The Yankees have announced the signing of Matt Holliday to a one-year deal. The Scott Boras client will reportedly receive a guarantee of $13MM for the 2017 season.
While Holliday has been a left fielder for 1698 of his 1773 career games, he isn’t likely to get much time at that position in New York (at least not unless Brett Gardner is traded). Holliday will instead serve as the Yankees’ primary designated hitter and possibly also get some time at first base; he appeared in 10 games at first for the Cardinals last year.
The signing will bring some veteran stability to an intriguing but rather inexperienced first base/DH mix in New York. Youngsters Greg Bird and Tyler Austin are expected to get the bulk of time at first, with Aaron Judge on hand as both a DH and right fielder. (Austin can also play right.) Holliday, Austin and Judge are all right-handed hitters, with Bird hitting from the left side and the switch-hitting Aaron Hicks traditionally performing much better against southpaws over his career.
Holliday hit .246/.322/.461 with 20 homers over 426 PA for St. Louis in 2016 in a season shortened by a thumb fracture. Between that injury and a pair of quad strains in 2015, Holliday has only appeared in 183 of 324 games over the last two years, though a move to DH should help the 36-year-old (who turns 37 in January) stay healthy. Defensive metrics like UZR/150 and Defensive Runs Saved have been down on Holliday’s left field glovework for the last five years, so a move out of left is also likely to help Holliday’s overall value.
Holliday’s below-par 2016 season led the Cardinals to decline their $17MM club option on the longtime St. Louis staple. Over 13 seasons and 7489 career PA with the Cards, A’s and Rockies, Holliday has a very impressive .303/.382/.515 slash line, 295 home runs and 49.9 fWAR. Though his walk rate, line drive rate and overall hitting numbers declined in 2016, Holliday hit with much more power last year than in 2015 and his overall hard-hit ball rate was above his career norms. A .253 BABIP may have also been partially responsible for Holliday’s somewhat disappointing (by his standards) 2016 campaign.
Holliday ranked 40th on MLBTR’s list of the top 50 free agents of the 2016-17 offseason, with Tim Dierkes predicting Holliday to land a one-year, $10MM deal.
The Yankees had been linked to several veteran bats this winter, ranging from top-of-the-market names like Yoenis Cespedes and Edwin Encarnacion to players like Holliday who would be available on shorter-term deals. In signing Holliday to an affordable one-year commitment, GM Brian Cashman could now use any affordable payroll room on the bullpen (the Yankees have been widely tabbed for a reunion with Aroldis Chapman) or perhaps the starting rotation, via free agency or the trade market. Gardner and Chase Headley have been rumored to be available in trade talks, so more moves could also be forthcoming to the Yankees’ lineup.
WFAN’s Sweeny Murti was the first to report (Twitter link) that the two sides were close to a deal, and FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that Holliday will earn $13MM for the one-year contract.
Not bad.
I don’t really see the upside for the Yankees here. They are very unlikely to contend in 2017
Holliday will be 37 years old for the 2017 season and has declined big time. The upside just is not there.
Not a long term investment, but what is the point?
Because going from 4 to 20 home runs means you’re declining big time.
Veteran presence for the clubhouse?
Trade deadline.
He’s a veteran player who is a known contributor on and off the field and especially in the clubhouse. He can fill in for days where people need off time and could possibly become a trade chip at the deadline.
@Rican You’re right it’s terrible.
Really… i guess they won’t spending again this year again.
You failed English class!
As a Yankee fan, I’m conflicted.
Still got something left, but please let it be a one year deal.
One Year, $13 million.
I’ll take it.
As a Cards fan, so am I.
Hate to see him go but glad he went to another outstanding franchise.
Nothing to be conflicted about. It’s a good move for the Yanks. They are sticking with the plan. He’s a stop gap. They don’t need to give up draft pick compensation, and no long term commitment at an affordable price. They can trade him in July if they fall out of it.
It’s just a one year deal. What’s the problem here? If Holiday can deliver 15-20 HR’s and drive in 70…fine. If not….tha yanks can afford to eat that contract. Better than EE and a $70-90 million investment on an older OF.
I’m a Cardinals fan so It’s sad to see him go but I’m glad he got a contact.
boooooooo GO CUBS
Cocky bum fan
God I hate Cubs fans…
and I’m a Cubs fan
Congratulations. I’ve been looking around for months trying to find a non-annoying Cubs fan to congratulate.
