It appears that the New York Yankees have found their new designated hitter.
According to reliable sources, Matt Holliday has agreed to a $13 million one-year deal to become a member of the New York Yankees, which represents the first high-profile move this offense for Brian Cashman the Yankees general manager. The sources said the deal was only pending Holliday passing a physical.
Following the trade last month of Brian McCann by the Yankees to the Houston Astros, the team was looking for a new designated hitter.
Last season, Holliday hit just .246 with 20 homers and 62 RBI over the 110 games he played for the St. Louis Cardinals. He started 82 games as the left fielder, 9 as first baseman and 8 as the DH. He missed approximately seven weeks during the latter part of the season due to an injured thumb.
Holliday has been an All-Star seven times during his career and for his career he has a batting average of .303 during 13 seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Oakland A’s and Cardinals.
Holliday will not likely play that much in left due to Brett Gardner as well as Aaron Hicks on the current roster although he could fill in at first base occasionally for Greg Bird as the only other option currently on the team there would be Tyler Austin.
Holliday will bring some much needed veteran experience and leadership to the clubhouse, that has seen the departure of Andrew Miller, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, Beltran and McCann over the past few months.
Cashman said on Friday that he did not think the team missed out on and realistic signings with Yoenis Cespedes signing with the New York Mets and Beltran becoming an Astro.
The baseball winter meetings begin today and the Yankees are looking to sign a high-profile closer such as Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen or Mark Melancon.
The signing of Holliday will finish the offense for New York, though they might look at additional options in case they trade someone like Chase Headley or Brett Gardner over the upcoming few weeks.
