with the Phillies. He was solid in 2019, which he split between Philadelphia and Seattle.
With no DH in the National League this season, it made sense for Bruce to join an AL team, and he could take advantage of the short porch at Yankee Stadium.
While Brett Gardner is still a free agent, the Yankees only selected Aaron Hicks and Greg Allen and left-handed kits Mike Tauchman, Mike Ford, Estevan Florial and Tyler Wade in the 40s to potentially balance.
The Yankees, according to a source, still did not rule out bringing Gardner back, as he would play a different role than Bruce.
The Yankees’ pursuit of Bruce goes back to at least 2017, when they were confident they would land him in a trade with the Mets before the year’s non-waiver deadline, only to see him sign a deal with Cleveland going to do.
Bruce will earn $ 1.35 million, plus bonuses, if he’s in the major leagues. And if he is healthy, Bruce can also play first base, as well as right and left field.