Though they have made a habit of ridding themselves of veteran hitters lately, the New York Yankees went in the other direction on Sunday. Veteran outfielder Matt Holliday agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the Bronx Bombers late in the evening. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports was first with the news.
Yanks have deal with Holliday. 13M
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 4, 2016
Matt Holliday Joins Yankees on One-Year Deal
The 36-year-old Holliday has spent 13 years in the major leagues, mostly with the Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals. He also spent a portion of the 2009 season with the Oakland A’s before being traded to the Cards. Over the course of his illustrious career, Holliday has cultivated a reputation as one of the game’s best and most consistent hitters. He owns a lifetime .303 average, 295 home runs, and 1,153 RBI.
Holliday’s best season came back in 2007 with the Rockies, when he hit .340 with 36 homers and 137 RBI. He has recorded 10 seasons of 20 or more home runs, including a streak of nine in a row from 2006-2014.
However, injuries and age have started to catch up to Holliday recently. He played just 183 games in the past two seasons combined. In 2016, he hit just .246, though he did launch 20 home runs. In his final at-bat in a Cardinals uniform, he launched a pinch-hit home run in what was an emotionally charged moment. He knew he wouldn’t be returning in 2017, and he and the fans showed their appreciation for each other.
If Holliday can stay healthy, he will be a valuable asset for the young Yankees. He is still a dangerous hitter, and is just two years removed from a 90 RBI season. The opportunity to DH should benefit him, and his veteran presence and knowledge will help guys like Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge continue their already impressive development. This is a low-risk, high-reward signing for New York.
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