It must feel like floating down a river of stupidity sometimes.
Unbelievable, I thought we’re trying to move past old players. Some things never change
It’s a one year deal – and plugs DH and gives us insurance in the OF if they trade Gardner. Not a huge investment.
Also see this as taking us out of the running for Encarnacion… which is a very good thing in my eyes.
No they should have gone after Edwin. This team has no DH and there’re no power hitters like Edwin in next years free agency.
They just signed a DH. His name is Holliday.
No they shouldn’t have! Edwin adds at least 20 mil to the payroll for the next 4 yrs at least. Other than homers his numbers have significantly dropped each of the last 3 seasons. Very smart for the Yankees to pass up on him given that cashman has stated that Sanchez will catch 100-110 games next season and DH when not catching
Sure, if Edwin would have signed a 1yr/$13M deal… then we just made a mistake. If he gets anywhere near $100M+, we made a good move to give us a decent bat this year and still have payroll open for 2018.
Not to mention the Yankees have done really well with their first round picks the last 3 years. Not worth giving up a pick for Edwin at his age, if he was 30 it would be a totally different story
I guess Harper and machado don’t have power?
Also don’t have free agency next year.
Glad to see someone mention Sanchez (who was strangely left out of a post talking about who is in the mix at DH for the Yankees.)
No they shouldn’t have. Edwin would be an example of why they are in the mess they are in, and would set them back in the rebuilding phase. And they’d have to give up their 1st round pick. They don’t nee anymore unmovable contracts.
You’re clueless. His numbers dropped? Another idiot
Also a consistent right handed bat, just incase Hicks craps the bed against lefties again
Who do you expect to serve as DH? Don’t know of any youngsters in our farm system that are being groomed as such, nor in any system. Besides, they need insurance @ 1B if Birdy doesn’t come along as expected. Good move, good character & leadership in the clubhouse too
*Great character and leadership
Judge’s glove should qualify him as a DH, he’s not natural in the field at all.
It’s a one year deal.
No encarnacion or bautista for them? 🙂
Bautista isn’t worth giving up the draft pick for
i think he’s really gonna regret not taking that QO
Nah. Bautista will get a multiyear deal somewhere.
The real regret will be talking about a $150m extension last offseason rather than taking $90m or whatever they were offering him.
I absolutely love that Bautistas arrogance cost him that huge contract. Such a fool. So full of himself. Love it!
Don’t understand the vitriol for Joey Bats, he played on a super team friendly contract when he was doing the bulk of his heavy hitting. I’d rather give him 2 and 40 to play DH/1B/OF than 13 for a guy who isn’t going to get us prospects and clog the DH role. Just let Judge & Co. play if they don’t do the job you lose nothing.
http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Screenshot-2016-12-01-at-10.10.14-AM.png
It’s not the CBA’s fault Cashman. The Yankees have had incredibly poor results drafting and signing amateur position players and developing them into big leaguers. From 2000 to 2009, the only position player drafted and signed in the first five rounds by the Yankees to then record a WAR greater than 3.0 is Brett Gardner.
They signed Gary Sanchez in 2009
Gary Sanchez was not a draft selection.
No, but he was a signed amateur position player. Unless you want to forego all international signings the team has made.
My comment said nothing of IFA’s, it was in direct relation to Cashman pining over the CBA “hurting” them. Which is nonsense. And Fangraphs’ Craig Edwards just wrote on this topic.
Yes their drafting has been poor but it’s been better in recent years. They pick very late year after year in the draft. Know when they had a last 10 pick? Back in 1992 when they drafted some guy named Derek Jeter. Yes, that’s the last time the Yankees had a Top Ten overall pick.
They’ve had more top 50 picks than most teams, the percentage of players they’ve selected in that group over that time frame to succeed has been very small. And as a percentage is lesser than league average.
Top 50? How do you figure that? You do realize by pick#50 , most if not All teams have had at least one draft pick selected.
Feel free to follow the link and read the article, it’s figured with simple math, when including the first supp picks – the Yankees are right up there in the top half.
The link you posted only has a graph. Not an article.
He’s either an angry Mets or Red Sox fan. The Yankee management has not had the luxury of tanking the team multiple years to collect top draft choices.
