The declined the option in veteran outfielder 's contract for 2021 Friday, meaning he will become a free agent, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Gardner would have earned $10 million in his age-37 season had New York picked up his option. Instead, he will be free to test the market this winter.
The former All-Star in 2015 has spent his entire 13-year career with the Yankees. In 2020, he slashed .223/.354/.392 with five home runs, 15 RBI and 26 walks in 49 games.
While Gardner wasn't necessarily expected to be a full-time player in 2020, he appeared in 49 of the Yanks' 60 regular-season games and played pretty regularly due to the fact that New York was ravaged by injuries.