From Jack Curry of the YES Network comes word that the Yankees are on the verge of signing outfielder Brett Gardner to a four-year, $52 million contract extension. The deal, which will officially begin in 2015, also includes a $12.5 million club option (or $2 million buyout) for the 2019 season.
Gardner was arbitration-eligible for the third and final time this winter, so the new contract covers four years of free agency (with a possible fifth).
Gardner, 30, batted .273/.344/.416 with 24 steals and 81 runs in 145 games last year for New York.
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UPDATE, 1:51 p.m. ET: Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that it’s a done deal.