EE is on a downward slope. Hence the lack of interest. He and “Tony Bats” thought that their swagger would have teams in line to pay them big sums.
Also–home team advantage with both of them? How much did they benefit from spying on catchers signs in Toronto?
So what? The Cardinals haven’t had a Top 10 pick since I think 1996, and they’ve been very successfully at drafting late first round talent.
True though the Cards also have gotten many extra picks over the years for being a “small market” team.
Keywords you said were late first round. Keep in mind there were many drafts in which the Yankees did not even have a first round pick
Will be a very good DH. Still has a live bat
Great deal. Only a one year contract and we still have some money to spend.
I’m glad they are not overpaying for players this year. The year to spend is in ’18… I’d like to see them get some pitching.
Good deal. Only one year. Veteran hitter for the youngster to be around and doesn’t block anyone’s progress. This is what a rebuilding team does. No circus that you’d get with some of the others. Perfect move for this Yankees team.
Bet Encarnacion’s agent didn’t think the Astros and Yankees would both drop out of the running for him before the Winter Meetings even began.
Yep, it looks like EE is the odd man out, He and Joe Batts will have to take less. Does he now go back to the Jays?
I would assume EE goes back to the Jays and JB signs somewhere close to Spring Training, yeah. Aside from the Jays, doesn’t look like much of a market for EE, unless the Red Sox jump back in now that his price tag figures to be lower. Rockies also might be a sleeper pick if the price drops enough, since they’d probably be a little more willing to lose the 11th pick for him than for Trumbo.
Well, they apparently liked Ian Desmond that much lol
No more Rockies rumors.
I’d take this one-year for Holliday over four years or more years of a declining EE plus a loss of a #17 pick. It would give the Yankees more room for a better future free agent class.
Some things stay the same.
Cashman makes the smart move again, Holliday is a good veteran who is a proven winner. He fills the DH position for them, and was the best option available for the money. I think this means they now move Gardner for sure during the winter meetings.
I wouldn’t think this move has anything to do with Gardner/LF as Holliday is basically a lawn ornament out there he can’t play the OF any more.
Strictly as a DH it’s a solid pickup with no long term commitment. They’re going to try to sneak under the luxury tax.
Happy they didn’t spend 100mil on EE.
Who cares if they spend 100 M$ on EE? Not like their owner needs that money. It’d be nice to see them go after the best talent again. Yeah, you have to listen to people bark about them buying assassins but what difference does it make if they are winning? They can fit 10 normal sized cities into that metropolitan area, start acting like it.
Is that a joke? They don’t want to give up their 17th pick, they don’t want to pay for a player well into his late 30’s they just now have begun to move in the right direction to build a young strong core to compete for the next 10 years at least. Why would they go back to their old ways that clearly isn’t working anymore ?
Signed a 37 year old instead of a 34 year old….smh. EE would have left at the same age Holliday will be leaving. They’ve been to the playoffs once in the past 4 years because they waste money on 37,38,39,40 year olds not because of 34 year olds.
Holliday will still be 37 when he leaves because he’s 36 right now so good one. The Yankees can cut him if he sucks, no big deal. What would be a big deal is having a 100 mil player on your bench if he sucks, not to mention that his numbers are on a steep decline in the past 3 seasons other than homers but there are stats that are more telling. Holliday is a great clubhouse guy which Edwin has been mention to have a bad attitude when the team was struggling. The Yankees havent been in the playoff regularly because they have been making long term commitments to aging players who’s contract turn into a burden. There’s a reason other teams are shying away also, it’s not just the Yankees. They can’t keep putting out players in their mid 30’s. the game is changing and the Yankees need to change too, which is exactly what they are doing. The DH spot needs to be flexible for guys like ellsburry and Sanchez whom cashman has stated will DH 50-60 games. Your comments are filled with nothing but ignorance as I don’t think you have a clue about what is best for a MLB team
OPS+ 153, 145, 152, 148, 133 over the past 5 seasons – yes you are right, he’s clearly fallen off a cliff – steep decline, my bad!
I didn’t come up with it, the PROFESSIONAL scouts and talent evaluators did, my bad! not to mention ops isn’t the only stat they look at. Past 3 seasons like I said is a pretty significant drop 152-133 and he’s only getting older
Every player is getting older. When he has a track record of dropping (1 season where he played every game) isn’t one. The Yankees wouldn’t have 100M$ player on the bench unless he was terrible from day 1.
