Yankees sign outfielder Brett Gardner

The New York Yankees announced today they have signed outfielder Brett Gardner to a four-year contract beginning in 2015 and extending through the 2018 season, with a club option for 2019.

Gardner, 30, owns a .268 (517-for-1,932) career batting average with 338 runs, 85 doubles, 33 triples, 23 home runs, 177RBI and 161 stolen bases in 620 games over six seasons with the Yankees (2008-13) and ranks ninth on the franchise's all-time stolen bases list.

With 47 stolen bases in 2010 and 49 in '11, Gardner is one of three Yankees all-time with at least 45 stolen bases in consecutive seasons, joining Fritz Maisel (1914-15) and Rickey Henderson (1985-86). The Yankees have gone 20-3 in games in which Gardner has homered in his career and eight of his 23 home runs have tied the game or given the Yankees the lead.

In 2013, the left-handed batter hit .273 (147-for-539) with 81 runs, 33 doubles, 10 triples, eight home runs, 52RBI and 24 stolen bases in 145 games, setting career highs in doubles, triples, home runs and RBI. He became the first Yankee since Snuffy Stirnweiss in 1945 to collect at least 30 doubles, 10 triples and 20 stolen bases in a single season. He also led the American League in triples, becoming the first Yankee to do so since Hank Bauer and Gil McDougald each had an AL-leading nine triples in 1957.

A native of Holly Hill, S.C., Gardner was originally selected by the Yankees in the third round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft from the College of Charleston.