Yankees avoid arbitration with Gardner, Cervelli and Kelley

The Yankees have agreed to a one-year, $5.6 million contract with Brett Gardner, and a one-year, $1.765 million contract with reliever Shawn Kelley, both avoiding arbitration. Kelley also has a $25,000 bonus if he appears in 55 games this season.

Gardner has been a hot topic on the trdae market this winter. With the Yankees badly needing a pitcher, and Gardner being their best trade chip, the Yanks could decided to move him in order to get a starter.

Kelley was one of Joe Girardi's go-to strikeout pitchers in the bullpen late in games last season. He kinda of dropped in value towards the end of the season, but was still one of the important pieces in the bullpen.

Kelley had an ERA of 4.39 and 71 strikeouts in 53.1 innings pitched for the Yankees last season, his first year in the Bronx.

The Yankees also avoid arbitration with catcher Francisco Cervelli on Thursday. Th two sides agreed to a one-year, $700,000 deal.

Cervelli will come into spring training battling with Austin Romine and JR Murphy for the backup role behind newly signed catcher Brian McCann.

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