When I saw that the Yankees were signing free agent outfielder Matt Holliday to a one-year deal, I was initially unimpressed.
Why would the Yankees sign another aging outfielder who is no longer a great defensive player when the goal is to get younger and more athletic? Why would the team go that route again?
But then, the more I thought about it, and talked about it with people I trust in the game, the more I like it.
For in-between Yankees, Matt Holliday better fit than Edwin Encarnacion https://t.co/3is4s01Kn0
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) December 5, 2016
At one-year, Holliday is not a risk. If he breaks down, the Yankees don’t owe him much at all. He’s still a productive bat when healthy and can spend time at both first base and designated hitter and will not limit the team defensively in the outfield.
And even if he does play the outfield, that’s OK because he’s a stop-gap until the next crop of Yankee outfielders, like Clint Frazier. The team can also look to sign Bryce Harper after the 2018 season.
Having traded Brian McCann to the Astros, DH is open as well.
This is a good move for the Yankees. It lowers the risk and helps them keep young players in the minor leagues where they can develop. It’s a perfect stop-gap move.
Holliday hit .246 with 20 homers last season in 110 games for the Cardinals.