I am not a Yankees fan but I am a fan of him. He is a solid ball player every year. Not sure why anyone would not like this guy. Not a great move but a really solid move for them.
I don’t like him! For two reasons, he took out Scutaro on a particularly nasty late slide and because he has a really pointy head. But mostly because of his pointy head 😉
He seems to make a lot of dirty slides.
Agreed
I will gladly take this deal. This gives the team a solid RHB that can play LF occasionally. Gives some insurance in case Gardner is traded or injured again, or if Hicks doesn’t hit anything again.
Not thrilled about this signing, I would have preferred Napoli…
Napoli would never sign with the Yankees. He’d have to shave.
Truuuuuue.
I like the move as a yankee fan yeah I was on board to sign big bat EE but Holliday will DH be a leader and on a one year pact saves us cash for the big spending winter coming soon when Harper machado etc are free agents smart move cashman hope he can still get us atleast 20 and 80
Solid move by Yankees good stop gap for them b grade for this sign
I hate this Austin and Byrd are more than capable cheap platoon with plenty of upside. Too much money for a team who’s been clearing payroll for a 36 year old dh
It appears the Yankees are looking past 2017 to 2018. Disappointing.
This means the only team in the running for EE is the blue jays. No other team is going to pay him 4/80 so I’m guessing jays add 1 mil a year to their other and get a deal done at 4/84
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rangers try to swoop in. They lost Beltran and they need a DH type guy who can also play 1st.
I think the rangers would have to offer more than the blue jays which I don’t see them doing. I think 4/90 is too much and EE still may just prefer staying in Toronto
Oriole’s?
Huge Holliday fan here. But Holliday for $13 mil? I do not understand this move at all. You want a veteran presence? sign Francouer for $11 million less. Silly Yankees
A 40 year old Carlos Beltran signed for 1 year 18 million yesterday. $13 is a bargain for a veteran DH even if he’s just there to mentor young guys.
Uh. Francouer? As in Jeff Francouer ? The guy who hasn’t had a 100 OPS since 2011 and has never even made $11 mil in one season, should get an $11 mil 1 year deal ???
MLBTR app took out the Plus sign in my post. That should be OPS Plus
11M…….. LESS
Nevertheless (no pun intended) , I’d take Holliday at $13 mil over Francouer at $2 mil
I’d take holliday at 20 million vs francouer for free. I can’t even believe this was brought up. Wow
I’ll go further. If francouer was going to clean my house weekly and bring me $100 each time for the entire season, I’d rather have holliday as the dh at any price they want to pay him
Easily the stupidest comment I’ve seen in months. Comparing Matt Holliday to Jeff Francouer. Congrats
classy. definitely from NY, arent you?
Not at all.. But people should have to pass some sort of common sense baseball test to post. You wouldn’t pass. Not being mean, this clearly just isn’t your thing. it’s not a big deal. I’m sure you are a lovely person.
i never post, but your comment (out of every single one) had me trying to remember my log in. I’m still amazed how much you value one of the worst players in baseball for quite some time.
Also, nice comment about all New Yorkers. I’m sure they appreciate that. Maybe you aren’t so lovely.
Hey, thats cool. Im sure that after Holliday slugs .250/6/50, you would have the integrity to apologize. Holiday was great in his prime, but Ive watched him the past 2 years. $13 mil is way too much. If you knew how to comprehend, you would know that I wasnt comparing Holliday to Francouer as far as stats go. I was stating that if they are wanting a veteran presence, Francouer would be extremely cheaper.
They have a veteran present in CC. Francouer is garbage. As someone above said, and I agree with it, I’d take Holliday at $20 million over a free Francouer.
Francouer may be “extremely cheaper” but that doesn’t mean his value is higher. And you do realize $13 million nowadays isn’t a lot of money. Edinson Volquez was one of the worst pitchers in baseball last year and got an $22 mil/2 year deal.
Irony: Trying to “class”ify an entire region of people based on the opinion of what you see on TV/movies.
Go ahead, tell us how your cousin visited New York and was treated so terribly.
Better yet, tell us how “Actually, I experienced (whatever nonsense you come up with)” to justify a failing comment with a butt hurt response to your Francouer interjection being exposed as the opinion of someone who is absolutely clueless.
