Yankees, Gardner agree to one-year deal

12/07/2012 3:05 PM ET

By Lou DiPietro

The New York Yankees avoided arbitration with Brett Gardner on Friday, agreeing to a one-year, $2.85 million deal with the speedy outfielder.

The deal could be worth up to $3 million for Gardner, who will earn $25,000 performance bonuses for reaching 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, and 500 plate appearances in 2013.

Gardner, 29, gets a modest raise from the $2.8 million salary he made in 2012, when he was limited to 31 at-bats because of an elbow injury. In five seasons with the Yankees, Gardner has hit .266 overall and stolen 137 bases, including an AL-leading 49 in 2011.

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