Yankees avoid abritration with Gardner

[ABQCOWBOY]

Brett Gardner, Yanks agree at $2.85M



By Wallace Matthews | Associated Press
Updated: December 7, 2012, 11:35 PM ET

The Yankees avoided a salary arbitration battle with Brett Gardner, who missed most of the 2012 season with an elbow injury, by signing the speedy outfielder to a one-year, $2.85 million contract on Friday.

Gardner's contract also includes incentives based on plate appearances that could add another $150,000: $25,000 each for 375, 400, 425, 450, 475 and 500 plate appearances.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/stor...id-arbitration

This is huge for the Yankees. Yankees really missed Gardner last year. He was the guy who brought a lot of speed to the base paths last year. Draws a lot of walks and plays very good defense. They really needed him back in the lineup.