Holliday isn’t being signed as a veteran presence. He is being signed as a right handed DH. I’m not sure what I’d be apologizing for. i never stated an expectation level or an opinion of the deal. I stated how ridiculous it is that Jeff Francouer was even mentioned in the same sentence as Matt Holliday in 2016 or even the last five years. Maybe you should look at your comprehension instead of questioning mine. And while you’re at it, take a look at Jeff Francouer and read up on how value is calculated in baseball
maybe you will comprehend this statement. Look me up around Sept. 1, 2017. Then, if you have any integrity at all,you can make things right. Im a forgiving person.
Its obvious that you read what you want to read. New York, an entire region? uh, ok. Im sure there are a number of New Yorkers with plenty of class. All I can say is , you guys have a reputation. And for that reason, I have no desire to visit your vast region.
Francouer isn’t garbage. He played relatively well last year (even had a batting average higher than Hollidays) and he plays much better defense than Holliday can/would
Well then you wouldn’t pass your friend Chris’ “common sense test” to get in. Why would you not take a free Francouer? He played well enough last year to get flipped at the deadline. Getting something from nothing? Sounds pretty good to me. I guess some people who actually run baseball teams would seem to disagree that he is garbage
He wasn’t comparing them you idiot. He said Frenchy would be a much cheaper option if they were looking for a veteran presence
thank you for understanding my post. I thought it was pretty clear. Evidently it was clear only to those of us who understand baseball
Francoeur hasn’t even played a full season since 2012, and there’s a good reason for that (and the reason is not injuries)
Yesssss, love this move by Cashman. Cheap one year deal, veteran leadership, and still a solid player. No EE (hopefully). Now time for a starting pitcher and Chapman.
especially since hes injury prone and 36 but yea love it, oh btw chapman prob wont come back and dont expect them to get any pitching woulda rather had EE atleast hes a guarenteed 30-40 hrs especially since we have no power what so ever
Chapman has expressed his interest in returning and his love for New York and the Yankees have expressed their interest in a reunion. Pretty sure Chapman even stated that almost immediately after he was traded…..but yeah you’re right they probably won’t get him….
I’ll expect a Buy low deal for a pitcher or something like a Hammels deal or a trade.
No need for EE, he doesn’t fit the plan. The Yankees has been burned by these contracts time and time again. Father Time is undefeated. I’d rather take the chance on Holliday playing 120-130 games, 20 HR, 60-70RBI than EE clogging the payroll for 4/5 years at $25m annually with heart declining stats. Not to mention there’s been reports of him having a bad attitude in the clubhouse, why mix that with a young team that is bound to go through rough patches. Continue the youth movement, gradually get better and go all in on the 2018 FA class.
13 for him? Wow. But I guess that’s just pennies for the Yankee Doodles.
As an Angels fan, would love to trade Trout to NYY for some of those prospects. You can have your Trout, I like winning. Something Trout has proven he is not.
Not sure how you expect ONE player to be able to carry a terrible team. He can only do so much.
especially since hes been the best al player 2 years in a row u cant blame him theyre just terrible
Who is blaming Trout? Not me. I like winning, and in order to win this organization needs to trade Trout away. Really that simple.
Sometime you have to laugh. The assumption on this site is ridicules. Post a comment and the next thing you know some clown is assuming the post you posted…… Example this clown Phil.
Do you think Trout wants to be traded? He’s never going to admit it but I wonder if every year he thinks “this is the year” or if his patience is worn out?
As an Angels fan, one would think Trout wants out. He is to great of a player to be on this organization. You’d think he would want to be on a winning team.
You actually wrote that Trout has proven he is not a winner. We can all read.
You cannot possibly think the Angels not being a good team is Trout’s fault.
Seriously? You’re an Angels fan and you’re placing the blame of that franchise’s struggles on Trout?
What a troll
Torres, Mateo and Severino for Trout and 10M.
The Angels laugh and hang up.
Ok. No 10M. Torres is top 3 prospect in majors
One could argue that it’s actually harder for a player to play as well as Trout has given that he’s not had a lot of good players around him. If he’s not protected with good hitters behind him, they can throw around him. If players don’t get on in front of him it directly affects the number of runs he can drive in.
Oh nooo, I liked him 🙁 So long Matt, thanks for the memories!
