TAMPA, Fla. -- Nine days separate Brett Gardner from a 14th season in Yankees pinstripes, and as he surveys the roster that projects to head north for the April 1 opener, the veteran is bullish on his outfield. If Clint Frazier, Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge all remain healthy and productive, it could spell a memorable season in The Bronx.

That comes with a caveat for Gardner: if those three outfielders are in the lineup regularly, his path to at-bats will be murky. Gardner understands and would accept that scenario, but he has also been through enough Yankees summers to recognize that the landscape tends to change without warning.

"For me, I still mentally and physically have to be prepared to play every day," Gardner said. "I know that if all of our guys are healthy, that's probably not going to happen, which is fine. I know what I signed up for when I decided to come back here. I'm just excited to be a part of this team, and however often I play, I'll be ready for it."

For much of the offseason, Gardner's return was not a given. Despite making no secret of his desire to play his entire career in pinstripes, Gardner lingered in free agency into January, while the Yankees were occupied with re-signing infielder DJ LeMahieu and other matters.

At times, Gardner would look out a wintry window in Holly Hill, S.C., pondering the possibility of playing elsewhere or remaining at home. Gardner participated in a group text message chain with several of the team's stars; Judge was among those who pinged him frequently, wondering when there would be an update.

"I think I can speak for the whole clubhouse and this whole organization that we're happy to have him back in pinstripes where he belongs," Judge said. "He's a guy that needs to end his career here. He's that important to me, the young guys we have on this team and all my other teammates. Even if he's not on the field, he finds a way to impact the game."

General manager Brian Cashman believes that Gardner turned down more lucrative offers to return to New York, agreeing to terms on a two-year, $5.15 million deal in February.

"We had other areas that we wanted to address first and foremost, but that doesn't dismiss or dilute how important Brett Gardner has been to this franchise," Cashman said. "We didn't bring him back as a reward for what he's done in the past. We brought him back because we think he's going to impact us in the present. We're lucky that he loves being here, because I guarantee he had a chance to go elsewhere and probably make more money."

This is not the first time that Gardner, who will turn 38 in August, has contended with a crowded Bombers outfield. The Yankees have been intending to downshift Gardner into a workload of 300 to 400 plate appearances for years, believing that he tends to fatigue later in the schedule. Injury circumstances pushed him into the lineup for 432 of a possible 486 regular-season games from 2017-19.

"Gardy has been the one guy that's actually been able to stay remarkably healthy for us," manager Aaron Boone said. "We've started to transition Gardy to that fourth outfielder role, but it's been difficult because he's been the guy that's been the most healthy, so we've had to lean on him a ton. In a perfect world, we'll remain really healthy, and Frazier takes another step to really establish himself as an impact player at the big league level.

"But that said, there's going to be plenty of playing time for Brett Gardner, especially with the defensive versatility he brings in the outfield. There will be a number of at-bats, even if we are remarkably healthy."

In last year's shortened campaign, Gardner batted .223/.354/.392 (108 OPS+) with five homers and 15 RBIs in 49 games, riding a strong September to earn starts in five of the club's seven postseason games. Gardner said at the time that he did not want his final games to be played in an empty stadium and hoped his family would have the opportunity to see him on the field again. They have this spring, and likely will during the summer, too.

"I'm fortunate," Gardner said. "I've been able to play a little longer than maybe most guys. I'll just continue to take good care of myself, hopefully put the right things in my body, and it'll treat me well. Yeah, here we are -- ready for another season."

Much like his path to playing time, Gardner is taking a wait-and-see approach to what his future holds beyond this season. The longest-tenured Yankee and the franchise's last active link to its most recent World Series championship roster, Gardner's deal includes a player option for 2022. Though he feels he can keep up with athletes 10 years younger, Gardner could be tempted to cap his career with a second World Series ring.

"I definitely appreciate the fact that this relationship has lasted as long as it has," Gardner said. "I'm a little bit spoiled. I don't know what it's like on the other side, but I'm very thankful that I've been here as long as I have. I'm thankful and happy to be back for another season. And hopefully this is a special one coming up.”