Beloved Yankees player could end up with rival team?

The stomachs of New York Yankees fans are probably churning with the latest report about one of the team’s most beloved players.

Erik Boland of Newsday reported on Tuesday that the Toronto Blue Jays are among the clubs interested in veteran outfielder Brett Gardner. Boland adds though that Gardner is still waiting to see if the Yankees make him an offer.

The 38-year-old Gardner is basically Mr. Yankee at this point. He has spent his entire MLB career with the team since his debut in 2008, making him the Yankees’ longest-tenured player. Gardner made an AL All-Star team in 2015, won the Gold Glove in 2016, and was also a part of the Yankees’ last World Series victory in 2009. With the retirement of CC Sabathia in 2019, Gardner became the last player left from that 2009 title team.

Granted, Gardner can’t really play much any more, having hit a career-low .222 with ten home runs and 39 RBIs in 140 games last season. That might explain why the Yankees seem lukewarm on bringing him back.

Gardner has almost gone elsewhere a few times before but has always found his way back to the Yankees every single time. This offseason might finally be different however, and it would certainly be jarring to see Gardner playing for an AL East division rival like the Blue Jays instead.

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