Holliday…. celebrate….
I could see Brandon Moss as a perfect platoon partner/other option for Holliday. Both can play the same positions and have good pop (especially at Yankee stadium).
As a Yankees fan, I’m very pleased with this signing. Once Beltran signed with Houston, I felt that Holliday would be the best option out there. 1 year contract with a much lower $ amount than what EE will be getting (not to mention not having to give up their 1st round draft pick). Holliday will add some right-handed power/balance to a typically left-handed dominant lineup.
Yankees take a year gamble on Big Daddy as their full time DH. I like it. The power is still there and the vet leadership will be invaluable. Could be a comeback player of the year candidate if he can stay healthy. Not playing the field will definitely help.
Realistically, if this is the move that keeps them from spending more for a longer term, I’m fine with it. I don’t think Holliday has all that much left, but if he can play 1st and even LF occasionally, he can be a bridge to the next group. If he’s solid, and the Yankees are, once again, marginal for the playoffs, he can be traded as Beltran was. If he’s really shot, it’s not a gigantic investment, and he can even be cut loose. I don’t think he’s going to be worse than Beltran, and he’s a bit cheaper
The market for Edwin Encarnacion just got smaller, as it did yesterday when the Astros signed Carlos Beltran. With the Red Sox also looking for cheaper options due to luxury tax concerns, it appears more and more likely that EE returns to the Blue Jays.
Where is George?
Sneaky sign of the offseason. Pair him with Judge, Bird, and Sanchez and you’re looking at the possibility of 160 homeruns.
I was a big fan of new Yankee Matt Holliday in his prime but …
Compare the 2016 lines of Holliday and another righthand-hitting free agent, Chris Carter:
MH 426 PA, .246/.322/.461/.783, OPS+ 107, wRC+ 109, fWAR 0.7
CC 644 PA, .222/.321/.499/.821, OPS+ 114, wRC+ 112, fWAR 0.9
Holliday turns 37 years old in January and Carter turns 30 this month.
Good point.
you kinda’ glossed over the fact that Matt Holliday struck out 71 times last years, and Chris carter did that an NL leading 206 times….
which, incidentally, is the reason Carter’s available in the first place.
I had a similar thought about Carter. However, Holliday has the upside of being around 850 ops if he bounces back. He’ll also have lots more RBIs thanks to batting average (which I know is almost as unpopular as the picher’s W; but think about the lineup dynamics of the yanks with some decent on base guys batting ahead of Holliday). I think it’s a very good sign.
Nice sign. I could really see him performing well in a DH capacity without the wear and tear of being in the field defensively.
Waiting for pickme123 to break this news. Until then, I won’t believe it’s true
I can see the the Rangers now signing EE – or a “surprise” team… The Orioles.
So, Yankees get Holliday – good move for a 1 year, $13 Mil. deal.
Its obvious the Yankees are saving their money for long term contracts on that 2019 FA class.
They still need a starter and a reliever though.
1) Ellsbury (cf)
2) Gardner (lf)
3) Sanchez (c)
4) Holliday (dh)
5) Judge (rf)
6) Bird (1b)
7) Castro (2b)
8) Gregorius (ss)
9) Headley (3b)
SP) Tanaka / Pineda / Sabathia / Severino / Green / Cessa / Mitchell
RP) Betances / Clippard / Layne / Warren / Bleier / Goody / Shreve / Yates
Not bad, but still not good enough for the playoffs as they stand right now.
Yates is gone
I am a Red Sox fan. I have to admit this was a very good move by the Yankees. Signing him to a 1 year contract to build around the youth as a bridge until Eric Hosmer becomes a free agent after the 2017 season or once Manny Machado and Bryce Harper become free agents in 2018. Signing Edwin E to a long term deal at the age of 34 would mess up those future long term plans as both Machado and Harper are much younger.
I like it. They are sticking with the plan. He’s a veteran bat, affordable who they can DH. No long term commitment, and they can trade him in July if they fall out of it. Doesn’t cost them draft pick compensation.
Between this contract and the one given to Carlos Beltran, I don’t want to hear another person say that Andrew McCutchen is too expensive.
Who said he’s expensive?
I’ve always thought Holliday would be a good fit in NY. Seems to have that mentality.
Yanks must be desperate, Guy can Run , Throw or Hit, Why !3 Million when other Options where out there !
