Following the announcement that the Yankees chose to use Zach Britton’s option for 2022, sourced confirmed that the Yankees chose to decline the options of outfielder, Brett Gardner, and left-handed pitcher, J.A. Happ. With their options declined, Gardner and Happ now both become free agents.
Brett Gardner will get a $2.5 million buyout rather than a $10 million salary, while J.A. Happ’s options did not have a buyout clause.
Gardner (37) has been with the Yankees since 2008 and is the last player remaining from the 2009 championship team. Gardner was 29-130 in 2020, with five home runs, 20 runs scored, 15 RBI’s, three stolen bases, and a .223 batting average. He had a .54 OBP and a .747 OPS.
Happ (38) has been with the Yankees since 2018 (acquired from Toronto). Happ was 2-2, with a .347 ERA and 42 strikeouts across nine starts and 49.1 innings pitched in 2020.
