Could Carbonell Make Beltran’s Decision Easier?

Apr 20, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran (36) at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Over the past few days, several news outlets have reported that the New York Yankees are among the two finalists for the services of Cuban defector and outfielder Daniel Carbonell. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports was the first to report of the Yankees being one of the final teams to be pushing hard for the outfielder’s services, while the Seattle Mariners are believed to be the other team with serious interest.

While several teams have shown interest, it was Yanks Go Yard’s own Wayne Cavadi who was one of the first to discuss the need for the Yankees to not only pursue Carbonell, but to sign the five-tool talent. Now that free agent signee Carlos Beltran is facing an uncertain future with a bone spur in his elbow, does the pursuit of Carbonell become a front-burner issue for the Yankees?

Beltran had his ailing elbow examined by the great Dr. James Andrews, and while the diagnosis was confirmed, immediate surgery was not recommended. Instead, Beltran has already received two cortisone shots to help control the discomfort that he has experienced. If Beltran isn’t able to play through the pain, then surgery will be performed and he will miss at a minimum, 8 weeks recovering.

Could the 6’3″, 220 lb. Cuban be the answer to the Yankees’ injury-plagued prayers? Think about it for a minute. If Carbonell is the real deal, he would need a couple weeks tops to knock off the rust and be game-ready. This would also give Beltran enough time to determine whether he can go full speed without hurting himself long term–and the Yankees in the process. If the Yankees went all-in on Carbonell, signed him, and had him ready for the big leagues in a few weeks, perhaps Beltran says to himself “Alright, the team is in good hands, I can go ahead and have this done and be ready for the end of the season.”

The move makes sense for all parties involved. Don’t think for one second that Carbonell isn’t aware of the attention that fellow countryman and Los Angeles Dodgers’ outfielder

has received by playing in a major market. He can also see what playing in New York has done for the Yankees’ latest international sensation,

. For the Yankees, if Carbonell can prove he is major league-ready, and can step in for the the healing Beltran, he can entrench himself for years to come as the Yankees’ starting right fielder. At the end of the season, incumbant DH

is allowed to walk way,

retires,

leaves, opening the full-time DH slot for Beltran starting next season, with Carbonell becoming the everyday right fielder alongside

and

.

The Yankees don’t have to worry about Carbonell not coming into the system out of shape. Just take a peek at Puig, Jose Abreu in Chicago, or Yoenis Cespedes in Oakland. It once again comes down to how much do the Yankees want Daniel Carbonell? Some believe the Yankees overthought the situation and missed out on Derek Jeter’s heir apparent by not signing Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz, who is now property of the St. Louis Cardinals. They can’t afford to make the same mistake twice. Then again, we are talking about Brian Cashman making the decisions…