Looks like a body signing. No great available options so why commit long term. He won’t be a difference maker either way but at least he’s got good clubhouse leadership. I think this signing just underlines the fact that trading Beltran was a mistake though. They do need a solid reliable bopper in that line-up with all these developmental players. If they start to struggle bad hollidays bat is not going to help. It could turn into a nightmare for yankees pitching when the offense is getting carved on most nights.
With their payroll flexibility for this offseason I would have thought signing ee to a deal without giving him a no trade close would have been the appropriate move, let him take for you all year so there wasn’t so much pressure on the youngsters and then trade him for a nice little haul
Holliday will not disappoint. Smart move
Also I mean you are basically putting a ton of pressure on rookies in the line-up that already have enough pressure in ny. But your trying to develope young pitching an not giving them offensive support. I just think it is a strange plan. The only way I could see this working is as sort of a trial by fire sort of thing I guess.
I like Matt Holliday. His track record speaks for itself and from everything I’ve read he’s a great guy in the clubhouse. One year at $13mm isn’t going to break the bank, but we’re talking about a guy who is 37 years old and can’t seem to stay healthy.
I thought Billy Butler did a pretty good job last year, albeit in a small sample size. Anyone else think butler may have been a better option than Holliday?
DH’ing will keep him healthy
The short answer about Butler being a better option than Holliday is simply, no… Butler is not a good clubhouse presence; multiple reports that he has had/caused issues with numerous past teammates, and even been involved in physical altercations with teammates. There’s also been reports that he doesn’t work out, or put in any work to stay in shape. He’s 6ish years younger than Holliday, that’s the only area he might be better than Holliday at. Holliday is widely regarded as a great teammate and clubhouse presence. He’ll help mentor the younger guys, and definitely add some much needed right-handed power to that lineup (as the full time DH, he’ll probably hit 25ish homers). In regards to him staying healthy, I think there’s a misconception on how injury prone he really has been. He missed a little over a month with a fractured thumb sustained from a HBP this past season, but still managed to play in 110 games. In 2015, he spent 2 separate stints on the DL due to a quad injury and only played in 73 games. Other than that, he’s been pretty durable/reliable for a while now. From 2010-2014 he averaged 147 games a year (and would’ve played about that many games this past season if he didn’t break his thumb from that HBP. Once Beltran signed with Houston, I still believe Holliday was the next best option to fill the DH spot on the Yankees’ roster. When you take into account his salary, length of contract, clubhouse presence, lack of draft pick compensation, etc etc, he was a much better option than some of the other DH types still available.
As a yankee fan I’m a little skeptical about this signing. Only because of his health. Two teams have turf fields in the al east.
That being said makes you wonder if they heard about shohei ohtani being posted early (after 2017 season), which led to them going with Holliday instead of committing the years and money to Eddy.
Hope the Rangers sign Eddy now.
Barring a trade of Gardner, Holliday is almost going to strictly DH. Why are you worried about turf fields ?
Oh cuz I forget when you dh you do not run the bases. Someone just tags your hand and runs from home once you swing.
As well as not take part in any onfield pre game activities and will not play 1 inning in the field.
So why be ignorant? I was just stating that turf fields are worse for players who have chronic injury problems. Especially hamstring ones like Holliday has. And you are an idiot if you think this guy won’t play left field when their is a lefty on the mound and ellsbury is injured/resting/slumping or first base when bird or whoever else needs a day off? Before you troll someone, make sense of what you are trying to troll.
The last time Holliday had any hamstring issues was back in 2013 I believe. Last year he dealt with a quad issue.
I’m trolling? Hmmm. Maybe you’re just being a jerk for no reason. I guess you don’t want people responding to your posts unless they are in agreement with you.
1 – Brett Gardner is a leadoff hitter who plays Gold Glove defense. Matt Holiday is a middle of the order hitter who as I’m sure you know is declining in the OF. So if/when Gardner is not in the game, it won’t be Holliday, it will be Hicks. Possibly Austin. Comparing Gardner and Holliday is apples to oranges.
2 – If/when Ellsbury is out, Hicks will play CF. Possibility Gardner with Hicks or Austin in LF.
