Yankees Rumors: Matt Holliday Remains In The Mix
New York Yankees Rumors: Matt Holliday could be a target in free agency to fill the void at DH.
New York Yankees rumors continue to pop up as MLB Free Agency heats up. The Yankees were waiting for the luxury tax to be figured out in the new collective bargaining agreement before getting things started. With the CBA now in place, the Yankees are open for business according to the New York Daily News.
The Yankees are in the market for plenty of things. Bullpen and starting rotation help are near the top of that list. There have been plenty of rumors about that, as Aroldis Chapman is the top bullpen target and Rich Hill looks to be the top starting pitching option.
New York is also in the market for some hitting, specifically, someone that can fill in at designated hitter. With the trade of Brian McCann to the Houston Astros, the Yankees opened up a spot in their daily lineup. Gary Sanchez will take over as the everyday catcher, but the Yankees now need a DH.
Not only did that move open up a lineup spot, it also gave the Yankees some money to spend. It gave the Yankees a chance to land one of the prized free agent hitters, such as Edwin Encarnacion. But, it sounds like Encarnacion may be out of the Yankees budget in terms of years and dollars allocated, but there are a number of other players available.
One of those names to keep an eye on is Matt Holliday. According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, Holliday is a name that the Yankees continue throwing around as a potential addition in free agency.
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The Yankees would love to retain Carlos Beltran after trading him away at the MLB Trade Deadline, but he will have plenty of suitors this winter. Holliday would probably be easier to obtain with less suitors, and come cheaper.
Holliday struggled last season with the St. Louis Cardinals. The 36-year old Holliday battled injuries and appeared in only 110 games. He had arguably the worst season of his career, slashing .246/.322/.461. While the overall numbers may be down, Holliday showed that he still has some pop, as his slugging percentage was the highest for a season since 2013. He had 20 home runs and 20 doubles on the season with one triple.
The power production is what the Yankees would like to see if he is to take over as the primary DH to help replace what they are losing in McCann. Holliday could also help out as the backup first baseman whenever Greg Bird needs a day off.
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The Yankees can probably wait to see how the market shakes out before committing to Holliday. He would be a solid addition to the Yankees, as they would not have to give him a long-term deal or big money. He could also be flipped at the trade deadline if the Yankees are selling once again come late July.