SC’s Gardner Gets $2.8 Million Yankee Deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Brett Gardner and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $2.8 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. The agreement announced Friday was at the midpoint between the $3.2 million Gardner had asked for earlier in the week and the $2.4 million the Yankees had offered. Gardner, a Holly Hill, SC native and former College of Charleston standout, hit .259 last season with 19 doubles, seven homers, 36 RBIs and 49 steals, which tied Oakland’s Coco Crisp for the AL lead. Two Yankees remain in arbitration: catcher Russell Martin and left-handed reliever Boone Logan. —Copyright 2012 Associated Press