3 – Those 2 ballparks will be played at about 18 games give or take. You’re acting as if half the games will be played on turf. Of course injuries can happen , especially to older players with recent injuries, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be signed because ballpark factors in Road ballparks may hurt them
5 – Lastly, I’m not saying Holliday will never play the field, particularly the OF , but of their 5 projected OF and 3 projected 1B , he’s probably the 5th and 3rd best option to put on the field.
Have a good night sir.
Perfect sign. Now trade Headly, gardner and whomever. For Todd Frazier…
Are you serious?
We have the prospects. Frazier from NJ would be the jeter personality they desperately need. What I meant to say before rudely autocorrected by apple dooche phone. Get Frazier
The white sox have absolutely 0 need or interest in heady or Gardner, they are looking for young players and prospects
Why does everyone think the Yankees are rebuilding? Everyone they traded last July was gone at the end of the year anyway (except Miller, who they got a HAUL for). They definitely punted on 2016 but they are set up well for 2017 and beyond.
Not so sure about being set up well for 2017 (as of now) but certainly beyond.
Did you see how the Yankees played down the stretch? Everyone who contributed to that is still around. With a couple key free agent signings or prospect developments the Yankees are in the thick of the AL East race.
Down the stretch, they were 15-15.
If you have to wait a year to compete i don’t know what to call it other than rebuild.
Retooling. It’s what most teams that expected to contend but didn’t do at the deadline. The Yankees didn’t trade anyone who could’ve helped them win in 2017 except Andrew Miller and that trade will look great for them in a few years.
C’mon. If you are gonna photoshop Holliday into a Yankee’s jersey, you have to use a picture in which he doesn’t have a beard!
I think Yanks should look into what it would take to get Frazier. Trade a few decent mid level prospects such as Mason Williams and maybe the AAA catcher plus Headley for Frazier?
If you’re talking about Kyle Higashioka, it would take a lot more than him, Mason and Headley to pry Frazier away.
More in terms of value, not quantity. It would have to hurt a lot more. Spare parts won’t get it done.
I disagree
Frazier has one year left and your giving white Sox three potential major league players. Mason Williams is ready and Kyle Higashioka showed by his aaa season he is ready. I would say that White Sox need dept and catcher and starting outfielder provide that.
I can’t believe the Yankees didn’t go after EE, I just wonder if Holiday has anything left.
I just think it’s funny that the picture used with Holiday in a Yankee uniform has him in a beard. The only time you will see him in a beard in New York.
Can you imagine if the Yanks would signed Moncada for the 69 million total and then traded him for Sale and his 39 million. Baseball including the media and Boston and commissioners office would have gone crazy blaming the Yankees for everything that is wrong with baseball..
Meanwhile Boston signed the other Cuban outfielder for how much and stashed him in AAA? No comments or evil empire mention. You have to love the fairness.
Disney Castillo
Rusney damn autocorrect
They’ve gotten better with superimposing the pictures in new uniforms over the years, but I still can’t help but look for inconsistent shadows or arms that don’t match the body….
This happened on Sunday or Monday. He’s been signed with the jankees
They should have gave J
udge the DH role and save up for Harper and Machado
It’s a one year deal. The money given to Holliday has no impact on them trying to sign Harper or Machado in a couple years.
Oh an outfielder, yeah… that’s exactly what was missing last season.
They’re signing him to DH and occasionally play first base, not play the outfield, ya know, like the article mentioned.
A displaced outfielder even better! But hey his numbers last season seems to say he’s becoming a homerun or nothing at all batter. That’s good I guess.
He still hasn’t touched home plate.
I can’t believe how many morons leave comments on this App
I don’t see him doing more than McCann would have done, if he was not traded. There is a miserable mix in right field that has not been addressed. So we’re no better off than last year down the stretch (as someone commented 15-15) …and Cashman is looking at Ruben Tejada. And that’s going to do what? …Generate even less power from the right side than Headley… if that’s possible.
Should’ve kept McCann if you weren’t gonna give the kids a chance.
This may be one of those off-seasons that the high cost free agent signings and high visibility trades mean less for the good of the team than the under-the-radar transactions will.
The Yankees are going in the Baby Bomber direction. They can’t expect every player to be a superstar right out of the gate. Matt Holliday can add to the offense in the mean time. Edwin Encarnacion just had his best year to date. Even though players historically decline after 33-34 and he is likely to drop off, he expects some team to use him as a cornerstone type player.for the next 4 years.